Itinerary for: Turkish Delights (I950)
Day 1 - UK - ISTANBUL
Enjoy your complimentary V.I.P door to door transfer to your departure airport. You are met at Istanbul airport
and transferred to your tour hotel. This evening,
join your Tour Director and fellow guests for a
Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Barcelo Topkapi Eresin
Day 2 - ISTANBUL - BURSA
This morning take a short ferry trip and drive to the charming Cumalikizik Village with its traditional wooden houses, and very narrow cobblestone streets. Continue to beautiful Bursa for your overnight stay. There is time this afternoon to visit the glorious Green Mosque and Mausoleum complex, the Grand Mosque, the Bazaar and colourful Silk Market, where you'll be overwhelmed by the dazzling array of goods on display. Tonight you might like to experience a Turkish bath at your hotel.
Hotel: Kervansaray Thermal (BB,D)
Day 3 - BURSA - PAMUKKALE
Drive to Sardis, where you visit the Synagogue, Roman Gymnasium and the Temple of Artemis. Now continue to Pamukkale, famous for its 'Cotton Castle', a dazzling chalk-white array of fantastically shaped limestone terraces. Visit the ruins of ancient Hierapolis and the fairyland terraces and see the glistening pools and cascades in scallop-shell basins.
Hotel: Pam Thermal. (BB,D)
Day 4 - PAMUKKALE - IZMIR
Journey to Ephesus, significant to early Christianity as well as to the ancient world. View the marvellous facade of the Library of Celsus, walk the Arcadian Way and see the amazing Amphitheatre. Also visit the House of the Virgin Mary. At the Archeological Museum in nearby Selcuk you can marvel at many of the artifacts excavated from Ephesus. After visiting a Turkish carpet centre it's on to the pretty port city of Izmir.
Hotel: Hilton Izmir (BB,D)
Day 5 - IZMIR - CANAKKALE
Your first stop today is Pergamon to visit the Temple of Athena, the Theatre and the Library, which is said to have contained 200,000 volumes. Also visit the Asklepion ruins, probably the world's earliest medical centre. Before leaving, admire the Red Courtyard. Next stop is Homer's legendary city of Troy; visit the ruins and see an enormous reconstruction of the fabled Wooden Horse. Stay tonight in the seaport of Çanakkale, on the southern side of the Dardanelles at their narrowest point.
Hotel: Kolin (BB, D)
Day 6 - CANAKKALE - ISTANBUL
This morning cross the Dardanelles Straits and drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula to visit Anzac Cove and the emotive Lone Pine Cemetery. Then return to Istanbul. Upon arrival, embark on a superb highlight cruise along the Bosphorus Waterway. The scenery complements the grandeur of the Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses.
Hotel: Barcelo Topkapi Eresin (BB)
Day 7 - ISTANBUL SIGHTSEEING
Get your cameras ready today. Visit the Blue Mosque with its beautiful tiles and the Hippodrome where Roman chariot races were held, and visit St Sophia, at one time a cathedral and a mosque, and now a magnificent museum. Move on to visit the fabulous Topkapi Palace, a walled city perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, where in the Treasury Section, some of the world's biggest emeralds and diamonds are on display. Finish your sightseeing tour at the famous Grand Bazaar where, all under cover, there are more than 4,000 shops, cafes and tea houses. Don't worry, your guide will give you a full explaination of the time-honoured ritual of bargaining! Tonight consider an optional farewell dinner and show at a local night club? (BB)
Day 8 - ISTANBUL - UK
This morning, your tour
comes to an end with a transfer to the airport. On
arrival at your UK airport, your driver will greet you
and escort you to your waiting car for your return
V.I.P door to door transfer home. (BB)