Enchanting Aegean: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ephesus, Cappadocia

Upon arrival at the Istanbul airport, meet a representative and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Today enjoy a full day tour of the Istanbul starting with Topkapi Palace. This palace served as the main residence for Ottoman Sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries. It has a superb position overlooking the Bosphorus. You also visit the magnificent Hagia Sophia or St Sophia's Basilica (closed on Mondays), built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century. It is one of the world's greatest architectural marvels. In the afternoon, visit the fascinating and impressive Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets, its beautiful blue Iznik tiles, unique architecture and marble latticework. Then visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, the centre of Byzantine life for 1000 years, where chariot races and competitive athletic events took place. See the underground cistern basilica or Nakkas cistern before finally ending the day with a visit to the Grand Bazaar (closed on Sundays), the world’s biggest and the oldest shopping venue.

In the morning, drive to Gallipoli and visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery, The Nek, 57th Regiment, chunuk bair. Later, you will cross the Dardanelles. Gallipoli is a peninsula located between the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles, known as the site of one of the bloodiest battles in history. Today, the battlefields are a preserved as a national historic park.

Overnight in Canakkale Hotel.

In the morning, visit Troy, home of the "Trojan Horse" and "Helen of Troy" before departing for Pergamum. During the Hellenistic period, the city of Pergamum became the capital of the Kingdom under the Attalid dynasty in 281-133 BC, who transformed it into one of the major cultural centres of the Greek world. Many remains of its impressive monuments can still be seen and especially the outstanding masterpiece of the Pergamon Altar. Tour the ancient Medical center Asclepion and later drive to Izmir or Kusadasi.

Overnight in Kusadasi or Izmir.

Spend the morning discovering the famous ruins of Ephesus and St. Mary's Cottage. Ephesus is one of the world's richest and most rewarding archaeological sites with impressive ruins dating from the Classical Greek, Hellenistic, Roman and early Byzantine periods. Among the highlights of our tour of Ephesus will be the antique theatre, the famed Library of Celsus, the brothel, the vast Basilica of St. John, the Mosque of Isabey, the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) and a group of recently excavated early Byzantine mansions that feature incredibly well-preserved floor mosaics and frescoes. In the late afternoon, transfer to the Izmir airport to take a flight to Kayseri / Nevsehir.

Overnight in Cappadocia.

Today you will visit the Rose Valley, one of the most beautiful trekking valleys in Cappadocia. Explore the famous rock- cut churches by hiking through the valley. Visit Cavusin, an old Greek village, known for its Christian houses and churches. After lunch, see the Ortahisar Castle, similar to Uchisar Castle in style, where storage caves can also be found. Then, visit the Kaymakli Underground City where early Christians lived in fear and faith. On the way back, visit the panoramic Pigeon Valley where pigeons contributed to the lives of locals with their manure to fertilize the vineyards. You may also like to taste Cappadocia wine in a local winery.

This morning, there is a possibility to do an early morning Hot Air Balloon Tour (subject to weather conditions). Then, from your hotel, visit the Devrent Valley for a guided walk through amazing valley known for its Fairy Chimneys and Pasabagi or Monk's Valley, with multiple stems and caps, peculiar to this area. After visiting Pasabagi, drive to Avanos which is known for the pottery, a craft dating back to the Hittite period. The red clay which is worked by local craftsmen comes from the residue in the Kizilirmak river, the longest river of Turkey. Next, visit the Goreme Open Air Museum to see the churches, chapels and monasteries carved into the Fairy Chimneys from the 10th to the 13th centuries with frescospainted on the walls.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport.