Day 1 : 21 April Sunday, Istanbul Arrival Transfer
Upon arrival at Ataturk Airport, our transfer man will meet and transfer us to our hotel in Istanbul. We have free time at leisure for the rest of the day. Overnight in Istanbul.
(No meal)
Day 2 : 22 April Monday, Historical Peninsula (Walking Tour)
Enjoy a full day tour of the Sultanahmet area, which is the UNESCO recognized heart of old Istanbul. Our local guide takes us to Blue Mosque, which built in 17th century, it owes its fame to the exquisite Iznik Tiles. Hippodrome is next to here where we see an Egyptian Obelisk and Serpent Column at the Eastern Roman Empire's horse chariots races arena. We will also visit the Underground Cistern which may be the highlight of the day. We then go to Grand Bazaar. Following introduction by our guide we will have some free time to browse its 1,200 spice and gold shops. After free time for lunch on our own, we visit the amazing Topkapi Palace, which from 15th to the 19th Century was the principle residence of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. Our guide gives a tour at the gardens, halls where we view staggering collection of imperial and religious treasury, golden thrones and emerald crowns. At the end of the tour transfer back to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast)
Day 3 : 23 April Thursday, Gallipoli Battlefields - Canakkale
At 06:00AM we gather in front of Hagia Sofia Museum near Sultanahmet Square where we meet our bus, local guide and other travelling companions. Your luggage will be loaded on the bus before departing for Gallipoli. We will drive on comfortable road system approximately for 4 hours, stopping in Tekirdag for refreshment. We will collect our Lunch Boxes when we arrive Eceabat Town. Then we begin our guided tour of ANZAC Battlefields visiting Brighton Beach, ANZAC Cove, Beach Cemetery, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Turkish and allied tunnels and trenches at Johnston's Jolly, 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial and Chunuk Bair New Zelland Memorial. After the tour we arrive in lovely town of Canakkale on the mouth of Dardnelles Strait. Following check in to our hostel, we enjoy a casual evening on our own. Overnight in Canakkale.
(Lunch Box & Dinner)
Day 4 : 24 April Wednesday, Troy Tour - Dawn Service
After breakfast at the hotel we depart for Troya Archeological Site where we see the UNESCO recognized ruins of the ancient kingdom of Troy. We stroll through the site where many worldwide used terms like the Trojan War, Trojan Horse, Helen of Troy, Prince Paris comes from. After the tour drive back to Canakkale for a free afternoon. Have rest in your hotel room. Dinner will be at the hotel. Depart for the Dawn Service from the hotel at 22:30 pm. We cross the Strait Dardanelles by ferry to Eceabat town. Then drive to Anzac Cove where we will stay for the night, awaiting the Dawn Service along with other many thousands of Australian and New Zellanders, national and international officials. Overnight in the commemoration site.
(Breakfast & Dinner)
Day 5 : 25 April Thursday, Dawn Services - Canakkale
This morning at 04:00 am we participate in the commemoration programs at the ANZAC Cove. The Dawn Service at the beach front ends at around 07:30 am, when we begin a hike up to Lone Pine and New Zelland Memorials at Chunuc Bair for the morning ceremonies. After the ceremonies, lunch will be en route at a local restaurant. Then cross the Dardanelles back to Canakkale. Dinner will be at our hotel. Overnight in Canakkale.
(Breakfast Box, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 6 : 26 April Friday, Pergamon - Kusadasi
Following breakfast at the hotel this morning, we check-out and drive to Pergamon. Upon our arrival the soaring marble ruins of the Acropolis become visible immediately. Following our climb on our own vehicle or by the cable-car, we learn its history from our expert local guide and stroll through its 4th Century BC ruins that are scattered on terraces at steep-sided hill. We will have free time for lunch. Then we depart for Kusadasi which is one of the coastal resorts of Turkey, famous for its beautiful sunsets. We check-in to our hotel and have the rest of the day free for leisure until dinner at the hotel. Stay overnight in Kusadasi.
(Breakfast & Dinner)
Day 7 : 27 April Saturday, Ephesus - Virgin Mary's House - Transfer to Airport
Upon breakfast at our Kusadasi hotel we check-out and, enjoy a full day tour in the Ephesus Region, which is Turkey's top visited area after Istanbul. Firstly we drive to Ephesus, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and also one of the Seven Churches of Apocalypse. We learn its history from our expert local guide and walk on the remarkably preserved wide marble streets, flanked by columns, temples and fountains. We look at all the famous highlights like the Temple of Hadrian, the Celsus Library, Harbor Street and the Great Theater which is still used for performances and special events today. We will have free time for lunch. We continue on to the House of Virgin Mary on the pine-shaded heights of Ephesus to visit where The Virgin is believed to have spent her last years. We have a short stop at the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We also see some of the world famous Turkish Handicrafts being made here. After the tour, transfer to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, we will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast)
Day 8 : 28 April Sunday, Free Day in Istanbul - (Optional) Excursions
Today after breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a free day in Istanbul. Join us on one of our popular Half Day or Full Day excursions to get the most from this World's one of magnificent cities. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast)
(Optional) Dolmabahce Palace & Bosphorus Cruise
Enjoy a full day tour of the Bosphorus District which is the most charming part of the city of Istanbul. Upon our pick up from the hotel, firstly we visit the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace which in the 19th century was the principle residence and the administration center of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. With its splendor baroque exterior and mixture of traditional and European interior decorations, it is a reminder of the formidable Ottoman Empire. Then we have a brief stroll in the Yildiz Royal Gardens, which is one of the oxygen breaks in the middle of the city. After lunch at a local restaurant, we drive along the Old City Walls of Costantinapolis to Eyup square. Built by Constantine the Great and expanded by Emperor Theodosius in the 4th century AD, the walls protected the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for 900 years. Eyup, being the house of Prophet's companion's mausoleum, is Istanbul's spiritual center for the Muslim Turks but also is for anyone who would like to enjoy the beautiful panoramic view from its heights. We take the cable car up to Pierre Loti Hill and have some free time to enjoy the view of the Golden Horn estuary below. A short drive from here brings us to the Eminonu Pier where we embark on a Bosphorus ferry for a 1, 5 hours long breathtaking cruise along the Bosphorus strait which runs right through Istanbul city and also between Asia and Europe continents. Our expert local guide explains us about several Ottoman palaces, ancient fortresses, suspension continental bridges and wealthy shore villages with typical Ottoman architecture that we view along the shore. If time permits we wil visit a leather fashion outlet center. After the tour transfer back to the hotel.
Day 9 : 29 April Monday, Istanbul Departure Transfer
After breakfast at the hotel, we will be transferred to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. End of our services.
(Breakfast)
Includes
3 nights BB accommodation in 3+ star hotel (Istanbul),
3 nights BB accommodation in 4 star hotels (2 nights in Canakkale, 1 night in Kusadasi),
Admission fees to the museums/sights mentioned in the itinerary,
Licensed English speaking tour guide
Meal plan as mentioned in the itinerary,
Land transportation by air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicle,
Airport transfer service in Istanbul and Izmir,
Local taxes and service fees
Excludes
Tips to the guide and driver,
Personal expenses.