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Turkey rolls out a rich carpet of historical treasures, natural wonders, and old-time cultures that work a powerful spell on travelers. This fascinating and evocative 10-night journey is designed to showcase them all: taking you to the marble streets of ancient Ephesus, the surreal rock pinnacles and caves of Cappadocia, and the antiquities of Pergamum, Hierapolis and Troy before immersing you in the magnificent mosques, bazaars, and ancient ruins of incredible Istanbul.
Itinerary at a glance
Leave the US today on your overnight flight to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, located in the northwest of the country about 125 miles from the Black Sea.
After arriving at Ankara International Airport on Day 2, enjoy a comfortable transfer to your 5-star hotel located in the city center. Enjoy the remainder of the day to relax after your journey and enjoy the hotel amenities before your sightseeing begins tomorrow. Dinner is served tonight at your hotel.
Included: Dinner
After breakfast, enjoy a morning guided tour of lively Ankara. With a history extending to ancient times, the city offers much to see, from Roman remnants and Ottoman buildings to fascinating museums. Delve into the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, a treasure-trove occupying a 15th-century traveler’s inn, whose artifacts span 7,500 years. You’ll also visit the Anıtkabir, the monumental mausoleum complex of Kemal Atatürk, the revered founder of modern Turkey. After lunch, relax as we journey south to Cappadocia, a region of soft volcanic rock landscapes carved by erosion into other-worldly “fairy chimneys,” pinnacles, and caves, many of them hand-carved to create churches, dwellings, and underground cities. En route, pass the stunning Salt Lake (Lake Tuz), a vast saline lake whose waters turn pink and white with salt depending on the season. After arriving in Cappadocia, dine at your hotel as you look forward to your explorations tomorrow.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
A day of awesome sights awaits on a full-day tour of some of Cappadocia’s highlights. Marvel at the wonders of nature and human ingenuity at the Ozkonak underground city, one of the region’s smallest but finest examples of hand-hewn subterranean networks. Carved around the 4th century BC by Christian communities as a way to hide from persecution, Ozkonak comprises mazy tunnels and rooms used for sleeping, schooling, religious services, and storage, all with ventilation systems. Next, head for the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum, a collection of historical cave churches and monasteries dating from the 4th to 12th century AD, which are famous for their ornate frescoes of Biblical scenes. This afternoon, visit Avanos, a village renowned for its old houses and potteries. Admire the pottery made here and join a workshop to watch artisans craft beautiful terracotta utensils, with the chance to try creating an item yourself.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Depart Cappadocia for Turkey’s holy city of Konya, home to a shrine to 13th-century Sufi mystic, Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi–the founder of the Mevlevi whirling dervish order. On arrival, visit the Mevlana Museum, a center of pilgrimage for being the former lodge of the whirling dervishes and housing the tomb of Rumi. Admire its beautiful fluted dome of turquoise tiles and see the fascinating displays on dervish life and some of Rumi’s personal belongings. From here, move on to the medieval Mosque of Alaeddin, one of Turkey’s oldest mosques. Built by the Seljuk Sultans, its notable features include its hypostyle hall of giant pillars and the tombs of several sultans.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Today, continue to Pamukkale, one of Turkey’s most remarkable natural treasures. After lunch on the way, arrive in Pamukkale whose name translates as “cotton castle” and which is composed of shining white travertine terraces characterized by flowing calcium-rich, thermal waters and milky turquoise pools. Marvel at this fairy-tale-like wonder, and explore the ruins of the Hellenistic spa town of Hierapolis, which sit above its terraces. Sights here include one of Asia Minor’s biggest-ever classical cemeteries, a well-preserved theater, and an antique pool laden with submerged Roman columns.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Following breakfast, depart for Ephesus, one of the Mediterranean’s greatest Greco-Roman archaeological sites. Wander the marble-paved streets of this once prosperous port city, viewing such treasures as the facade of the Celsus Library, crumbled Gymnasium, Odeon, temples, baths, and shops as your guide brings them to life with illuminating commentary. Visit the nearby House of the Virgin Mary, a single-story stone dwelling believed by some to have been Mary’s last home before continuing to your 5-star hotel in Izmir, one of Turkey’s largest cities, for a night’s stay.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
This morning, we head for the UNESCO-protected site of Pergamum, where the ruins of a 4th-century BC Greco-Roman city lie 16 miles from the Aegean coast. Admire the must-sees of this archaeological reserve, including its temples, theater, and Asclepion–a visionary health center where treatments like restorative mud baths were offered. This afternoon brings a tour of ancient Troy, which featured in Homer’s Iliad and where legend has it that Ulysses concocted the Wooden Horse strategy to end the Trojan War. Inspect the fragments uncovered here before continuing to your Canakkale hotel for dinner and overnight.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
★★★★★ Kolin Hotel or similar
Sit back and absorb the scenery today as we drive to Istanbul, whose location straddling both Europe and Asia make it a melting pot of architectures, cultures, and historical remains. Upon arrival in Istanbul, pay a visit to the ghostly Basilica Cistern, an underground pillared reservoir built in the 6th century to transport water to Constantinople’s citizens. After marveling at this feat of ancient engineering, return to your hotel where you’ll enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers this evening.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
A full day to explore Istanbul awaits. Once Constantinople—the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires—its long history and location straddling Europe and Asia makes it a melting pot of architecture, sights, and cultures. Stroll around the Hippodrome, where the remnants of a Byzantine stadium used for chariot races and other public events lie scattered across a park. View the ethereal Blue Mosque, so named for its shimmering blue Iznik tiles, and take in the mighty Hagia Sophia, built by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD, and boasting some of the world’s finest Byzantine mosaics. After a restaurant lunch, continue to the UNESCO-listed Topkapi Palace, a one-time residence of 25 Ottoman Sultans, to admire its priceless imperial treasures; and visit the Grand Bazaar, scouting for bargains like antiques, leatherware, jewelry, and souvenirs in the world’s biggest and oldest covered bazaar. Tonight, dine at a restaurant in one of Istanbul’s most historical streets.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Another whirl of sightseeing begins at the Spice Market, a bustling 17th-century covered market brim with stalls peddling fresh produce and handicrafts. Next, enjoy a Bosphorus cruise, sailing the famous waterway past sights like the Dolmabahce Palace and Rumeli fortress. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy time at your leisure to relax and do as you wish–perhaps getting your own taste of the city’s buzzing and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Tonight you’ll enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and enjoy a comfortable transfer to Istanbul Airport for your homeward flight.
Included: Breakfast at hotel
Create your ideal getaway with the following upgrade options. Extensions and upgrades can be added during the booking process or speak to one of our travel advisors to tailor your perfect trip.
Treat yourself to the most sought-after seats on our coaches — those in the first two or three rows. We assign 10 seats in the front rows on a first-come, first-served basis subject to availability. To pre-book these seats for less than $10 per day, select the front of coach seating option online in your Peony Tours account.
Airfares included in the advertised Land + Air Package prices are from New York(JFK) on Turkish Airlines(TK), including fuel surcharge and taxes/fees, not including any baggage fees or seat assignment fees.
Departures from other gateway cities, please add appropriate U.S. domestic add-on fares. For time zone of your gateway city, please call Peony Tours.
Turkish Airlines:
*Fares are subject to availability; for detailed gateway fares please view our dates & pricing
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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★ ★ ★ ★
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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