Hotels

The Conrad in Istanbul hails from the luxury brand of the Hilton family. Away from Istanbul, hotels may vary from the well known Sheratons of Ankara and Antalya to the seaside Korumar in Kusadasi, and the Colossae Thermal in Pamukkale which specialises in health, beauty and fitness.

Fellow Passengers

This tour is suitable for first–time travellers, as well as those who want to experience a slightly more exotic tour. Many Australian and New Zealanders book this tour for the emotive visit to Gallipoli. It also appeals to those with an interest in early Christian history and a sense of adventure.

Highlights

Like the Wonders of Turkey, Göreme Valley, Ephesus and Pamukkale are all highlights of this tour. In addition, the well–preserved Roman Theatre at Aspendos is perhaps the finest example in existence. For many travellers, the highlight of this tour is often meeting the friendly Turkish people themselves.

Enjoy our Premium Highlights plus these extra tour features

Excursions & Sights

• Visit the ruins of St. Sophia and see the city walls in Iznik
• Visit the Grand Mosque & 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 Caravanserai Sultanhani
• 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 & Selçuk Archeological Museum
• Visit Pergamon’s Acropolis, Temple of Athena, library & Asklepieon
• View the Trojan Horse in Troy
• Visit the Blue Mosque, Basilica of St. Sophia & Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

Guided City Tours

• Indepth sightseeing tours in Bursa, Göreme, Aspendos, Perge, Ephesus, Troy, Pergamon, Gallipoli and Istanbul.
• Orientation tours in Iznik, Bursa, Ankara, Konya & Antalya

Insight's First Class Services

• First–class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Travel by luxury air–conditioned 40 seat coach with reclining seats and onboard toilet
• Insight’s professional multilingual Tour Director to escort you
• Travel bag, document wallet, map book journal and information pack

Complimentary Transfers

• Complimentary arrival and departure transfers between Istanbul airport and your Insight tour hotel

Quality Dining & Entertainment

DAY 1 – DEPART USA

Overnight flight to Istanbul.

DAY 2 – ISTANBUL AT LEISURE

Welcome to Turkey! You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Get together in the evening to meet your Tour Director and fellow passengers 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 Termal. (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: Sheraton. (BB,D)

DAY 5 – ANKARA – CAPPADOCIA

Sightseeing includes visits to the Hittite Museum and 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 historic Cappadocia region. Hotel: Dedeman. (BB,D)

DAY 6 – CAPPADOCIA – GÖREME EXCURSION

In this unique region of volcanic landscapes and ‘fairy– chimneys’, visit Göreme’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 to relax and explore Antalya or enjoy the leisure facilities of the hotel. 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 continuing to your beautiful beach–front hotel in the lively coastal town of Kusadasi. Hotel: Korumar. (BB,D)

DAY 12 – KUSADASI – IZMIR

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 Selçuk archeological museum, where many artifacts from Ephesus are displayed. Stay overnight in the Aegean port of Izmir. Hotel: Crowne Plaza. (BB,D)

DAY 13 – IZMIR – ÇANAKKALE

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 – ÇANAKKALE – 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. Consider an evening of dinner and belly–dancing. (BB)

DAY 16 – RETURN TO USA

The tour ends after breakfast with transfers to the airport. (BB)