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Jewels of Turkey
The Jewels of Turkey Tour offers you the opportunity to discover and enjoy the diversity and beauty of Anatolia and the spectacular Turkish coastline. Your journey will take you through the breathtaking scenery of Cappadocia by Hot Air Balloon, cruise the many bays of the Mediterranean on a traditional Turkish gulet and travel by air-conditioned modern coaches to many of the ancient treasures of Turkey, whilst staying at 4* and 5* luxury hotels.
These tours are designed to give you plenty of free time to relax and immerse yourself in the culture whilst doing it in style. For the Istanbul - Cappadocia leg of our journey we will be flying. This saves you from the exhausting 10 hour bus journey.
Day 1 IstanbulWelcome to Istanbul! You will be transferred to your hotel located in the heart of the old city, Sultanahmet or in Taksim. The remainder of the day is yours free to explore. The world famous Grand Bazaar beckons. Tonight, meet your guide and the rest of your group at dinner in a Turkish restaurant. Overnight Istanbul 4*. Dinner.
Day 2 Byzantine & Ottoman Relics TourEnjoy a tour of Istanbul, the city that spans both Europe and Asia visiting the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, the Cistern and the Hippodrome. Overnight Istanbul 4*. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 3 Bosphorus Cruise, Two Continents Tour & Turkish BathToday we soak up the aromatic smells of the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), before we take a cruise along the magnificent Bosphorus, viewing the luxurious apartments and Rumeli Fortress on its shores. In the afternoon we take a tour of Dolmabahce Palace and cross the Bosphorus Bridge for the panoramic views from Camlica Hill (Istanbul's highest point). In the early evening we return to Sultanahmet to relax in the 300 year old Cagaloglu Turkish Bath. Overnight in Istanbul 4*. Breakfast and lunch.
Day 4 Istanbul to Cappadocia via KayseriThis morning we fly to Kayseri and drive to your hotel in Cappadocia. Once you've settled, we depart for a fully guided tour of this remarkable lunar landscape. We visit Devrent Valley, the Zelve Open-Air Museum and Monk's Valley, where you will view the intriguing Fairy Chimney rock formations. After lunch in Avanos, we continue on to the Goreme Open-Air Museum to see the numerous rock carved churches and monasteries. In the afternoon we depart for superb views from Esentepe and then on to Uchisar - a natural rock castle. Tonight we have dinner in a special cave restaurant. Overnight Cappadocia S Class. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 5 Hot Air Balloon Tour, Underground City and Ihlara ValleyToday is a special treat. Before breakfast we drive you to the launch site for your Hot Air Balloon tour. This truelly is a magnificent experience as you drift through the early morning skies above the caves and valleys of Cappadocia. After breakfast, we embark on another tour of the surrounding area. Highlights include the Derinkuyu Underground City (7 stories deep!), the short hike amongst the churches in Ihlara Valley and the great views from Selime. Overnight Cappadocia S Class. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 6 Antalya via KonyaAfter breakfast in the hotel we drive to Antalya city, stopping for lunch in Konya, where we visit the Mevlana Tomb. We check into our hotel in the evening. Overnight Antalya 5*. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 7 Antalya - board the guletThis morning is free for you to explore Antalya. In the afternoon we board the gulet for your welcome drink and information about the gulet and the tour program. Overnight on gulet. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 8 Phaselis - on the boatAfter breakfast we cruise for a couple of hours to our first stop, Sazak Bay, where you have the option of swimming or snorkelling in this picturesque bay. After a short cruise to Cavu Limani we settle in for the evening. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 9 Demre - on the boatWe depart early today for the 5 hour cruise to Demre and have breakfast along the way. In Demre you can visit the church of St. Nicholas, who was the bishop of the city in the 4th century and is the legend behind Santa Claus. Other highlights of the village are the ancient theatre and the neighbouring Lycian rock tombs. Late afternoon we cruise to Gokkaya Bay for dinner and the evening. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 10 Kekova - disemabarking the guletCruising past Kekova Island we see the ruins of the "sunken city". The water is especially clear here and you can see the ruins right underneath you. In the afternoon, we arrive in Kas and bid farewell to the crew. Overnight Fethiye 4*. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 11 Fethiye to PamukkaleToday we travel to the magnificent white calcium terraces of Pamukkale. Here we tour the Red Spring, the ruins of the Necropolis Graveyard and the ancient city of Hierapolis. After you are free to explore the calcium terraces or choose to swim in the Kleopatra thermal pool (entry prices not included). Overnight in Pamukkale 5*. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 12 KusadasiAfter breakfast we drive to the beautiful seaside town of Kusadasi. The afternoon is yours free to explore the numerous bazaars or to relax on the beach. Overnight in Kusadasi 5*. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 13 EphesusAbsorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of the impressive site of Ephesus. Walk down the Marble Road towards the Celsus Library, Domitianus Temple and Grand Theatre. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the city halls and stadium where chariot and horse races were once held. Later we visit St. John Museum and the House of the Virgin Mary. Overnight Kusadasi 5*. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 14 Canakkale via PergamumThis morning, we tour the Acropolis of Pergamum. Its impressive temples, library and medical facilities made Pergamum a renowned cultural and political centre in its time. We also explore Athena and Trojan Temples, including the Temple of Zeus and a Roman bath. Overnight Canakkale 5*. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 15 TroyThis morning, step back in time as we visit Troy, home of the famed Trojan Horse from the times of beautiful Helen, Queen of Sparta and Paris, the Trojan Prince. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy. Overnight Canakkale 5*. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 16 Istanbul with Turkish Night ShowAfter breakfast, we drive back to Istanbul for an afternoon arrival. You have free time until our Turkish Night Show this evening. This includes demonstrations of traditional musical instruments and belly dancing displays. The food is always exquisite and the drinks flowing. Overnight Istanbul 4*. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 17 Taksim SquareAfter breakfast, we visit Taksim Square (the heart of modern day Turkey) including Istiklal Street and Galata Tower. After lunch in Taksim we return to your hotel and you have the afternoon free. Overnight Istanbul 4*. Breakfast and lunch.
Day 18 FarewellAfter breakfast we say goodbye to our new friends and you're transferred to the airport according to your flight schedule.
Tour includes
• inbound and outbound airport transfer to/from your hotel
• transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
• professional English-speaking tour guide for the duration of the tour
• tours of Istanbul, Troy, Pergamum, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia
• 1 hour Hot Air Balloon tour in Cappadocia
• Turkish Night Show
• 3 night/ 4 day gulet cruise
• 6 nights in 4* hotels, 6 nights in 5* hotels, 2 nights in S Class hotels
• Istanbul - Kayseri flight ticket and relevant airport transfer
• entrance fees to various sites, unless otherwise stated
• 17 breakfasts, 16 lunch, 15 dinners
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