12 Day Tour of Turkey - Christmas Turkey
Day 1 - 19 December: Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey! Arrive Istanbul and transfer to hotel in Sultanahmet. Rest of day free. Overnight – Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul
Istanbul – breakfast. Enjoy a tour of old Istanbul. Rest of day free. Tonight, we enjoy a group Welcome Dinner at our hotel. Dinner and overnight – Istanbul
Day 3: Gallipoli
Istanbul – Gallipoli – breakfast. Today we visit ANZAC Cove, enjoy lunch and explore the many memorials dotted across the WW1 battlefields. Lunch, dinner and overnight – Gallipoli region
Days 4 - 5: Troy & Kusadasi
Gallipoli – Kusadasi – breakfast. En route to Kusadasi, we explore the legendary ruins of Troy and the classic Roman ruins of Pergamum. On day 5, we take in awesome Roman Ephesus. Just check out the amazing ‘Library’ as you stroll down Curetes Way. Ephesus is like a movie-set! We also visit a leather/carpet manufacturer. Dinner and overnight (2) – Kusadasi
Day 6: Kusadasi
Kusadasi – Fethiye – breakfast. Exploring the Roman Hierapolis and the cascading calcium mineral pools of Pamukkale perhaps opt for a dip before we continue south to Fethiye. Dinner and overnight – Fethiye
Day 7 (Christmas day): Finike
Fethiye – Demre/Finike – Kemer – breakfast. Merry Christmas! The legend of Saint Nick beginning in Turkey? Who would have believed it?! The legend began here in the shape of St Nicholas - a 4th century bishop who gave anonymous gifts to dowryless village girls. He would drop bags of coins down the chimneys of their houses, and this ‘gift from heaven’ would allow them to marry. We visit the Church of St Nicholas before continuing to coastal Finike where we enjoy good tidings. Christmas Dinner and overnight – Kemer 5
Day 8: Cappadocia
Kemer – Cappadocia – breakfast. Via the Roman ruins of Perge and Aspendos, we travel to Konya - a town on the edge of the vast Anatolian Steppe. After a visit to the Mevlana Whirling Dervish Museum we continue north west to Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight – Cappadocia
Days 9 - 10: Cappadocia
Kemer – Cappadocia – breakfast. Today, we visit some ancient caravanserai’s and the beautiful Ihlara Valley. An optional and fun Turkish folklore evening is available tonight. On day 10, we explore the stunning Cappadocia region - famed for its amazing troglodyte villages and stunning wind-eroded landscape. Tonight, enjoy dinner. Overnight (2) – Cappadocia
Day 11: Ankara
Cappadocia – Istanbul – breakfast. Travelling via Ankara to Istanbul, we visit the Ancient Civilisation’s Museum. We arrive in Istanbul this evening. Dinner and overnight – Istanbul
Day 12: Istanbul
Istanbul – breakfast. Your tour ends after breakfast. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas Turkey!
What You See
• Istanbul - Sultanahmet (old city), Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, underground cistern and Topkapi Palace
• Gallipoli Peninsular - memorials, trenches and battlefields
• Troy - Trojan horse & ruins
• Aegean coast
• Roman ruins of Pergamum & Ephesus
• Pamukkale thermal pools & Roman Hierapolis
• Turquoise Coast
• Fethiye
• Demre - home of the original St Nicholas
• Finike
• Roman ruins of Perge & Aspendos
• Konya - Silk Road & Mevlana Whirling Dervish Museum
• Ancient caravanserais
• Cappadocia region, fairy chimneys & underground city
• Ankara, Ancient Civilisation's Museum
• Leather & carpet manufacturing houses
What you get
• 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 7 dinners PLUS Welcome Dinner in Istanbul & special Christmas Day Dinner in coastal Finike
• 10 nights 4 , 1 night 5 hotels
• Airport arrival transfer (day 1 of tour)
• Guided sightseeing - Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ruins of Ephesus/Pergamum, Pamukkale/Hierapolis, Roman Perge & Aspendos & Cappadocia
• English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide
• Relevant transport
• Modern air-conditioned coach
Prices?
£429 GBP per person (single supplement £159) - BOOK NOW
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