Istanbul, Troy & Ephesus - Save up to £50 - 9 days from £849

Accommodation

Istanbul - Maywood Hotel (4-star)
4 nights’ bed and breakfast. Situated at the heart of Istanbul. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, air-conditioning, TV, telephone, hairdryer and mini-bar.

Canakkale - Tusan Hotel or similar (4-star)
1 night half board. Situated in the centre of town, rooms are well-equipped and airconditioned. Facilities include a bar, restaurant and outdoor swimming pool.

Ayvalik - Grand Hotel Temizel (4-star)
1 night half board. Hotel facilities include a Turkish bath, sauna and an outdoor swimming pool. Rooms have TV, air-conditioning, mini-bar and hairdryer.

Ephesus - Tusan Hotel or similar (4-star)
2 nights’ half board. The hotel has air-conditioned bedrooms, a choice of restaurants and bars and excellent leisure facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool. Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

Please note: Outdoor swimming pools are typically open between May and September, but this is dependent on weather conditions.

Itinerary

Day 1: UK/Istanbul

Situated at the heart of Istanbul, your hotel for the next four nights is ideally located for your explorations of the city.

Day 2: Istanbul

Half in Asia and half in Europe, Istanbul is a fascinating blend of east and west. Peel back the city’s layers of history as you explore it in the company of your Tour Manager. Start at the cultural heart of the Old City – Sultanahmet Square. Surrounding the square are some of Istanbul’s most iconic sights – the ancient Hippodrome, built for horse and chariot racing; the stunning Blue Mosque, with its precious iznik tiles; and imposing Hagia Sophia. A church for a full millennium and a mosque for more than 500 years, take the time to marvel at its size and majesty. Sit down to lunch in a typically Turkish restaurant, then admire the Roman underground cistern, a marvel of engineering that supplied Topkapi Palace with water and locals with fresh fish. And no visit to Istanbul would be complete without bartering in the bustle of the Grand Bazaar.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Days 3 - 4: Istanbul

You have the freedom to explore Istanbul’s wonders for two days under your own steam – your Tour Manager will be on hand to recommend the best authentic experiences. Take a walk along the pedestrian Istiklal Avenue in Taksim, which houses exquisite boutiques, music stores, book stores, art galleries, theatres, cafés and restaurants. You may choose to explore the famous Cicek Pasaji (Flower Passage), which dates back to 1876. Alternatively, join your Tour Manager on our optional excursions.

Meals: Breakfast

Topkapi Palace, Golden Horn & Bosphorus Cruise (full day)

As you wander around the wonderful Topkapi Palace, the vast former residence of the Ottoman sultans, you can’t help but be amazed by the grandeur they surrounded themselves with. The Treasury and Harem are particularly worth exploring. Following the city walls along the Golden Horn gives you more of an insight into life in Istanbul. Your destination is the Monastery of Chora, where the beautiful Byzantine mosaics and frescos that line the interior will take your breath away. The Eyup Sultan Mosque is another spectacular sight, and for a taste of traditional Turkey, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Surround yourself with enticing scents at the Egyptian Spice Bazaar before boarding a ferry for the zigzag journey along the Bosphorous, it’s staggering to think that one minute you’re in Europe, the next Asia as you pass a blend of old wooden houses, fishing villages and marble palaces.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Bursa (full day)

Explore the ancient city of Bursa, the 14th-century Ottoman capital. Relics of these glory days are bountiful throughout the city and your Tour Manager will introduce you to the best – the spectacular 20 domes of the Great Mosque, the delicate marble of the Yesil Cami Mosque, and the silver-domed tomb of Osman Gazi.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch

Day 5: Gallipoli & Canakkale

Say your goodbyes to Istanbul as you begin your journey along the Gallipoli Peninsula, site of an abortive Allied assault on Turkish forces in 1915. You will stop to pay your respects at the memorials to fallen soldiers, a moving tribute to the many thousands of men, including countless Australian and New Zealand troops, who lost their lives. Crossing the Dardanelles, your journey today comes to an end in Canakkale, where you stay overnight.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Day 6: Troy, Yesilyurt & Ayvalik

Turkey has an incredibly rich history that remains unknown to so many people. As you journey south along the beautiful Aegean coast, you’ll visit one of the most iconic sites in ancient history – Troy. And for a taste of true Turkey, a cup of traditional Turkish coffee in the village of Yesilyurt can’t be beaten. At the village café, you’ll see traditional gozleme folded pastries being made before sampling the results – the perfect accompaniment for your coffee. Ayvalik, is your destination for tonight’s overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 7: Pergamon & Kusadasi

The ancient city of Pergamon boasts spectacular sights that unfold one after the other. Marvel at the Acropolis, sat atop an imposing rock bluff and the setting for a spectacular theatre, the famous library and huge altar of Zeus. The remains of the Asclepion, one of the ancient world’s most renowned healing centres, are equally impressive. Your hotel for the next two nights is close to the ancient city of Ephesus.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 8: Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis & Sirince

Founded by the Greeks before the 10th century BC and colonised by the Romans, Ephesus offers an astonishingly well-preserved glimpse into ancient life. Your insight into its history is only enhanced as you wander around. Take in the sight of the Great Theatre, the Marble Street and the exquisite façade of the Library of Celsus, learning more at the Ephesus Museum and the Temple of Artemis. Sirince village, your destination this afternoon, is full of life, its narrow streets lined with local women selling handicrafts of all kinds. Relax with a glass of the delicious local wines in a café – your Tour Manager will be able to recommend a tipple – as you contemplate all you’ve seen.

Meals: Breakfast / dinner

Day 9: Izmir/UK

Return home today after seeing the real Turkey.

Meals: Breakfast