8-Day Best of Turkey Tour from Istanbul: Pamukkale, Bursa, Troy, Gallipoli, Ephesus

See the best of Turkey on this ultimate 8-day tour from Istanbul! Visit the country’s cultural capital – Istanbul – to see its top attractions like the Blue Mosque, and enjoy day trips to historic sites like Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus and Hierapolis. See astounding rock formations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pamukkale, and discover Bursa – the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. With airport or hotel-to-hotel transfers plus seven nights of 4-star accommodation included, this tour enables you to see Turkey’s impressive highlights with ease and comfort.

Itinerary

Day 1: Istanbul

Pass By: Historic Areas of Istanbul, Istanbul Turkey
Welcome to Istanbul! You will be transferred to your hotel and the remainder of the day is yours, free to explore.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at Sirkeci Mansion Hotel, a boutique hotel in Istanbul

Day 2: Istanbul Old City

Stop At: Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya), Ayasofya Square, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome.

Cruise between two continents on the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia in the afternoon with an optional 'Half day Bosphorous cruise'.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Sirkeci Mansion Hotel, a boutique hotel in Istanbul

Day 3: Gallipoli Battlefields

Stop At: Gallipoli Battlefield, Eceabat Turkey
One of the most emotionally touching places in Turkey, today we visit the WW1 Battlefields of Gallipoli including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek, Johnston's Jolly, original trenches and tunnels.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at MD Barbaros Hotel, a special class hotel in Canakkale

Day 4: Troy, Acropolis of Pergamum

Stop At: Troy (Truva), Tevfikiye Koyu, Intepe, Canakkale Turkey
This morning, step back in time as we visit Troy, home of the famed Trojan Horse and then tour the magnificent acropolis of Pergamum. Its impressive temples and library made Pergamum a renowned cultural and political centre in its time.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel, a boutique hotel in Kusadasi

Day 5: Ephesus, Kusadasi

Stop At: Ancient City of Ephesus, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
Absorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of Ephesus and a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis. Feel the mystical atmosphere of the ancient city and theatre before continuing to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and at the carpet village we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel, a boutique hotel in Kusadasi

Day 6: Pamukkale, Hierapolis

Stop At: Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Pamukkale Turkey
This morning we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before heading to the magnificent white calcium terraces, known as Travertines, in Pamukkale where we also tour the ancient city of Hierapolis. Take a dip, amongst ancient columns, in the hot springs that were used in Roman times for their therapeutic powers.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Colossae Thermal Hotel, a 4 star hotel in Pamukkale

Day 7: Bursa, Istanbul

Stop At: Yesil Camii, Akyokus Sk Yesil Mh., Bursa 16360 Turkey
Today you head back to Istanbul, passing through rural Turkey and ancient Bursa to visit the famous Green Mosque and explore the Silk Bazaar.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Sirkeci Mansion, a boutique hotel in Istanbul

Day 8: Istanbul

Pass By: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Turkey
After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.