Best of Turkey

Morning free for individual activities or an optional city sightseeing. In the afternoon pick-up from the hotel around 14.00/15.00 hours and departure by coach to Ankara. Arrival and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Morning city sightseeing including the famous Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey. After lunch continue to Cappadocia via the Salt Lake. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast full-day is dedicated to exploring the amazing world of Cappadocia, unique in the  world for its moon-like landscapes. Visit the amazing underground city of Kaymakli used by the Christians of the 7^th century as a refuge from the Roman persecutions, rock-carved churches in Göreme, troglodyte villages and fairy chimneys at Urgup, Avcilar and Uchisar. Lunch at a typical restaurant. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel and departure for Konya, the former capital of the Seljuk Empire. Visit enroute the Seljuk caravanserai of Sultanhani. Arrive at Konya and visit the Mausoleum of  Mevlana, the great philosopher who founded the sect of the Whirling Dervishes. Continue to Pamukkale. Lunch enroute. Arrive at Pamukkale and enjoy the sunset on its unique formation of  petrified calcium cliffs. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Morning breakfast at hotel. Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis and the hot-spring pools of Pamukkale, a spectacular natural site of dazzling white castles. Lunch enroute. Drive to Aphrodisias and visit the ancient city dedicated to the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. Continue to Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight at  hotel.

After breakfast Excursion to Ephesus, the Roman capital of Asia Minor. Visit the ruins of Odeon, Temple of Hadrian, the famous Roman Baths, etc. Visit the House of Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St John. Lunch at Selcuk. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Kusadasi.

Morning breakfast at hotel and drive to Pergamum. Lunch and visit the Asclepion, once a therapeutic center, and the Acropolis with its Zeus Altar, its library and the steepest theater in the world. Continue to Troy and visit the site of the legendary town in the Iliad of Homeros. Drive to Canakkale. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

After breakfast drive to Gallipoli, site of fierce battles during WWI, visit the Anzac Cove and war memorials. Lunch en route. Continue to Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel.