WONDERS OF TURKEY (CLASSIC GROUP)

• Arrive in Istanbul
• Meet with our representative and transfer to hotel.
• Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner.

Arrival Transfer: Depart Istanbul International Airport (IST) at 13:30, 16:30

Welcome Meet your Travel Director at 18:30

• Marvel at coastal views along the shores of the Sea of Marmara
• Visit historic Gallipoli, site of significant battles during the Great War
• Explore Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery
• Travel from Eceabat to Çanakkale
• Arrive in the historic city of Troy
• Learn about the Trojan War and the story of Paris and Helen of Troy
• See a replica of the Trojan horse next to the city’s walls.

• Participate in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Copmadam, a women’s co-op focusing on recycled materials and women’s employment
• Visit Pergamon, an ancient Greek city
• Explore the Asklepion temple, a famous shrine and healing center dedicated to Asklepios, the god of medicine
• Continue journey to the coastal resort of Izmir

• Start your morning with a trip to the nearby town of Selçuk.
• You’ll begin with an educational visit to the Archaeological Museum.
• Once here, delve into the area’s history as you explore the museum’s exhibits, many of which have been retrieved from the nearby Ephesus excavation site.
• Later, explore the famous site itself.
• Walk through the colonnaded Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and the huge Amphitheatre, before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, situated above the Ephesus ruins.

• Head to Pamukkale, famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters and chalk-white limestone terraces, explore the area with your Travel Director.
• See the ruins of the ancient Roman spa city of Hierapolis, founded in 190 B.C.
• You’ll see the city’s well-preserved theatre and its turquoise travertine pools.
• Later, head to your hotel, the esteemed Doğa Thermal Health & Spa.
• Take full advantage of its indoor and outdoor thermal pools, steam room and its Turkish bath complex.

• Move on to Göreme, a striking town in the Cappadocia region of Turkey.
• Explore its rock-hewn churches decorated with ancient wall paintings before moving on to the Pasabag Valley.
• Located on the road to Zelve, you’ll find otherworldly earth pillars here, ‘fairy chimneys’ and troglodyte dwellings.
• Later, join a Cappadocian local who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house.
• You’ll learn more about their unique way of living, local traditions and family life.
• Complementing the day’s events, this evening you’ll witness a performance of the Whirling Dervishes before dining at a local restaurant.

• One for art lovers, this morning, you’ll learn about the art of pottery making in Avanos.
• Continue your journey to Ankara, where you’ll visit the Hittite Museum and the Mausoleum of Atatürk, Turkey’s greatest modern leader and the first President of the Republic of Turkey.
• Perhaps relax in the spa and wellness centre at your hotel this evening.

• . A glorious fusion of East and West, this popular city offers something for everyone, with history, culture, modernity, delicious cuisine and of course, the friendliest of faces.
• Enjoy the excitement of bargaining in the bustling Grand Bazaar. Your evening is at leisure.

• Take in the sites of Istanbul, visit the historic Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held.
• Explore Hagia Sophia with Insight Choice.
• Choose between visiting Hagia Sophia History Digital Experience, offering an immersive journey through the landmarks marvels, or alternatively, visit Hagia Sophia, built in A.D. 537 and famous for its domed roof.
• Visit the Topkapi Palace, perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the primary inlet of the waterway.
• Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus, where you will pass Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses.
• In the evening, join your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant.

• Transfer to the airport for onward flights
• For those extending their stay in Istanbul, consult the Travel Director for recommendations on activities and attractions

Departure Transfer: Arrive at Istanbul International Airport (IST) at 06:00, 12:00