9-Day Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Priene, Miletus & Didyma Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul, Airport Transfer and Free Day

Arrive at any time. Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökcen Airport (SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international arrivals area, holding a sign with your name on it. You will then be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city at your leisure. Alternatively, you can opt to join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show at an additional cost. This experience offers a memorable evening on the Bosphorus, complete with entertainment and a delicious dinner.

• Overnight in Istanbul

Day 2: Istanbul Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Tour

After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day guided tour of Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman treasures.

The tour will start with a visit to the grand Hagia Sophia, a majestic structure that began as a cathedral, later served as a mosque, and is now a museum, showcasing centuries of history from both Christian and Islamic cultures.

Next, visit the iconic Blue Mosque, famous for its striking blue tiles and six towering minarets. This impressive building remains an active place of worship and a hallmark of Ottoman architecture.

From there, you’ll explore the Hippodrome, which was once the center of Byzantine public life and the venue for chariot races and other social events. Here, you’ll see important monuments, including the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and German Fountain.

After visiting these key historical sites, you’ll enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant, where you can sample traditional Turkish cuisine and take a moment to relax.

Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the stunning Topkapi Palace, the lavish residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. You’ll explore the palace’s vast courtyards, jewel-filled treasuries, and, optionally, the Harem, the private quarters of the sultan’s family.

The final stop of the day will be at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With over 4,000 shops, the bazaar offers a wide range of goods, from spices and carpets to jewelry and ceramics, providing an exciting experience for both shoppers and culture enthusiasts.

The tour will end around 5:00 pm, and you’ll be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure, whether exploring more of Istanbul on your own or simply relaxing.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise

After breakfast at around 8:30 am, you will join the Half-day Morning Bosphorus Cruise. The tour will begin with a drive to the pier in Eminönü, where you’ll visit the historic Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar). After a short exploration, you will board a shared boat for a cruise along the Bosphorus, the narrow strait that separates Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

During the cruise, you’ll get spectacular views of Ottoman palaces such as Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, ancient citadels, beautiful mansions, and the shorelines of both Europe and Asia.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 12:15 pm, where the rest of the day will be free for you to relax or explore on your own.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 4: Gallipoli Tour – Stay overnight in Canakkale

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up around 6:30 am for your departure to Eceabat. The drive takes approximately 5 hours. Upon arrival, lunch will be served before starting the tour.

At around 13:00, your fully guided Gallipoli Tour begins, visiting key sites that played significant roles during the Gallipoli campaign. These include Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, the ANZAC Commemorative Site, and the Respect to Mehmetcik Statue. You will also visit the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly, where you can explore Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels, the Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment Cemetery, The Nek, and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.

After the tour ends around 4:30 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Çanakkale for check-in and overnight.

• Overnight in Canakkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5: Troy & Pergamon Tour

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel around 8:30 am for a fully guided Troy and Pergamon Tour.

The tour begins with a visit to the Trojan Horse, followed by stops at the Sacrificial Altars and the 3,700-year-old city walls. You will explore the Houses of Troy I (3000 B.C. – 2500 B.C.), the Bouleuterion (Senate Building), and the Odeon (Concert Hall). The remains of various cities from Troy I through to Troy IX will also be part of the visit.

After concluding the Troy tour around 10:30 am, you will depart for Bergama. Upon arrival at 1:30 pm, lunch will be served before starting the fully guided Pergamon Acropolis tour.

In Pergamon, you will visit the ancient Acropolis, Library, which once held 200,000 books, Temple of Athena, Temple of Trajan, and the famous Altar of Zeus, now located in Berlin. You will also see the Gymnasium situated on terraces, Lower Agora, Hellenistic Theater with a seating capacity of 10,000, and Temple of Dionysus.

After the tour ends around 5:30 pm, you will depart for Selçuk, arriving at 8:00 pm, and then continue to Kuşadası, arriving by 8:30 pm. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel in Kuşadası

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour

After breakfast at around 7:30 am, you will be picked up from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk, where the full group will gather. Your Pamukkale tour will begin with an 8:30 am departure from Selcuk, and the drive to Pamukkale will take approximately 3 hours. Along the way, there will be a 10-minute stop for a restroom break after 1.5 hours.

Upon arriving in Pamukkale at around 11:45 am, you will first enjoy lunch. After lunch, at approximately 1:00 pm, your guided tour of Pamukkale and the Hierapolis area will commence, led by a professional licensed tour guide. In Pamukkale, you will witness the breathtaking Cotton Cliffs, a natural wonder formed by calcareous salt deposits.

You will also explore the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis, including its basilica, theatre, and Roman Baths. At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore on your own. As an optional activity, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at your own expense) during this free time. Your tour guide will provide details about the exact meeting point and time.

After the tour ends at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kusadasi, arriving around 7:30 pm.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7: Ephesus Tour

After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel at around 8:30 am. You will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus, the ancient Greek city that became an important cultural and commercial center of its time. Your visit includes key highlights such as the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theater, and the Trajan Fountain.

After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last years. Next, you will pass by the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though little remains of the structure today.

Then, explore the beautiful Isa Bey Mosque, a fine example of Seljuk architecture.

After the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your leisure.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8: Priene, Miletus & Didyma Tour

Enjoy your breakfast & then check-out of your hotel in Kusadasi. You will be picked up from your hotel at around 8:30 am. Today you will visit Miletus, one of the oldest cities of Ionia, and the ancient cities of Priene and Didyma. First you will see Priene which in its time was one of the most spectacular of all the ancient Ionians cities. Then we will lead our way to Miletus to see Miletus with its magnificent theatre and the Byzantine fortress on the acropolis above. Our last stop will be Didyma. Here you will find the largest Ionic Temple in the world, that of Apollo. Also in Didyma lies the huge, cracked head of Medusa which long ago fell from the freeze. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9: Izmir-Istanbul Flight & Departure home

This is the last day of your Turkey tour. After breakfast, we will transfer you to Izmir airport for a flight back to Istanbul. Tour ends upon arrival. (If you would like, you can extend your trip by adding extra nights in Istanbul, please advise).

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Arrival and departure airport transfers and all ground transportation
• Domestic flight and bus tickets as per the itinerary
• 3 nights in Istanbul at a 4 standard quality or Boutique hotel including breakfast
• 1 night in Canakkale at a 3-star hotel including breakfast
• 4 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
• English-speaking guide during the tours
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: (B) breakfast, (L) lunch
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• International Flight Tickets.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Dinner and Drinks.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed.
• You can swim in the Antique pool in Pamukkale. However, please note that there is an extra charge that you will have to pay directly at your own expense before entry to the pools. This entrance fee to the pools is not covered as part of your tour. Please note that you must bring your own towel, swimsuit etc. if you need to use the pools.