Deal

Welcome to Istanbul – the only city on earth that embraces two continents – both Europe and Asia. You will be staying four nights here on the European side of Istanbul in the Sultanahmet area. Home to the wonderful Blue Mosque, St Sophia and Topkapi Palace, which of course you will visit, as well as the fabulous Spice and Grand Bazaars. A perfect location! Join the rest of the group tonight for a welcome drink and dinner, where you will meet your Turkish Tour Guide. This is also the perfect time to meet, and get to know, your fellow travellers.

You have a full day of sightseeing included today. You will visit the massive mosque of Hagia Sophia or St Sophia (Ἁγία Σοφία, meaning the Holy Wisdom). Built in 537 as the Greek Orthodox cathedral, it later became a Roman Catholic cathedral, then a Sunni mosque, then a museum. It now functions as a mosque.

Enjoy Turkish tea included in the courtyard of the historic 16th-century Caferaga Medresesi, a former Islamic school, and lunch in a local restaurant.

Your tour of Istanbul would not be complete without visits to the Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Hippodrome, known as Sultanahmet Square, and the nearby Yerebatan Cisterns. Built in the fourth century, these underground cisterns riddle the foundations of the city. They have been extensively excavated and renovated, and the piped classical music heightens this unique experience.

Your evening is at leisure, and there are numerous excellent restaurants close to your hotel.

This morning, you will visit Topkapi Palace (formerly the Sultan’s Palace), home to the treasures of the Ottoman Empire and one of the most important historical sites in Istanbul. You also have a scenic boat tour included along the Bosphorus Strait, which links the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara and divides Istanbul into two continents. From here, you will cruise around the famous Golden Horn and past the stunning architecture of the majestic Ottoman palaces, such as Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace.

Your afternoon and evening are free. This is an ideal opportunity to walk to the nearby Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. The famous Grand Bazaar is an enormous maze of 65 winding, covered streets and arguably the most famous ‘covered market’ in the world.

Istanbul must rank as one of the most fascinating and absorbing cities in the world. That is why you stay a 4th night here. Istanbul has been at the junction of trading routes linking Asia, Europe and Africa for thousands of years, and its culture and cuisine have absorbed the best of each. Therefore, you have a half-day ‘foodies’ walking tour included. It will be a very leisurely start to the day before you meet and split into smaller groups of 6–8 people, with each mini-group expertly led by a local guide on a personal walking tour. This will be all about discovering the culinary traditions of Türkiye in the historic neighbourhoods and streets of the cosmopolitan Beyoğlu (Pera) district, which is home to a hive of traditional eateries, local food shops, patisseries and bakeries. Time to watch and learn and, of course, enjoy the opportunity to sample some of the unique and traditional foods and desserts!

Your afternoon is completely free – ‘My Time’ to explore this magical city of Istanbul.

This evening, you will walk to a nearby rooftop restaurant for dinner, and the 270-degree views from here are exceptional. To the left, you will see the Asian side of the city, connected by massive bridges across the Bosphorus, and Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. To the right is the Sea of Marmara. This is undeniably the best view over the city and, as dusk creeps in, the mosques and grand sights all change colour and twinkle as they absorb the soft evening sunlight and the massive nighttime illuminations. Spectacular!

Saving several days of driving, you’ll catch a flight to Cappadocia. Cappadocia is located south of Mount Erciyes and is a region known for its curious volcanic landscape that has been relentlessly carved by nature and by the people who have lived here. ‘Fairy chimneys’, cones and strange rock formations have been eroded and sculpted by wind and rain. Over many centuries, people seeking shelter from the conquerors and marauding armies of the Central Anatolian Plateau settled here and burrowed whole subterranean towns. Cappadocia is a remarkable place!

Your first stop will be a visit to the ‘Pottery Village’ of Avanos, a town that was first settled in the Bronze Age. Later, you visit the Göreme Open Air Museum.

Weather depending, you will have an early departure to enjoy a mesmerising experience – a hot air balloon ride, gliding across the ancient, moon-like, pinnacle landscape in the still morning air. Incredible!

Later, you will enjoy a full day touring the unique Göreme Valley (one of the oldest settlements of the region) with the rock chapels carved by early Christians. You see Uchisar Castle, one of Cappadocia’s most prominent landmarks, which is essentially a volcanic rock outcrop and riddled with interconnecting tunnels. You continue on to visit the ‘underground city’ of Kaymakli. It is thought that the Hittites may have excavated the first few levels in the rock when they came under attack from the Phrygians around 1200 BC. These chambers were later expanded into an extensive troglodytic complex by Christians escaping the Arab invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries. Your evening is at leisure.

After flying back to Istanbul, you’ll drive south and, after crossing the Straits of the Dardanelles, arrive in Çanakkale, where you stay for the next three nights.

Today promises to be a very rewarding day. An early start as you cross the Dardanelles and spend the full day on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Your first activity is rather special as you board a boat and cruise out to sea, approaching Ari Burnu – now called ANZAC Cove – from the water, much as the diggers did at dawn over 100 years ago. Setting the scene for a fascinating day, you’ll then explore the key sites on this famous peninsula. As you enter this almost barren land, you can still sense the war and heartache that once dominated the landscape. You will spend time at the ANZAC Commemorative Site, ANZAC Cove, Shrapnel Valley and Beach Cemetery – home to one of Australia’s most legendary soldiers, Private John Simpson.

Enjoy an included lunch, as well as entrance to the Kabatepe Museum.

Take in the spectacular Turkish ‘Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial, dramatically overlooking Morto Bay with a view across the mouth of the Straits of the Dardanelles. Afterwards, you’ll also stop at Cape Helles on the remote tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Here, at the most south-westerly corner of Europe, is the British Commonwealth’s main monument to the whole Gallipoli campaign – the Helles Memorial. All Australian and New Zealand units that fought on the peninsula between April and December 1915 are commemorated here.

Later, you will visit the ANZAC memorials at Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, Walker’s Ridge, the Nek and the surrounding trenches. In respect, wreaths have also been arranged for you to lay at the Australian, New Zealand and Turkish memorials.

This morning, you have an included excursion to the ancient city of Troy, site of the mythological battle Homer immortalised inThe Iliad, which dates back to 3,000 BC. On the drive back to Çanakkale you stop at the heights of Kephez Point where there is a splendid view of the Dardanelles to Çanakkale and beyond.

Your afternoon and evening are at leisure in Çanakkale. Perhaps stroll through the town to visit Çimenlik Castle – built to protect the Narrows of the Dardanelles by the Ottoman Sultan in 1462, and now home to a Turkish War Museum (entrance fee not included).

Travelling south down the beautiful mountainous coastline of Türkiye your first stop will be at the ancient Acropolis of Pergamon, famous for its wealth of archaeological ruins where, from the Temple of Trajan, you will take in the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Later, continue to Izmir where you’ll stay the next two nights.

The highlight of your day will be a visit to one of the ancient wonders of the world, the inspiring ruins of Ephesus. Rated one of the world’s best archaeological sites, you will walk along the 2,000-year-old marble streets, visit the Temple of Hadrian and the famous Library of Celsus. Your tour is made complete with a visit to the nearby House of the Virgin Mary nestled high in the hills overlooking the city of Ephesus. Afterwards, drive deep into the hills, richly covered with olive trees and vineyards, and wind your way up to the heritage wine village of Şirince, to enjoy lunchtime wandering through the stone streets, and discover a shady restaurant for lunch. This evening you enjoy a Farewell dinner in your hotel.