Essential Turkey - 7 days
Essential Turkey - 7 days
Essential Turkey - 7 days
7 Days Starting and ending in Istanbul, Turkey
Visiting: Istanbul, Canakkale, Kusadasi, Pamukkale
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 32
Age range:
16-
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a captivating 7-day journey through Turkey with the "Essential Turkey" tour. Begin in Istanbul, exploring iconic landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. Pay homage at the poignant Gallipoli battlefields, then delve into ancient history at Troy and Pergamum. Relax in the coastal town of Kusadasi, with an optional excursion to the well-preserved ruins of Ephesus. Marvel at the natural wonder of Pamukkale's terraced pools and the ancient spa town of Hierapolis. Conclude your adventure with a flight back to Istanbul, enriched by Turkey's diverse cultural and historical treasures.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: hotel
Welcome to Turkey! Arrive Istanbul and included transfer to our hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure or head out to explore the city. This evening our tip filled welcome meeting takes place.
Day 2: Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Istanbul. We'll start the day with an exciting tour of Istanbul's old city. We'll make a number of stops on our trip, starting with a visit to the stunning Blue Mosque famed for it’s blue Iznik tiles and unique 6 minarets, we'll continue to the ruinous Hippodrome – now a small park of sorts and once scene of chariot races and political activities in Byzantine times, we'll also discover the exterior of Hagia Sophia - constructed as a Basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian, Topkapi Palace and the Underground Cistern – an ancient underground water tank - replete with carved and fluted Corinthian columns and a puzzling head of Medusa. Visitors walk on walkways suspended above the shallow water. It’s very cool and peaceful.
Day 3: Canakkale
Location: Canakkale
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Istanbul – Gallipoli. Early this morning, we travel to the WW1 battlefields of Gallipoli. Here, we’ll embark upon a guided tour of the region, once the site of fierce fighting and today almost hauntingly beautiful, with its wooded landscape dotted with understated memorials to the war dead. Our guided tour of the region will take in sights such as ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian War Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Blair New Zealand War Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches still clearly visible amongst the scrub after all these years.
Crossing the Dardenelles by ferry (offering panoramic views of the entire Gallipoli Peninsular) we proceed to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation.
Day 4: Kusadasi
Location: Kusadasi
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Gallipoli – Kusadasi. Heading south, we enjoy a guided tour of Homer’s Troy, famed for the Trojan wooden horse and fabled Helen. Continuing to ancient Pergamum - the cultural and political capital of its time, before continuing onto coastal Kusadasi. Make the most of the hotel facilities this evening.
Day 5: Ephesus
Location: Kusadasi
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Kusadasi. Enjoy a day at leisure relaxing in the coastal beach resort town of Kusadasi or opt to join a shared excursion to the legendary Roman ruins of Ephesus. Positively the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean, and among the best places in the world to get a feel for what Roman life must have been like. (Booked and paid locally, see trip notes for more information) Tonight, you may wish to consider heading out for dinner. Downtown Kusadasi is the place to go with a varied choice of restaurants, pubs and cafes.
Day 6: Pamukkale
Location: Pamukkale
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Kusadasi - Pamukkale. Today, after breakfast, we drive to Pamukkale visiting the region’s famed calcium rich terraced pools. Known locally as the Cotton Castles, they are a natural phenomena and gift of Mother Nature.
Pamukkale was formed when warm, calcium rich mineral water cascaded over the cliff edge, cooling and depositing in the process. The calcium built natural shelves and pools on the cliffs, known as travertines. Today, some of the pools are closed. However, areas of the travertines can be walked upon, albeit in bare feet. We can however opt to enjoy a unique and very pleasant dip in the warm waters at the Pamukkale Thermal, with its submerged fragments of fluted marble columns in the centre of the ruined spa town of Hierapolis, which was a was a cure centre founded around 190 BC by the Romans. This evening we have some free time to relax and unwind.
Day 7: Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
This morning we make our way to Denizli airport for our flight to Istanbul. On arrival to Istanbul Airport we bid farewell to our group and representative and catch our onward flights.
Please Note: If travelling prior to 27 October 2024, your internal flight is currently arriving at the new Istanbul airport at approx. 08:50am. Please ensure you book an international flight departing Istanbul after 1pm, allowing for flight delays. If you are departing via Sabiha airport you will need to make arrangements between airports and we recommend booking flights after 2:30pm
If travelling between 28 October 2024 - 21 March 2025, your internal flight is scheduled to arrive at the new Istanbul Airport at approx. 12:25pm. Please ensure you book an international flight departing Istanbul after 5pm, allowing for flight delays. If you are departing via Sabiha airport you will need to make arrangements between airports and we recommend booking flights after 6:30pm Alternatively, you could choose to extend your stay by purchasing an additional night's hotel accommodation.
What's Included
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5 breakfasts
Enjoy 5 breakfasts during your stay.
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6 nights 3-4 star hotels
Stay in 3-4 star hotels for 6 nights.
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Economy class flight from Denizli (Pamukkale) to Istanbul
Includes an economy class flight from Denizli (Pamukkale) to Istanbul.
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Guided sightseeing
Guided sightseeing in Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamum, Pamukkale Terraces, and Hierapolis.
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English speaking tour guide
Escorted by an English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide.
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Airport arrival transfer
Airport arrival transfer on day 1.
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Private modern air-conditioned vehicles
All relevant transfers and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles.
What's Not Included
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International flights and visa
International flights and visa are not included.
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Optional activities
Optional activities including Ephesus excursion are not included.
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Tips for guide and driver
Tip for your tour guide and driver.
We recommend you allow EUR €5 - 7 per day, per traveller as a tip for your guide and EUR €2 per day for your driver.
Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture. -
Entrance fees
Entrance Fees: EUR €200-215 per person, paid in EUR.
Mode of Transport
Travel in private modern air-conditioned vehicles, with an economy class flight from Denizli (Pamukkale) to Istanbul included.
Accommodation
Enjoy 6 nights in 3-4 star hotels, providing comfort and convenience throughout your journey in Turkey.
Age Policy
16 years with an accompanying adult
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes 6 nights in 3-4 star hotels.
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Is there a tour guide provided for the entire trip?
Yes, the tour is escorted by an English-speaking, degree-qualified Turkish tour guide.
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Are airport transfers included in the tour package?
Yes, an airport arrival transfer on day 1 is included in the tour package.
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
All relevant transfers and transportation are provided in private modern air-conditioned vehicles.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
The tour includes 5 breakfasts.
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Are there any optional activities available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional activities including an excursion to Ephesus.
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What are the tipping recommendations for the tour guide and driver?
It is recommended to allow EUR €5 - 7 per day, per traveler as a tip for your guide and EUR €2 per day for your driver. Tipping is an entirely personal gesture.
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Are entrance fees included in the tour price?
No, entrance fees are not included. They are estimated to be EUR €200-215 per person, paid in EUR.
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What should I know about the internal flight on the last day of the tour?
If traveling prior to 27 October 2024, the internal flight arrives at the new Istanbul airport at approximately 08:50 am. Ensure you book an international flight departing Istanbul after 1 pm. If traveling between 28 October 2024 - 21 March 2025, the internal flight arrives at the new Istanbul Airport at approximately 12:25 pm. Ensure you book an international flight departing Istanbul after 5 pm. If departing via Sabiha airport, book flights after 2:30 pm (before 27 October 2024) or after 6:30 pm (between 28 October 2024 - 21 March 2025).
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Free Date Changes
CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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