Best of Turkey Anatolian

Upon arrival in Istanbul, a professional assistant who can communicate effectively in English will be waiting to receive you at the airport. The assistant will then transport you to your hotel where you can check in and settle down. There are no meals included for the night.

The day will begin with breakfast at the hotel, followed by a trip to Spice Market for shopping. After some free time, the group will meet and embark on a 1.5-hour Bosphorus Cruise excursion, which will showcase the natural beauty of Istanbul, including forests, palaces, and old wooden houses on both sides of the Asia-Europe divide. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before visiting the Sultanahmet Mosque (commonly known as Blue Mosque), Hippodrome, and the famous Hagia Sophia. The afternoon will end with some free time to explore the Grand Bazaar. The group will stay in Istanbul overnight, with breakfast and lunch provided.

The day starts with breakfast at the hotel followed by a visit to the Topkapi Palace, which was the residence of the Ottoman sultans. Please note that the entrance fee for the harem section is not included. Afterward, we will depart from the hotel to reach Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Our anticipated arrival time in Ankara is early evening when we will spend the night and have dinner. Breakfast and dinner are included in the package.

The day starts with a hotel breakfast, followed by a visit to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum to view the Neolithic and Paleolithic ruins from various ancient civilizations. Next, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, which founded the Turkish Republic, is visited. Later in the day, the journey continues towards Cappadocia with a stop at the Underground City, built by early Christians as a defense mechanism against attacks. The day ends with dinner in Cappadocia and an overnight stay.

The day starts with breakfast followed by a full-day visit to Cappadocia. The first destination is the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO Heritage site famous for its cave churches located in the valley. Then, the tour proceeds to Uchisar Village and the breathtaking fairy chimneys. The next stop is the Derbent Valley, where visitors can explore natural rock formations and attend workshops on carpets and onyx stones. Accommodation for the night is in Cappadocia, and meals include breakfast and dinner. For an additional experience, guests can opt for a hot air balloon tour in the early morning. This optional tour allows visitors to witness the stunning beauty of the region's rock formations, fairy chimneys, natural formations, and lunar landscapes from the sky.

The next day's itinerary involves traveling from the hotel to Pamukkale after breakfast. On the way, a visit will be made to the Sultanhan Caravansarai, which dates back to the Seljuk Empire and played an important role as a stopover for travelers and merchants for many years. Upon arrival at Pamukkale, the Cotton Steps, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be explored. These steps are known to have therapeutic thermal water. The day will conclude with dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel in Pamukkale. The meals included are breakfast and dinner.

After having breakfast, the plan is to travel to Selcuk and explore the ruins of Ephesus, which was a city dedicated to Artemis I. The sightseeing includes visiting the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian, the House of Love, the Library of Celsus, and the Agora. After that, the next destination is the Virgin Mary House, which is considered to be the ultimate resting place of Jesus' mother. Later, there will be a halt at the Leather Production Store before proceeding towards Izmir, where the night will be spent.

After having breakfast, we will head towards the Pergamon or Bergama region. There, we will explore the ruins of Asclepion, which is known to be the oldest hospital in the Asia Minor region. Following this, we will move on to Troy, which is a renowned city that is often mentioned in Homer's Iliad. Finally, we will reach Canakkale and spend the night there. The meals provided will include breakfast and dinner. It is important to note that no information has been left out while rephrasing the original text.

After having breakfast, we will take a car ferry to cross the Dardanelles Strait and then proceed to the Gallipoli Peninsula. This area includes a significant historical site of World War I, which is emotionally impactful for many visitors. The site comprises several landmarks such as Brighton Beach, ANZAC Cove, Beach Cemetery, Ariburnu Cemetery, ANZAC Commemorative Site, Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels, 57. Regiment Turkish Memorial, The Nek, and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. We will spend the night in Istanbul, and breakfast will be included in the package.

The morning meal will be provided before we escort you to the airport for your return flight, marking the end of our services. However, please note that breakfast will only be served if the departure flight schedule allows for it.