Tour Duration: 8 days Tour Code: QR2012 Tour Type: Prices From: A$1249 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY After arrival at Ataturk Airport, check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start soaking up the unique atmosphere of this city built on two continents. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel. (D)
2
ISTANBUL. Founded by the Greeks as Byzantium more than 2,500 years ago, renamed Constantinople in 330 AD when Constantine the Great elected it the capital of the Roman Empire, and finally called Istanbul after the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, the city on the Bosporus remains one of the most exciting places in the world. It strategic location as gateway between Orient and Occident, the Islamic and the Christian world, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, predestined it for a turbulent history. Guided sightseeing starts at TOPKAPI PALACE, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Admire its exquisite collection of Chinese porcelain and the Imperial Treasury, including the stunning "Spoonmaker's Diamond." Then, visit Sultan Ahmet's BLUE MOSQUE followed by the ROMAN HIPPODROME, and tour the HAGIA SOPHIA and the SPICE BAZAAR with its 4,000 tiny shops. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. For a taste of Turkish nightlife, join our optional dinner outing and discover the fascination of belly dancing. (B)
3
ISTA NBUL-TROY AREA. Visit the colourful GRAND BAZAAR before setting out on your discovery tour of a country with the population of Britain and more than three times its size. Drive along the European shore of the Sea of Marmara and head westward through sunflower and olive groves to the Dardanelles. Visit the WWI battlefields on the Gallipoli peninsula, where Allied troops, mainly Australians and New Zealanders, suffered heavy casualties in a disastrous campaign. Pay tribute to the heroes of those tragic months of 1915 at the ANZAC CEMETERY and the LONE PINE MEMORIAL. Travel by ferry across the Dardanelles to the Troy area for your first overnight in Asia on the Aegean coast. (B,D)
4
TROY AREA-KUSADASI. Call at TROY, the perfect place to brush up on Homer's Trojan War-hollow wooden horse and all! Vistas of the Greek isle of Lesbos greet you as you follow the shores of the Bay of Edremit. Continue south to Pergamum, an ancient center of learning and the arts, and visit its MUSEUM. After lunch, visit the ASCLEPION, a shrine to the Greek god of medicine. Drive to Kusadasi for an overnight. (B,D)
5
KUSADASI-EPHESUS-PAMUKKALE. Today, visit Ephesus, home of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, and later, the capital of Roman Asia Minor. Visit the SITE OF ANCIENT RUINS and the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM with its famous statue of Artemis, goddess of fertility and destiny. Then, travel along the Silk Road, and through the lush valley of the meandering Menderes River. Focus on APHRODISIAS, in Roman times a prosperous centre dedicated to the cult of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. See the impressive and well-preserved elliptic STADIUM, which held up to 30,000 spectators, and visit the MUSEUM. Next Pamukkale. The name means "Cotton Castle" and refers to the spectacular white lime cascades formed by its hot springs. At your hotel tonight, maybe a leisurely bath in a pool of hot thermal water might be just the way to relax after a busy touring day. (B,D)
6
PAMUKKALE-HIERAPOLIS-BURSA. This morning, visit the fascinating archaeological site of HIERAPOLIS, the thermal resort founded by a Pergamene king in 190 BC and greatly enlarged and embellished by the Romans. Then, enjoy the ever-changing cultivated landscapes and timeless scenes of rural life on your way to Bursa. Spot farmers working their fields or transporting produce in traditional horse-drawn carts. Bursa lies in the shade of the Uludag-also called Mount Olympus of Mysia-a 2,347 metres (7,700 foot-high) ski mountain surrounded by lovely orchards and tobacco fields. Founded by the Greeks, like most ancient cities in this part of the world, and hotly contested during the Crusades, Bursa had its heyday as the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. In the afternoon, visit the GREAT MOSQUE (Ulu Camii). Also on the agenda, of course, the ANCIENT COVERED BAZAAR and the Silk Market. (B,D)
7
BURSA-IZNIK-ISTA NBUL. Visit Iznik, site of the first Ecumenical Council. See its ancient city walls before visiting ST. SOPHIA CHURCH and the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM. Later, return to Istanbul in style. Enjoy a leisurely private CRUISE on the Bosporus, the narrow strait that links the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and separates Asia from Europe. Take pictures of exquisite private residences along the scenic shoreline, and of strategically located castles that once protected the approaches of the city. Tonight, a farewell dinner at a local restaurant celebrates the success of your Turkish adventure. (B,D)
8
ISTANBUL. Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
ISTANBUL: Welcome dinner and a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, including visits to Topkapi Seraglio, Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar.
DARDANELLES: Ferry crossing of the Straits.
ANZAC: Take pictures of the cemetery.
TROY: Guided visit of the archaeological site.
PERGAMUM: Guided visit of the Pergamum Museum and Asclepion.
EPHESUS: Guided visit of the archaeological site.
PAMUKKALE: Guided visit of the Hierapolis.
BURSA: Guided sightseeing including visits to the Green Ottoman Complex and the Great Mosque.
IZNIK: Visit St. Sophia Church.
BOSPORUS:Cruise.
MEALS: Full buffet breakfast daily (B); 6 three-course dinners (D), including a welcome dinner and a special farewell dinner with wine in Istanbul.
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Meals Breakfast - 8 Lunch - 0 Dinner - 5
Optional Excursions
To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.
Cost
Description
57
EUR
Name:TURKISH DINNER AND FOLKLORE SHOW Location:ISTANBUL Details:An evening at one of Istanbul's favourite night clubs. Enjoy a succulent dinner, half a bottle of wine per person included, while Turkish folklore groups, singers, and belly dancers put on a dazzling show.
Optional Excursions
