Christmas turkey tour
Day 1 Monday 19th December
Welcome to Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel and the remainder of the day is yours free to explore this exotic city.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Nidya Hotel Galataport
Day 2 Tuesday 20th December
Istanbul old city
Tour the city that spans both Europe and Asia visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi 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'.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Nidya Hotel Galataport (B)
Day 3 Wednesday 21st December
Gallipoli battlefields
One of the most emotionally touching places in Turkey, today we visit the WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, Johnston's Jolly, original trenches and tunnels and the Nek.
Overnight Çanakkale 4 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 4 Thursday 22nd December
Troy, Pergamum
Step back in time today as we visit Troy and it's famed Trojan Horse, followed by a tour of the magnificent acropolis of Pergamum. It's impressive temples, library and medical facilities made it a renowned cultural and political centre in its time.
Overnight Ku�adas� 4 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 5 Friday 23rd December
Ephesus, Kusadasi
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.
Overnight Ku�adas� 4 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 6Saturday 24th December
Pamukkale, Hierapolis
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.
Overnight Pamukkale 5 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 7 Sunday 25th December
Christmas Day in Demre
Today we visit Demre, home of the original St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus), where he lived as the Bishop of the area. We visit his church and tomb before heading to Finike for Christmas Day dinner.
Overnight Kemer 5 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 8 Monday 26th December
Perge, Aspendos, Konya
Tour the ancient ruins of Perge with its impressive stadium walls and Aspendos, known for one of the best preserved theatres of Asia Minor, still used today.
Overnight Konya 4 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 9 Tuesday 27th December
Konya, Cappadocia
Today we visit Konya and the Mevlana Museum before heading to the lunar landscape of Cappadocia. En-route, we stop at an ancient Silk Road Caravansary, before we trek through the beautiful Ihlara Valley. Tonight, don't miss the optional traditional Turkish folklore evening.
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 10 Wednesday 28th December
Underground city, Goreme
Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia with a fully guided tour of Goreme Valley, the fairy chimneys, Uchisar castle, an Underground City and more.
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 11 Thursday 29th December
Nation's Capital Ankara
Today we visit the nation's capital, Ankara, with a tour of the Mausoleum of Ataturk.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Nidya Hotel Galataport (B)
Day 12 Friday 30th December
Istanbul
After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)
(B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner)
Day 1 Monday 19th December
Welcome to Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel and the remainder of the day is yours free to explore this exotic city.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Nidya Hotel Galataport
Day 2 Tuesday 20th December
Istanbul old city
Tour the city that spans both Europe and Asia visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi 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'.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Nidya Hotel Galataport (B)
Day 3 Wednesday 21st December
Gallipoli battlefields
One of the most emotionally touching places in Turkey, today we visit the WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, Johnston's Jolly, original trenches and tunnels and the Nek.
Overnight Çanakkale 4 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 4 Thursday 22nd December
Troy, Pergamum
Step back in time today as we visit Troy and it's famed Trojan Horse, followed by a tour of the magnificent acropolis of Pergamum. It's impressive temples, library and medical facilities made it a renowned cultural and political centre in its time.
Overnight Ku�adas� 4 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 5 Friday 23rd December
Ephesus, Kusadasi
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.
Overnight Ku�adas� 4 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 6Saturday 24th December
Pamukkale, Hierapolis
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.
Overnight Pamukkale 5 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 7 Sunday 25th December
Christmas Day in Demre
Today we visit Demre, home of the original St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus), where he lived as the Bishop of the area. We visit his church and tomb before heading to Finike for Christmas Day dinner.
Overnight Kemer 5 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 8 Monday 26th December
Perge, Aspendos, Konya
Tour the ancient ruins of Perge with its impressive stadium walls and Aspendos, known for one of the best preserved theatres of Asia Minor, still used today.
Overnight Konya 4 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 9 Tuesday 27th December
Konya, Cappadocia
Today we visit Konya and the Mevlana Museum before heading to the lunar landscape of Cappadocia. En-route, we stop at an ancient Silk Road Caravansary, before we trek through the beautiful Ihlara Valley. Tonight, don't miss the optional traditional Turkish folklore evening.
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 10 Wednesday 28th December
Underground city, Goreme
Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia with a fully guided tour of Goreme Valley, the fairy chimneys, Uchisar castle, an Underground City and more.
Overnight Cappadocia 5 star Hotel to be advised (B, D)
Day 11 Thursday 29th December
Nation's Capital Ankara
Today we visit the nation's capital, Ankara, with a tour of the Mausoleum of Ataturk.
Overnight Istanbul 4 star Nidya Hotel Galataport (B)
Day 12 Friday 30th December
Istanbul
After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)
(B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner)