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Essential Turkey

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7 days

Embark on a weeklong journey through Turkey starting in Istanbul with its bazaars and mosques, pay your respects at Gallipoli and see Roman ruins in Pergamum. Witness the beautiful Aegean Coast with an optional tour to Ephesus and dip your toes in Pamukkale's beautiful cascading mineral pools.

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Free cancellation
Free amends
Available on all departures booked at least 40 days in advance. Cancel or change your booking for FREE for up to 7 days after booking

Tour Overview

Duration

7 days

Starts

Istanbul

Ends

Istanbul

Range

Essentials

Tour Guide

Yes - escorted by a tour guide

Group Size

Min 2 / Max 32

Minimum age

15 yrs, accompanied by an adult

Departs

Saturdays/Sundays

Hotel Rating

3-4 star

Countries

Turkey

Arrival Transfer

Yes - from IST or Sabiha

Departure Transfer

No

Meals included

Breakfast: 5
Per person from
NZD$2,027.50
Save 50% today
Total From
$8,110.00
NZD$4,055.00
Deposit From
Final payment
NZD$1,000.00
$3,555.00

Tour Highlights

Istanbul – Visit highlights of the Old City including the beautiful Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and imposing Topkapi Palace
Pamukkale – Stroll around the terraced pools and opt for a relaxing dip in the naturally warm and calcium rich waters
Gallipoli – Pay your respects at the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials and visit ANZAC Cove, a famous WW1 landing site
Troy – Discover the legendary ruins and see a replica of the famous wooden horse which as the story goes, was used to sack the city
Kusadasi - Relax in this Turkish beach resort town or opt to join an excursion to Ephesus nearby
Pergamum – Marvel at the Roman amphitheatre which is one of the steepest in the classical world
Hierapolis – See the UNESCO-listed ruins of this ancient spa town, built on the site of natural hot springs

Included

5 breakfasts
6 nights 3-4 star hotels
Economy class flight from Denizli (Pamukkale) to Istanbul
Guided sightseeing - Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamum, Pamukkale Terraces and Hierapolis
Escorted by an English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide
Airport arrival transfer on day 1
All relevant transfers and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles

Not Included

International flights and visa
Optional activities including Ephesus excursion
Tip for your tour guide and driver. We recommend you allow EUR €5 - 7 per day, per traveller as a tip for your guide and EUR €2 per day for your driver. Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture
Entrance Fees: EUR€200-215pp, paid in EUR
Tipping Kitty: EUR€40-50pp, paid in EUR
Tipping is not a natural part of many Western cultures and many of us feel uncomfortable, or unsure, about when, or how much, to tip. However, in the places you will visit, tipping makes up a significant part of many people's wages so it's important that we get it right. For this reason we've developed a very simple system to take all the hassle out of tipping. With our 'tipping made easy' policy, a nominal pre-determined amount is collected from all group tour participants to cover tips en route. This then saves you the hassle of when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, local guides and other support staff through the tour. Our 'tipping made easy' doesn't include a tip to your group tour leader. Naturally, though, the amount is up to you as tipping is an entirely personal gesture.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey! Arrive Istanbul and included transfer to our hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure or head out to explore the city. This evening our tip filled welcome meeting takes place.

Overnight: Istanbul

Day 2 - Istanbul

Istanbul. We'll start the day with an exciting tour of Istanbul's old city. We'll make a number of stops on our trip, starting with a visit to the stunning Blue Mosque famed for it’s blue Iznik tiles and unique 6 minarets, we'll continue to the ruinous Hippodrome – now a small park of sorts and once scene of chariot races and political activities in Byzantine times, we'll also discover the exterior of Hagia Sophia - constructed as a Basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian, Topkapi Palace and the Underground Cistern – an ancient underground water tank - replete with carved and fluted Corinthian columns and a puzzling head of Medusa. Visitors walk on walkways suspended above the shallow water. It’s very cool and peaceful.

Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Gallipoli

Istanbul – Gallipoli. Early this morning, we travel to the WW1 battlefields of Gallipoli. Here, we’ll embark upon a guided tour of the region, once the site of fierce fighting and today almost hauntingly beautiful, with its wooded landscape dotted with understated memorials to the war dead. Our guided tour of the region will take in sights such as ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian War Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Blair New Zealand War Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches still clearly visible amongst the scrub after all these years.

Crossing the Dardenelles by ferry (offering panoramic views of the entire Gallipoli Peninsular) we proceed to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation.

Overnight: Canakkale
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Troy & Kusadasi

Gallipoli – Kusadasi. Heading south, we enjoy a guided tour of Homer’s Troy, famed for the Trojan wooden horse and fabled Helen. Continuing to ancient Pergamum - the cultural and political capital of its time, before continuing onto coastal Kusadasi. Make the most of the hotel facilities this evening.

Overnight: Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Kusadasi

Kusadasi. Enjoy a day at leisure relaxing in the coastal beach resort town of Kusadasi or opt to join a shared excursion to the legendary Roman ruins of Ephesus. Positively the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean, and among the best places in the world to get a feel for what Roman life must have been like. (Booked and paid locally, see trip notes for more information) Tonight, you may wish to consider heading out for dinner. Downtown Kusadasi is the place to go with a varied choice of restaurants, pubs and cafes.

Overnight: Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 - Pamukkale

Kusadasi - Pamukkale. Today, after breakfast, we drive to Pamukkale visiting the region’s famed calcium rich terraced pools. Known locally as the Cotton Castles, they are a natural phenomena and gift of Mother Nature.

Pamukkale was formed when warm, calcium rich mineral water cascaded over the cliff edge, cooling and depositing in the process. The calcium built natural shelves and pools on the cliffs, known as travertines. Today, some of the pools are closed. However, areas of the travertines can be walked upon, albeit in bare feet. We can however opt to enjoy a unique and very pleasant dip in the warm waters at the Pamukkale Thermal, with its submerged fragments of fluted marble columns in the centre of the ruined spa town of Hierapolis, which was a was a cure centre founded around 190 BC by the Romans. This evening we have some free time to relax and unwind.

Overnight: Pamukkale
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Istanbul

This morning we make our way to Denizli airport for our flight to Istanbul. On arrival to Istanbul Airport we bid farewell to our group and representative and catch our onward flights.

Please Note: If travelling prior to 27 October 2024, your internal flight is currently arriving at the new Istanbul airport at approx. 08:50am. Please ensure you book an international flight departing Istanbul after 1pm, allowing for flight delays. If you are departing via Sabiha airport you will need to make arrangements between airports and we recommend booking flights after 2:30pm

If travelling between 28 October 2024 - 21 March 2025, your internal flight is scheduled to arrive at the new Istanbul Airport at approx. 12:25pm. Please ensure you book an international flight departing Istanbul after 5pm, allowing for flight delays. If you are departing via Sabiha airport you will need to make arrangements between airports and we recommend booking flights after 6:30pm Alternatively, you could choose to extend your stay by purchasing an additional night's hotel accommodation.

Extras and add-ons

If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation

Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.

Pre-Tour Accommodation - Istanbul (From price)

Double

$295per passenger

Twin

$295per passenger

Single

$535per passenger

Post-Tour Accommodation - Istanbul (From price)

Double

$295per passenger

Twin

$295per passenger

Single

$535per passenger

Additional Excursions

Enhance your tour with these optional extras, helping you to get the most from your adventure.

Princes' Island | Istanbul | Russia
Princes Islands

Located in the Sea of Marmara off the coast of Istanbul, the Princes’ Islands are a chain of nine islands offering a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of Turkey’s largest city. Buyukada is the largest island of the nine and one of the most attractive with two peaks and gingerbread-style villas lining the slopes.

$305

per passenger

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.

If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.

Grand Hotel Halic
Istanbul

Conveniently located in the central Beyoglu district of Istanbul, the modern Grand Hotel Halic is within walking distance of popular sites such as Taksim Square and the Galata Tower. Guest rooms are well-appointed with a seating area and modern amenities including complimentary Wi-Fi and satellite TV. Delicious Turkish mezes can be enjoyed at the Adali Restaurant on the top floor, with fabulous views across the famous Golden Horn of Istanbul, while Raki aniseed spirit can be sampled in the bar with billiards, while listening to live music. The hotel also benefits from an indoor swimming pool and spa, with a traditional hammam, dry sauna and massage facilities.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Remida Hotel
Canakkale

Remida Hotel serves as your gateway to the rich history and breathtaking landscapes of Çanakkale, seamlessly blending modern luxury with historical charm. Enjoy panoramic views from your room, where you can watch the first ships entering the Dardanelles and gaze across the Gulf of Saros to the distant Greek islands of Samothrace and Lemnos. Designed with minimalist glam, the hotel’s lobby features artifacts from ancient Troy and showcases the exquisite handicrafts of Çanakkale. Each room is equipped with modern comforts, including air conditioning, a mini bar, television, hair dryer, and kettle.

Our Rating
Standard
Local Rating
3 Star Hotel
Kayhanbey Hotel
Kusadasi

Facing the picturesque harbour, Kayhanbey Hotel offers spacious, air-conditioned rooms with private balconies, flat-screen TVs, and modern amenities, including a minibar and a private bathroom with both a bathtub and shower. Guests can enjoy 24-hour room service, relax by the outdoor pool overlooking the Aegean Sea, or unwind in the hotel's sauna, gym, and hammam with massage treatments. The hotel features a restaurant serving breakfast buffets and à la carte dining, with the option to enjoy meals on a terrace with stunning sea views.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Villa Lycus Hotel
Pamukkale

Villa Lycus Hotel is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Pamukkale, offering a range of amenities to enhance your stay. Located near popular landmarks like Hierapolis & Pamukkale and the Road to Pamukkale, the hotel provides convenient access to the area's attractions. Guests can relax in air-conditioned rooms with free internet access and enjoy the on-site pool and restaurant, perfect for unwinding after a busy day. Additionally, Pamukkale's famous hot springs, including Pamukkale Thermal Pools and Cleopatra Pools, are just a short distance away.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel

Prices & Dates

All departure dates are guaranteed to operate when there are 2 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room.

2024
Twin/Double
Single
23 Nov - 29 Nov
2-for-1
Sold Out
Sold Out
2025
Twin/Double
Single
17 May - 23 May
2-for-1
$4,055$2,028
$5,595$2,798
24 May - 30 May
2-for-1
$4,055$2,028
$5,595$2,798
8 Jun - 14 Jun
2-for-1
$4,055$2,028
$5,595$2,798
22 Jun - 28 Jun
2-for-1
$4,055$2,028
$5,595$2,798
6 Jul - 12 Jul
2-for-1
$4,055$2,028
$5,595$2,798
3 Aug - 9 Aug
2-for-1
$4,055$2,028
$5,595$2,798
17 Aug - 23 Aug
2-for-1
$4,055$2,028
$5,595$2,798
31 Aug - 6 Sep
2-for-1
$4,055$2,028
$5,595$2,798

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