Highlights Of Turkey
Highlights Of Turkey
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$2000
Highlights Of Turkey
10 Days Starting and ending in Grand Yavuz Hotel
Visiting: Istanbul, Gallipoli Battlefields, Çanakkale, Troy, Pergamum, Kusadaşi, Ephesus, Pamukkale hot springs, Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Silk Road, Konya, Cappadocia, Göreme Valley, Ankara
Tour operator:
Tour code:
FEZHT
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The country of Turkiye (also known as Turkey) is a fascinating destination with unique landscapes, making it one of the top places to visit in both Europe and Asia! Discover the top highlights and hidden gems as you traverse Turkey over 10 days. From historic sites like Troy, Hierapolis and Ephesus to the Battlefields of Gallipoli and Pamukkale hot springs, there is plenty to explore! Marvel at the mystical fairy chimneys in Cappadocia and indulge in some retail therapy at the Istanbul bazaars. Embark on this life-changing Turkey trip and head home with lifelong memories!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Meals Included: Dinner
Today marks the first day of this incredible trip through Turkey, with Istanbul as the first stop! Take advantage of the complimentary hotel transfer if you arrive on Day 1 or have booked our pre-accommodation. After settling into the hotel, enjoy the free day to explore this striking city at leisure! Board a tram to the Grand Bazaar and discover this lively local market. Be sure to visit the alleys for gold, leather, bowls and tea. To get away from the crowds, marvel at the fantastic views and savour a drink from a rooftop terrace. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner and get to know your tour leader and travel companions for this trip.
Day 2: Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, embark on a locally guided tour of Istanbul after enjoying breakfast. One side of Turkey is in Europe, while the other is in Asia, making it one of the only countries to span two continents! Tick top attractions like the Blue Mosque and take a glimpse into the past at Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome. Join today’s optional excursion for a full-day tour of this magical city. Istanbul+ includes entrance to the Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern, a Bosphorus cruise, a visit to the buzzing spice bazaar, and a delicious Turkish lunch. It’s sure to be a day to remember!
Discover Istanbul on an orientation tour
Marvel at the beautiful Blue Mosque
See Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome
Day 3: Gallipoli Battlefields - Çanakkale
Location: Gallipoli Battlefields, Çanakkale
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Explore the WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli today! Not only is this where 30,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers were lost but also the place where the national identities of Turkey, New Zealand and Australia were born. See top attractions like the Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair Memorial in ANZAC Cove and the Neck and Johnston’s Jolly Cemetery! After concluding the tour of the battlefields, journey on towards Çanakkale, tonight's rest stop and the location of this evening's included dinner.
Take a historical tour of the Gallipoli Battlefields
Day 4: Troy - Pergamum - Kuşadasi
Location: Troy, Pergamum, Kusadaşi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, revisit ancient times in the city of Troy! The famed Trojan Horse manoeuvre, as well as the 12th-century Trojan War, took place here. Continue the journey to the majestic Acropolis of Pergamum after learning about the history of Troy. Enjoy a tour of the city's spectacular temples as well as Pergamum's library, responsible for making this a prominent cultural and political spot at the time. Spend the night in Kuşadasi after enjoying an included dinner with the group.
Learn about the Trojan War with a visit to Troy
Visit the ancient city of Pergamon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Spend two nights in the resort town of Kuşadasi
Day 5: Ephesus - Kusadaşi
Location: Ephesus, Kusadaşi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today calls for historic experiences as the group embarks on a guided tour of Ephesus and visits the Temple of Artemis. Here, embrace the city's magical and ancient atmosphere. Up next is Şirince, meaning 'pleasant', a village that was once believed to be called ‘Çirkince’ (‘ugly’) in attempts by Greek slaves to discourage others from visiting. Today's itinerary wraps up at a carpet village for a first-hand discovery of the long-standing Turkish weaving traditions. Tonight, unwind at the hotel after an adventure-filled day!
Explore the site of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus
Stroll through the beautiful Şirince Village
Experience traditional Turkish carpet weaving
Day 6: Pamukkale Hot Springs - Hierapolis - Pamukkale
Location: Pamukkale hot springs, Hierapolis, Pamukkale
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today's adventure starts with a presentation of handmade local leather goods. Up next is Pamukkale - one of the tour highlights! Explore the white calcium terraces known as travertines, unique to this marvellous town. These hot, natural spring waters that cascade down the terraces were used in Roman times for their believed healing powers. Choose to join the trip to Cleopatra’s Pool nearby and experience the therapeutic thermal water framed by ancient columns! The day ends with a tour of the ancient city of Hierapolis. Opt for a traditional Whirling Dervish show tonight before enjoying an included dinner.
Explore the majestic calcium travertines of Pamukkale
Enjoy a tour of the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis
Day 7: Silk Road - Konya - Cappadocia
Location: Silk Road, Konya, Cappadocia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Traverse the ancient Silk Road today! Stop at Sultanhani Caravanserai - an inn on the side of the road that used to serve as a rest stop for travelling traders - and walk where those who came centuries before have walked! En route, enjoy another stop at the Mevlana Museum in Konya - home to the famous poet Rumi's mausoleum. Arrive in Cappadocia and look forward to an included dinner at the hotel tonight.
Stop at the Sultanhani Caravanserai along the Silk Road
Visit the intriguing Mevlana Museum
Day 8: Göreme Valley - Cappadocia
Location: Göreme Valley, Cappadocia
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, behold Cappadocia, the UNESCO World Heritage Site that serves as one of Turkey's top attractions as the tour visits the Göreme Valley Open Air Museum. Marvel at the majesty of these rock-cut churches before finding a rooftop spot for unmatched top-down views of the fairytale-like chimneys. Another option is to discover the underground city of Kaymakli's many levels and indulge in a Turkish bath – an excellent way to end an adventurous day! After dinner this evening, take advantage of the optional excursion and enjoy a legendary evening of Turkish traditions!
See the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia
Explore the Göreme Valley Open Air Museum
Visit Kaymakli's Underground City
Day 9: Ankara - Istanbul
Location: Ankara, Istanbul
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, depart Cappadocia as the tour continues to Ankara. Upon arrival, visit the famous mausoleum of President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Ankara was declared the capital city of Turkey by Ataturk in 1923. Experience a wide variety of performing arts and cultural attractions in this lively city! This is the last stop on the Highlights of Turkey tour before heading back to Istanbul for the final night of the tour.
Explore Ankara, Turkey’s capital city
Day 10: End Of Tour In Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Meals Included: Breakfast
Before the tour concludes this morning, enjoy a final breakfast in Turkey with your tour group. Bid your new global friends farewell after 10 exciting days on tour, and remember to exchange contact details. We hope to see you on another Expat Explore tour soon!
What's Included
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Accommodation
9 nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability) -
Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days) -
Meals
9 Breakfasts, 7 Dinners*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
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Tour Leader
Fully guided tour with experienced tour leader
Tour leader will accompany group throughout and manage all logistical details
What's Not Included
International flightsTravel to the start point and from the end point is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.Travel insuranceFor a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance.
Mode of Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
Accommodation
9 nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Traveller Comfort - *COACH* tours
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.
Health and Fitness
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
Experiences
Discover Istanbul on an orientation tour
Marvel at the beautiful Blue Mosque
See Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome
Take a historical tour of the Gallipoli Battlefields
Learn about the Trojan War with a visit to Troy
Visit the ancient city of Pergamon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Spend two nights in the resort town of Kusadasi
Explore the site of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus
Stroll through the beautiful Sirince Village
Experience traditional Turkish carpet weaving
Explore the majestic calcium travertines of Pamukkale
Enjoy a tour of the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis
Stop at the Sultanhani Caravanserai along the Silk Road
Visit the intriguing Mevlana Museum
See the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia
Explore the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum
Visit Kaymakli's Underground City
Explore Ankara, Turkey’s capital city
Check out our Q&As
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No, visas are each traveler’s personal responsibility, and we recommend that plenty of time is allowed for visas to be applied for. When applying for your visa, please ensure that the proper research is carried out before you apply, and that you deal directly with the embassies or certified agents with regard to acquiring correct and timely information. We cannot take responsibility for customers
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting point for the first day of your tour. Please see the meeting point information for details on how to reach the meeting point.
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
All travellers are required to carry their own bags, get on and off the coach, and use public transport. Our city walking tours can last up to 3 hours and certain places involve walking up and down lots of steps. We want you to enjoy your tour, so read through the itinerary thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No, entrance fees are not included.
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What is the tipping policy?
Whilst we fully understand that some nationalities are not accustomed to tipping, this is a normal part of the culture in many of the countries we visit. Tipping has become an increasingly accepted practice in all areas of the service industry, but particularly in restaurants, bars and taxis worldwide.Expat Explore crew members
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All our tours are conducted in English.
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting destination for the first day of your tour. Make sure you keep departure times and possible delays in mind when booking flights.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
Certain nationalities may require a visa(s) for this tour.
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
All of the hotels on this tour offer Wi-Fi, which is available free of charge as part of your Expat Explore tour.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
We are committed to curating excellent travel experiences and to do so we need all of our travelers to feel safe.
In order to ensure the peace of mind and safety of our travelers and staff on board the coach, we are still requesting that all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, produce a negative Covid test. This test can be a PCR test -
What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
We have searched and invested in excellent accommodation options, either located in cities or well placed with public transport connections. Clean linen, towels is always included. Toiletries (shampoo, shower gel etc) and hair dryers are not always included, so you may wish to bring these with you. Accommodation is provided in twin share en-suite rooms. We use a mix of mostly 2, 3 & 4-star hotels.
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
A full list of confirmed accommodation names and addresses for your particular departure will be emailed to you around 1 week before the tour starts.
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes, Full air-conditioning
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What is the maximum group size?
It depends on how many other people book! There could be up to 51 other passengers, so you will have the opportunity to make lots of friends!
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our customer services team. Please note that the room provided may be a single room with a single bed.
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Due to weight and space limitations, you are allowed to bring one main piece of luggage weighing no more than 20kg, and one small soft bag for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 7kg. On all tours, you will have to carry your own luggage (e.g. into hotels and up to your room if hotels don’t have elevators). Please bear this in mind when you are deciding what to pack
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Our travelers come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Our tour leaders come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests. They are all confident and well-travelled with an in-depth knowledge of the destinations they are working in, and a passion for helping you make the most out of your Expat Explore tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
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Children on tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc
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Free Date Changes
Expat Explore Travel allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 91 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Expat Explore Travel requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of expat explore travel charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 20% of booking price.
At 44 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.