ITINERARY - 17 DAY GRAND SULTAN TOUR
Day 1, Arrival and In Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our boutique style hotel in the old city. The rest of the day is free. You may go on an orientation walk, relax in nearby cafes or just rest in your charming hotel. Your Tour Leader will be at hand to give you tips about things to do and places to see. Also he will let you know about a get-together to ‘meet and greet’ your fellow travellers over a complimentary drink before dinner. (D)
Overnight in boutique style hotel in the old city.
NOTE: Day 1 is for ‘arrival and rest’. Apart from a get-to-know meeting and group dinner in the evening, there are no activities planned for this day. So, unless your flight schedule makes it unavoidable, you don’t need to arrive any earlier. Also, if you arrive on Day 1, your airport-to-hotel transfer is included and you don’t have to book and pay for pre-tour accommodation. |
Day 2, In Istanbul
This morning we enjoy our first traditional Turkish breakfast consisting of Turkish bread, feta cheese, olives, delicious local honey, eggs, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, tea, coffee, etc. After breakfast your tour leader will hold a briefing to talk about the tour, provide useful tips and answer questions.
We start our sightseeing with a visit to the world renowned Blue Mosque which, with its unequalled blue tiles and six minarets, is a potent symbol of Ottoman Istanbul.
Afterwards we explore the Hippodrome where chariot races took place in Roman times. These days the site is adorned with historical monuments including the impressive Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent’s Column and the German Fountain. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we check out the amazing 6th Century Underground Cistern that served as the main water reservoir during the Byzantine era and finish the day with a visit to the fascinating Spice Bazaar. The rest of the day is free. In the evening, we have special welcome dinner in the lively Kumkapi district. (B/D).
Overnight in boutique style hotel.
Day 3, In Istanbul
After breakfast, we walk the short distance to the architectural marvel of St Sophia Museum, an ancient basilica with its immense dome rising 56.4 metres above the ground.
Built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th Century as a potent symbol of the Eastern Roman Empire, St Sophia never ceases to amaze visitors.
<-- Some of the magnificent mosaics of St Sophia
We then walk down to ‘Eminonu’ district for lunch in a traditional restaurant with magnificent views of the Bosphorus.
After lunch, we enjoy a leisurely cruise by private motorboat along the Bosphorus and visit the 15th Century Rumeli Fortress on the way back before returning to our hotel. The rest of the day and evening are free.(B/L).
Overnight in boutique style hotel.
<-- View across the Bosphorus and Rumeli Fortress
Day 4, Istanbul - Çanakkale
Today we depart early to the battlefields of Gallipoli, travelling along the shores of the Sea of Marmara. Gallipoli (or Gelibolu in Turkish) is a peninsula now declared a National Historical Park to honour the Allied and Turkish soldiers who fought and died here in 1915. We see all the major battlefields of this beautiful and moving site, including Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, The Nek, Chunuk Bair and the site where ANZAC Day services take place. We also see WW1 trenches and some of the Turkish memorials and, time permitting, visit the nearby Gallipoli Museum. We cross the Dardanelles straits in late afternoon and head to our hotel in Çanakkale. (B/L/D)
Overnight in a 5 star hotel in Canakkale.
Lone Pine Cemetery at Gallipoli --->
Day 5, Çanakkale - Kuşadasi
The coastline of the Aegean Sea is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological sites. Today our first stop is at the legendary city of Troy, the site of nine ancient cities where Greek and Trojan heroes fought the “Trojan War” for the honour of the beautiful Helen. We continue to the ancient Hellenistic city of Pergamum where we have lunch before a visit to Asklepion, the famous centre of learning and medicine in the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans. We arrive at the seaside resort town of Kuşadasi in late afternoon. Dinner is at a local harbour side restaurant. (B/L/D)
Overnight in a restored Caravanserai Hotel - Kusadasi.
<-- Celcius Library at the ancient Roman city of Ephesus
Day 6, In Kuşadasi
Today we have an extensive tour of nearby Ephesus, widely regarded as the best-preserved Roman city in the Eastern Mediterranean.
We also visit Selçuk Museum where most of the artefacts from Ephesus are housed and the ‘Greek’ village of Şirince where we have lunch. We return to our hotel later in afternoon and the rest of the day is free. Tonight dinner is not included. So you will have the opportunity to check out the culinary delights on offer in this visitor friendly town. Your tour leader will be happy to recommend a good restaurant if needed. (B/L)
Overnight in a restored Caravanserai Hotel - Kusadasi.
Temple of Hadrian at Ephesus with Medusa frieze -->
Day 7, Kusadasi - Buldan - Pamukkale
After breakfast, we head inland to visit the famous 'cotton castles' of Pamukkale. On the way, we call at the thriving weaving centre of Buldan where exquisite items of cloth are made entirely from natural fibres such as silk, wool and mohair.
We arrive in Pamukkale in the early afternoon to see the fascinating “cotton castles” (lime deposits) and the ancient city of Hierapolis nearby. There will be time for a swim in the ‘Antique Pool’ that is adorned with sunken marble columns (optional), walk along the travertines for a closer look at this marvel of nature or a visit to the ancient theatre nearby . We then check into our hotel where you can relax in the hotel pool or enjoy the spectacular sunset. Dinner is at the hotel restaurant. (B/D)
Overnight in comfortable 4 star hotel - Pamukkale.
Day 8, Pamukkale - Dalyan - Dalaman
This morning we travel to the charming Mediterranean town of Dalyan. On arrival, we have lunch at a riverside restaurant overlooking the rock carved tombs of the Lycians before setting off on a river boat cruise to the beautiful, sandy Iztuzu beach for our first swim in the Mediterranean. On the way, we take a close look at the rock carved tombs and observe the wildlife in the serene surroundings of the river delta. We then return to Dalyan, drive the short distance to Dalaman and check into our seaside hotel. The rest of the day is free. Dinner is at the hotel restaurant. (B/L/D)
Overnight in a comfortable resort style hotel in Dalaman