Turkey has always been marked by contrasts and contradictions: old and new, east and west, secular and sacred, familiar and exotic. The one constant is the genuine hospitality you will find throughout the country. This grand driving tour is, we think, the best way to take in the sights of the country; the rich, layered, magical world of history and culture that is Turkey.
No one requires reminding that Istanbul is a matchless historical treasure house. With your guide you'll visit the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace. You'll discover the Grand Bazaar and wander the streets around the Spice Market. Then you'll set out with your driver, travelling in the footsteps of Alexander the Great across the Dardanelles. You'll visit the Gallipoli Peninsula, site of the tragic WWI battle but also the birthplace of modern Turkey. There are great historic and mythological sites to be seen here, including Homer's Troy and the ruins of the acropolis at Pergamum. You'll spend two nights at one of our favourite hotels on a scenic peninsula protruding into the Aegean Sea. From here you'll visit Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient sites in the Mediterranean.
You'll take a break in the coastal city of Antalya, built on a rocky travertine plateau with a breathtaking silhouette of the snowcapped peaks in the distance. From here, you'll visit the 12,000-person ancient Roman stadium at Perge and the 2,000-year-old theater at Aspendos. Your return route to Istanbul takes you through wondrous fairy chimney landscapes at Cappadocia, the spiritual centre of Konya and the Green Ottoman centre of Bursa.
This is a comprehensive look at Turkey's most intriguing sites. Making this your private journey lets you explore the country at your own pace and truly make the experience your own. |
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| FACTS: |
| • | 14 days |
| • | Local guides |
| • | Start/finish in Istanbul |
| • | Best time to travel: Apr-Jun, Sep, Oct |
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| HIGHLIGHTS: |
| • | Sipping Turkish coffee |
| • | The first sighting of Cappadocia |
| • | Soaking up the Eastern Mediterranean |
| • | Exploring Ephesus |
| • | Reliving Greek myths of love and war |
| • | Getting lost (and found) in the Great Bazaar |
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| ITINERARY IN BRIEF: |
| Day 1: |
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Arrive in Istanbul |
| Day 2: |
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Istanbul: City Tour |
| Day 3: |
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Gallipoli-Dardanelles-Canakkale |
| Day 4: |
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Canakkale-Troy-Pergamum-Kusadasi |
| Day 5: |
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Ephesus |
| Day 6: |
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Kusadasi-Aphrodisias-Pamukkale |
| Day 7: |
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Pamukkale-Antalya |
| Day 8: |
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Perge, Aspendos |
| Day 9: |
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Antalya-Konya-Cappadocia |
| Day 10: |
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Cappadocia |
| Day 11: |
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Cappadocia-Ankara |
| Day 12: |
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Ankara-Bursa |
| Day 13: |
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Bursa-Istanbul |
| Day 14: |
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Depart Istanbul |
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