11D10N Wonders of Turkey by Insight Vacations

Up to 20% OFF 2nd Pax*
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Sale period: Now till 30 Nov 2022
Travel period: 21 Jul to 01 Jan 2023

fr. SGD 2798

Highlights

Travel from Istanbul to Golden Cappadocia on an 11-Day Guided Tour

Fall in love with Turkey on this 11-day guided tour. See Ephesus, an ancient city built in the 10th Century B.C. with an amphitheater that once sat 24,000 people. Drive through the Maender River Valley to an organic farm, where you can walk the lush lands, then feast on fresh produce during a mouth-watering lunch. See the turquoise travertine pools in Pamukkale where ancient Romans used to soak — then dip into the spa at your hotel to indulge in its Turkish baths. Take a tour of a traditional cave house in Cappadocia with the local who lives there, then dine as you watch whirling dervishes dance nearby. Visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, the resting place of the country’s first president, in Ankara. Travel to Istanbul, where you’ll see the infamous Blue Mosque before bargaining at the electric Grand Bazaar, which boasts more than 4,000 shops.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® EXPERIENCES

Our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experiences connect you with people, the planet and wildlife and promote the values of sustainable tourism.

Visit the Copmadam Workshop in Ayvalik - Visit the vibrant Copmadam workshop which produces one-of-a-kind items made from recycled packaging, creating employment opportunities for local women.

UNIQUE INSIGHT EXPERIENCES

Explore destinations with engaging Local Experts, gain special access to iconic sites and enjoy fun activities with our Unique Insight Experiences.

Cappadocia Cave House Visit - Join a Cappadocian local, who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house to learn more about their unique way of life.

TOP RATED HIGHLIGHTS

Learn about the landmarks, history and culture that makes your destination special.

  • Scenic Drives - Enjoy the passing scenery as you travel past the Sea of Marmara, Peninusula of Gelibolu, Maeander River Valley and Urgup.
  • Visit Anzac Cove in Gallipoli - Pay your respects at Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery.
  • Visit the Trojan Horse in Troy - Visit this ancient sight fabled to have been destroyed over love and view the huge reconstructed Trojan Horse.
  • Izmir Orientation - Explore this city with your Travel Director.
  • Ephesus Archaeological Museum Visit - Visit the Archaeological museum housing many of the artifacts from Ephesus.
  • Ephesus City Tour - Discover one of the world's finest ancient sites. Led by your Local Expert, walk the Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and Amphitheatre and visit the House of the Virgin Mary.
  • See the Travertine Pools at Pamukkale - See the cascading Cotton Castle of milky white travertine pools and the ancient ruin of Hierapolis.
  • Konya Mevlana Tekke Museum Visit - Accompanied by your Local Expert, visit the beautiful Mevlana Tekke museum for an insight into the mystic Whirling Dervishes. See the Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret.
  • Avanos Seljuk Caravanserai Visit - Visit a well preserved Seljuk Caravanserai.
  • Goreme City Tour - With your Local Expert, explore the underground cities, rock-cut churches, fairy-tale chimneys and the Pasabag Valley.
  • Visit the Underground City of Ozkonak - Visit the narrow passages and interconnecting rooms of this Stone Age underground city dug out from the hills and built to block invaders and defend against attacks.
  • Avanos Pottery Making Lesson - Learn about the ancient art of pottery making in Avanos.
  • Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk in Ankara - Discover the mysterious Hittite civilisation and visit the mausoleum of Atatürk.
  • Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise - Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus in Istanbul, where you'll pass Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses.
  • Istanbul City Tour - Visit the Blue Mosque and explore Hagia Sophia. With your Local Expert, gain an insight into the lives of the Ottoman Sultans during a private tour of the fabulous Topkapi Palace. Later, enjoy a relaxing cruise past Ottoman palaces, old mansions and fortresses. Visit the Hippodrome, see the Bosphorous and the Golden Horn. Then you are given a complete guide on how to haggle in the Grand Bazaar.
  • Istanbul Blue Mosque Visit - With a Local Expert visit the Blue Mosque and St. Sophia museum and gain an insight into the lives of the Ottoman sultans at the fabulous Topkapi Palace.

AUTHENTIC DINING

10 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 7 Dinners with Wine

Great food is at the heart of every journey with us. Sip, savour and sense the local flair with every meal.

Pamukkale Farm-to-Table Lunch - Head to a local organic farm where you will be treated to a farm-to-table lunch, made with the fresh local produce.

Istanbul Welcome Dinner - Enjoy getting to know your fellow travellers as you savour a delicious Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant.

Cappadocia Restaurant Dinner with Sema Performance - Discover the flavours of Cappadocia as you indulge in a regional dinner of colourful dishes, before watching a spectacular Sema performance of Whirling Dervishes at a 13th century Seljuk Caravanserai. 

Istanbul Celebration Dinner - Toast the culmination of your tour with a lively Celebration Dinner at a popular local restaurant.

Dinner with Wine
Welcome to Turkey. You’ll start in vibrant Istanbul, where a representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Located in the heart of the city, you’ll be close to Taksim Square, which is famous for its Republic Monument, dining and shopping options. Join your Travel Director at 18:30 for a Welcome Dinner, where you’ll get to know your fellow travellers.

Accommodation: Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Breakfast
Marvel at breathtaking coastal views as you make your way along the shores of the Sea of Marmara to historic Gallipoli. Located in the southern part of East Thrace, it was here that for nine months during the Great War, Anzac troops fought in an in an attempt to gain control of the Dardanelles Strait. Learn more about these events as you visit Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery. Later, join your group as you head from Eceabat across the sea to Çanakkale. Home to famous archaeological site, Troy, this historic destination will be your home for the night.

Accommodation: Kolin Hotel

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Begin your day of legends with a trip to Homer’s city of Troy, the focal point of the Trojan War and the backdrop to one of history’s most famous love stories, that of Paris and Helen of Troy, the face that launched 1000 ships. A replica of the mighty Trojan horse, which helped the Greeks capture the city in 1200 B.C., can be seen beside the city’s walls. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Copmadam, a women's co-op turning recycled materials into unique items, and addressing women's employment issues. Continue on to Pergamon, once a powerful ancient Greek city, you’ll find the Asklepion temple here. A famous shrine and healing centre, it was built in honour of Asklepios, the god of medicine. After some time exploring, continue your journey to the coastal city of Izmir.

Accommodation: Swissotel Büyük Efes

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Start your morning with a trip to the nearby town of Selçuk. Home to the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis, you’ll begin with an educational visit to the Archaeological Museum. Once here, delve into the area’s history as you explore the museum’s exhibits, many of which have been retrieved from the nearby Ephesus excavation site. Later, explore the famous site itself. Walk through the colonnaded Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and the huge Amphitheatre, before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, a famous Catholic and Muslim shrine, situated above the Ephesus ruins.

Accommodation: Charisma De Luxe Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with Wine
This morning, following the winding Maender River Valley, with its twists and turns, head to a local organic farm. Once here, you’ll meet the agricultural director who will take you on a walking tour of the eco-friendly lands. You’ll have the satisfying task of picking fruits and vegetables from his fields. Delight in a mouth-watering Farm-to-Table lunch, prepared with fresh produce from the farm. Continue to Pamukkale. Famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters and chalk-white limestone terraces, explore the area with your Travel Director. See the ruins of the ancient Roman spa city of Hierapolis, founded in 190 B.C. You’ll see the city’s well-preserved theatre and its turquoise travertine pools. Later, head back to your hotel, the esteemed Doğa Thermal Health & Spa. Take full advantage of its indoor and outdoor thermal pools, steam room and its Turkish bath complex.

Accommodation: Doğa Thermal Health & Spa

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Today, you’ll travel to Konya. The home of the Whirling Dervish, this city offers tradition in abundance. Noteworthy buildings line its streets, with beautiful mosques and modern buildings providing a delightful contrast. See the Mevlana Tekke museum, with its recognisable turquoise dome. See the Karatay Madrasa, built in 1251, before moving on to the Ince Minaret, a 13th century madrasa. Continue your journey to Urgup, an historic town in the heart of Cappadocia. You will recognise this famous area from the bright balloons that decorate its sky and the striking golden, volcanic landscapes that surround it.  Your abode for the night is the unique Alfina Cave Hotel Cappadocia, built in old cave dwellings. Get some rest here before your travels continue in the morning.

Accommodation: Alfina Cave Hotel

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Move on to Göreme, a striking town in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, to explore its rock-hewn churches decorated with ancient wall paintings. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at a women’s Coop addressing women’s employment issues. Move on to the Pasabag Valley, located on the road to Zelve. You’ll find otherworldly earth pillars here, ‘fairy chimneys’ and troglodyte dwellings. Visit the underground city of Özkonak, where you’ll have time to explore its tunnels and caves with your Travel Director. Later, join a Cappadocian local who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house. You’ll learn more about their unique way of living, local traditions and family life. Complementing the day’s events, dinner tonight will be accompanied by a performance of Whirling Dervishes.

Accommodation: Alfina Cave Hotel

Breakfast
One for art lovers, this morning, you’ll learn about the art of pottery making in Avanos. A town based in Cappadocia, it is famous for its earthenware pottery. On your way, stop off at one of the best-preserved Seljuk Caravanserais in Anatolia. Continue your journey to Ankara, where you’ll visit the Hittite Museum and Anit Kabir, the Mausoleum of Atatürk—Turkey's greatest modern leader and the first President of the Republic of Turkey. Perhaps relax in the spa and wellness centre at your hotel this evening.

Accommodation: Ankara Hilton SA

Breakfast
It’s time to head to Istanbul. A glorious fusion of east and west, this popular city offers something for everyone, with history, culture, modernity, delicious cuisine and of course, the friendliest of faces. Board a cruise along the Bosphorus. As you make your way from Eminönü to the Black Sea, witness the area’s beautiful Ottoman palaces and fortresses lining the waterfront. Your evening is at leisure, why not ask your Travel Director for suggestions on places to dine. 

Accommodation: Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Today you’ll take in the sites of Istanbul. In the morning, visit the historic Blue Mosque with its tiled interiors. See the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held, before exploring Hagia Sophia. Built in A.D. 537, it is famous for its domed roof. Visit the Topkapi Palace, perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the primary inlet of the waterway. Enjoy the excitement of bargaining in the bustling Grand Bazaar. In the evening, join your fellow travellers for a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant.

Accommodation: Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Breakfast
It’s time to say goodbye to your new friends, as your trip comes to an end. A transfer will take you to the airport for your onward flights, or for those extending their stay in Istanbul, speak to your Travel Director for tips and tricks on where to head.
NOTE: Prices exclude airport taxes & surcharges. All hotel & seats reservations are subject to availability. Any increase in room rates arising from the events and conventions shall be borne by customers.
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