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The Best Of Turkey 2013
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Tour Operator |
Globus |
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Tour Code |
QR3 |
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Vacation Quality |
First Class |
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Vacation Type |
Escorted Tour |
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Number of Days |
8 |
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Countries Visited |
Turkey
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City Highlights |
Bursa, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Troy |
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NOTE: - Please check visa requirements with your local consulate(s); responsibility for obtaining visas rests with the traveler.
ISTANBUL Welcome dinner and a special farewell dinner with wine at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, including visits to Topkapi Seraglio, Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, spice bazaar, and Grand Bazaar, cruise on the BosporusDARDANELLES Ferry crossing of the StraitsANZAC Pay tribute to the fallen war heroes at the cemeteryTROY Guided visit of the archaeological sitePERGAMUM Guided visit of the Pergamum Museum and AsclepionEPHESUS Guided visit of the archaeological site and Chapel of the Virgin Mary; group picturePAMUKKALE Guided visit of the HierapolisBURSA Guided sightseeing including visit to the Great MosqueIZNIK Visit St. Sophia Church and the archaeological museumBOSPORUS Cruise
MEALS
Full buffet breakfast daily (B); 6 three-course dinners (D), including a welcome dinner and a special farewell dinner with wine in Istanbul
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Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey.
After arrival at Atatürk Airport, check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start soaking up the unique atmosphere of this city built on two continents. At 6:30 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2: Istanbul.
Founded by the Greeks as Byzantium more than 2,500 years ago, renamed Constantinople in 330 AD when Constantine the Great elected it the capital of the Roman Empire, and finally called Istanbul after the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, the city on the Bosporus remains one of the most exciting places in the world. Its strategic location as gateway between Orient and Occident, the Islamic and the Christian worlds, and the Black Sea and the Mediterranean predestined it for a turbulent history. Guided sightseeing starts at TOPKAPI PALACE, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Admire the rich and spectacular kaftans of the Sultans, that were worn during the Ottoman period. Then, visit Sultan Ahmet’s BLUE MOSQUE followed by the ROMAN HIPPODROME, and tour the HAGIA SOPHIA and the [LF] SPICE BAZAAR with its tiny shops. For a taste of Turkish nightlife, join our optional dinner outing and discover the fascination of belly dancing. (B)
Day 3: Istanbul–Troy Area.
Visit the colorful GRAND BAZAAR before setting out on your discovery tour of a country with the population of Britain and more than three times its size. Drive along the European shore of the Sea of Marmara and head westward through sunflower and olive groves to the Dardanelles. Visit the WWI battlefields on the Gallipoli peninsula, where Allied troops, mainly Australians and New Zealanders, suffered heavy casualties in a disastrous campaign. Pay tribute to the heroes of those tragic months of 1915 at the ANZAC CEMETERY and the LONE PINE MEMORIAL. Travel by ferry across the Dardanelles to the Troy area for your first overnight in Asia on the Aegean coast. (B,D)
Day 4: Troy Area–Kusadasi.
Call at TROY, the perfect place to brush up on Homer’s Trojan War–hollow wooden horse and all! Vistas of the Greek isle of Lesbos greet you as you follow the shores of the Bay of Edremit. Continue south to Pergamum, an ancient center of learning and the arts, and visit its MUSEUM. After lunch, visit the ASCLEPION, a shrine to the Greek god of medicine. Drive to Kusadasi for an overnight. (B,D)
Day 5: Kusadasi–Ephesus–Pamukkale.
Today, visit Ephesus, home of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, and later, the capital of Roman Asia Minor. Visit the SITE OF ANCIENT RUINS and the CHAPEL marking the site where the Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her last days. At this beautiful location, a souvenir GROUP PICTURE will be taken.Then, travel along the Silk Road, and through the lush valley of the meandering Menderes River. Next, Pamukkale. The name means “Cotton Castle” and refers to the spectacular white lime cascades formed by its hot springs. At your hotel tonight, maybe a leisurely bath in a pool of hot thermal water might be just the way to relax after a busy touring day. (B,D)
Day 6: Pamukkale–Hierapolis–Bursa.
This morning, visit the fascinating archaeological site of HIERAPOLIS, the thermal resort founded by a Pergamene king in 190 BC and greatly enlarged and embellished by the Romans. Then, enjoy the ever-changing cultivated landscapes and timeless scenes of rural life on your way to Bursa. Spot farmers working their fields or transporting produce in traditional horse-drawn carts. Bursa lies in the shade of the Uludag–also called Mount Olympus of Mysia—a 7,700-foot-high ski mountain surrounded by lovely orchards. Founded by the Greeks, like most ancient cities in this part of the world, and hotly contested during the Crusades, Bursa had its heyday as the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. In the afternoon, visit the GREAT MOSQUE (Ulu Camii). Also on the agenda, of course, the ANCIENT COVERED BAZAAR and the Silk Market. (B,D)
Day 7: Bursa–Iznik–Istanbul.
Visit Iznik, site of the first Ecumenical Council. See its ancient city walls before visiting ST. SOPHIA CHURCH and the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM. Later, return to Istanbul in style. [LF] Enjoy a leisurely private CRUISE on the Bosporus, the narrow strait that links the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and separates Asia from Europe. Take pictures of exquisite private residences along the scenic shoreline, and of strategically located castles that once protected the approaches of the city. Tonight, a farewell dinner with wine at a local restaurant celebrates the success of your Turkish adventure. (B,D)
Day 8: Istanbul.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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ISTANBUL The Zurich Hotel (SF)TROY AREA Kolin (F) at CanakkaleKUSADASI La Vista Hotel (D)PAMUKKALE Lycus River (F) at KarahayitBURSA Kervansaray Thermal (F) Prices based on double room occupancy.Single room supplement: $374.Triple room reduction per person: $17.Extra nights per person in Istanbul:in single room $155, in twin $105, in triple $92.
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| Touring Date | Land & Air | Land Only | | Jun 01, 2013 - Jun 08, 2013 | Call Us | $1,299 | | Jun 15, 2013 - Jun 22, 2013 | Call Us | $1,299 | | Aug 31, 2013 - Sep 07, 2013 | Call Us | $1,299 | | Sep 07, 2013 - Sep 14, 2013 | Call Us | $1,299 | | Sep 14, 2013 - Sep 21, 2013 | Call Us | $1,299 | | Sep 28, 2013 - Oct 05, 2013 | Call Us | $1,299 | | Oct 05, 2013 - Oct 12, 2013 | Call Us | $1,299 |
* All prices are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. Please call us toll free at 1 800 232 6459 to confirm availability and current pricing on all our discounted specials. The prices on this website are not guaranteed until a deposit has been made. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in these prices until a booking has been confirmed by one of our agents.
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