Treasures of Turkey (Classic, With Anzac, 15 Days)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a 15-day journey through the mesmerizing landscapes and rich history of Turkey. This multi-day tour offers an immersive experience, starting from the vibrant city of Istanbul, cruising along the Bosphorus Strait, and exploring the ancient cities of Bursa, Ankara, and Ephesus. Discover the unique geological formations of Cappadocia, the traditional pottery making in Avanos, and the Roman spa city of Hierapolis. Pay your respects at the Gallipoli WWI battlefields and enjoy the bustling markets of Antalya's Old Town. This tour is a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, promising an unforgettable adventure.
Included
14 night accommodation
9 Dinner (D)
14 Breakfast (B)
1 Lunch (L)
Istanbul: Begin your travels savouring traditional flavours over dinner at a local restaurant.
Cappadocia: Watch a spectacular Sema performance of Whirling Dervishes and discover the flavours of Cappadocia as you indulge in a regional dinner of colourful dishes.
Istanbul: Toast the culmination of your travels during dinner at a local restaurant.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Istanbul: An immersive digital experience through the iconic structure's rich past, showcasing its transformation from a Byzantine cathedral to an Ottoman mosque and now a museum, with captivating exhibits and architectural wonders.
Istanbul: Journey through time with a visit to Hagia Sophia, take a unique glimpse into the complex layers of Istanbul's rich cultural and religious heritage.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
Cappadocia: Join a Cappadocian local, who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house to learn more about their unique way of life.
Uchisar: Enjoy the unique flavours of Anatolia at Uchisar Kadineli Restaurant, where every dish is homemade with love. This remarkable establishment provides employment for more than 65 women from the village. The restaurant is owned by women and focuses on empowering women through employment. Some employed as administrators, some as teachers, some as cooks and some as waiters. Here they are taught how to sow clothes by using modern technology, how to knit, how to cook, how to make various kinds of artifacts, and how to merchandise their products and convert it to money for their families. Uchisar Kadineli Restaurant advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality.
Istanbul: Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul, where you'll pass Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses.
Bursa: Visit the Grand Mosque, the glorious Green Mosque and mausoleum.
Cumalikizik: Visit the over 700 year-old village to get glimpse into what Ottoman villages away from the capital looked like.
Ankara: Discover the mysterious Hittite civilisation and visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk.
Göreme: With your Local Expert, explore the underground cities, rock-cut churches, fairy-tale chimneys and the Pasabag Valley.
Visit the narrow passages and interconnecting rooms of this Stone Age underground city dug out from the hills and built to block invaders and defend against attacks.
Learn about the ancient art of pottery making in Avanos.
Konya: Visit a well preserved Seljuk Caravanserai.
Konya: Accompanied by your Local Expert, visit the beautiful Mevlana Tekke museum for an insight into the mystic Whirling Dervishes. See the Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret.
Antalya: Visit the historic Old Town and wander through its charming narrow streets, discovering souvenir markets and sweeping sea views.
Pamukkale: See the cascading Cotton Castle of milky white travertine pools and the ancient ruin of Hierapolis.
Ephesus: Discover one of the world's finest ancient sites. Led by your Local Expert, walk the Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and Amphitheatre and visit the Palace of Knossos.
Ephesus: Visit the Archaeological museum housing many of the artefacts from Ephesus.
Troy: Visit this ancient sight fabled to have been destroyed over love and view the huge reconstructed Trojan Horse.
Gallipoli: Visit the Gallipoli Peninsula and attend the moving Dawn Service remembering, honouring and paying respect to the fallen fighting in World War I.
Gallipoli: Pay your respects at Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery.
Istanbul: Visit the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome. With your Local Expert, gain insight into the lives of the Ottoman Sultans during a visit to the fabulous Topkapi Palace. Then stroll through the Grand Bazaar.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Bursa: On your orientation with your Travel Director visit the town’s mosques, bazaars and famous Silk Market.
Ankara: On your orientation with your Travel Director of the capital of modern Turkey discover its Roman and Byzantine heritage, visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Mausoleum of Atatürk.
Troy: On your orientation with your Travel Director hear about the nearly 4000 year-old settlement, see the wooden Trojan Horse and hear about myths and legends connected to this archaeological site.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Destinations
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul
- Istanbul - Arrival day
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Welcome to the vibrant city of Istanbul, Turkey. A representative will greet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. After settling in, join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a delightful Welcome Dinner.
Day 2 – Day 2: Istanbul to Bursa
- Istanbul
- Bursa
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- Grand Mosque of Bursa
- Green Tomb
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Embark on a morning cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, passing quaint fishing villages and beautiful Ottoman palaces. Later, leave Istanbul for Bursa, the first major capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Green Mosque, the Grand Mosque, and explore the city's bazaars and silk markets. End your day with a delicious meal at a local restaurant.
Day 3 – Day 3: Bursa to Ankara via Cumalikizik and Gordion
- Bursa
- Ankara
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Continue your journey to the charming village of Cumalikizik, known for its traditional wooden houses and narrow cobblestone streets. Later, head to Gordion, the ancient capital city of Phrygia, before reaching Ankara, Turkey's modern capital. Enjoy a relaxed evening at your hotel, the Hilton SA (or similar), with options to unwind in its indoor pool, jacuzzi, or hammam.
Day 4 – Day 4: Ankara to Avanos via Hittite Museum and Anitkabir
- Ankara
- Avanos
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- Anıtkabir
- Ankara Vakıf Museum
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Spend the day exploring Ankara's rich history with visits to the Hittite Museum and Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Atatürk, Turkey's greatest modern leader. Later, head to Avanos in Cappadocia, renowned for its unique geological formations and panoramic views.
Day 5 – Day 5: Exploring Cappadocia
- Avanos
- Çavuşin
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- Pigeon Valley
- Özkonak
- Güray Müze
- Uchisar Castle
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Experience the striking landscapes of Cappadocia, starting with a visit to the town of Göreme. Explore its rock-hewn churches adorned with ancient wall paintings. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Uçhisar Kadineli Restaurant, supporting local women's employment. Continue to the Pasabag Valley and the underground city of Özkonak. Later, join a local resident for a tour of their cave house. End the day with a performance of Whirling Dervishes and a meal at a local restaurant.
Day 6 – Day 6: Cappadocia to Konya
- Çavuşin
- More
- Sille Baraj Parkı
- Atatürk House Museum
- Mevlâna Museum
- Karatay Madrasah
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Start your day learning about traditional pottery making in Avanos. Journey along the famous Silk Road to visit a 13th-century caravanserai. Later, head to Konya, the old capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire. Visit the Mevlana Museum, Karatay Medrese, and Ince Minaret.
Day 7 – Day 7: Konya to Antalya via Aspendos
- Konya
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- Aspendos Theater
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Begin your day with a scenic drive down the Taurus Mountains to Aspendos, an ancient city in Antalya known for its well-preserved Roman theatre. Continue to your hotel in Antalya for the next two nights, where you can relax and enjoy the facilities.
Day 8 – Day 8: Exploring Antalya
Day 8: Exploring Antalya
Start your day exploring Antalya's Old Town, with its souvenir markets and sweeping sea views. The rest of the day is free for you to relax at your hotel or explore Antalya at your own pace. Your Travel Director can provide recommendations for additional city exploration.
Day 9 – Day 10: Pamukkale to Selçuk via Ephesus
- Pamukkale
- Selçuk
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- House of Virgin Mary
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Explore one of the world's finest archaeological sites, Ephesus. Walk through the colonnaded Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and the huge Amphitheatre, before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary. Then travel to the nearby town of Selçuk for an educational visit to the Archaeological Museum.
Day 10 – Day 11: Selçuk to Çanakkale via Pergamon and Troy
- Selçuk
- Çanakkale
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- Bergama Museum
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Begin your day with a trip to Pergamon, an ancient Greek city, where you'll find the Asklepion temple. Next, head to Homer's city of Troy, the backdrop to one of history's most famous love stories. After exploring, continue your journey to Çanakkale, a gateway to the Gallipoli WWI battlefields.
Day 11 – Day 12: Gallipoli WWI Battlefields
- Çanakkale
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- Akbas cemetary
- Gallipoli War Museum
- Lone Pine
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Attend the annual Dawn Service alongside dignitaries and military personnel to honour the fallen soldiers. After the service, pay your respects at the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Cemeteries. Spend the rest of your day at leisure at your hotel, perhaps relaxing poolside or booking a treatment at the hotel spa.
Day 12 – Day 13: Çanakkale to Istanbul via Gallipoli Peninsula
- Çanakkale
- Istanbul
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- Akbas cemetary
- Lone Pine
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Cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferry to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Visit Anzac Cove and pay your respects at the Lone Pine Cemetery. Later, return to Istanbul where you'll spend the next two nights.
Day 13 – Day 14: Exploring Istanbul
- Istanbul
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- Sultan Ahmed Mosque
- Hagia Irene
- Grand Bazaar
- Hagia Sophia
- Topkapı Palace
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Spend the day exploring Istanbul's historic sites, including the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, and the Topkapi Palace. Enjoy the excitement of bargaining in the bustling Grand Bazaar. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 14 – Day 15: Departure from Istanbul
- Istanbul
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As your memorable journey through Turkey comes to an end, a transfer will take you to the airport for your onward flights. For those extending their stay in Istanbul, your Travel Director can provide tips on additional places to explore.
Day 15 – Day 9: Antalya to Pamukkale via Hierapolis
- Pamukkale - Departure day
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- Hierapolis Ancient Theatre
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Cross the soaring Taurus Mountains to visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, a Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. Next, explore the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters. Later, head back to your hotel, the esteemed Doğa Thermal Health & Spa (or similar), to enjoy its thermal pools, steam room, and Turkish bath complex.
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