Turkish Escape
Embark on an escape to Turkey to discover a country of captivating culture across its transcontinental peninsula. Spanning the borders of Asia and Europe, this fascinating country of culture and color is calling with an 8-day Turkish Escape for the ages! Your adventure begins in Istanbul, a city of great diversity and a combination of tree-lined boulevards, cafés and cosmopolitan restaurants set against a backdrop where little has changed for centuries. During its 3,000 years of turbulent history, it has been home to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the Turks themselves- all leaving their marks. Highlights of your sightseeing are inside visits to the 6th century Hagia Sophia, the largest ever church and for over a thousand years the largest covered space on earth and to the amazing Topkapi Palace, which was the seat of government for one of the greatest Empires of the Medieval age. Pay tribute to the fallen war heroes at the Anzac cemetery and visit 3 of the most famous ancient sites in the country: Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus. Each very different and distinctive. Troy, the oldest, dating from 3,000BC and made up to 9 separate cities all built over each other; Pergamon, an impregnable defensive site with amazing views in all directions, which flourished as one of the ancient world’s greatest centers of healing; and Ephesus, the greatest city in the Eastern Mediterranean during Roman times, which boasts an extraordinary number of superbly preserved monuments. Cross from Europe to Asia on board a scenic ferry journey across the Dardanelles Strait and get ready to taste the superb Turkish cuisine, an interesting blend of Mediterranean specialties and flavors. This is the perfect vacation if you are looking for a genuine and unique blend of diverse cultures, centuries of history and atmosphere, the mysterious East with the familiar West.
Tour Itinerary
Welcome to Istanbul! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)
East meets West Discover Istanbul with a captivating, guided sightseeing tour. Visit the Roman Hippodrome and hear about the events held there. Marvel at the six minarets of the Blue Mosque, and the intricate decoration and blue hues of its interior. Stand below the breathtaking dome of the Hagia Sophia, visit Topkapi Palace to see how the Sultan’s lived, and discover a shopper’s paradise with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, the largest covered market in the world, spread over 60 streets and location of over 4000 shops! Enjoy [LOCAL FAVORITE] a traditional Turkish coffee experience at a historical coffee roaster. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Founded by the Greeks as Byzantium more than 2,500 years ago and ultimately 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 a gateway between Orient and Occident, the Islamic and the Christian worlds, and the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, predestined it for a turbulent yet exciting history.
Bravery on the Beach This morning, drive to the Gallipoli peninsula and visit the WWI battlefields, the Anzac Cemetery, the Lone Pine Memorial, and Chunuk Bair Memorial sites before crossing the Dardanelles by ferry. Later, enjoy a fascinating guided visit to the archaeological site, dating back over 4000 years. See the symbolic wooden Trojan Horse that commemorates the Trojan War; it was supposedly the winning tactic. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Visit the moving and inspirational sites 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.
The Sacred Way This morning, drive to Pergamum for a guided visit of the renowned Asklepion, one of the ancient world's most important healing centers, and a sanctuary dedicated to Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine. Explore this remarkable site, where pilgrims once sought cures through a combination of spiritual and medical practices. Afterwards, continue your journey through the beautiful Aegean countryside and arrive in the coastal resort town of Kusadasi. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT Nestled between hills, the Asklepion retains a sense of serenity and history. Here, the sick sought healing as they approached the temple via the Sacred Way, a pathway to healing based on the patient’s dreams and through theatrical presentations—healing practiced as a sacred art to heal both body and soul.
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