Welcome to Istanbul , formerly Constantinople and the capital of successive empires for more than 16 centuries. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST), we proceed through immigration and customs, where our representative welcomes us and transfers us to the hotel. 

For passengers arriving at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), a surcharge of US$ 90 per person, per transfer applies, based on a minimum of two people.

Hotel check-in begins at 3 PM. According to legend, the Delphic Oracle first instructed the  Megarians to establish a city here. During the Byzantine Empire, Constantine chose this very spot as his capital, and it was here that the keys to the city were given to Mehmed the Conqueror. Every emperor and king, president and prime minster, cherished the desire of ruling this city. Over the centuries, Istanbul became one of the great centres of Byzantine and Ottoman power.  Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Overnight: Titanic City Taksim (Superior)/Grand Halic (Standard), Istanbul (2 nights)

After breakfast at our hotel, we explore Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman heritage on a guided tour that includes   Topkapi Palace, Hagia  Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.   Topkapı Palace served as the administrative centre and residence of the Ottoman sultans for almost four centuries. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque stand within the Historic Areas of Istanbul*, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where palaces, mosques, cisterns, fountains and columns reflect the city’s layered imperial history. We conclude at the Grand Bazaar, which is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 lanes and 5,000 shops, drawing  between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewellery , hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops. This day brings us face to face with places many travellers have first known through books, films and postcards. (B)

After breakfast, we  drive to Ankara where we  visit Anıtkabir, the mausoleum and museum of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, revered as Atatürk, “Father of the Turks,” and founder of the modern Republic of Türkiye. The site is one of the country’s most important national monuments and reflects the transition from the Ottoman Empire to the modern Turkish republic. The museum displays Atatürk’s personal belongings, including clothing and gifts presented by foreign dignitaries.  We then continue through central Anatolia, passing Salt Lake, a protected habitat for several bird species, before reaching Cappadocia for our two-night stay.

Details of the optional cave-style hotel upgrade appear in the Notes section.

Overnight: Dinler Urgup Hotel (Superior)/Dinler Hotel (Standard), Cappadocia (2 nights) (B, D)

Cappadocia’s volcanic valleys, cave settlements and carved rock formations give this day one of the tour’s most distinctive landscapes. An optional early-morning hot-air balloon flight is available at additional cost.  Later, we explore one of Cappadocia’s underground cities. More than a hundred underground settlements are found in this region. In the Byzantine period, increasing invasions forced local residents to build underground cities for protection and religious purposes. We continue to Göreme Open-Air Museum*, a UNESCO World Heritage Site  known for its rock-cut churches and Byzantine frescoes dating mainly from the 10th to 12th centuries. Afterwards, we continue on to the natural fortress  Uçhisar. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Byzantine army took advantage of the natural elevation of three of the area's rock formations and used them as natural fortresses. We enjoy  lunch at a local restaurant. The day also includes an introduction to local handicrafts such as handmade carpets, Turkish tiles, onyx and pottery.  An optional Turkish folklore show with dinner is available this evening at additional cost. (B, L)

We leave Cappadocia and visit the   Sultanhan Caravanserai, which is an exceptional example of architectural stonework and decorative art from the Seljuk period. It was constructed to provide security for the road from Konya to Aksaray, an important trade and military route. At Konya, we visit   the Mevlana Museum and the tomb of Mevlana  Jalaluddin Rumi, who died here on December 17, 1273. Born in Balkh, Afghanistan, Rumi remains one of the world’s most  widely read poets. He wrote his famous six-volume poem The Mathnavi of  Jalaluddin Rumi in Persian. Rumi was a Sufi mystic  whose followers became associated with the Mevlevi order and the ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes. His teachings were centred on divine love and spiritual devotion. During Rumi’s life, and since his death, pilgrims have come to Konya from all over the world to visit his final resting place. Today, Rumi's tomb is Türkiye's second most-visited tourist attraction after the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul. We  then continue to Pamukkale for our overnight stay.

Overnight: Adem Pira Hotel (Superior)/Villa Lycus (Standard), Pamukkale (1 night) (B, D)

After breakfast, we visit  Hierapolis-Pamukkale*, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose name means "sacred city". It was believed by ancient people to have been founded by the god, Apollo. It was famed for its sacred hot springs, whose  vapours were associated with Pluto, god of the underworld. The city also had a significant Jewish community and was mentioned by Paul in his Letter to Colossians.

In addition to interesting Classical ruins, the site offers a thermal Sacred Pool where, conditions permitting, we may swim among submerged ancient remains. Beside the ruins, mineral-rich water flowing down the slopes has formed Pamukkale’s white travertine terraces, the “cotton castle” from which the site takes its name. Afterwards, we continue our drive to  Selçuk to visit the site of the Temple of Artemis,  one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, before continuing to Izmir for our  2-night stay.

Overnight: Kaya Prestige (Superior)/Kaya Hotel (Standard), Izmir (2 nights) (B, D)

This morning, we visit Ephesus*, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved Classical cities in the eastern Mediterranean. There is nothing like standing on the stage of the amphitheater where St. John spoke to the Ephesians, walking through the ruins of the ancient library where scholars studied, and seeing  2,000-year-old plumbing more sophisticated than in parts of the world today.

The visible ruins give a sense of the city’s original scale and its former importance as a major Roman port. The Library of Celsus, which was reconstructed from the original pieces, was originally built in 125 BC by Julius Aquila, and held over 12,000 scrolls, making it the largest library in the Mediterranean. Lunch is served in a nomadic tent in  Selçuk to taste a local  dish, gözleme. Continue to  Şirince, a hillside village known for its Greek-influenced houses and fruit wines. The Orthodox Christian Greeks who lived here during the Ottoman  Empire were famed for their  winemaking. The Muslim Turks who moved here from Thessaloniki in 1924  restarted  winemaking using local fruits.  There is time to explore the village and taste its local wines. (B, L, D)

Early departure for Pergamum to visit the Asklepion, which was a healing  centre in ancient Greece, as important as its counterparts in Epidaurus and Kos. According to Pausanias, the first Temple of Asclepius in Pergamum was built in the first half of the 4th century BC. The  Asklepion, dedicated to Asclepius, god of medicine and healing, was built in the mid-4th century BC on the slopes of Mount Geyikli,  away from the city in a secluded valley where springs were believed to have healing effects.

 After visiting Pergamum’s well-preserved remains, we continue to Troy*, the legendary site of the Trojan War. Troy (Turkish: Truva or Troya) is an ancient city in northwestern Türkiye, made famous in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad.  Today, it is an archaeological site popular with travellers from all over the world, and in addition to being a Turkish national park, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  We then drive to Çanakkale for our overnight stay.

Overnight: Kolin Hotel (Superior)/Helen Hotel (Standard), Canakkale (1 night) (B, D)

After breakfast, we drive to Gallipoli to visit Anzac Cove, the Nek, Conk Bair, Lone Pine, the  57th Regiment Memorial  and the war museum. The  campaign aimed to break the stalemate on the Western and Eastern  Fronts and to  support Russia. It is perceived as a defining moment in  Türkiye’s history — a final surge in the  defence of the motherland as the Ottoman Empire crumbled.

The struggle formed the basis for the Turkish  War of Independence and the founding of the  Republic of Türkiye eight years later under Mustafa Kemal  Atatürk, a commander at Gallipoli. The campaign is often considered to mark the birth of national consciousness in Australia and New Zealand, and the date of the landing, 25 April, is known as  Anzac Day. It remains the most significant commemoration of military casualties and veterans there.  We then continue to Istanbul for our overnight stay.

Overnight: Kent (Old City) Hotel (Superior)/Grand Halic (Standard), Istanbul (1 night) (B)

After breakfast, we are transferred to  Istanbul Airport (IST)**.  Hotel check-out time is by 11 AM. Please note that departure transfers to  Istanbul Airport (IST) are provided by shuttle and are only available at  9 AM and 1 PM.

For those departing after 1 PM, a private transfer is available at US$ 90 per person, based on a minimum of two people. Istanbul is an ideal city to extend your stay. For details, please contact us.(B)

For those departing after 1 PM, a private transfer is available at CA$ 130 per person, based on a minimum of two people. Istanbul is an ideal city to extend your stay. For details, please contact us. (B)

** For those departing from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), a surcharge of US$ 90 per person per transfer will apply, based on a minimum of two people.

** For those departing from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), a surcharge of CA$ 130 per person per transfer will apply, based on a minimum of two people.