Turkey
Turkey has been called 'the cradle of civilisation'. Turkey's unique location, straddling the meeting place of Europe and Asia, has led to these lands being visited by many races. As a result Turkey displays innumerable remains of the many ancient civilisations that have left an impact on its landscape.

THE CRADLE OF CIVILISATION

Incredible palaces and mosques in Istanbul, combined with world-famous archaeological sites such as Troy and Ephesus, ensure an exotic experience in safe and hospitable surroundings .

Tour Highlights Topkapi Palace Tour • Bosphorus Cruise • Troy • Ephesus • Pamukkale Hot Springs

DAY 1 LONDON - ISTANBUL
Fly from London to Istanbul. On arrival you will be met by your guide who will accompany you to the hotel. Istanbul is a city much immortalised in art and literature in its antiquity. Once we have settled into the hotel we will visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered market places in the world. The Bazaar’s labyrinth of tunnels contains over 4,000 shops where all kinds of carpets, trinkets, jewellery and clothes can be purchased.

DAY 2 ISTANBUL
Our sightseeing will begin at the Blue Mosque, which forms an impressive skyline. We then visit the Sunken Palace, a huge 6th century Byzantine cistern, before walking to Istanbul’s first and greatest mosque. Hagia Sofia, originally a Christian basilica erected in 360 AD, is a thousand years older than St. Peter’s in Rome. First a church, then a mosque and now a museum, it is considered to be the supreme masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. We will continue to the Topkapi Palace, an opulent preserve that was the imperial seat of the Ottoman Empire. The palace complex is surrounded by three miles of walls and is the oldest and largest palace in the world.

DAY 3 ISTANBUL
Our final day in Istanbul will begin with a visit to the Dolmabahçe Palace, the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans, before we revisit the Grand Bazaar. This afternoon you will enjoy a leisurely Cruise down the Bosphorus.

DAY 4 ISTANBUL – GALLIPOLI - CANAKKALE
Today we will travel to Canakkale. We will continue to Troy to see the remains of the city immortalised in Homer’s Iliad. The 10-year war finally ended when Greeks invaded Troy using the famous wooden horse. Excavations have unearthed nine cities or settlements, dating from 3000 B.C to 400 A. D.

DAY 5 PERGAMUM - IZMIR
Continuing south we visit Pergamum, one of the seven churches of the Bible. This ancient Hellenistic city has a wealth of Greco-Roman remains. We will see the monumental foundations of the Altar of Zeus, the Temple of Athena and the significant ruins of the great Library. We will overnight in Izmir, Homer’s birthplace and the third largest city of Turkey and the provincial capital of western Turkey. The city stands at a central position on the western coast of Asia Minor.

DAY 6 IZMIR - EPHESUS – APHRODISIAS - PAMUKKALE
Today we travel across to Ephesus, home of St. Paul between 54 and 57 AD and the capital of Roman Asia Minor. The city, dedicated to Artemis, is well preserved, one of the outstanding classical sites in Turkey. We will explore the expanse of Greco-Roman and Christian remains of the huge Theatre, the Library of Celsus and the Temple of Hadrian. We will also visit the nearby Basilica of St. John where according to legend he was buried, the House of Virgin Mary and the Ephesus Museum before continuing to Aphrodisias, a cultural center of the ancient world renowned for its school of sculpture, philosophy and medicine. We will explore its excellently preserved stadium, bath, double agora and outstanding museum.

DAY 7 PAMUKKALE - IZMIR
Today we explore the resort city of Pamukkale, famous for its spectacular limestone cascades formed by hot mineral springs. There will be time to visit the vast ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis. We return to Izmir for the final night in Turkey.

DAY 8 FLY IZMIR TO ISTANBUL, TO LONDON
Your enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end as your Guide accompanies you to the airport for the flight home. Your flight arrives in London late afternoon the same day.

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