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Wonders of Turkey - With Anzac Day, Classic Group
Fall in love with Turkey on this 11-day guided tour. 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 electric Grand Bazaar, which boasts more than 4,000 shops.
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Welcome to Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey. Your journey begins in vibrant Istanbul, the only city in the world that spans two continents: Europe and Asia, where a representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner.
Hotel: Radisson Blu Sisli, Istanbul
Troy and Canakkale
Depart Istanbul and head south towards the storied plains of Troy. Visit the archaeological site with your Travel Director to uncover the layers of myth and history behind the ancient city that inspired Homer's Iliad. Learn how this UNESCO World Heritage Site has shaped understanding of the region's past. Continue to Canakkale, a significant location during the Gallipoli campaign, where you'll check into your hotel and enjoy an early evening at leisure. As you look ahead to tomorrow's ANZAC Day dawn service, this evening is yours to rest before a meaningful morning of remembrance.
Hotel: Kolin, Canakkale
Canakkale
Dawn and first light signals the commencement of the annual Dawn Service. Attend alongside Australian, New Zealand and other foreign dignitaries and military personnel to honor the fallen soldiers. After the service pay your respects at the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Cemeteries, whilst learning more about the events which lead to the Anzac troops fighting in an attempt to gain control of the Dardanelles Strait. This afternoon return to your hotel for the rest of your day at leisure. Perhaps relax poolside and admire the beautiful surroundings or book in for one of the many treatments on offer at the hotel spa.
Hotel: Kolin, Canakkale
Gallipoli, Ephesus and Izmir
This morning, return to the Gallipoli Peninsula to explore the key sites of the 1915 campaign with your Travel Director. Visit Anzac Cove, where the troops first came ashore, and reflect at the Lone Pine Cemetery, the final resting place of many Australian soldiers. Continue to Chunuk Bair, a site of significance for New Zealand forces, and gain further insights into the events that shaped the ANZAC legacy. Later, journey south to Ephesus, where you'll step back into the ancient world amid remarkably preserved Roman ruins. Walk through the city's grand arcades and imagine daily life in one of antiquity's greatest trading centers. Arrive in coastal zmir this evening and enjoy dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travelers.
Hotel: Swissotel Buyuk Efes, Izmir
The Pools of Pamukkale Relaxed Start
Head 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 to your hotel, the esteemed Doa Thermal Health & Spa. Take full advantage of its indoor and outdoor thermal pools, steam room and its Turkish bath complex.
Hotel: Doa Thermal Health & Spa, Pamukkale
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 recognize this famous area from the striking golden, volcanic landscapes that surround it.
Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos, Cappadocia
The Cappadocia Experience Relaxed Start
Move on to Goreme, 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.
Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos, Cappadocia
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 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.
Hotel: Ankara HiltonSA
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. Enjoy the excitement of bargaining in the bustling Grand Bazaar. Your evening is at leisure.
Hotel: Radisson Blu Sisli, Istanbul
Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire
Take in the sites of Istanbul, visit the historic Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held. Explore Hagia Sophia with Insight Choice. Choose between visiting Hagia Sophia History Digital Experience, offering an immersive journey through the landmarks marvels, or alternatively, visit Hagia Sophia, built in A.D. 537 and famous for its domed roof. Visit the Topkapi Palace, perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the primary inlet of the waterway. Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus, where you will pass Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Radisson Blu Sisli, 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.
Price My Trip
Product Code: IVUSAS-Z983N26
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