Welcome to Turkey

Transfer service direct from Kusadasi Harbour, Izmir Airport or local bus stations to the hotel for check-in.

Overnight in the Ephesus region. (Selcuk or Kusadasi)

Today you get to start to explore the wonders of Ephesus. You are picked up from your accommodation and get taken out to see some of the best-preserved marble ruins in the modern world – Ephesus. Ephesus was one of the Ancient Capitals of Roman Asia - the second largest ancient city of the world! A city where over 200,000 people lived over 3,000 years ago. You also get to visit the House of the Virgin Mary. An important place for the Christian faith, as it is believed it is where Mary spent the last years of her life. You will also visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – The Temple of Artemis.

Tonight you will board an overnight bus bound for Gallipoli region.

You arrive early to Gallipoli and check into your accommodation. There you will have lunch before starting a fully guided tour of the Gallipoli peninsula. You visit the many cemeteries of Australians, New Zealanders and Turk soldiers and also visit the war memorials and see some of the original old trenches on the Gallipoli battlefields. You get time at the museum where you can see some old war artefacts that are still being discovered in the area. It will be time to ponder the heroism and tragedy of past times and understand the friendships that were born between the nations fighting for this piece of the peninsula.

Overnight in the Gallipoli region.

After breakfast, you are picked up from your accommodation and you make your way back out to Anzac Cove for some snorkelling. Here you can jump in the pristine waters and snorkel over the sunken warcraft - 'Milo WW1 Craft'. (Please note – that snorkelling is only available in the warmer months, from April to October.) Afterwards, you will head to the historical site of Troy for a fully guided tour.

Afterwards, you will then head onto Istanbul.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Today you get your first look at the mysterious City of Istanbul. You will be picked up from your accommodation, heading off to see some of the major attractions of this historical, mystical City. You will visit the Blue Mosque, the breathtaking Aya Sofya and then go into the old Sultans Palace of Topkapi to see some of the Sultans many ancient treasures and visit the Palace rooms and gardens. You also get a look at some of the best shopping in Istanbul. The tour will walk through the many lanes of the Grand Bazaar – one of the largest covered markets in the world and also visit the Spice Bazaar to take in the scents and aromas of the spices, Turkish delight & Turkish tea & coffee.

Our recommendation:
After the day's tour ends and you have your own free time, we recommend also visiting the Spice Bazaar to enjoy the sights and smells of Turkish tea, spices, and candies. You will be on your own here as its not part of your tour package, but you will have plenty of time and can make your own way back to your hotel.

Important Notes:
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
Blue Mosque due to prayers on Fridays we are unable to enter
Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays

We provide pickups from hotels in central areas in the following vicinities:
Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Laleli, Aksaray, Taksim area. Pickup from anywhere outside these areas may incur an extra charge. Please speak to our crew if you have any questions.

Overnight Istanbul.

Today will see you sailing down the Bosphorus Straights and along to the Golden Horn then heading to one of the best viewpoints over the whole city
Before your cruise, you will tour inside the Dolmabahce Palace, built between 1842 and 1853. The last 6 Sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived here. In 1923 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk resided here in the summers until his death in 1938. This palace is built the Neoclassical and Baroque Rococo styles. After leaving we will embark on our cruise that leads from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara one of the first famous sites you will see from the boat is the Maidens Tower. This tower has served as a lighthouse, a radio tower, a hospital, and now it serves as a restaurant and museum.  Sailing up the Bosphorus, You will also enjoy a panoramic view of the Old Constantinople Walls, which were built to protect Topkapi Palace from invaders. In its 1600 year history, these walls were only breached twice, saving the city from invasion on many other occasions.  

At the Kucuksu Palace, built by Sultan Abdülmecid, we will stop for one hour, Kucuksu translates to “small water”, although small it is grand in design. You will return to the boat and pass by the Ciragan Palace, the magnificent Sultans palace turned hotel. The main building burnt down in 1910, however, the exterior structure stayed intact and was rebuilt in the early 1990s. You will sail past the Ortakoy Mosque, with its distinctive pink mosaics, on your way to cruising under the mighty Bosphorus Bridge where you will get the best views of the Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer home of the Sultans. Then it's on to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, where, from the boat, you will see the mighty Rumeli Castle, built by Mehmed in 1452.

At the end of the cruise, we will change transport for a bus tour as we head back to the old city, the bus tour begins in the Sultanahmet district with our trusted guide it's then on over to the famous Pierre Loti Hill named after a French novelist, who had a great passion for Istanbul, this is one of the most romantic spots in the city. Here you will take a cable car to the top of this viewpoint overlooking Istanbul and the Golden Horn. Try Turkish coffee at one of the cafes, the ride back down has even more spectacular views of the city. The bus will take you around the Old City Walls before returning to your hotel around 17:00-18:00.

Important Note:
Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays, therefore on this day, only the tour will begin 2 hours (11:30 am departure) on Mondays.
Dolmabahce Palace, Kucuksu Palace, and Pierre Loti Hill are the only sights you will tour by foot. The other sights will be seen from the boat or bus.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Today your tour officially ends. If you require any assistance with onwards travel within Turkey, accommodation bookings, queries, please let us know & we will be happy to assist.