Day 1: Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul Airport Pick-Up

Upon arrival, you will be picked up at the Istanbul airport and transferred to your accommodation for check-in. Take the rest of the day to discover the magnificent city at your leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul Old City Tour

After breakfast, set off for your full-day tour of Istanbul! Spread across two continents, this historically important city played an integral role in the development of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Visit the famous 17th-century Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya Museum, the former residence of the Ottoman Sultans at Topkapi Palace, and the Hippodrome. Overnight in Istanbul.

Meals: B

Gallipoli Battlefields & Memorials

This morning you'll take a drive to Gallipoli, where you will enjoy a fully guided tour of this World War I battlefield site. Once home to some of history's fiercest battles, today the site contains a plethora of memorials. Visit the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, ANZAC Cove, Johnston's Jolly, The Nek and the Gallipoli Museum. You will have the chance to see the original trenches and tunnels used during the war, before your transfer to your accommodation in Canakkale, where you'll stay the night.

Meals: B, D

Troy & The Acropolis of Pergamum

Start your day with a short drive to the ancient city of Troy. Lying undiscovered until midway through the 19th century, the excavations brought back to life the legend of the Trojan horse and the poems of Homer. Next, drive south to the acropolis of Pergamum, a former kingdom where you will enjoy a tour, including the Temple of Trajan and the famous library, which helped shape Pergamum into a renowned cultural and political centre. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Meals: B, D

Ephesus, Sirince & Kusadasi

After breakfast this morning, visit Ephesus, the city that at one time housed 250,000 people and is regarded as one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean. Discover the Temple of Artemis and explore the ancient marble streets of this ruined Roman city. In the afternoon, visit the vineyard village of Sirince and learn about the history of carpet weaving. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Meals: B, D

Pamukkale & Hierapolis

Your day starts with a drive to Pamukkale, the site of the white calcium terraces known as travertines. Pamukkale is one of the most extraordinary natural wonders of Turkey; the buildings appear to be made of snow or clouds as a result of the hot thermal springs that pour down the hillside depositing calcium carbonate, which solidifies as travertine. We call this geological fairyland Pamukkale, or 'Cotton Castle.'

The ruins of Hierapolis are the other main attraction. The city was founded in 190 B.C. by Eumenes II, king of Pergamon. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries, it reached the height of its development as a Roman thermal bath epicentre. Hierapolis has extensive ruins: the city walls, the octagonal Martyrium of St. Philip, the 2nd-century theatre, the Temple of Apollo, the basilica, and then the necropolis which spreads 2 km and contains ancient tombs. This area is considered to be one of the best-preserved cemeteries in all of Anatolia. The thermal hot springs have been used since Roman times, and now you too can take a relaxing soak in these mineral-rich waters. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Meals: B, D

Silk Road to Konya

Today, travel back in time and follow the ancient Silk Road towards Konya. Learn more about the history of this important trade route with a stop at the Sultanhani Caravanserai, before getting to Konya and visiting the Mevlana museum. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Meals: B, D

Cappadocia

Today head out and explore the beautiful and surreal landscape of Cappadocia. Unlike anywhere else on earth, this setting creates a fairytale view full of improbable rock formations and underground villages. Enjoy a full tour of the place often described as the 'jewel of Turkey,' and explore the subterranean churches and fortresses used by Christians to avoid persecution over a thousand years ago. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Meals: B, D

Ankara & Return to Istanbul

This morning you will take a drive to Ankara, Turkey's modern-day capital city. Visit Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the famed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, before returning to Istanbul where you will stay overnight.

Please Note: Be prepared for a long travel day with a lot of driving.

Meals: B

Istanbul Airport Drop-Off

This morning enjoy a delicious breakfast and get ready for your transfer to Istanbul airport, where you'll catch your departing flight on to your next destination. We wish you safe travels!

Meals: B

• All activities as per the itinerary with English-speaking guide
• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• Transportation as per the itinerary
• 9 nights shared accommodation in comfort hotels
• 9 breakfasts and 6 dinners
• Entrance fees
• All permits and taxes

• International and/or domestic flights
• Optional activities
• Other meals/drinks
• Personal expenses
• Tips
• Travel insurance
• Single supplement for private room available upon request
• Anything not mentioned in the‘inclusions'