10-Day Western Turkey Explorer with 3 Nights Iconic Aegeans

Day 1 Arrival to Istanbul (Sunday)

1. 1

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   Upon arrival at Istanbul / SAW Airport, you will be greeted and drives to your hotel. Check-in. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2 Treasures of Istanbul (Monday)

1. 1

   Hagia Sophia Mosque

   1 hour Admission ticket not included

   According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore Hagia Sophia; was the largest building on earth barring the Egyptian Pyramids or the Great Wall of China. It was the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period.

2. 2

   TopkapI Palace

   2 hours Admission ticket not included

   Topkapı Palace; As well as being the imperial residence of the Sultan, the palace was also the seat of government for the ottoman empire. It housed the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years.

3. 3

   Blue Mosque

   1 hour

   Next, Blue Mosque; Built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in the year 1616, Blue mosque today is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city with its famous six minarets and magnificent dome.

4. 4

   1 hour

   Hippodrome; Built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203AD, during the Roman period hippodrome was the civil center for the people of the city where once 100,000 spectators could be held.

5. 5

   Grand Bazaar

   2 hours

   Grand Bazaar; With 18 entrances and more than 4000 shops it is one of the greatest bazaars in the World. At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul

Day 3 Gallipoli&Troy (Tueday)

1. 1

   Istanbul

   4 hours

   According to your pick-up time from your hotel, drive to Canakkale.

2. 2

   Gallipoli

   3 hours

   Here we begin our guided tour of ANZAC Battlefields visiting Brighton Beach, ANZAC Cove, Beach Cemetery, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Turkish and allied tunnels and trenches at Johnston’s Jolly, 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.

3. 3

   Troy (Truva)

   2 hours Admission ticket not included

   Troya Archeological Site where we see the UNESCO recognized ruins of the Ancient kingdom of Troy. We stroll through the site where many worldwide used terms like the Trojan War, Trojan Horse, Helen of Troy, Prince Paris comes from Battle between Archilles and Hector, Walls of Troy II and Megaron House, The Ramp of Troy II, Roman bath, Odeon, The Temple of Athena and Ruins of Athena. Check-in. Overnight in Canakkale

Day 4 Pergamum&Asklepion (Wednesday)

1. 1

   Canakkale

   2 hours

   Upon breakfast at the hotel check out and Drive to Pergamum;

2. 2

   Pergamon Ancient City

   2 hours Admission ticket not included

   Where John wrote his letter, Pergamum had been a capital city for almost four hundred years. After the mythical times, Pergamum had been the scene of several cultures, ranging from those of the Stone and Bronze Ages until the Archaic and Classical Periods. Among the temples, palaces, and agoras, the Asclepion, which was constructed in the course of one century, belonged to the big Zeus Altar and the Parchment Library.

3. 3

   The Asklepion

   1 hour Admission ticket not included

   visit the ruins of Asklepion; was known under the name of "The Pergamum God of Health". Asklepius the dietary health and medicine served the people for several hundred years; thus making Pergamum a medical centre of very great importance. Famous medical Scholars, like Hippocrates and Galenus, were born in Pergamum and worked there.

4. 4

   Kusadasi

   3 hours

   Along the way, feast your eyes on the beautiful Agean sea view with lush olive trees and some Greek and Turkish Islands. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 5 Ancient Ephesus&House of Virgin Mary (Thursday)

1. 1

   Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)

   1 hour Admission ticket not included

   Visit The House of Virgin Mary; a church was built from the 6C AD to the top of the foundations of a house from 1C AD and it is declared by the church to be the final house where Mary spent her last days.

2. 2

   Ancient City of Ephesus

   2 hours Admission ticket not included

   Continue with the Ancient Ephesus; The best-preserved classical city in Eastern Mediterranean. Ephesus was the second-largest city on the planet after Rome with more than 250,000 citizens. It is also home to one of the Seven wonders of the ancient world, Temple of Artemis. Ephesus is also so well preserved that, walking on the ancient streets among the beautiful monuments such as the third largest library of the ancient world or the largest roman theatre on the Asia continent, gives you the feeling of a time traveler

3. 3

   The Temple of Artemis

   1 hour

   Next; Temple of Artemis or Artemision was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its ancient cult dedicated to Artemis was very famous in antiquity and made Ephesus a much-visited pilgrimage place. Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 6 Pamukkale Tour (Friday)

1. 1

   Kusadasi

   3 hours

   According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide and start your full-day tour.

2. 2

   Pamukkale

   2 hours

   Visit Pamukkale; Pools of Heaven on Earth… Pamukkale has always been a very popular settlement where hot springs were believed to have healing powers so it is considered to be the earliest spa on earth where in history people travelled long distances in order to find a cure. The unique terraces were formed by running warm spring water at a temperature of 35 C, containing calcium bicarbonate. Today Pamukkale is declared as a worlds heritage site by UNESCO.

3. 3

   Hierapolis & Pamukkale

   1 hour

   Visit; ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. Also, The Sacred Pool is one of the highlights of the site. Theır shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath.

4. 4

   Kusadasi

   3 hours

   At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 7 Kusadasi - Patmos (Saturday)

1. 1

   30 min Admission ticket included

   According to your pick up tıme meet your drıver and drıve to Kusadasi Port. After passport controls, Boarding your cruise (Celestyal Olympia).

2. 2

   Patmos

   20 hours

   According to the cruise departure time(13:00), we are moving towards the island of Patmos.Arrive at Patmos port around 16:30. You will stay here until 21:30 in the evening. Overnight on Board.

Day 8 Crete (Heraklion) - Santorini (Sunday)

1. 1

   Heraklion

   4 hours

   Start the day with a magnificent view of the island of Crete. Today, you will join guided Halfday tour to Knossos; was the place that 'gave birth' to the very first civilisation of Europe, the Minoans. You will be able to explore the large central court, the wonderful Throne Room, the imposing Grand Staircase and see the fresco of the 'Prince of the Lilies'. At the end of the tour, drive you back to the cruise.

2. 2

   Santorini

   10 hours

   At 12 o'clock we are heading towards the island of Santorini, which is one of the most charming Greek İsland. We are here until 21:30. Overnight on Board.

Day 9 Athens(Lavrion)-Mykonos (Monday)

1. 1

   Athens

   4 hours

   Today, join a guided mornıng tour to heart of Athens brings us to one of the most recognisable, historic and mos photographed sites in the world, the famous Acropolis with the Parthenon at its summit. Its a remınder of Ancient Greece's powerful civilisation and greatest architectural complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity.
   At the foot of the Acropolis and its ancient temples lies the oldest neighbourhood of AThens, Plaka. Vistors are mesmerized and charmed by its beautifull houses, cobblestone streets and tiny shops. As we head away from the Acropolis and Plaka, we pass the Tomb of the Unknowen soldier in front of Parliement with the familiar sentries or Evzones, synonymous with the city. Next; visit Panathenaic Stadium where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. After tour, back to the cruise

2. 2

   Mykonos

   11 hours

   After the tour back to the cruise and move to Mykonos. The cruise will stay here until 23:00. Explore city your own. Overnight on board.

Day 10 Kusadasi (Tuesday)

1. 1

   1 hour Admission ticket included

   Today is the last of your cruise. Upon arrival at Kusadasi Port greeted by your driver and drive you Izmir Airport for your onward flight for your next destination. End of our service.