St. Sophia - Istanbul

This tour takes you on an exploratory journey of Turkey with pit stops in Istanbul,Bursa, Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, Pamukkale, Kusadasi, Izmir and Aanakkale. This tour allows the traveller to have more than one night in popular areas and lots of free time to explore on your own when you are not with the group. There is a option to extend this tour with a 6-Day Agean cruiese from Istanbul to Mykanos, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, Santorini and Athens before you return home.

Treasures of Turkey At A Glance

Itinerary

Day 1 – DEPART CANADA
Board your overnight flight.

Day 2 – ISTANBUL AT LEISURE
Welcome to Turkey! You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Settle in and relax, or start exploring the wonders of this glorious city, uniquely located on two continents! At 6:00pm this evening join your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Conrad

Day 3 – ISTANBUL – BURSA
Embark on a superb Highlight cruise along the Bosphorus past Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses. Leaving Istanbul, take a short ferry trip and drive to Iznik. Visit the ruins of St Sophia and see the city walls before continuing to Bursa. In the afternoon there is time to haggle in the bazaar and silk markets.
Hotel: Kervansaray Thermal (BB,D)

Day 4 – BURSA – ANKARA
Visit the glorious Green Mosque and Mausoleum complex and Grand Mosque in Bursa before driving to the charming Cumalikizik Village with its traditional wooden houses and narrow cobblestone streets. Visit Gordion, where Alexander the Great cut the famous Gordion Knot, en route to Turkey’s modern capital, Ankara.
Hotel: Hilton (BB,D)

Day 5 – ANKARA – CAPPADOCIA
Sightseeing includes a visit to the Hittite Museum, portraying the fascinating history of Asia Minor from earliest times. You also visit Anit Kabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk, Turkey’s greatest leader in modern times. Visit the mausoleum of Sufi philosopher Haci Bektas before heading to Nevsehir in the Cappadocia region.
Hotel: Dedeman (BB,D)

Day 6 – CAPPADOCIA – GA–REME EXCURSION
In this unique region of volcanic landscapes and ‘fairy-chimneys’, visit Goreme’s rock-carved churches, see ancient frescoes in the open-air museum and see the Zelve valleys, where the scenery is dotted with caves and troglodyte dwellings. Visit the underground city of Kaymakli and see the cone of Uchisar. Enjoy dinner at the hotel followed by a colourful folklore show in an underground cave, featuring dances from the different regions. (BB,HD)

Day 7 – CAPPADOCIA – KONYA
Visit the Caravanserai of Sultanhani before driving to Turkey’s most religious city, Konya, which was once the home of the mystic sect of Whirling Dervishes and the old capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire. Visit the Mevlana Museum, with its beautiful fluted turquoise dome, and see the Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret.
Hotel: Dedeman (BB,D)

Day 8 – KONYA – ANTALYA
Descend the Taurus mountains and drive to Aspendos to visit what is considered the best preserved Roman Theatre anywhere in the world. Drive to the Hellenistic or Roman city of Perge to visit the extensive ruins, including the great Theatre, the Stadium, and the gate-towers leading into a street where ancient chariot ruts can still be seen. As night falls, enjoy a walking tour of Antalya’s Old Town.
Hotel: Sheraton Voyager. (BB,D)

Day 9 – ANTALYA AT LEISURE
The day is set aside for you to relax and enjoy the leisure facilities of the hotel. Alternatively, you can explore Antalya at your own pace Other suggestions include a stroll around the harbour area or taking a boat trip off the coast. (BB D)

Day 10 – ANTALYA – PAMUKKALE
Pass pine forests and cross the Taurus mountains on your way to Pamukkale. On arrival, visit the ruins of Hierapolis and the beautiful ‘Cotton Castle’ – an apt description of its dazzling white limestone terraces.
Hotel: Colossae Thermal. (BB,D)

Day 11 – PAMUKKALE – KUSADASI
Visit the Temple of Aphrodite at amazing Aphrodisias before following the Maeander River valley, (so full of twists and turns gives us the word ‘meander’) to your beautiful beach-front hotel in the lively coastal town of Kusadasi.
Hotel: Korumar/Charisma (BB,D)

Day 12 – KUSADASI – IZMIR

St. Sophia - Istanbul

Tour one of the world’s finest archeological sites, Ephesus. Visit the Amphitheatre and walk along the Arcadian Way to view the splendid facade of the Library of Celsus. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, situated above the ruins, before continuing to the Selcuk archeological museum, where many artefacts from Ephesus are displayed. Stay overnight in the Aegean port of Izmir.
Hotel: Hilton (BB,D)

Day 13 – IZMIR – AANAKKALE
Stop in Pergamon, the impressive site of an ancient kingdom, to visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena and library, before viewing the Red Courtyard and the ruins of the Asklepieon. Drive to Homer’s Troy to see the ruins of nine cities built on top of each other, and an enormous reconstruction of the famous wooden horse. The evening is spent in Çanakkale.
Hotel: Kolin (BB, D)

Day 14 – Ccedil;ANAKKALE – ISTANBUL
Cross the Dardanelle Straits by ferry and continue to the Gallipoli Peninsula, scene of fierce fighting in World War One. Pay your respects at Anzac Cove and visit the emotive Lone Pine Cemetery before returning to Istanbul.
Hotel: Conrad (BB)

Day 15 – ISTANBUL SIGHTSEEING
Visit the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held. Also visit St Sophia, a former cathedral and a mosque which is now a magnificent museum. The afternoon is dedicated to the Topkapi Palace, a walled city perched above the Bosphorous and the Golden Horn. Test your haggling skills now as you visit the glittering Grand Bazaar. Don’t worry, your guide will give you a full explanation of the time-honoured ritual of bargaining! Consider an evening of dinner and belly-dancing. (BB)

Day 16 – RETURN TO CANADA
The tour ends after breakfast with transfers to the airport. (BB)
OR…Extend your tour with a 6 Night Agean cruise for a little more.

Included Premium Highlights

• In Istanbul embark on a superb Highlight cruise along the Bosphorus past Ottoman palaces
• Explore the amazing underground houses and rock carved churches of Goreme
• Visit Aspendos, the best preserved Roman Theater in the world
• Visit the ruins of Hierapolis and the beautiful Cotton Castle’ in Pamukkale
• Tour one of the world’s finest archeological sites, Ephesus
• Pay your respects at Anzac Cove and visit the emotive Lone Pine Cemetery in Gallipoli
• Visit the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, a walled city perched above the Golden Horn

Included Personal Insights

• A complete guide on how to haggle in the Grand Bazaar; the technique, the pitfalls and how much to pay! Beat the shop-keepers at their own game!

Included Additional Excursions & Sights

• Visit the ruins of St. Sophia and see the city walls in Iznik
• Visit the Grand Mosque and Bursa’s greatest monument, the Green Mosque and Tomb
• Visit Ataturk’s Mausoleum and Hittite Museum in Ankara
• Visit the mausoleum of Haci Bektas
• Visit Sultanhani Caravanserai
• Tour Kaymakli’s underground city
• Visit Konya’s Mevlana Museum
• Visit Perge’s ancient ruins
• Visit the ruins in Hierapolis and Pamukkale’s white terraces
• Visit the Temple of Aphrodite at Aphrodisias
• Visit the House of the Virgin Mary and Selçuk Archeological Museum
• Visit Pergamon’s Acropolis, Temple of Athena, library and Asklepion
• View the Trojan Horse in Troy
• Visit the Blue Mosque and Basilica of St. Sophia in Istanbul

Included First Class Services

• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Travel by luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with reclining seats and onboard restroom
• Insight’s professional multilingual Tour Director to escort and guide you
• Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
• Arrival & departure transfers between the airport and your Insight tour hotel

Included Quality Dining

• A spectacular highlight folklore show in an underground cave in Cappadocia (HD)
• 14 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 10 special-menu Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

For more information about this tour or to contact an agent please call 1.888.461.0231 or fill out the form below.