Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul
As we say in Turkey, HOS GELDINIZ! Welcome to Turkey. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After a short briefing about your tour you will have the afternoon free to rest and explore Istanbul on your own.
Dinner provided<overnight in ISTANBUL
Day 2 - - - This will be a full day of exploring the historical sites of Istanbul.
Sites you’ll see today
Byzantine Hippodrome-The focal point of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Constantine. Within it’s center you will see the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column.
Topkapi Palace--the residence and leadership center of the Sultans during the Ottoman Empire. It was built in 1459-1465 shortly after the conquest of Constantinople. You will see the Treasury that includes the Topkapi Dagger, the 86 carat Spoon Maker’s Diamond, and the jewel encased bones of St. John the Baptist’s skull and arm bone.
Blue Mosque--World renown for it’s architecture and focal point for worshipping Muslims
*Haghia Sophia--1,400 year old supreme church from Byzantium times which houses famous Byzantine Mosaics
>Breakfast/Lunch/ provided<overnight in ISTANBUL
Day 3 - Istanbul to Canakkale
In the early morning we will drive west, heading towards the Aegean Sea.
Sites you’ll see today
*Gallipoli and The Dardanelles --After our lunch we will stop to visit Gallipoli, a place of fierce World War 1 fighting between Allied forces and the Turks. At ANZAC Cove thousands lost their lives in one fateful dawn morning. We will also see other famous battle sites of World War 1 in this area, such as Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. From here we go to a ferry and cross the Dardanelles. For World War 1 buffs, you will know the Dardanelle Straits were a strategic crossing point for the allied armies to cross from Europe to Asia Minor. Over a nine month campaign, more than half a million soldiers lost their lives in the fight to control this strait of water and nearby Gallipoli peninsula. Many villagers of this region speak of seeing ghosts wandering the cemetery sites or hearing battle cries.....still today!
*Canakkale will be our final destination for today and where we will spend the evening. After dinner, you might want to stroll the harbor walk and experience the local culture. The locals buy sunflower seeds and stroll with their families, gossiping and looking at the sunset. When they reach the harbor's end, they turn around, buy their ice cream and walk the other direction.
>Breakfast/Lunch/ provided<overnight in CANNAKALE.
Day 4 - Canakkale to Kusadasi
We continue our scenic drive along the Aegean, stopping for photo opportunities and perhaps to indulge the taste buds at one of the many farmer road side stands that sell olives, figs, seasonal fruit and pistachios. We then will head east towards our first site of the day.
Sites you’ll see today
*Troy --is the ancient site written about by Homer in the Iliad. It dates back as far as 3000 BC and has been the site of nine different cities through the thousands of years it has existed. As you enter the site a large wooden Trojan horse dominates your view. You will definitely want to climb up and get your picture taken!. After lunch we will put you on a bus to Kusadasi ( Ephesus ) You will be going via Izmir. Arrival in Kusadasi, check in the hotel, Dinner provided in the hotel, Overnight stay
Day 5 - Kusadasi
After breakfast we will take you on a full day tour of Pamukkale and Hiarapolis.
A cotton castle, a hillside of tombs, and an ancient sculpture school....there is never a day in Turkey that you are short of eclectic sites to see!
Sites you’ll see today
*Pammukale means cotton castle in Turkish. It is the result of limestone formations built over thousands of years. Warm calcium rich mineral water flowed over the cliffs and as it cooled it deposited the calcium into the formations that are seen today. Pammukale is now a world heritage site.
*Hierapolis was founded as a healing care centre in 190 BC, taking advantage of the mineral
waters in the area. It was one of the most important intellectual, artistic, religious and commercial centres of the Roman Empire.
*In the afternoon you will have free time at your hotel to relax in it’s natural and thermal spring waters that are used in it’s pools....or perhaps you will treat yourself to a mud bath, massage or manicure! Overnight stay in Pamukkale
Day 6 - Kusadasi
We will visit Turkey’s most impressive Roman and Biblical site today, in what may well be one of your most memorable days in Turkey. We will also visit other significant sites of the area.
Sites you’ll see today
*Ephesus is one of the best preserved cities from Roman times. At the time St. Paul lived in Ephesus in the 60’s AD, it was at it’s Roman heyday with a population around 250,000. Ephesus was a great ancient city and much of it has been preserved for you to see. More than any other site, you can walk the streets, stand in the great theatre, wander in the library, see the ancient Roman toilets and baths, and feel that you are walking back into ancient history.
*The House of The Virgin Mary is where it is believed St. Mary came to live with St. John in the last years of her life. >Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner provided<overnight in KUSADASI
- Day 7 - Kusadasi to Samos then to Mykonos
After breakfast we will transfer you to Kusadasi ferry port and depart from Kusadasi to Samos Island ( Greece ) After arrival you will have a free time to explore to the Samos Island, then at 16:00 pm Departure from Samos to Mykonos. ( According to your request we can provide a domestic flight back to Istanbul or bus transfer to any available destination you require. ) Contact us for more details.
- Day 8 - Mykonos
After breakfast you will have a full free day to relax or to explore the Mykonos Island, Overnight stay in Mykonos.
- Day 9 - Mykonos to Athens
After breakfast we will put you on a ferry back to Athens, arrival in Athens & Tour ends
Tour ends
Total cost will be 985.00 Euro per person in a double room and 1.085.00 Euro for single supplement.
Includes
* All of the hotels ( All individually chosen by us )
* All of the land transportation and ferry tickets
* All on the guided tours mentioned on the itinerary
* Entrance fees to the museums and to the ancient sites
* Professional tour guides
* Meals mentioned on the itinerary ( b-breakfast, l-lunch and d-dinner )
* All of the tax and service charges
Excludes
* All of the drinks with meals
* International flight tickets from Australia
* optional tour to Delphi
* Optional tour in Santorini
( This is a customize program and it is available all year around, if you are interested in getting more information about the cost, and hotel name and their websites, then simply send us an e-mail inquiry and let us know the dates you like to travel, then we will get back to you with full on information.
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