Turkey Unveiled: 8-Day Journey from Istanbul to Antalya

Turkey: Istanbul to Antalya

Istanbul Airport, Turkey - Hierapolis, Pamukkale/Denizli, Türkiye, Turkey

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Details

8 Days | 7 Nights

Tour Types: Private

Runs: Every Day

Accommodation: 5* Hotels

Minimum Age: 12

Tour Description

In this private tour you will be discovering the sights of Istanbul’s glamorous past. Visit the Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine church, now classified as a mosque. Visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, visit the Topkapi Palace, the centuries old residence of the mighty Ottomans. Then to Misir Çarsisi, the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, where spices, herbs and teas are sold. Drive 4 hours to the peaceful Gallipoli Peninsula. Visit the scenes of the 1915 Allied-Turkey campaign and the allied cemeteries and memorials, the famous Johnston's Jolly, a trenches battlefield where many Turkish and Allied soldiers took cover, archaeological site Troy. The site tells about the Trojan War, caused by the abduction of Helena, portrayed in Homer's Iliad. Enjoy the views from the Acropolis with the Temple of Athena and the Temple of Trajan. See the impressive Athenaeum library. Visit the Red Basilica, a huge Roman Temple later converted into a Byzantine church. Visit the Library of Celsus housing the Temple of Hadrian, the Odeon, the Baths of Scholastica and Theatre offering space , drive to the south to Hierapolis, named after the goddess Hiera. Visit the Cleopatra Antique Pool.

Highlights

Tour Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.
Visit to the battlefields on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Marvel at the antic structures Troy, Ephesus, Pergamon.
Wander the limestone terraces of Pamukkale.
Relax in Antalya at the Mediterranean Coast.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Istanbul Airport - Istanbul
1 Stop

Istanbul Airport

Welcome to Turkey! Your chauffeur meets you at the airport and drives you to the hotel for check-in or storing your luggage. The rest of the day is at leisure, depending on your arrival time start your own explorations. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Istanbul.

1 hour

Barcelo Eresin or similar

Dinner

Day 2
Istanbul Old City Tour - Istanbul
1 Stop

Istanbul Old City Tour

In the old city discover the sights of Istanbul’s glamorous past. Visit the Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine church, now classified as a mosque. Be amazed by the interior with its striking mosaics and frescoes. Next is a visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the 'Blue Mosque'. With its six minarets, it is unique in the Islamic world. Walk across the Sultan Ahmet Square, once the Hippodrome, the former horse racing track in ancient Constantinople. See here the Obelisk of Theodosius and the German Fountain. In the afternoon, visit the Topkapi Palace, the centuries old residence of the mighty Ottomans. It houses the imperial treasury, holy relics, weapons and royal garments. Then to Misir Çarsisi, the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, where spices, herbs and teas are sold since the 17th century. Time to wander along the shops with its aromatic smells. Return to the hotel. *The Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, as replacement we’ll visit the underground Basilica Cistern from the 6th century.

6 hours

Barcelo Eresin or similar

Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Day 3
Istanbul - Gallipoli Peninsula - Çanakkale
2 Stops

Gallipoli Peninsula

Leave Istanbul, drive 4 hours to the peaceful Gallipoli Peninsula. Due to its location in the Dardanelles Strait, which connects the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean Sea, the peninsula has often been the scene of bloody battles. During World War I the Allied Powers fought here against the Ottoman Empire to control the sea route from Europe to Russia, without success. Around 100,000 soldiers died during these battles. Visit today the scenes of the 1915 Allied-Turkey campaign and the allied cemeteries and memorials, like ANZAC Cove, the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Brighton Beach, Nek Ridge, the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. You'll also see the famous Johnston's Jolly, a trenches battlefield where many Turkish and Allied soldiers took cover. Then cross by ferry the Dardanelles Strait.

4 hours

Çanakkale

Proceed to your hotel in Canakkale and overnight.

1.5 hours

Kolin Hotel or similar

Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Day 4
Çanakkale - Troy - Pergamon - Izmir
3 Stops

Troy

Check out of the hotel and drive to the nearby archaeological site Troy. The site tells about the Trojan War, caused by the abduction of Helena, portrayed in Homer's Iliad. Highlights are the Sacrificial Altars, the old city walls, and the replica of the wooden Trojan Horse.

1.5 hours

Pergamon

Then head 2.5 hours to Pergamon, once the capital of the Attalid dynasty and a cultural and medical center in the ancient world. Enjoy the views from the Acropolis with the Temple of Athena and the Temple of Trajan. See the impressive Athenaeum library once held 200,000 volumes, which Mark Antony later offered to Cleopatra as a wedding present. Then to the Asclepion, the ancient medical center, devoted to Asclepius, the son of Apollo. Finally visit the Red Basilica, a huge Roman Temple later converted into a Byzantine church.

1.5 hours

Izmir

Proceed 1.5 hours to your hotel in Izmir on the Aegean Sea.

1.5 hours

Movenpick Hotel or similar

Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Day 5
Izmir - Ephesus - Hierapolis - Pamukkale
3 Stops

Ephesus

Within an hour reach Ephesus, the most important Greek city in Ionian Asia Minor. Around 3,000 years ago up to 200,000 people lived here. Visit the Library of Celsus housing once 12,000 scrolls, the Temple of Hadrian, the Odeon, the Baths of Scholastica and Theatre offering space for 25,000 visitors. See the few remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. Ephesus was an important place for early Christians. Have a look at the Basilica of St. John who wrote his Gospel here and the decent House of the Virgin Mary.

3 hours

Hierapolis

Afterwards drive 3 hours to the south to Hierapolis, named after the goddess Hiera. Here, in this Greek-Roman city it is worth seeing the Necropolis with 1,200 stone graves, the Theatre and the Temple of Apollo. Due to its hot springs Hierapolis was a spa town since the second century BC.

2 hours

Pamukkale

Dinner and overnight at Pamukkale hotel.

1 hour

Collosae Thermal Hotel or similar

Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Day 6
Pamukkale Visit - Antalya
2 Stops

Pamukkale Visit

The word Pamukkale means Cotton Castle and you will understand the reason for this name today. Warm water dissolved in white calcium, erupts to the surface and by running down the hill the calcium forms beautiful snow-white travertines. Simply formed by nature! When accessing this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you need to remove your shoes to protect these natural pools. For a swim in the thermal waters, you have time to visit the Cleopatra Antique Pool (extra fee for swimming not included), on its bottom you see marble columns belonging to the nearby Temple of Apollo.

4 hours

Antalya

Say goodbye to the Denizli Province and drive 3 hours to Antalya at the Turkish Riviera. Experience a pleasant ride along the pretty Salda Lake and through the Taurus Mountains, enjoying the beautiful landscape and the mountains of Turkey. Check into your hotel.

3 hours

Dedeman or similar

Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Day 7
Free Day Antalya - Antalya
1 Stop

Antalya

Free day in the city of Antalya. Sunbath at the Mediterranean Sea or continue with your own explorations, Antalya and its surroundings have a lot to offer. Explore Kaleici, the old city centre, with its narrow streets, Ottoman Houses, Hadrian’s Gate and the ancient port. Worth seeing is also the Hidirlik Tower, the Yivli Minaret, the Kesik Minaret and the Antalya Museum. If you just can’t get enough of historical sites, book an optional tour to the Greek remains of Perga or Aspendos. For outdoor activities choose a hike in the Gulluk Mountain National Park, or go rafting in the Koprulu Canyon National Park. Around Antalya many waterfalls can be found like the one at Manavgat, Kursunlu, Duden or Ucansu. Overnight Antalya.

5 hours

Dedeman or similar

Breakfast

Day 8
Antalya - Antalya Airport
1 Stop

Antalya Airport

Dependent on your departure time, we pick you up from the hotel lobby for a short transfer to Antalya Airport to say farewell.

1 hour

Breakfast

Inclusions

2 nights at hotel with breakfast in Istanbul.

Ferry Gallipoli to Çanakkale.

6 dinner meals at hotels.

5 lunch meals at local restaurants.

Professional English speaking guide on tour days.

1 airport transfer upon departure.

1 airport transfer upon arrival.

Transportation in private, A/C new vehicle.

2 nights at hotel with breakfast in Antalya.

1 night at hotel with breakfast in Pamukkale.

1 night at hotel with breakfast in Izmir.

1 night at hotel with breakfast in Çanakkale.

Entrance fees to mentioned sites.

Exclusions

Airfare.

Travel insurance.

Entry visa Turkey.

Meals and beverage not stated.

Tips, portage and private expenses.

PCR test.

Practical Info

• Check-in time at hotels is 14:00, check-out time at hotels is 12:00 noon.
• The Istanbul old city tour is on foot as the places are in walking distance to each other. The order of visits may be reversed.
• The Hagia Sophia is open from 09:00-17:00 in the period November to March and from 09:00-19:00 in the period April to October. The last entry is one hour before closing time. Women need to cover their head, and everyone needs to move the shoes before stepping on the carpet. The Hagia Sophia is now a mosque, so do not walk in front of praying visitors and note that the Hagia Sophia might get busy during Friday prayers around noon.
• Opening Hours of the Topkapi Palace are 10:00-16:00 in the period October to March, 09:00-18:45 in the period April to September. The palace is closed on Tuesdays.
• The Blue Mosque is closed to non-Muslims 45 minutes before the call to prayer, 30 minutes afterwards, and on Fridays until 14:30.
• To respect the local culture please cover shoulders and knees.
• For swimming in the Cleopatra Pool of Pamukkale please pack towel, swimwear and bathing shoes.
• Our staff is trained to follow hygiene and safety protocols.

How to Book this Tour

- After booking the tour with us online, one of our consultants will get in touch within 24 hours. You need to pay then a 30% deposit by credit card or by bank transfer. The full payment is due latest 14 days before tour start.
- Cancellations or changes need to be sent in written form. Charges are as follows:
• 30% of the total price of the trip for cancellations or changes made 21 to 7 days before departure.
• 100% of the total price of the trip for cancellations or changes made 06 to 01 days before departure or no show.
- For refunds we do not cover transaction fees charged by credit card companies and banks.

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Turkey: Istanbul to Antalya