Guide

From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.

Transport

Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available). If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport. Enjoy the comfort of Insight’s luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.

Accommodation

3 nights: Grand Hyatt Istanbul 1 night: Kolin Hotel, Canakkale 1 night: Swissotel Büyük Efes, Izmir 1 night: Charisma De Luxe Hotel, Kusadasi 1 night: Doğa Thermal Health & Spa, Pammukale 2 nights: Alfina Cave Hotel Cappadocia 1 night: Ankara HiltonSA, Ankara

Meals

6 Dinner (D) 10 Breakfast (B) 1 Dinner with Wine (DW) 1 Lunch (L) Istanbul: Begin your travels savouring traditional flavours over dinner at a local restaurant. Nazilli: Head to a local organic farm where you will be treated to a farm-to-table lunch, made with the fresh local produce. Cappadocia: Watch a spectacular Sema performance of Whirling Dervishes and discover the flavours of Cappadocia as you indulge in a regional dinner of colourful dishes. Istanbul: Toast the culmination of your travels during dinner at a local restaurant.

Hygieneprotocol

All guests travelling with Insight Vacations through December 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may include a booster shot to keep the vaccination status current and valid, depending on the travel destination. Children not eligible for vaccination and/or booster at the time of travel must provide a verifiable and negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the tour (taking time zones into consideration) for all tours departing until December 31, 2022. While highly recommended, COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are no longer required for guests traveling with us from January 1, 2023 onward. It is your client’s responsibly to comply with specific vaccine and/or booster requirements imposed by airlines and/or authorities in the destinations visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants and venues, which may be more restrictive than the above. No refunds will be given if they are unable to undertake some or all of their vacation due to failure to comply with these requirements.

Others

Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert’s fascinating commentary. Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you’ll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels. We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door. Cappadocia: Join a Cappadocian local, who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house to learn more about their unique way of life. Ayvalik: Visit the Copmadam workshop, where one-of-a-kind items are made from recycled packaging, creating employment opportunities for local women. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality. Gallipoli: Pay your respects at Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery. Troy: Visit this ancient sight fabled to have been destroyed over love and view the huge reconstructed Trojan Horse. Ephesus: Visit the Archaeological museum housing many of the artefacts from Ephesus. Ephesus: Discover one of the world’s finest ancient sites. Led by your Local Expert, walk the Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and Amphitheatre and visit the Palace of Knossos. Pamukkale: See the cascading Cotton Castle of milky white travertine pools and the ancient ruin of Hierapolis. Konya: Visit a well preserved Seljuk Caravanserai. Saratli: Visit Saratli Underground city known for its fine arts architecture. Göreme: With your Local Expert, explore the underground cities, rock-cut churches, fairy-tale chimneys and the Pasabag Valley. Learn about the ancient art of pottery making in Avanos. Ankara: Discover the mysterious Hittite civilisation and visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk. Istanbul: Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul, where you’ll pass Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses. Istanbul: Visit the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome. With your Local Expert, gain insight into the lives of the Ottoman Sultans during a visit to the fabulous Topkapi Palace. Then stroll through the Grand Bazaar. Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Not included:

Flights

Flights are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Optional

Other activities and services are not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

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Day 1 Day 1: Welcome To Istanbul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Welcome To Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey. Your journey begins in vibrant Istanbul, the only city in the world that spans two continents: Europe and Asia, where a representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner.
Day 2 Day 2: Gallipoli, Anzac Cove And Troy
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Gallipoli, Anzac Cove And Troy

Marvel at breathtaking coastal views as you make your way along the shores of the Sea of Marmara to historic Gallipoli. Located in the southern part of East Thrace, it was here that for nine months during the Great War, Anzac troops fought in an in an attempt to gain control of the Dardanelles Strait. Learn more about these events as you visit Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery. Later, join your group as you head from Eceabat across the sea to Çanakkale before arriving in the historic city of Troy, the focal point of the Trojan War and the backdrop to one of history’s most famous love stories, that of Paris and Helen of Troy, the face that launched 1000 ships. A replica of the mighty Trojan horse, which helped the Greeks capture the city in 1200 B.C., can be seen beside the city’s walls.
Day 3 Day 3: Pergamon And Kusadasi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Pergamon And Kusadasi

Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Copmadam, a women’s co-op turning recycled materials into unique items, and addressing women’s employment issues. Continue on to Pergamon, once a powerful ancient Greek city, you’ll find the Asklepion temple here. A famous shrine and healing centre, it was built in honour of Asklepios, the god of medicine. After some time exploring, continue your journey to the coastal resort of Izmir.
Day 4 Day 4: Ephesus - Kusadasi
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Ephesus - Kusadasi

Start your morning with a trip to the nearby town of Selçuk. Home to the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis, you’ll begin with an educational visit to the Archaeological Museum. Once here, delve into the area’s history as you explore the museum’s exhibits, many of which have been retrieved from the nearby Ephesus excavation site. Later, explore the famous site itself. Walk through the colonnaded Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and the huge Amphitheatre, before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, situated above the Ephesus ruins.
Day 5 Day 5: The Pools Of Pamukkale Relaxed Start
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: The Pools Of Pamukkale Relaxed Start

This morning, following the winding Maender River Valley, with its twists and turns, head to a local organic farm. Once here, you’ll meet the agricultural director who will take you on a walking tour of the eco-friendly lands. You’ll have the satisfying task of picking fruits and vegetables from his fields. Delight in a mouth-watering Farm-to-Table lunch, prepared with fresh produce from the farm. Continue to Pamukkale. Famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters and chalk-white limestone terraces, explore the area with your Travel Director. See the ruins of the ancient Roman spa city of Hierapolis, founded in 190 B.C. You’ll see the city’s well-preserved theatre and its turquoise travertine pools. Later, head back to your hotel, the esteemed Doğa Thermal Health & Spa. Take full advantage of its indoor and outdoor thermal pools, steam room and its Turkish bath complex.
Day 6 Day 6: The Underground City And Cappadocia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: The Underground City And Cappadocia

Today your journey takes you to Urgup, a historic town in the heart of Cappadocia. Visit the 13th-century Sultanhani Caravanserai before exploring the underground city of Saratli. You will recognise this famous area from the striking golden, volcanic landscapes that surround it.
Day 7 Day 7: The Cappadocia Experience
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: The Cappadocia Experience

Move on to Göreme, a striking town in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. Explore its rock-hewn churches decorated with ancient wall paintings before moving on to the Pasabag Valley. Located on the road to Zelve, you’ll find otherworldly earth pillars here, ‘fairy chimneys’ and troglodyte dwellings. Later, join a Cappadocian local who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house. You’ll learn more about their unique way of living, local traditions and family life. Complementing the day’s events, this evening you’ll witness a performance of the Whirling Dervishes before dining at a local restaurant.
Day 8 Day 8: Ankara
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Ankara

One for art lovers, this morning, you’ll learn about the art of pottery making in Avanos. A town based in Cappadocia, it is famous for its earthenware pottery. Continue your journey to Ankara, where you’ll visit the Hittite Museum and the Mausoleum of Atatürk, Turkey’s greatest modern leader and the first President of the Republic of Turkey. Perhaps relax in the spa and wellness centre at your hotel this evening.
Day 9 Day 9: To Istanbul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: To Istanbul

It’s time to head to Istanbul. A glorious fusion of east and west, this popular city offers something for everyone, with history, culture, modernity, delicious cuisine and of course, the friendliest of faces. Board a cruise along the Bosphorus. As you make your way from Eminönü to the Black Sea, witness the area’s beautiful Ottoman palaces and fortresses lining the waterfront. Your evening is at leisure, why not ask your Travel Director for suggestions on places to dine.
Day 10 Day 10: Istanbul & The Ottoman Empire
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Istanbul & The Ottoman Empire

Today you’ll take in the sites of Istanbul. In the morning, visit the historic Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held, before exploring Hagia Sophia. Built in A.D. 537, it is famous for its domed roof. Visit the Topkapi Palace, perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the primary inlet of the waterway. Enjoy the excitement of bargaining in the bustling Grand Bazaar. In the evening, join your fellow travellers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 11 Day 11: Farewell Istanbul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Farewell Istanbul

It’s time to say goodbye to your new friends, as your trip comes to an end. A transfer will take you to the airport for your onward flights, or for those extending their stay in Istanbul, speak to your Travel Director for tips and tricks on where to head.

11 days tour

Wonders Of Turkey (Small Groups, Winter, Base, 11 Days)

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Wonders Of Turkey (Small Groups, Winter, Base, 11 Days)

Day 1: Welcome To Istanbul

Day 2: Gallipoli, Anzac Cove And Troy

Day 3: Pergamon And Kusadasi

Day 4: Ephesus - Kusadasi

Day 5: The Pools Of Pamukkale Relaxed Start

Day 6: The Underground City And Cappadocia

Day 7: The Cappadocia Experience

Day 8: Ankara

Day 9: To Istanbul

Day 10: Istanbul & The Ottoman Empire

Day 11: Farewell Istanbul

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