15 DAY ANZAC TOUR TURKEY
TOUR START DATE: 22/04/09 TOUR PRICE: £499.00 per person 5% Discounts on Early booking or 10% off full Payments!
15 Day Silver ANZAC Tour TurkeyDiscription Experience the must see places of Turkey including Istanbul, Gallipoli Battlefields and the Anzac Services, Troy, Asklepion and Red Basilica, and the roman city of Pergamum, the ancient ruins of Ephesus, the hot springs of Pamukkale, Dalyan mudbaths, and the amazing city of Cappadocia view first hand the historical arts traditions and mysteries of Turkey. The Mediterranean views of Antalya, and visit the capital of Turkey, Ankara. The tour also includes a optional ANZAC BBQ buffet dinner on the Anzac Peninsula, all entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary, 3 and 4 star Hotel accommodation, professional English speaking tour guides, accommodation in the authentic cave hotels of Cappadocia. This tour will ensure you leave Turkey with many great memories and will entice you to return for many more visits.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – Istanbul – Wednesday 22nd April 2009 Welcome to Turkey!!! Today is your arrival day. Airport transfers are available from Ataturk International Airport during the hours of 8am till 11pm. Transfers will be made to your Hotel where you will be met by your Tour guide and checked into your room @ the Bulvar Palas
Optional Tour - 1001 Turkish Night departs from Hotel lobby at 20:00 to the event. Includes turkish Dinner, Drinks and entertainment.
Note!! Transfers from Sabiha Gokcen Airport can be arranged at extra cost. Day 2 – Istanbul City Tour – Thursday 23rd April 2009 Breakfast Included We depart from the hotel at 08:30 for the Istanbul city tour. TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Lunch break and then we head to the SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar) The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.
After the tour you have the option to experience The Bosphorous Cruise. You will have the chance to enjoy magnificent views of Bosphorous which is connecting Asia to Europe.
For those in a party mood we have an ANZAC Party scheduled for tonight. This is an optional activity. Party Information prices and details can be found here >>>
Day 3 – Gallipoli - Dawn Service – Friday 24 April 2009 Breakfast - Dinner is Optional We depart for Gallipoli at 07:00 (4.5 hour drive). A stop will be provided on the way down for supplies. We start our tour of the Gallipoli Peninsula a little after midday. The tour includes the Kabatepe War Museum, Anzac Cove, Lone Pine (Australia’s Memorial and Cemetery), Quinns Post, Turkish 57th Regiment Cemetery, The Nek and Chunuk-Bair (New Zealand's Memorial and Cemetery). After the tour we drive to the coast of Gabatepe for our big ANZAC BBQ and buffet dinner (optional). At approx 21.30 pm we will depart to take our seats for the Dawn Service. Overnight Anzac Cove.
Day 4 – Dawn Service – Troy (time permitting)- Saturday 25th April 2009 Dinner Included Don't forget your sleeping bags, warm clothes, wet weather gear and torches because Gallipoli is still as dark and cold today as it was years ago when your ancestors landed. 04:30 Dawn Service. 10:30 Australian National service 11.45 Turkish National Service 13:00 New Zealand National service After the services with time permitting we will depart for the ancient city of Troy. (about an hours drive) Your guide will explain the mythology surrounding Troy, the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy. After Troy, we drive to our hotel (3 hours drive) in Ayvalik where we will have dinner at the fantastic beach front Hotel and a comfy bed to rest your weary bodies.
Remember it has been a long weekend and getting out of Gallipoli after the services can be very frustrating there is still a long drive to your accommodation in Ayvalik but it is well worth the wait!!
Day 5- Bergama Tour / Kusadasi – Sunday 26th April 2009 Breakfast and dinner included Drive to Pergamum (45 minute drive) - see Asklepion, Zues's alter, the Red Bassilcia etc. BERGAMA is the site of the Hellenistic - and later Roman city of Pergamon, ruled for several centuries by a powerful local dynasty. Its foremost attraction is the Kizil Avlu or "Red Basilica", a huge edifice on the river not far from the acropolis, originally built as a temple to the Egyptian god Osiris and converted to a basilica by the early Christians, when it was one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor addressed by St John in the book of Revelation - though sadly it's now a crumbling ruin with a mosque in one of its towers. After Pargamum we continue towards the city of Kusadasi. On the way, we will visit a place which continues to perform one of the oldest arts of Turkey; a carpet weaving centre, followed by an optional Turkish Bath. After a good scrub down we will check into our hotel in Kusadasi in time for dinner @ the Kayhan Bey Hotel
Day 6- Ephesus & Kusadasi – Monday 27th April 2009 Breakfast and dinner included At 0830 we depart for Ephesus (20 min drive) - once the commercial centre of the ancient world - is a highlight of any visit to Turkey. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Her enormous temple, once considered one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World and rebuilt several times, dates in its latest form from the third century B.C. The tour of the ruins also includes a theatre, gymnasium, agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus. After lunch, we will make a shopping tour in which you will be aware of the ancient arts of Turkey like leather manufacturing and jewellery. As this will be a guided tour, you will avoid the constant nagging and sometimes bullying that is well known in the markets of Turkey. Enabling you to enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. Overnight in Kusadasi at the Kayhan Bey Hotel
Day 7- Pamukkale Tour - Tuesday 28th April 2009 Breakfast and dinner included At 08:30 we leave Kusadasi for Pamukkale (2.5 hour drive). In Pamukkale we shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, walking around this natural phenomenon gives you the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs that flow down the calcium terraces. After our days activities we will check into our hotel intime for dinner and the rest of the evening is yours to explore the small village or relax around the pool bar.
Day 8- Pamukkale & Dalyan Math Bath - Fethiye – Wednesday 29 April 2009 Breakfast and dinner included (Hotel in Fethiye is All-Inclusive) After Breakfast we depart for Dalyan (4 hour drive). Dalyan is a very popular small town not spoiled by buildings and still has the local village feeling to it. From Dalyan we will take a boat trip to the The Sultaniye Thermal Baths, Famous in Turkey and has included visitors such as Dustin Hofman. The waters of Sultaniye Thermal Baths contain radioactive elements and sulphur which are believed to cure rheumatism, skin, liver, spleen and bowel complaints, as well as being beneficial for nervous and digestive disorders. Apart from the obvious health advantages its basically great fun. Once the mud fights have stopped and you have baked yourself in the sun there is nothing better tan a dip in the hot thermal springs to wash the mud away. Lunch will be served shortly afterwards and then we will continue down the river to Caunos, the ancient city near modern Dalyan, Caunos was founded around the 9th century BC. Caunos is famous for its rock-cut tombs which we can observe from the Dalyan river on our way to the wonderful 7 kilometres sandy Iztuzu Beach, which is only accessible by boat and is one of the last nesting areas for the Caretta Caretta (Sea Turtles). After the tour we return to the boat and head back to Dalyan for our bus trip to Oludeniz in Fethiye where we will be staying at the Alize All Inclusive beach resort.
Day 9 - Antalya – Thursday 30th April 2009 Breakfast and dinner included (Hotel in Antalya is All-Inclusive) After breakfast depart to Antalya (5 hour drive). On the way we shall see one of the best panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Lunch break on the way. We will be passing from ancient Likya and you will have the chance to take photos of breath taking scenes. In ancient times it covered all Pamphylia that means "the land of all tribes". Attalia, the ancient name of Antalya , is derived from that of the Pergamon king Attalos II Philadelphus, who founded the city on the Pamphylian seacoast around 150 BC. It is know that it was visited by St. Paul by way of Perge in 46 A.D., that it was an important trading centre in the 2nd century A.D. and that the Emperor Hadrian's visit in 130 A.D. was commemorated with new monuments. Check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to discover Antalya.
Day 10- Antalya Perge Aspendos Tour – Friday 1st May 2009 Breakfast and dinner included (Hotel in Antalya is All-Inclusive) PERGE : According to the geographer Strabon, Perge has been founded by Akhas who came down here after the Trojan wars. Perge was first mentioned in 334 BC when Alexander the Great passed through here. In the following years, Perge went under the control of Pergamon when the Kingdom of Pergamon became a part of the Roman city. Especially in the first and the second centuries BC, Perge became one of the richest towns in Pamphylia. Therefore it is not a surprising that St. Paul started his campaign in Anatolia from Perge in 46 AD. The people of Perge loved and respected their Artemis to such an extent that Christianity had to wait for another 400 years to enter here. In the Byzantine period, Perge was the seat of the bishop. Even though Arabs raided Perge in the 7th century AD, when Seljuk Turks settled the area, records show the existence of an older race living here. After the tour, departure for Aspendos. Lunch break on the way. ASPENDOS: The eastern land of Antalya was called Pamphylia in ancient times. The Toros Daglari ( Taurus Mountains ) forms a beautiful back drop to the fertile coast, rich with fields of cotton and vegetables. Aspendos (Belkis) lies 47 km east of Antalya in the Pamphylian plain. In 486 BC, Greeks and Persians had a great battle here (the Greeks won, they didn't stay in the area for long). During the reign of he Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-80 AD) Aspendos got its theatre, which is the best preserved of all. It was built by Romans and maintained by Byzantines and Seljuks. The ruins of the ancient city are extensive and include a stadium, an agora, and a basilica. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight in 3star Hotel Antalya.
Day 11- Antalya - Cappadocia – Saturday 2nd May 2009 Breakfast and dinner included Early morning we have a long drive to Cappadocia (8 hour drive). Check in to your hotel. After having some rest, you will have the chance to go to the famous traditional Turkish Night, you will enjoy Whirling Dervishes, Belly Dancing & Traditional Turkish Folklore accompanied by traditional Turkish food. We recommend it should not be missed. Overnight Cave Hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 12- Cappadocia Tour - Sunday 3rd May 2009 Breakfast and dinner included Today we will get to know the Cappadocia region, a volcanic area in which the geological formation started 10 million years ago. As a result of these formations phallic like pillars have come to life. The beautiful horse country "Katpatuka," (as the Persians called her) is an unbelievable strip of land, enchanting and mysterious. Our guided tour will start at 09:30 and cover Avcilar, Pigeon Valley , Göreme Open Air Museum , Dervent Valley , Uçhisar Castle and the pottery village of Avanos . If you want to join our optional activity of Hot Air Ballooning, please contact with your guide and register because it will take place early the next morning. Dinner at your Hotel. Overnight in Cave Hotel Cappadocia
Day 13- Cappadocia Tour & Ankara – Monday 4th May 2009 Breakfast & Dinner included We depart at 09:30 for one of the most interesting sites of Cappadocia - Derinkuyu Underground City. The Christians hid from the armies of Rome and the raids of hostile tribes in these self sufficient cities in which there were halls for stocks of crop, barns, rooms, kitchens & ventilation channels. This afternoon we will depart for Ankara with a lunch break during the trip (4 hour drive). Overnight in 4star Hotel Ankara.
Day 14- Ankara City Tour & Istanbul – Tuesday 5th May 2009 Breakfast included Visit Ataturk (founder of the modern Turkey) Museum at the Ataturk Mosoleum. Lunch break. After the break city tour of Ankara which is the 2nd biggest city and the capital of Turkey. Then departure for Istanbul (5 hour drive). Over night in Istanbul @ Bulvar Palas
Day 15- Istanbul - The End – Wednesday 6th May 2009 Breakfast included After breakfast check out from the hotel. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another TravelShop Turkey Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Turkey.
Tour Inclusions: . 13 Breakfasts, 9 Dinners + All-Inclusive hotel in Fethiye and Antalya . Professional English speaking tour guide throughout . All transportation by private a/c tour coach . 3 nights at 4 star hotel accommodation in Istanbul @ the Bulvar Palas . 1 night at 3 star hotel accommodation in Ayvalik @ Ayvalik Beach Club . 2 nights at 4 Star Hotel accommodation in Kusadasi @ Kayhan Bey Hotel . 1 night 3 star hotel accommodation in Pamukkale . 1 night, all-inclusivel accommodation @ a Beach Resort in Oludeniz - Fethiye . 2 night, all-inclusivel accommodation @ a Beach Resort in Antalya . 2 nights accommodation in Cappadocia in authentic cave Hotel . 1 night 4 star hotel accommodation in Ankara . All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary . Arrival airport transfers between 8am and 10pm
TOUR PRICE: 5% Discounts on Early booking or 10% off full Payments! GBP £499.00 per person (Based on double, triple or twin share) GBP £599.00 per person (Single Room) |