Itinerary:
Day One - Welcome to Turkey
- Welcome to Turkey and the start of your holiday upon your arrival you will transferred to the hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure or head out to explore the city. Istanbul is easy to get around on foot and there are plenty of restaurants and cafes dotted about the city.
- Overnight: Istanbul
Day Two - The Old City (B)
- Enjoy a tour of the Old City from where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled. Visit the stunning Blue Mosque famed for its blue Iznik tiles, Hippodrome, Hagia Sofia - constructed as a Basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian and Topkapi Palace.
- Overnight: Istanbul
Day Three - Gallipoli - WW1 Battlefields (B)
- Istanbul – Gallipoli. Today explore ANZAC Cove and the many memorials dotted across the WW1 battlefields. Your guided tour takes in sights such as ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Bair Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches still clearly visible amongst the scrub after all these years.
- Overnight: Canakkale
Day Three - Troy and Kusadasi (B)
- Gallipoli – Kusadasi. This morning enjoy a short guided tour of Troy. The legend of the lost city of Troy and Homer’s poetry was bought alive by its rediscovery in 1863. Subsequent excavations revealed nine ancient cities, one on top of the other, dating back to 3000 BC! Enjoy a tour of the ruins and bear witness to a replica of the stoic Trojan wooden horse that, as the story goes, was filled to the gunnels with Achaean soldiers who helped sack Troy. Driving further south to the ancient ruins of Pergamum, home to one of the steepest, vertigo-inducing amphitheatres in the classical world. Pergamum was also famous for its Asclepion (medical centre). Continue to Kusadasi on the Aegean Coast via a leather manufacturing house.
- Overnight: Kusadasi
Day Five - Ancient Ephesus (B)
- Today explore legendary Ephesus - positively the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. Ephesus, under the Romans, was a vast city with a population nearing 250,000, revelling in prosperity from commerce and visiting pilgrims who came to see its great Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. You'll have plenty of time to tour the marble ruins of Ephesus. Be sure to see the famous Library of Celsus, the gymnasium of Vedius, Stadium, and the Great Theatre. See ancient public toilets, a brothel, fountains and various temples, and also visit a carpet manufacturing house.
- Overnight: Kusadasi
Day Six - Pamukkale Thermal Pools (B)
- Kusadasi – Pamukkale. Driving east, arrive at Pamukkale - home of the famous gleaming white calcium terraced pools. Known locally as the Cotton Castles, they are a natural phenomena and gift of Mother Nature. Pamukkale was formed when warm, calcium-rich mineral water cascaded over the cliff edge, cooling and depositing in the process. The calcium built natural shelves and pools on the cliffs, known as travertines. Take a barefoot walk along the travertines or opt for a dip in the warm waters of the Pamukkale thermal pool, with its submerged fragments of fluted marble columns. Your last stop for the day is the ruined spa town of Hierapolis, famed for the curative powers of mineral springs, dammed to create communal baths.
- Overnight: Pamukkale
Days Seven and Eight - Fairytale Cappadocia (Bx2, D)
- Pamukkale - Cappadocia. On the drive to Cappadocia, visit some ancient caravanserais such as Sultanhani caravanserai. Tonight why not join in on an optional and fun Turkish folklore evening out. On day eight, after breakfast and a good night’s rest, enjoy a guided tour of Cappadocia - perhaps the jewel in Turkey’s crown. Cappadocia is one of Turkey’s most extraordinary national treasures. The utter improbability of the seemingly surreal landscape has to be seen to be believed with its ‘stuff of fables’ cave dwellings and ‘fairy chimneys’ landscape. Whole troglodyte villages, subterranean churches and fortresses have been hewn from the soft, porous, eerily eroded rock of Cappadocia. A guided tour of the region takes you to the World Heritage listed site of the Göreme Valley where you’ll see stunning examples of rock-cut Byzantine churches, chapels and temples and Zelve with its eroded landscape. Stopping on the outskirts of Goreme Village you'll have the opportunity to see Pigeon Valley where centuries-old pigeon houses are carved into the surrounding cliffs, and the pigeon droppings that litter the area have been used as fertilizer on crops for generations. Here you will also have the opportunity to visit an Onyx shop, specialising in historic jewellery designs unique to Turkey and using local materials and craftsmen. For those not interested in shopping spend a little time relaxing and grab a drink from the local cafe. This evening, we enjoy dinner at the hotel.
- Overnight: Cappadocia
Day Nine - Back to Istanbul (B)
- Cappadocia - Istanbul. Today we head back to Istanbul, stopping en route for lunch (payable locally). Arrive into Istanbul in the evening. If you'd prefer to avoid the long journey over land today there is also offered the opportunity to fly from Cappadocia to Istanbul.
- Overnight: Istanbul
Day Ten - Istanbul (B)
- After breakfast your tour draws to a close. Onward departure transfers to Ataturk International Airport are offered complimentary at 11.00am and 1:30pm today. Happy travels!
B= breakfast, D = dinner
Includes:
- Nine breakfasts and one dinner
- Airport arrival transfer on day one of tour and departure transfer (to Ataturk International Airport) at 11.00am and 1.30pm on day 10
- Escorted by an English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide
- Nine nights accommodation in four-star and special class hotels
- Guided sightseeing - Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum, Pamukkale, Hierapolis and Cappadocia
- All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles
Excludes:
- Tip for your tour guide and driver - we recommend you allow USD$5 - 7 per day, per traveller as a tip for your guide and USD$2 per day for your driver. Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture
- Entrance fees: USD$115-130, paid in local currency
- International flights and visas
- Tipping kitty: USD$40, paid in local currency
- Travel insurance
2019 Travel Dates:
- 13th July
- 27th July
- 10th August
- 7th September
- 21st September
- 5th October
- 19th October
- 2nd November
- 30th November
- 28th December
Hotel Accommodation:
Frequently used hotels on this tour - may be substituted to hotels of a similar standard when necessary:
- Radisson Blu Pera, Istanbul - Deluxe / five-star
- Kent Hotel, Istanbul - Superior / four-star
- Kolin Hotel, Canakkale - Deluxe / five-star
- Charisma Hotel, Kusadasi - Deluxe / five-star
- Pamukkale Doga Thermal Hotel, Pamukkale - Superior / five-star
Conditions
Valid from Feb 15, 2019
Expires Mar 8, 2019
Limit: 4 per user and 2 as gift for others
Bookings essential and must be made within seven days or by 8th March 2019, whichever occurs first. Subject to availability. International flights not included. Valid for travel on specific travel dates between 13th July and 28th December 2019. Must be used in 1 visit. Deal valid for one person on a twin share basis i.e. two vouchers must be purchased at this price. Single supplement surcharge of $850 applies, payable direct to merchant. Includes: Nine breakfasts and one dinner; Airport arrival transfer on day one of tour and departure transfer (to Ataturk International Airport) at 11.00am and 1.30pm on day 10; Escorted by an English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide; Nine nights accommodation in four-star and special class hotels; Guided sightseeing - Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum, Pamukkale, Hierapolis and Cappadocia; All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles. Excludes international flights, visas, tips, entrance fees, personal expenses, travel insurance & anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary. Passports must be supplied at the time of booking. Visas are the responsibility of the traveller. Travel insurance recommended. Value of deal is based on current rates, which are subject to change. Refund available from GrabOne within 48 hours of purchase if specific dates are not available. No cashback. Not to be used with other offers
See the rules that apply to all deals.
