Wonders of Turkey - Classic Group, Summer
Tour Type: Regional
Brochure Type Ancient Civilizations 2024 v1
Fall in love with Turkey on this 11-day guided tour. See Ephesus, an ancient city built in the 10th Century B.C. with an amphitheater that once sat 24,000 people. Drive through the Maender River Valley to an organic farm, where you can walk the lush lands, then feast on fresh produce during a mouth-watering lunch. See the turquoise travertine pools in Pamukkale where ancient Romans used to soak ? then dip into the spa at your hotel to indulge in its Turkish baths. Take a tour of a traditional cave house in Cappadocia with the local who lives there, then dine as you watch whirling dervishes dance nearby. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the resting place of the country's first president, in Ankara. Travel to Istanbul, where you'll see the infamous Blue Mosque before bargaining at the eclectic Grand Bazaar, which boasts more than 4,000 shops.
Additional Included Highlights
Brochure Type Ancient Civilizations 2024 v1
Fall in love with Turkey on this 11-day guided tour. See Ephesus, an ancient city built in the 10th Century B.C. with an amphitheater that once sat 24,000 people. Drive through the Maender River Valley to an organic farm, where you can walk the lush lands, then feast on fresh produce during a mouth-watering lunch. See the turquoise travertine pools in Pamukkale where ancient Romans used to soak ? then dip into the spa at your hotel to indulge in its Turkish baths. Take a tour of a traditional cave house in Cappadocia with the local who lives there, then dine as you watch whirling dervishes dance nearby. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the resting place of the country's first president, in Ankara. Travel to Istanbul, where you'll see the infamous Blue Mosque before bargaining at the eclectic Grand Bazaar, which boasts more than 4,000 shops.
Additional Included Highlights
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, y
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- Istanbul Enjoy getting to know your fellow travelers as you savor a delicious Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant.
- Istanbul Toast the culmination of your tour with a lively Celebration Dinner at a popular local restaurant.
- Nazilli Head to a local organic farm where you will be treated to a farm-to-table lunch, made with the fresh local produce.
- Cappadocia Watch a spectacular Sema performance of Whirling Dervishes and discover the flavors of Cappadocia as you indulge in a regional dinner of colorful dishes.
- 6 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 1 Dinner (D)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- Cappadocia Join a Cappadocian local, who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house to learn more about their unique way of life.
- Ayvalik Visit the vibrant Copmadam workshop which produces one-of-a-kind items made from recycled packaging, creating employment opportunities for local women.
- Konya Visit a well preserved Seljuk Caravanserai.
- Saratli Visit Saratli Underground city known for its fine arts architecture.
- Istanbul Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul, where you'll pass Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses.
- Istanbul Visit the Blue Mosque and explore Hagia Sophia. With your Local Expert, gain an insight into the lives of the Ottoman Sultans during a private tour of the fabulous Topkapi Palace. Then you are given a complete guide on how to haggle in the Grand
- Göreme With your Local Expert, explore the underground cities, rock-cut churches, fairy-tale chimneys and the Pasabag Valley.
- Learn about the ancient art of pottery making in Avanos.
- Ankara Discover the mysterious Hittite civilization and visit the mausoleum of Ataturk.
- Gallipoli Pay your respects at Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery.
- Ephesus Discover one of the world's finest ancient sites. Led by your Local Expert, walk the Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and Amphitheater and visit the House of the Virgin Mary.
- Pamukkale See the cascading Cotton Castle of milky white travertine pools and the ancient ruin of Hierapolis.
- Ephesus Visit the Archaeological museum housing many of the artefacts from Ephesus.
- Troy Visit this ancient sight fabled to have been destroyed over love and view the huge reconstructed Trojan Horse.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical
Call (209) 521-0800 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18824344
- Tour Operator
- Insight Vacations
- Offer
- Offer valid through 12/30/2024
- Duration
- 11 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Istanbul | Welcome to Istanbul: Welcome to Turkey. You'll start in vibrant Istanbul, where a representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and getting to know your fellow travelers over a delicious Welcome Dinner. Accommodations: Grand Wyndham Levent |
| Day 2 | Çanakkale | Gallipoli, Anzac Cove and Troy: Marvel at breathtaking coastal views as you make your way along the shores of the Sea of Marmara to historic Gallipoli. Located in the southern part of East Thrace, it was here that for nine months during the Great War, Anzac troops fought in an in an attempt to gain control of the Dardanelles Strait. Learn more about these events as you visit Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery. Later, join your group as you head from Eceabat across the sea to Çanakkale before arriving to the historic city of Troy, the focal point of the Trojan War and the backdrop to one of history's most famous love stories, that of Paris and Helen of Troy, the face that launched 1000 ships. A replica of the mighty Trojan horse, which helped the Greeks capture the city in 1200 B.C., can be seen beside the city's walls. Accommodations: DoubleTree by Hilton Canakkale, Canakkale. |
| Day 3 | Kusadasi | Pergamon and Kusadasi: Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience at Copmadam, a women's co-op turning recycled materials into unique items, and addressing women's employment issues. Continue on to Pergamon, once a powerful ancient Greek city, you'll find the Asklepion temple here. A famous shrine and healing center, it was built in honor of Asklepios, the god of medicine. After some time exploring, continue your journey to the coastal resort of Kusadasi. Accommodations: Charisma De Luxe Hotel, Kusadasi. |
| Day 4 | Kusadasi | Ephesus - Kusadasi Relaxed Start: Start your morning with a trip to the nearby town of Selçuk. Home to the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis, you'll begin with an educational visit to the Archaeological Museum. Once here, delve into the area's history as you explore the museum's exhibits, many of which have been retrieved from the nearby Ephesus excavation site. Later, explore the famous site itself. Walk through the colonnaded Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and the huge Amphitheater, before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, situated above the Ephesus ruins. Accommodations: Charisma De Luxe Hotel, Kusadasi. |
| Day 5 | Pamukkale | The Pools of Pamukkale: This morning, following the winding Maender River Valley, with its twists and turns, head to a local organic farm. Once here, you'll meet the agricultural director who will take you on a walking tour of the eco-friendly lands. You'll have the satisfying task of picking fruits and vegetables from his fields. Delight in a mouth-watering Farm-to-Table lunch, prepared with fresh produce from the farm. Continue to Pamukkale. Famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters and chalk-white limestone terraces, explore the area with your Travel Director. See the ruins of the ancient Roman spa city of Hierapolis, founded in 190 B.C. You'll see the city's well-preserved theater and its turquoise travertine pools. Later, head back to your hotel, the esteemed Doga Thermal Health & Spa. Take full advantage of its indoor and outdoor thermal pools, steam room and its Turkish bath complex. Accommodations: Doga Thermal Health & Spa, Pamukkale. |
| Day 6 | Cappadocia | The Underground City and Cappadocia: Today your journey takes you to Urgup, a historic town in the heart of Cappadocia. Visit the 13th-century Sultanhani Caravanserai before exploring the underground city of Saratli. You will recognise this famous area from the striking golden, volcanic landscapes that surround it. Accommodations: DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos, Cappadocia |
| Day 7 | Cappadocia | The Cappadocia Experience: Move on to Göreme, a striking town in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. Explore its rock-hewn churches decorated with ancient wall paintings before moving on to the Pasabag Valley. Located on the road to Zelve, you'll find otherworldly earth pillars here, ?fairy chimneys' and troglodyte dwellings. Later, join a Cappadocian local who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house. You'll learn more about their unique way of living, local traditions and family life. Complementing the day's events, this evening you'll witness a performance of the Whirling Dervishes before dining at a local restaurant. Accommodations: DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos, Cappadocia |
| Day 8 | Ankara | Ankara: One for art lovers, this morning, you'll learn about the art of pottery making in Avanos. A town based in Cappadocia, it is famous for its earthenware pottery. Continue your journey to Ankara, where you'll visit the Hittite Museum and Anit Kabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, Turkey's greatest modern leader and the first President of the Republic of Turkey. Perhaps relax in the spa and wellness center at your hotel this evening. Accommodations: Ankara HiltonSA, Ankara. |
| Day 9 | Istanbul | To Istanbul: It's time to head to Istanbul. A glorious fusion of east and west, this popular city offers something for everyone, with history, culture, modernity, delicious cuisine and of course, the friendliest of faces. Board a cruise along the Bosphorus. As you make your way from Eminönu to the Black Sea, witness the area's beautiful Ottoman palaces and fortresses lining the waterfront. Your evening is at leisure, why not ask your Travel Director for suggestions on places to dine. Accommodations: Grand Wyndham Levent |
| Day 10 | Istanbul | Istanbul & the Ottoman Empire: Today you'll take in the sites of Istanbul. In the morning, visit the historic Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held, before exploring Hagia Sophia. Built in A.D. 537, it is famous for its domed roof. Visit the Topkapi Palace, perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the primary inlet of the waterway. Enjoy the excitement of bargaining in the bustling Grand Bazaar. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodations: Grand Wyndham Levent |
| Day 11 | Istanbul | Farewell Istanbul: It's time to say goodbye to your new friends, as your trip comes to an end. A transfer will take you to the airport for your onward flights, or for those extending their stay in Istanbul, speak to your Travel Director for tips and tricks on where to head. Accommodations: |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- Twin prices are per person.
- These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
- All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
- For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.
- Hotel Class Key: D: Deluxe SF: Superior First Class F: First Class
