ANMV 5

GRAND TOUR OF TURKEY

DAY 1 : I S T A N B U L

On arrival transfer from Istanbul Airport to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 2 : I S T A N B U L

Full day tour of Istanbul including Topkapi Palace, former residence of the Ottoman sultans, Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, Hippodrome and the Grand bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 3 : ISTANBUL / GALLIPOLI / CANAKKALE

Drive to Gallipoli's famous WW 1 sites. Visit Anzak Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery then cross the Dardanelles waterway to Asia. Overnight in Canakkale.

DAY 4 : CANAKKALE / TROY / PPERGAMUM / IZMIR

Morning visit to ancient Troy with its famous wooden horse, then to Pergamum's Acropolis where you will see the Altar of Zeus. Finally, Asklepeion the famous medical center of the ancient world. Overnight in Izmir.

DAY 5 : IZMIR / EPHESUS / PAMUKKALE

Tour of the famous site of Ephesus one of the world's finest archaeological sites. Walk in its well preserved 2000 year old marble streets to the theatre, library of Celsius, gymnasium and Hadrian's temple. Visit the House of Virgin Mary. In the afternoon drive trough fertile valleys to Pamukkale, which means "Cotton Castle" in Turkish, describing the white lime cascades formed by mineral springs. Overnight in Pamukkale.

DAY 6 : PAMUKKALE / ANTALYA

After touring the Hierapolis Roman health Spa ruins, continue to Antalya.Overnight in Antalya.

DAY 7 : ANTALYA / PERGE / ASPENDOS / ANTALYA

Full day tour to discover Hellenistic and Roman treasures such as the colonade street of Perge, the magnificently preserved 15.000 persons capacity theatre of Aspendos and see Kursunlu waterfalls. Overnight in Antalya.

DAY 8 : ANTALYA / KONYA

Travel to Konya. Tour Karatay Koran School, displaying colourful Turkish tiles. Overnight in Konya.

DAY 9 : KONYA / CAPPADOCIA

After the visit of Mevlana's Mausoleum, founder of the Whirling Dervishes, drive to Cappadocia famous for its "moon like" landscape and underground cities. Overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 10 : C A P P A D O C I A

Tour of Goreme, with its 6Th - 10Th century rock chapels decorated with Christian frescoes, and Kaymakli, the eight-story Underground City. Visit the pottery making village of Avanos and Zelve's Byzantine monastic complex. Overnight in Cappadocia.

DAY 11 : CAPPADOCIA / ANKARA

Drive to Ankara. On route visit the 13Th century Seljuk Caravan inn of Agzikarahan. In Ankara visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations with its Hittite treasures and artifacts from the world's oldest city. Overnight in Ankara.

DAY 12 : ANKARA / GORDION / BURSA

Drive from Ankara to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, at the foot of "Mt. Olympus" in ancient Asia Minor. Enroute, visit Gordion, where according to the legend Alexander the great cut the Gordion Knot and opened the way to Asia. Once in Bursa visit the colourful Silk bazaar. Overnight in Bursa.

DAY 13 : BURSA / ISTANBUL

Visit the Green Mosque and Ottoman complex and then drive to Istanbul. In the evening enjoy a farewell dinner with belly dancers. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 14 : ISTANBUL DEPARTURE

Transfer to the airport. End of our services.