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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. You'll start in vibrant Istanbul, where a representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and getting to know your fellow travelers over a delicious dinner.
Hotel: Wyndham Grand Istanbul Levent
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
Head to Pamukkale, famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters and chalk-white limestone terraces, and explore the area with your Travel Director. Along the way, 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 back 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
Departing from zmir, travel inland across the Anatolian plains, continuing towards the striking region of Cappadocia. Visit the 13th-century seljuk Caravanserai, once a vital stop for Silk Road traders, and learn how these fortified lodges supported ancient commerce and culture. Later, descend into the fascinating Saratli Underground City, a maze of tunnels and rooms carved from soft volcanic rock, used for centuries as a refuge from invaders. Check in to your hotel in Cappadocia and enjoy dinner with your fellow guests. This evening, you may choose to join an Optional Experience and immerse yourself in local tradition with a Turkish folklore show, showcasing music, costume and dance unique to this region.
Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Avanos, Cappadocia
Visit UNESCO-Listed Goreme
Begin your day in Goreme, exploring the UNESCO-listed Open-Air Museum with its rock-hewn churches adorned with vibrant Byzantine frescoes. Continue to the cave home of a Cappadocian local for an Insightful Encounter into the region's unique troglodyte heritage. Enjoy a fashion show highlighting fine local leatherwork. This afternoon, travel to the surreal landscapes of Paaba Valley, where striking fairy chimneys rise from the earth, and pause for photo stops at Uchisar and Pigeon Valley. As evening falls, experience the spiritual tradition of the Whirling Dervishes in a moving performance that blends music, movement and meditation. Conclude your day with dinner at a local restaurant, savoring regional flavors while reflecting on Cappadocia's extraordinary cultural and natural wonders.
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. On your way, stop off at one of the best-preserved Seljuk Caravanserais in Anatolia. Continue your journey to Ankara, where you'll visit the Hittite Museum and Anit Kabir, the Mausoleum of AtaturkTurkey'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
From Cappadocia to Istanbul
Depart Cappadocia this morning and journey north-west to vibrant Istanbul, where Europe meets Asia across the shimmering Bosphorus. On arrival, step into the bustling heart of the city at the Grand Bazaar. One of the world's oldest covered markets, it has welcomed traders and shoppers for over five centuries, offering everything from intricate jewelry and handwoven carpets to aromatic spices. Enjoy time to browse its labyrinth of alleys and soak up the lively atmosphere. This evening is yours to explore you might savor meze in a traditional restaurant, cruise the Bosphorus at sunset or wander Sultanahmet to see its landmarks beautifully lit.
Hotel: Radisson Blu Sisli, Istanbul
Discover Historic Istanbul
Explore the historic Hippodrome, once the sporting and social center of Constantinople. Your day continues with your selection between two Insight Choice experiences. Step inside the Hagia Sophia Mosque, an architectural masterpiece blending Byzantine and Ottoman influences, or enjoy the Hagia Sophia Digital Experience for an immersive journey through its 1,500-year history. Later, visit the opulent Topkap Palace, home to Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries, and the Blue Mosque, famed for its striking Iznik tiles. Take to the water on a scenic Bosphorus cruise, admiring Istanbul's skyline from the strait that divides Europe and Asia. This evening, join your fellow guests for a farewell dinner, raising a glass to your ANZAC Day journey through Turkey.
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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