Turkey Expedition
13 days
Day 01 Depart AUSTRALIA
In flight.
ISTANBUL
Day 02 Arrive in ISTANBUL
Welcome to Turkey! Upon arrival at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport you will be met and
privately transferred to your hotel. Although it is not the capital, Istanbul is the largest city in
Turkey and the leading industrial, commercial and cultural center. It spreads on both sides of
the beautiful Bosphorus, which was naturally formed many centuries ago as the sea water occupied the deep and narrow valley. The Bosphorus connects the Marmara Sea and the Black
Sea, and is known as the place where Europe and Asia meet. Istanbul has been the capital
for three empires. Originally called Byzantium, the city was renamed Constantinople in A.D.
330 by Emperor Constantine, who chose it as the site of the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
Today, Istanbul is a multifaceted city of ethereal minarets, monumental mosque domes and
a wealth of historic sites as well as all the signs of modern life from high-rise buildings to cell
phones.
Night at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 03 ISTANBUL
Full day walking tour in old town – Highlights of Istanbul:
Blue Mosque; a name given by the visitors fascinated by interior decoration of the mosque.
Istanbul’s one of the best-known mosque complex from 1609.
Hippodrome; constructed for the Roman chariot races. It was the centre for civil events witnessed man victories and riots. Beautified by the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine and Constantine columns.
Hagia Sophia; the church of “Divine Wisdom”. Justinian built this masterpiece of Byzantine
architecture in 6th century as church and being converted in to a mosque by the Ottomans.
Today it serves as a museum with the unique examples of two religions together.
After lunch on own visit Topkapi Palace served for more than four centuries as the imperial
residence of the Ottoman household, including 24 Sultans in total. Abandoned as the imperial
residence in 1853 by Sultan Abdulmecid I for the Dolmabahce Palace, in 1924 it was converted into a museum. It now houses an extraordinary collection of imperial treasures, including
priceless porcelain, jewels, armoury, costumes, weaponry, miniatures, calligraphy, and other
precious objects and works of art.
The world famous Covered Bazaar (Kapalicarsi) is, owing to its architecture, history, location,
and sheer variety of merchandise, one of Istanbul’s most significant tourist sites. The Bazaar
has eight different entrances, each of them facing one of the city’s most important historic
monuments.
Night at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)
Day 04 ISTANBUL -
- ANKARA
Breakfast at hotel and around mid-day pick up from your hotel and drive for 5 hours (445KM)
to reach Ankara. You will be dropped off at your hotel in Ankara. Overnight in Ankara (B)
Day 05 ANKARA -
- CAPPADOCIA
After breakfast pick up by your guide from the hotel and proceed to Anatolian Civilisations
Museum, which exhibits the remains of Catalhoyuk, the Neolithic village dating back to 6500
BC. Then we will visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. After lunch
we will drive to Cappadocia through a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake.
Dinner & overnight in Cappadocia (B,D)
Day 06 CAPPADOCIA
After breakfast at the hotel, morning visit to Citadel of Uchisar which is the highest point in the
region. Then we will proceed to Kaymaklı Underground City which is the place where early
Christians hid from persecutors. Continue with the Goreme Open Air Museum to see the early
Christian churches, chapels and monasteries carved into the fairy chimmeys from the 10th to
the 13th centuries decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible.
After lunch visit to Pasabag (Monk’s Valley) where many fairy chimneys with multiple stems
and caps can be found, this style being unique to this area. A chapel dedicated to St. Simeon and a hermit’s shelter is built into one such fairy chimney with three heads. After Pasabag,
we will drive to Avanos which is known for the pottery, a craft dating back to the Hittite period. The red clay which is worked by local craftsmen comes from the residue in the Kizilirmak
River which is Anatolia’s longest river. Here we will also have shopping facilities for the world-
wide famous handicrafts. Return to hotel for dinner & overnight (B,D)
Day 07 CAPPADOCIA - KONYA - PAMUKKALE
Early departure for Konya. On the way we will visit the 13th century Seljukian caravanserai
“Sultanhan”. The next stop will be Konya which is famous with Mevlana Museum and the
Theological School of Whirling Dervishes. After lunch enroute we will drive to Pamukkale. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale. (B,D)
Day 08 PAMUKKALE -
- KUSADASI
After breakfast at hotel we will visit the ancient city of Hierapolis including the ruins of biggest
Necropolis Graveyard of the ancient world, Roman Baths, Basilica and calcium cliffs. Then we
will drive to Aphrodisias to visit the Greco-Roman settlement, the “City of Marble” which was
the centre of worship of the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite until the 6th century after Christ. Visit
the temple, one of the largest and the best-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. Drive to
Kusadasi for dinner and overnight (B,D)
Day 09 KUSADASI
After breakfast at the hotel we will visit the House of Virgin Mary where she spent her last
days. Afterwards we will continue to Ephesus, the Roman Capital of Asia Minor to visit the
ruins of Odeon, Hercules Gate, the temple of Hadrian, the magnificent library, Agora and fantastic Greco-Roman theatre. After lunch proceed to Basilica of St.John. Return to Kusadası.
Rest of the day at leisure. (B,D)
Day 10 KUSADASI -
- PERGAMON -
- CANAKKALE
Early departure for Pergamon to visit Asklepion, the famous ancient medical center dedicated
to Asklepios, the god of health and medicine. Then we will continue for Troy, the legendary
town in the Iliad of Homeros and perhaps Turkey’s most famous ruin. This is largely due to
the writings of Homer and archeologists believe that there were as many as 9 cities of Troy,
all built on top of each other. There is also a wooden horse replica, which people can climb
inside and have fun pretending to be ferocious Greek soldiers! Drive to Canakkale for dinner
and overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 11 CANAKKALE -
- ISTANBUL
After breakfast we will cross Dardanelles by ferry, drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula, site of the
infamous World War I campaign which took place between 1915 and 1916. Time at Anzac
Cove is certain to inspire emotion as we visit some of the impressively maintained Commonwealth military cemeteries including Lone Pine. Continue to Istanbul.
Overnight in Istanbul. (B)
Day 12 Depart ISTANBUL -
- AUSTRALIA
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight back home (B)
Day 13 Arrive AUSTRALIA
Accommodation:
3-4 star category (or similar):
Istanbul: 3* Erboy Hotel
Ankara: 3* Argentium Hotel
Cappadocia: 4* Peri Tower
Pamukkale: 3* Ozbay or 4 *Lycus River
Kusadasi: 4* Suhan or 4 * Royal Palace
Canakkale: 3* Helen or 4 * Akol Hotel
4 star -5 star category (or similar):
Istanbul: Special Class Arena Hotel
Ankara: Special Class Elite Palas
Cappadocia: 5* Dedeman
Pamukkale: 5* Colossae
Kusadasi: 5* Surmeli
Canakkale: 5* Kolin