Jubilant Turkey (09 nights/ 10 days)

Day 1: Arrive Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to hotel. In the afternoon pick up for a half-day tour with Bosphorus cruise.  You will visit City Walls, Golden Horn and take a cable car to Pierre Loti Hill. Later, Bosporus Cruise along the Bosphorus, the winding strait separating Europe & Asia. Bosphorus coastline is a delightful mixture of the past and the present where one can enjoy the grand splendour and quaint beauty of the ancient wooden mansions, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. Rumeli Fortress (from the boat, no interior visit) and Leander’s Tower (from the boat, no interior visit). Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul

Today after breakfast enjoy half-day city tour. Visit St.Sophia (closed on Mondays), Byzantine Hippodrome, in which stand the obelisk brought from Egypt by Theodosius and the Serpent Column taken from Delphi by Constantine. Blue Mosque (closed to visit on Friday mornings due to Friday Pray), which has six minarets and a middle dome of 109 feet and Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sundays) dating back to 15th century. It covers over 4,000 shops under one roof. Afternoon is at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: Istanbul – Ankara – Cappadocia

Today, after breakfast, transfer to Ataturk Airport for an early flight to Ankara (flight on own). (Arrival to Ankara needs to be latest at 09:05am). Ankara, the capital of Turkey and one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a history that can be dated back 3000 years. Visit to the world-wide famous Anatolian Civilizations Museum (also known as Hittite Museum) and the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the Turkish Hero. Then, depart for Cappadocia. Lunch will be en route. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake visit to the 13th century Seljukian Caravanserai Agzikarahan. Later arrive in Cappadocia and check into the hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 4: Cappadocia

After breakfast depart for a tour of Cappadocia where you will visit the Pigeon Valley near Uchisar; then the Open Air Museum in Goreme through Avcilar Valley and also visit the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. After lunch at local restaurant you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors. Later proceed to Pasabagi in Zelve region and Avanos with shopping facilities for the world-wide famous handicrafts. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 5: Cappadocia – Konya – Pamukkale

After breakfast at the hotel in the morning you will drive to Konya. En route you will visit 13th century Sultanhani Caravanserai built on the famous silk route. In Konya you will visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the worldwide famous mystic and Karatay Theological School with its beautiful tiles. Later, continue to Pamukkale. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 6: Pamukkale – Aphrodisias – Kusadasi

After breakfast at the hotel you will visit Pamukkale Cotton Fortress, ancient city of Hierapolis with the Theatre, Apollo Temple and magnificent Necropolis, the graveyard. After lunch at local restaurant you will visit Aphrodisias, an ancient city dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite, and famous for its sculpture school. Later proceed to Kusadasi and check into the hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 7: Kusadasi

Today, after breakfast in the morning depart on a tour to Ephesus Antique City (Hillside Houses are excluded). Ephesus, Roman capital of Asia Minor. Visit the ruins of Odeon, Hercules Gate, the temple of Hadrian, the magnificent library, Agora and the fantastic Greco-Roman theatre. After lunch you will visit House of Virgin Mary, Selcuk Ephesus Museum and St.John Church. Later you will be transferred back to the hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 8: Kusadasi – Pergamum – Troy – Canakkale

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning you will visit Pergamum where parchment was invented. This was the home town of Galen, renowned doctor and surgeon and site of his temple is devoted to healing, the Asclepion. You will visit the library that once held 200,000 books; all parchments. After lunch you will drive to Troy, the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy and Trojan horse, which was destroyed and rebuilt nine times. Later proceed to Canakkale. Overnight in Canakkale.

Day 9: Canakkale – Istanbul

After breakfast in the morning you will drive to Istanbul by crossing the Dardanelles Strait. En-route you will visit Gallipoli, historically famous for being the site of many battles – particularly involving the Allied Forces including Australians and New Zealanders during World War I. Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 10: Depart Istanbul

Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.