8-Day Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya & Cappadocia Tour

Day 1: Gallipoli Tour

Your day begins early with a pick-up from your hotel. If you’re staying near the Taksim area, expect pick-up between 06:00 – 06:15. For those in the Sultanahmet area, pick-up will be between 06:30 – 07:00. You’ll then depart for Eceabat in a comfortable, non-smoking, air-conditioned minibus.

At around 11:20 am, you will arrive in Eceabat and enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, at 12:30 pm, you’ll embark on a fully guided Gallipoli Tour, visiting key historical sites that played significant roles during the Gallipoli campaign. These include Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ari Burnu Cemetery, and the ANZAC Commemorative Site. You will also visit the Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly (where you can explore Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels), the Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment Cemetery, The Nek, and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.

After the tour ends around 4:30 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Çanakkale for check-in, where you will spend the night.

• Overnight in Canakkale.
• Included Meal(s): Lunch
• Accommodation: Grand Anzac Hotel OR Helen Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Troy and Pergamon Tour – Selçuk/Kuşadası

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel around 8:30 am for a fully guided Troy and Pergamon Tour.

The tour begins with a visit to the Trojan Horse, followed by stops at the Sacrificial Altars and the 3,700-year-old city walls. You will explore the Houses of Troy I (3000 B.C. – 2500 B.C.), the Bouleuterion (Senate Building), and the Odeon (Concert Hall). The remains of various cities from Troy I through to Troy IX will also be part of the visit.

After concluding the Troy tour around 10:30 am, you will depart for Bergama. Upon arrival at 1:30 pm, lunch will be served before starting the fully guided Pergamon Acropolis tour.

In Pergamon, you will visit the ancient Acropolis, Library, which once held 200,000 books, Temple of Athena, Temple of Trajan, and the famous Altar of Zeus, now located in Berlin. You will also see the Gymnasium situated on terraces, Lower Agora, Hellenistic Theater with a seating capacity of 10,000, and Temple of Dionysus.

After the tour ends around 5:30 pm, you will depart for Selçuk, arriving at 8:00 pm, and then continue to Kuşadası, arriving by 8:30 pm. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel in Kuşadası

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Ephesus Tour

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up around 8:30 AM and meet your tour guide to begin a full-day tour of Ephesus, one of the most significant ancient cities of the Greek and Roman periods. As you explore the ruins, you’ll visit key landmarks such as the Temple of Hadrian, the grand Great Theater, and the impressive Trajan Fountain, dedicated to Emperor Trajan.

After a delightful lunch, you will head to the House of the Virgin Mary, a sacred site believed to be where Mary spent her final years. Next, you will pass by the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, where only remnants of its former grandeur can be seen today.

The tour continues with a visit to the stunning Isa Bey Mosque, a beautiful example of Seljuk architecture.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kusadasi around 4:30 PM.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour – Transfer by local Bus to Antalya

After breakfast around 7:30 am, check out from your hotel in Kusadasi. You will be picked up and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk, where the group will gather to begin the journey. From Selcuk, depart at approximately 8:30 am, for the scenic drive to Pamukkale, which takes about 3 hours. About halfway, there will be a brief 10-minute restroom stop. You’ll arrive in Pamukkale around 11:45 am, and lunch will be served upon arrival.

At approximately 1:00 pm, start your guided tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis with a licensed professional guide. Discover the stunning Cotton Cliffs, a natural wonder formed by calcium-rich mineral deposits. You will also explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, where you’ll visit the Roman Baths, and the Pamukkale Theatre, all remarkable examples of ancient Roman architecture.

Following the guided tour, you’ll have some free time to explore the area on your own. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (entry at your own expense), which are said to have therapeutic properties.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to the main bus station in Denizli. From there, you’ll board an intercity coach to Antalya, with an approximate duration of 5 hours. Upon arrival in Antalya, a representative will meet you at the bus terminal and transfer you to your hotel.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Meals included today: Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: Perge, Aspendos, Side, and Waterfall Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up around 8:00 AM to begin your tour. The first stop is Perge, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC and one of the largest ancient cities in the Pamphylia region. From there, you will depart for the Aspendos Ancient Theatre, an exceptionally well-preserved structure built in the 2nd century A.D. With a capacity of 15,000, the theater is still used for festivals and concerts today.

Afterwards, there will be a lunch break at a restaurant by a nearby river before heading to Side (pronounced “Seeday”). Side is one of Turkey’s best-preserved classical ancient cities, known as a port city that once hosted the largest slave market in the region. During Roman times, significant construction occurred here, including the large theater, Roman Baths, and the Temple of Apollo.

You will have 1 hour of free time in Side to explore the city and enjoy the sea. On the return trip to Antalya, there will be a stop at the Manavgat Waterfall. Afterward, you’ll be driven back to Antalya, where you will be transferred to your hotel.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel OR Aspen Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 6: Fly to Kayseri/Nevsehir from Antalya via Istanbul

After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Antalya. You will be picked up and transferred to Antalya Airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. After check-in, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your leisure.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR The Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Holiday Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 7: North Cappadocia Tour

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles.

Afterward, you will drive to the town of Avanos, known for its pottery and ceramics, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Zelve Open Air Museum. This museum offers an insightful look into the region’s monastic history, featuring carved caves and ancient churches.

Finally, before returning to your hotel, you will have about 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of Uchisar Castle from the outside, as entry to the interior of the castle is not permitted.

After the tour ends at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore the city at your own pace, or participate in optional activities.

For additional activities, you can choose a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through Cappadocia’s valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show, where you can witness the mesmerizing Sufi tradition. Alternatively, you may opt for a Turkish Night show with dinner, which includes traditional Turkish music, folk dances, and a delicious meal. All these activities are available at an extra cost.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Romantic Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 8: South Cappadocia Tour – Fly back to Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and be picked up around 9:30 am to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your first stop will be the breathtaking Red Valley, where you’ll explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike 5 km through the serene Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi), renowned for its stunning pink-hued rock formations.

Next, you’ll visit Cavusin Village, known for its ancient cave houses and churches once inhabited by Christian clergymen. Around noon, you’ll take a break for lunch at a local restaurant, savoring authentic Turkish flavors.

After lunch, the tour will continue to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), where you’ll witness the valley’s iconic pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. In the afternoon, you’ll explore either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, both remarkable underground cities where early Christians took refuge.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul. Departure times are subject to flight availability, typically between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm, with the flight lasting approximately 1.5 hours. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.

Please note that transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick-up from city center hotels & transfer to Istanbul Airport (only for hotels on the European side).
• Domestic flight tickets (Antalya to Kayseri & Kayseri to Istanbul) as per the itinerary.
• Intercity bus ticket from Pamukkale to Antalya.
• 1 night in Çanakkale at a 3-star hotel, including breakfast.
• 2 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
• 2 nights in Antalya at a boutique hotel, including breakfast.
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast.
• English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch).
• All entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary.
• Local taxes & service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Drop off transportation service from Istanbul New Airport OR Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Istanbul Hotel upon returning to Istanbul.
• International Flight Tickets.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Drinks with Dinner.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.