Istanbul - Cappadocia, Antalya, Side, Kekova, Demre, Kas, Fethiye, Dalyan, Ephesus, ANZAC Services, Gallipoli
10th April 2012, TUE - Istanbul Arrival
Arrival to Istanbul & transfer to hotel. We have transfer vehicles around the clock, please forward us your flight number &/or details for airport pick up. Overnight in Istanbul.
11th April 2012, WED - Istanbul Tour
After breakfast we leave our hotel for an introductory tour of Istanbul & Turkey. We will take you to Spice Market, still in use as one of the world’s largest spice bazaars since 1665. Next, we will board the ferries across the Bosphorus which will take us to both European & Asian shores of the city. After lunch at a local fish restaurant in Sariyer we will drive you by coach via the Intercontinental Bridge 'Bosphorus' & take you to Camlica Hill on the Asian side. Camlica is the summit where you will enjoy breathtaking views of Istanbul. We will visit the Dolmabahce Palace, the residence of the royal Ottoman family with original furniture & magnificent gardens. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel with the remainder of the day free. Overnight in Istanbul.
12th April 2012, THU - Istanbul Half Day Tour
After breakfast meeting your tour guide at hotel lobby to begin the day with a stroll to the Hippodrome, the former heart of Constantinople's political & sporting life adorned with ancient monuments. Next visit the Blue Mosque with its six minarets, a great cascade of domes & a striking blue Iznik tiled interior. Continue with the Hagia Sophia which is considered the jewel of Byzantine architecture & once the largest church in the world for 1000 years. You will be transferred back to your hotel with afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
13th April 2012, FRI - Istanbul - Cappadocia
After breakfast early check out & transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for Cappadocia flight (1.2hr). Transfer to Goreme upon arrival (1hr) to cave hotel, which was carved in the landscape centuries or possibly 3000 years ago by its inhabitants. We start our day with a gentle hike through orchards, unusual volcanic rock formations, rock-cut houses at Red Valley & Pasabagi where you will find the world known fairy chimneys. Visit the old Christian Village of Cavusin, followed by lunch break & then an excursion to Pigeon Valley. Then continue on to Goreme Open Air Museum where you will visit the numerous rock carved churches, monasteries decorated with striking frescoes from early Christianity. Our last stop for today will be the panoramic view point offering spectacular views of the landscape from the natural rock castle at Uchisar. Overnight in Goreme.
14th April 2012, SAT - Cappadocia
After breakfast, another full day tour this time to visit the famous Derinkuyu Underground City, we'll walk through the underground city of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu, where an entire community of Christians lived in a system of subterranean caves & tunnels for centuries without being noticed. Afterwards a short hike through the green Ihlara Valley along the stream & visiting some of the churches dug into the walls of the gorge. Stop in Belisirma village for lunch break in the village & then continue on to Selime for a panoramic view. Our last stop will be at the Agzikarahan Caravanserai built by the Seljuk Turks to accommodate travellers on the ancient Silk Road. Returning to Goreme for overnight stay.
15th April 2012, SUN - Cappadocia / Antalya
Today is a long drive day but is broken up with a lunch break in Konya. This morning we drive to Konya & see the impressive Mausoleum & Museum of Mevlana, the mystic founder of the Islamic Sufi sect (Sufism is less an Islamic sect than a mystical way of approaching the Islamic faith). After the brief Konya tour we continue on to Antalya. Check in to hotel, overnight in Kaleici Antalya.
16th April 2012, MON - Perge & Aspendos / Antalya
Depart in the morning to visit Perge, an important city of ancient Pamphylia, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. St. Paul visited Perge on his first missionary journey. The theatre stage has finely carved marble reliefs & other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium. Then proceed to Aspendos, which bears one of the best preserved Roman theatres in Asia Minor. After lunch by the river, we visit Manavgat Waterfalls before continuing to Side. Side is one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey. It was an ancient harbour, today Side is a pretty resort town with its ancient ruins, two sandy beaches & numerous tiny souvenir shops. The magnificent theatre of the ancient city, built on colonnaded arches, is the largest in the whole area. Other monuments include the Agora, the Temple of Apollo & Necropolis. Overnight in Antalya.
17th April 2012, TUE - Demre Myra & Kekova / Kas
After breakfast check-out & we will drive an hour west to visit Demre to see the Church of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus). Inside the church is the sarcophagus of St. Nicholas although his remains were taken to Italy. A brief stop to see the ruins of Myra city & rock tombs. After lunch we leave Demre & continue to Kekova; known for its crystal clear sea waters ideal for swimming, castles, the ancient ruins on land & in the sea & countless other beauties. We will take a glass bottom boat to around Kekova Island which will give us a chance to see the ruins of a sunken city. On the mainland the charming fishing village of Kalekoy stands today, its buildings mingling with ancient & medieval structures. We visit Simena castle & then drive along the famous Turquoise Coast to the small fishing village of Kas for overnight stay.
18th April 2012, WED - Kas
Free day at leisure. Overnight Kas.
19th April 2012, THU - Fethiye
Check out from hotel & transfer to Fethiye. You may choose to spend the balance of your day either in Kas or Fethiye (Oludeniz) as the drive is just an hour.
20th April 2012, FRI - Fethiye
Free day at leisure. Overnight Fethiye. Optional : Pick up from the hotel & transfer to the boat. A lazy day boat cruise leaving from Oludeniz Beach. Board the boat for a day you wont forget. Swim in the Blue Cave before stepping ashore at Butterfly Valley. For the energetic, a climb up to the Waterfall where you might see a rare Tiger Butterfly is not to be missed. Lunch is served on the boat before we stop at St. Nicholas Island where you can climb amongst ruins to the top of the Island for magnificent views or you may swim at ‘Cold Spring Bay’ where fresh water leaks into the sea & is very refreshing. At the evening sail back to Oludeniz Beach & transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.
21st April 2012, SAT - Fethiye / Dalyan & Iztuzu / Kusadasi
Check out from hotel for Dalyan Caunos tour before heading to Kusadasi. Dalyan is an area of outstanding natural beauty & historic interest. Also is the protected breeding ground of the Caretta Caretta, Loggerhead turtle. Here, a covered boat will take us down the meandering Dalyan river delta, twisting & turning through thick vegetation which is overlooked by the 4th century BC Lycian rock cut tombs. We will get off to visit the ancient city of Caunos which stands midway along the channel facing Dalyan. After reaching Iztuzu beach by boat along the river where parts of the film ‘African Queen’ was filmed we have free time on the beach. Then the boat will bring us back to a riverside restaurant. We continue on to Kusadasi for overnight stay.
22nd April 2012, SUN - Ephesus
After breakfast today we visit the Ancient City of Ephesus which is among one of the best preserved Greco-Roman Cities in the world enabling one to genuinely 'soak in' the atmosphere of Roman times. Enter through the Magnesia Gate & begin a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. After lunch, we depart to visit the House of Virgin Mary where she is said to be brought here by St. John & have spent the last of her days. We will see the shrine & small chapel which is a pilgrimage sight just recently visited by Pope Benedict. The tour also includes a visit to the remains of Artemis Temple which was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World & finally (time allowing) we visit Sirince, an old Greek Orthodox village most famous for its local wine, olive oil & 19th century Greek architecture. Overnight in Kusadasi.
23rd April 2012, MON - Kusadasi - Gallipoli
Breakfast & check out from hotel to drive north. Lunch en-route, crossing the Dardanelles to arrive in Eceabat. Transfer to your hotel upon arrival. Overnight in Eceabat.
24th April 2012, TUE - Gallipoli Tour
10:00am departure for the ANZAC sites. 5 hour tour visiting:
• Kabatepe War Museum
• Beach Cemetery (John Simpson's grave)
• ANZAC Cove
• Ari Burnu - first ANZAC landing place
• Lone Pine - main Australian memorial
• Johnson's Jolly - walk in the original ANZAC & Turkish trenches & view the tunnels
• Turkish memorial
• The Nek - main scene depicted in the movie Gallipoli
• Chunuk Bair - main memorial for the New Zealand soldiers
Return to hotels for refreshment. 19:00 Join the convoy of Backpackers Travel buses for departure to the Dawn Service site where we will grab a space in the large crowd & wait, listening to the pre dawn program.
25th April 2012, WED - ANZAC Day Services
05:30 Dawn Service commences as the sun breaks the skyline behind the Turkish Sphinx.
07:30 While waiting for your bus to transfer you to the next service you can have your breakfast at ANZAC Cove with the group or feel free to tell inform your tour leader that you want to go exploring; take your breakfast pack & walk the ridges & old trenches to the next service. Australian &/or New Zealand National services. (Service times for these have yet to be released). Late afternoon our buses depart for Eceabat where you will check back into your accommodation, have a shower & a well-deserved sleep. Optional: Return transport to Istanbul.
26th April 2012, THU - Gallipoli - Istanbul
After breakfast at hotel, check out & transport to Istanbul. Check in to hotel upon arrival, remainder of the day free at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
27th April 2012, FRI - Istanbul Departure
Free day at leisure. Depending on your flight time, transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport International Terminal for homebound flight.
OPTION 8 : 19 days : Basic: £1360 GBP or Comfort: £1710 GBP
Included in option 8 :
• Pick up from hotel lobby & drop off back to hotel (except free days)
• ANZAC Day services
• Professional English speaking guide(s) licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
• Entrance fees to sites & museums during guided tours
• Lunch on full day tours
• Transport with A/C vehicles with driver, fuel, road tolls & parking fees
• All local taxes
Accommodation : 5 nights Istanbul, 2 nights Cappadocia, 2 nights Antalya, 2 nights Kas, 2 nights Fethiye, 2 nights Selcuk / Kusadasi, 1 nights Gallipoli
Basic Accommodation; PP in double room including breakfast, bathroom
Comfort Room; PP in double room including, breakfast, bathroom, free internet, satellite tv, air-con
Land Transfers :
• All transfers & transport in Turkey on arrivals/departures from/to airport, hotels & all above destinations as mentioned in the travel itinerary (except free days)
• A/C comfortable coaches with reclining seats & luggage compartments
• Meet & greet services at airports in Turkey
Excluded in option 8 :
• International airfare
• Turkish Visa fee (if required)
• Overseas travel insurance
• Drinks & meals which are not listed in the itinerary
• All personal expenses
• Istanbul Cappadocia, economy class airfare
