Meet at the crossroads of East and West – the effervescent capital of Istanbul launches your journey of discovery through centuries of turmoil and triumph. Spend the day exploring after being transferred to your hotel. Later, you’ll meet your Travel Director and travel companions for a memorable Welcome Reception.
Delve into the treasures of the Ottoman Empire, strolling through the exquisite Topkapi Palace with its spellbinding views of the Bosphorus. We explore Hagia Sophia, once one of the greatest churches in all of Christendom, before following in the footsteps of the faithful to see the Blue Mosque – its six minarets and beautiful blue Iznik tiles are a sight to behold. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the museum of Classical Turkish Music, preserving this traditional art. Come across the genius of Turkey’s greatest composer, Dede Efendi, during a private concert by students of the Music Conservancy. Dive Into Culture as you haggle for souvenirs at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and over 5,000 shops. Later, we visit the Byzantine Hippodrome to see where thundering chariots once raced to victory. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city.
We remember the heroism of the many thousands of men who fought bravely at Gallipoli. We'll see Lone Pine Cemetery and the battlefields that today still hold special significance for the Turkish, Australian and New Zealand nations. Spend a quiet moment commemorating the lives lost at Anzac Cove and Chunuk Bair, where some of the fiercest fighting took place during World War I. This evening we stay in Çanakkale where tonight we’ll dine in our hotel.
Visit a land of Trojan legends, an ancient city immortalised by Homer in the stories of King Priamus, Hector, Paris and the beautiful Helen. We admire the archaeological excavations at Troy revealing nine separate periods of settlement and the symbolic replica wooden Trojan horse commemorating the epic war machine constructed by the Greeks to end a lengthy siege. We continue to the ancient kingdom of Pergamon to visit the Asclepion Medical Centre whose staff of entwined snakes remains a symbol of modern medicine today. This afternoon, we Connect With Locals over lunch in the village of Demircidere at a Be My Guest experience. We travel to the broad boulevards of seaside Izmir later, and dine in our hotel this evening.
Journey into antiquity and explore the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus admiring the well-preserved façade of the Library of Celsus and its famous Temple of Artemis. We visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Hadrian guarded by Medusa's head, and the Great Theatre, built by the Romans in the 2nd-century and still in use today. Relax and enjoy the blissful thermal pools at your hotel in Pamukkale.
This morning we enjoy a leisurely visit to the ancient ruins of the Holy City of Hierapolis, imagining ancient patrons seeking revival and rest within their limestone-laden thermal springs. Our last stop today is Konya where tonight we dine in our hotel.
Visit the Mevlana Museum and Mausoleum in Konya, a former dervish lodge of the Mevlevi order, which reveals the origins of Sufism. Continuing your journey to Cappadocia, you'll see a 13th-century caravanserai then Dive Into Culture to learn about the art of pottery making in Avanos. Later, consider joining an Optional Experience to watch the Whirling Dervishes then enjoy a Regional Meal at a local restaurant. Tonight you’ll enjoy an overnight stay at one of Trafalgar’s Stays With Stories set alongside the ancient Ortahisar rock castle. Many of the rooms are hewn from the surrounding rock and boast views of Cappadocia’s fairy-tale landscapes.
The whimsical landscapes of Cappadocia take centre stage today as you embark on a full-day excursion that will see you visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum, the Paşabağı and Kizil Vadi valleys and underground city of Saratli on the ancient Silk Road. You’ll learn about the intricate heritage and art of carpet weaving during a visit to a Turkish carpet emporium before joining your fellow travellers for an included dinner this evening.
Take a short flight this morning to Istanbul, where the rest of the day is yours to explore the city your way. Enjoy a sensory explosion at the vibrant Spice Market, take a stroll through the historic Sultanahmet or find a quiet rooftop café and admire Istanbul’s iconic skyline. You could choose instead to join an optional cruise and sail the waters of the Bosphorus which separate Asia and Europe. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow companions for a Farewell Dinner.
We say a fond farewell to Turkey and newfound friends as we prepare to depart to the airport for our flight home. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. To request a personalized travel quote, click "Request Quote" and a Travel Specialist will send your custom quote including airfare if requested.
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Available on Day 2
You’ll enjoy a short drive through the illuminated streets of Istanbul before arriving at a Night Club. You’ll taste Turkish specialties while being entertained by musicians, belly and folk dancers, performing dances from different regions of Turkey. You’ll also get the chance to join in.
Adult Price: $ 80
Available on Day 7
The 'dance' of the Whirling Dervishes is called Sema. It is part of Turkish custom, history, beliefs and culture and represents a man's spiritual journey, and will be a highlight of your trip to Turkey. Once the ceremony is over, we will head to a nearby local restaurant where you will have the chance of savoring varieties of real Turkish food, special for Cappadocia region.
Adult Price: $ 45
Note: The performance of Whirling Dervishes is NOT a show but instead it is a mystic ceremony.
Available on Day 9
No stay would be complete without this unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the winding strait separating Europe and Asia. Along the shores you’ll see a beautiful mixture of modern hotels, ancient wooden villas, marble palaces, fortresses and small fishing villages, as you relax on board.
Adult Price: $ 45
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