Day 01: Arrive Istanbul

Welcome to Ataturk Airport (IST) – one of the top 20 busiest airports in the world. We are cordially welcomed   and transferred to our hotel.  Spend the rest of the day at leisure.  Hotel check in time starts at 1500 hrs.  According to the legend, the Delphic Oracle first instructed the Megarions 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 every king cherished the dreams of this place. Welcome, then, to one of the most important witnesses of world history where it all happened.

Overnight: Hotel Istanbul (2 nights)

Day 02: Istanbul

After breakfast at our hotel, we explore this beautiful city with a guided tour to include the Topkapi Palace, St. Sophia, Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.  Be ready to be amazed when you discover the variety of historical monuments, including palaces, museums, cisterns, fountains, and pillars, which surround you on all sides. You can experience the magnificence of both the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires one each after the other.  A trip to Istanbul is not complete without a visit of the Grand bazaar, which is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 lanes and 5,000 shops, and attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewelry, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops. You will encounter Istanbul firsthand, which you may have previously only seen on films, postcards, and read about in history books. (B)

Day 03: Istanbul/Ankara/Cappadocia (Drive)

After breakfast, we depart for Ankara where we will visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk and its Museum.   The huge hall, lined in red marble, has simple mosaic decoration recalling the many ages and civilizations - this is the burial place of Mustafa Kamal Pasha the national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. He is referred to as Atatusk – Father of the Turks. The Anitkabir museum is located between the Tower of the National Pact and the Tower of the Revolution. A number of Ataturk's personal belongings are exhibited, including clothes that he wore, and gifts presented to him by visiting foreign dignitaries.  After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake, which is a protected area for bird species, we arrive at Cappadocia for our 2nights stay. For an upgrade experience at a Cave Hotel, please see under Notes below.

Overnight: Dinler Urgup Hotel, Cappadocia/Alfina Cave hotel (2 nights) (B, D)

See supplement cost under “Notes” in the Prices & Dates page.

Day 04: Cappadocia

Early morning an optional hot-air balloon tour (extra charge). A full day excursion in Cappadocia including visits to the Ozkonak  Underground City. It's known that there are more than a hundred underground settlements in the region and many of them are not open to the public. The underground cities,used to be a settlement mostly during the Byzantine period. In this period, increasing invasions forced local residents to build underground cities for protection and religious purposes. The Open Air Museum in Göreme Valley holds the region's best collection of painted cave-churches. Medieval orthodox Christian monks (1000-1200 AD) carved the caves from the soft volcanic stone and decorated them with elaborate Byzantine frescoes. Natural fortress in Uchisar. 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. Lunch in a cave restaurant to taste the populr local dish of pottery Kebab. Here, we will have the opportunity to discover and understand the rich history of local handicrafts like hand-made carpets, Turkish tiles, onyx and pottery.  Optional night tour with a Turkish Folk show with dinner is available tonight (extra charge). (B, L)

Day 05: Cappadocia/Konya/Pamukkale (Drive)

Early departure for Pamukkale.  On the way, we visit the 13th century Seljukian masterpiece Sultanhan Caravanserai, which is an exceptional example of architectural stone work and decoration art from the Seljuk period.  It was constructed to provide security for the road from Konya to Aksaray that was an important trade and military route. It is a classic Seljuk Han with summer and winter quarters plus stables. The Hans built in the Seljuk period under the direction of the Hanbeyi (Lord of Hans).  Rumi is one of the world's most read poets. During his life, and since his death in 1273, pilgrims have come to Konya from all over the world. Today, Rumi's tomb is Turkey's second most-visited tourist attraction after the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. Rumi was a mystic, a Sufi saint who loved all religions, and whose own religion was love. His followers would (and still do) loose themselves in trance and dance, sometimes spinning like tops for hours on end. After visiting the Mausoleum of Mevlana, we continue our drive to Pamukkale for our overnight stay.

Overnight: Adem Pira Hotel, Pamukkale (1 night) (B, D)

Day 06: Pamukkale/Izmir (Drive)

After breakfast, visit the ancient Hierapolis with the magnificent Hierapolis, 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 vapors 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. Today, Hierapolis is a World Heritage Site. In addition to interesting Classical ruins, the site offers a thermal Sacred Pool in which you can swim with ancient artifacts, a view of the spectacular white terraces of Pamukkale the lime cascade. You can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis. The extraordinary effect is created when water from the hot springs loses carbon dioxide as it flows down the slopes, leaving deposits of limestone. The layers of white calcium carbonate, built up in steps on the plateau, gave the site the name Pamukkale ("cotton castle").   Afterwards we continue our drive to Selcuk to visit Temple of Artemis ‘‘one of the seven wonders of the ancient  world ‘’.  Then continue to Izmir  for our overnight stay.

Overnight: Kaya Thermal, Izmir (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 07: Izmir/Ephesus/Izmir

Morning drive to Ancient city of Ephesus, once the trade centre of the ancient world, a religious center of the early Christianity.  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 2000 years old plumbing more sophisticated than in parts of the world today. The ruins that are now visible give you some idea of the city's original composition, and the names associated with the ruins are a reminder of its former status as a major port of the ancient world. 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 in a nomadic tent in Selcuk to taste a local know dish of Gozleme.  Continue to marvelous village of Sirince where you be able to experience one of the most beautiful villages in Turkey.  The Orthodox Christian Greeks who lived here during the Ottoman empire were famed for their wine making.  The Muslim Turks who moved here from Thessaloniki in 1924 and restarted wine making using local fruits.  You will have the opportunity to shop and taste delicious wines of the village. (B, L, D)

Day 08: Izmir/Pergamum/Canakkale (Drive)

Early departure for Pergamum to visit the Asklepion, which was a healing temple in the 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 Asclepion dedicated to Asclepius, god of medicine and healing was built in mid-4th century BC, on the slopes of Mount Geyikli, far away from the city, inside a hidden valley, of which springs were believed to have healing effects. Visiting Pergamum with its well preserved remains before continuing to Troy; the site where the legendary Trojan War took place.  Troy (Turkish: Truva or Troya) is an ancient city in northwestern Turkey, made famous in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad. According to Iliad, this is where the legendary Trojan War took place. 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. Drive to Canakkale for our overnight stay.

Overnight: Kolin Hotel, Canakkale (1 night) (B, D)

Day 09: Canakkale/Gallipoli/Istanbul (Drive)

After breakfast, we drive to Gallipoli to visit Anzac Cove, Nek, Conk Bair , Lone Pine and 57.th regiment memorial as well as the war museum.  The reason for the campaign was to break the stalemate on the Western and Eastern Front and to help the Russians. It is perceived as a defining moment in the nation's history—a final surge in the defense of the motherland as the Ottoman Empire crumbled. The struggle formed the basis for the Turkish war independence and the founding of the Republic Of Turkey eight years later under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, 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.   Arrival in Istanbul for our overnight stay.

Overnight: Kent (Old City) Hotel, Istanbul (1 night) (B)

Day 10: Depart Istanbul

Breakfast. Check out time is by 1100 hrs.  Transfer to Ataturk Airport (IST).  Please note that departure transfers to (IST airport) are provided by the hotel’s shuttle and is only available at 0900 hrs and at 1300 hrs. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

We accept payments in US$, CA$ as well as in other convertible currencies like EUR, AUD and GBP. Tour prices have been costed in US$. CA$ price shown below is an indicative amount reached at by using the conversion rate at the time of web posting and will be applicable if there is no change in the conversion rate. Should the currency conversion rate change, the US$ pricing will prevail. Bestway Tours & Safaris offers a conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please click here

Notes

Inclusions

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 28 participants

Customised Itinerary

If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.

Contact Info
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

Inquire About this Trip

Tour Application Form