Türkiye, Istanbul

Classical Turkey 4^*

Upon arrival in Istanbul, we will be welcomed at the airport and then transferred to our hotel.

Welcome gift: the Nazar Boncuk (the traditional Turkish blue lucky bead). The Nazar Boncuk is a traditional glass bead believed to protect its wearer from the evil eye. It is very popular throughout Turkey.

As you explore the country, you will find them everywhere: hanging from cars, attached to rear-view mirrors, clipped onto backpacks, worn as necklaces or bracelets, pinned to the clothes of babies and young children, or placed above the doors of restaurants, hotels, shops and apartments.

After breakfast, depart for a full day of sightseeing in Istanbul.

You will begin with a visit to Sultanahmet Mosque, recently renovated and better known as the Blue Mosque. This magnificent mosque is famous for its beautiful blue Iznik (Nicaea) tiles and for being one of the few mosques in the world with six minarets.

You will then discover the Hippodrome, which was once a vast arena at the heart of sporting life in the ancient city, hosting chariot races and athletic competitions, as well as being an important center of political activity.

You will then head nearby to Hagia Sophia, the Church of Divine Wisdom. Considered one of the greatest masterpieces of world architecture, this majestic building was constructed in the 6th century, during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, originally as a basilica.

After lunch, you will visit Topkapı Palace, which was the imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans for more than 400 years. Today transformed into a museum, it houses precious collections of porcelain, jewelry, calligraphy, as well as numerous artistic masterpieces.

The day will end with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul’s immense and legendary covered market. With nearly 4,000 shops, it is one of the largest covered bazaars in the world and offers antiques, jewelry, carpets and a wide variety of traditional handicrafts.

After breakfast, you will set off towards Çanakkale.

Your journey will first take you to Gallipoli, famous for the battles that took place there during the First World War. You will discover the Gallipoli battlefield, the scene of the unsuccessful Allied campaign of 1915.

You will visit Cape Helles, Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove, all key sites of this historic battle.

You will then cross the Dardanelles Strait before continuing your journey to Çanakkale, where you will check in to your hotel.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Çanakkale.

After breakfast, you will visit Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you will discover the remains of its legendary city walls as well as a replica of the famous wooden Trojan Horse.

You will then continue towards the Aegean Sea and Izmir. Along the way, you will stop at Pergamon, an ancient site of remarkable beauty. Here, you will discover the Acropolis, its impressive theatre, considered one of the steepest theatres in the ancient world, as well as the Temple of Trajan and the ancient library.

Your exploration will continue with a visit to the Asclepion, one of the most important healing centres of antiquity, followed by the Red Basilica, also known as the Temple of Serapis, which is one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse mentioned in the Bible.

You will then continue your journey to Kuşadası, where you will check in to your hotel.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Kuşadası.

After breakfast, you will take a short drive to the town of Selçuk. From here, you will enjoy a panoramic view over the ancient port of the city of Ephesus. You will also be able to see the only remaining column of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

After visiting the Basilica of St. John, you will walk down to the İsa Bey Mosque, dating back to the 14th century.

You will then be met by your driver and taken to the ruins of Ephesus, a city mentioned several times in the Bible. You will explore this vast archaeological site, where excavations have uncovered numerous remarkable remains. Among the highlights are the Great Theatre, where Saint Paul is believed to have preached, and the Church of the Councils, which hosted two Christian councils.

At its peak, Ephesus was a thriving port city with approximately 250,000 inhabitants and was one of the four largest cities in the Roman Empire. During your visit, you will still be able to admire the impressive remains lining the main streets of the ancient city, including the Library of Celsus, the Agora, the theatre and the pavements adorned with magnificent mosaics.

As you ascend the hills behind Ephesus, you will then discover the place where, according to Christian tradition, the Virgin Mary spent the final years of her life. A charming chapel, consecrated by a pope, now stands on the presumed site of her home. According to local tradition, the Virgin Mary lived and died in this sacred place, accompanied by Saint John, to whom Jesus Christ entrusted her before his crucifixion.

To conclude your day of sightseeing, you will have some free time in the city centre of Kuşadası. You can stroll through the charming market located just opposite the harbour and look for bargains among the many shops offering jewellery, silver items, leather goods and traditional handicrafts inspired by Turkish culture.

After breakfast, you will leave your hotel to discover Aphrodisias, an ancient city built near a marble quarry located close to Mount Baba Dağ (formerly Salbakos). This quarry was extensively exploited during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, making Aphrodisias an important centre of sculpture. The city’s sculptors became renowned throughout the Roman world.

During the Greek period, the site was dedicated to Aphrodite, goddess of love and fertility. The city took the name Aphrodisias in the 2nd century BC, while the great Temple of Aphrodite was built in the 1st century AD.

You will then continue towards Hierapolis, founded during the Hellenistic period as a strategic point along the trade routes connecting East and West. During the Roman period, Hierapolis became both an important religious centre, dedicated in particular to Hades and Apollo, and a famous spa town, where impressive Roman baths were built to welcome visitors from across the ancient world.

Upon arrival at the site, you will be amazed by the spectacular white travertine terraces, formed over thousands of years by the thermal waters of Hierapolis. After a short stop to take photographs and enjoy the panoramic views, you will continue exploring the ancient site, which is still being excavated by Italian archaeologists.

As you walk through the impressive monumental tombs of the Necropolis, you will gain an insight into the wealth of the society that could afford to build such elaborate tombs in this “Sacred City”, the meaning of the name Hierapolis in ancient Greek.

You will continue your visit by discovering the Gate of Domitian and the Byzantine baths. As you reach the lower slopes of the hills overlooking the site, you will discover one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the ancient world.

Built in the 2nd century, the theatre of Hierapolis hosted theatrical performances as well as shows and sometimes violent forms of entertainment.

Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

Today, you will leave Pamukkale, known as the “Cotton Castle,” and set off towards Konya, a city renowned for its Seljuk architecture and considered the birthplace of the “Whirling Dervishes.”

You will arrive in the afternoon and visit the Mevlana Mausoleum, recognizable by its magnificent fluted dome covered in turquoise tiles.

You will discover the works and legacy of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, a great spiritual master of the 13th century and one of the greatest mystical poets of Islam. The Mevlevi Sufi Order was founded to preserve his teachings and spiritual philosophy.

After visiting the museum, you will enjoy a convivial dinner with the other participants on the tour.

Departure towards Cappadocia, with a first stop along the way at the magnificent Sultanhanı Caravanserai, one of the finest examples of Seljuk caravanserai architecture.

You will then continue to Güzelyurt, renowned for its cave dwellings and the Greek influences that are still present in this region of Cappadocia.

After lunch, you will continue towards Nevşehir, in the heart of Cappadocia.

Upon arrival in Cappadocia, you will visit a carpet workshop, where you will attend a traditional carpet-weaving demonstration. You will then head to your hotel to check in and enjoy some free time before dinner.

In the evening, you may optionally attend a Whirling Dervishes performance. You will discover their fascinating mystical ritual, during which the dancers spin continuously, symbolizing the search for perfect harmony and union with the infinite.

After breakfast, set off to discover the famous valleys of Cappadocia, a unique place in the world renowned for its extraordinary rock formations.

Long ago, volcanic eruptions caused major lava flows which, as they cooled, formed layers of tuff rock. Over the centuries, erosion sculpted these landscapes, creating the famous “fairy chimneys.”

But it is not only the beauty of the landscapes that makes this region so exceptional. The Hittites carved into the relatively soft tuff to create a veritable underground world consisting of homes, stables, shops, churches, hospitals and more.

Later, the early Christians also carved caves into the rock and created magnificent frescoes depicting biblical scenes on the walls of these cave chapels. Some of these frescoes have retained remarkably vivid colours, bearing witness to the artists’ talent and the religious devotion of the faithful.

During your day, you will visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum, the underground cities of Kaymaklı, as well as the valleys of Devrent, Pigeon, Paşabağı and Avanos.

In Avanos, you will also have the opportunity to purchase beautiful pottery pieces made using the traditional foot-powered pottery wheel technique, a method that has been practised in the region for thousands of years.

After breakfast, you will set off towards Ankara. Along the way, you will enjoy a scenic drive alongside Salt Lake (Tuz Gölü) and stop at the Ağzıkarahan Seljuk caravanserai, dating back to the 13th century.

Upon arrival in Ankara, you will visit the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye.

You will then continue with a visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which houses a remarkable collection of artefacts from different periods of Anatolian history, including the Stone Age, Neolithic period, Hittites, Urartians and Phrygians, as well as many other civilizations that have shaped the region.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Ankara.

You will set off towards Istanbul, where you will arrive in the early afternoon.

You will then have free time to explore Istanbul at your own pace, enjoy some final sightseeing, or simply make the most of the last moments of your stay in Türkiye.

Breakfast

Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.