Flying Discovery Tour
Flying Discovery Tour
Flying Discovery Tour
19 Days Starting and ending in Istanbul, Turkey
Visiting: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Fethiye, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia, Van, Kars
Tour operator:
Tour code:
FCDI
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 20
Age range:
8-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Art Galleries & Museums, Boat/Cruise Excursion, Wine Tasting
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Turkey with the Flying Discovery Tour, a cultural and historical adventure that spans 19 days. Begin in the vibrant city of Istanbul, exploring iconic landmarks like the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Delve into the poignant history of Gallipoli's battlefields and the ancient wonders of Troy and Ephesus. Experience the unique landscapes of Pamukkale and Cappadocia, with opportunities for wine tasting and a cooking course. Discover the rich heritage of Van and the breathtaking views of Mt. Ararat. Conclude your journey in the historic city of Kars, visiting the ancient site of Ani. With professional guides, comfortable accommodations, and domestic flights included, this tour offers a comprehensive exploration of Turkey's most treasured sites.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: Port Bosphorus Hotel (4 star)
Welcome to Istanbul! You will be transferred to your hotel and the remainder of the day is yours free to explore at your own pace.
Day 2 : Istanbul Old City
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: Port Bosphorus Hotel (4 star)
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, you enjoy a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace (including Hagia Irene and the Harem) and the Hippodrome. Cruise between two continents on the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia in the afternoon with a 1 hour Bosphorus cruise by public ferry where your guide will explain the historical sites along the way.
Day 3 : Gallipoli Battlefields
Location: Gallipoli
Accommodation Name: Hilton Double Tree Canakkale (5 star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we visit the WW1 battlefields of Gallipoli including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek, Johnston's Jolly, original trenches and tunnels.
Day 4 : Troy, Acropolis Of Pergamon, Kusadasi
Location: Kusadasi
Accommodation Name: Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Step back in time today as we visit Troy where we will explore the ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the new, award winning, Troy Museum. We continue on to Bergama and up to the magnificent acropolis of Pergamon. Its impressive temples and library made it a renowned cultural and political centre in its time. From here we continue on to Kusadasi.
Day 5 : Ephesus, Sirince, Kusadasi
Location: Ephesus
Accommodation Name: Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Absorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of Ephesus a once a bustling trade hub and religious center, Ephesus today whispers of ancient marvels, from site of the Temple of Artemis to the Library of Celsus's grand facade and the grand amphitheatre. 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. We continue on to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Here we will visit a local vineyard and learn about local production techniques. You will taste 3 local wines from the region at the garden of the vineyard before returning to our hotel.
Day 6 : Aphrodisias, Pamukkale
Location: Pamukkale
Accommodation Name: Adem Pira Hotel (4 star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After a leather shop visit, we will head to Aphrodisias the ancient city dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of Beauty, Love and Fertility, also famous for its school of sculpture, we visit the stadium, which is the best preserved in Anatolia, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Tetrapylon, theatre and the Museum. Then, we continue to Pamukkale.
Day 7 : Hierapolis, Salda Lake
Location: Pamukkale
Accommodation Name: Marina Boutique Hotel (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we will explore 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. Then we will head to Salda Lake, is known as Turkish Maldives. It is a mountain lake and located in the mountains before we travel down to South.
Day 8 : Fethiye
Location: Fethiye
Accommodation Name: Marina Boutique Hotel (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, you are free to explore the town at your own pace and there is also optional tours and activities. Optional tours and activities; 12 island boat trip and Saklikent Gorge tour
Day 9 : Kayakoy, Antalya
Location: Antalya
Accommodation Name: RuinAdalia Hotel (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we head to Kayakoy. The morning light provides excellent photos of this deserted Greek village. Afterwards we drive to the resort town of Antalya. We will visit the Antalya Museum with its wealthy collection from the ancient cities around the Antalya Province.
Day 10 : Perge, Aspendos
Location: Antalya
Accommodation Name: RuinAdalia Hotel (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast
We will visit Perge a famous antique site, early in the morning. After Perge we drive to Aspendos which has the best preserved 2nd Century Amphitheatre in Turkey. We return back to Antalya city in the afternoon and the remainder of your day is free.
Day 11 : Konya, Silk Road, Sille
Location: Konya
Accommodation Name: Spark Hotel Konya (4 star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We will visit the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi with its accompanying Mevlana museum. We continue along the ancient Silk Road visiting the former Greek village Sille.
Day 12 : Cappadocia, Sultanhani Caravansary, Underground City
Location: Cappadocia
Accommodation Name: Gamirasu Hotel (Boutique Cave)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we head to Cappadocia, visiting Sultanhani Caravansary, an ancient Silk Road stop off for merchants and traders. Later we explore the many levels of an underground city. After checking into our hotel we visit a traditional Turkish home for dinner. Here you can do a course and help cook if you wish.
Day 13 : Goreme Open-Air Museum
Location: Cappadocia
Accommodation Name: Gamirasu Hotel (Boutique Cave)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia today as we visit the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys. We then visit Pigeon and Red Valley, followed by Cavusin village and lastly Avanos town where we will learn about hand-made pottery.
Day 14 : Cappadocia, Van
Location: Van
Accommodation Name: Van Life Hotel (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departure in the morning from Cappadocia, we head to Ankara for our direct flight to Van. On arrival to Van Airport, you will meet with your tour guide. Before we go to our hotel, we will explore the Citadel with its three thousand Urartian fortress of Van and witness the extraordinary sunset.
Day 15 : Van, Akdamar Island
Location: Van
Accommodation Name: Van Life Hotel (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, we will travel by ferry stopping at Akdamar Island to see a spectacular 10th century church built by an Armenian king, if there is time swim in Lake Van. Then, we will drive back to city centre to visit the largest Urartu Museum in the World. Artifacts from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Urartian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Seljuk, Turkish-Islamic, and Ottoman Periods are exhibited in chronological order taking our visitors on a unique historical journey. After the museum visit Van Cat House. Van cats are relatively large, have a chalky white coat, sometimes with ruddy coloration on the head and hindquarters, and have blue, amber eyes or one eye of each colour. This variety has been referred to as "the swimming cat", and has been observed to swim in Lake Van.
Day 16 : Van, Dogubayazit, Ararat, Kars
Location: Kars
Accommodation Name: Kars Beylerbeyi Palace (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we leave for Dogubayazit via Muradiye and the Bendimaahi Falls. In Dogubayazit, we visit the spectacular Ishak Pasha Palace, 1685 - 1784, which has a unique fusion of architecture from Seljuk, Ottoman, Georgian, and Armenian - Persian styles. We continue our journey north, skirting around the western edge of Mt Ararat. Mt. Ararat is one of the great natural spectacles of the world,. The name Ararat derives from the Bible (Jeremiah 51:27) and is a transliteration of 'Urartu' the name foreigners gave to this region and its inhabitants in Biblical times.
Day 17 : Kars, Ani
Location: Kars
Accommodation Name: Kars Beylerbeyi Palace (Boutique)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we journey to the site of Ani, the former capital of the Armenian kingdom. In the mid 10th century, nothing in Europe could rival this capital of the Armenian kingdom in terms of either size or magnificence. The remains of the ruined city include several churches as well as the shell of the Cathedral of Ani, the citadel and a mosque. There are also some exciting remains of frescoes in the Church of St Gregory (Tigran Honentz) despite having been exposed to the elements for centuries. Afternoon, we will visit 12 Aposotles Church and Kars Castle.
Day 18 : Kars, Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: Port Bosphorus Hotel (4 star)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to Kars Airport for your onward flight back to Istanbul. On arrival to Istanbul Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Day 19 : Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and are transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
What's Included
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Meals
18 breakfasts, 0lunches, 7dinners -
Professional English-speaking tour guide
A professional English-speaking tour guide will accompany you for the duration of the tour.
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Transportation
Transportation is provided in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicle.
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Domestic flights and transfers
Includes domestic flight between Ankara and Van and transfers, as well as domestic flight between Kars and Istanbul and transfers.
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Tips
Tips are included except for the driver and guide.
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Bosphorus Cruise
Enjoy a Bosphorus Cruise as part of the tour.
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Wine Tasting
Wine tasting is included in the tour.
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Cooking Course
Participate in a cooking course during the tour.
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Entrance fees
Entrance fees to various sites are included.
What's Not Included
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Optional activities
Suggested optional activities are not included in the tour.
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Tips for Driver and Guide
Tips for the driver and guide are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Compulsory travel insurance is not included.
Meals
18 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 7 dinners
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with fully air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicles, and enjoy domestic flights between Ankara and Van, and Kars and Istanbul. Experience a Bosphorus cruise and seamless transfers throughout the tour, ensuring a comfortable and convenient journey.
Accommodation
Enjoy comfortable stays at a variety of accommodations including the Port Bosphorus Hotel in Istanbul, Hilton Double Tree in Canakkale, Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel in Kusadasi, and the unique Gamirasu Hotel in Cappadocia, among others, ensuring a blend of boutique and 4-star experiences throughout your journey.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicle, as well as domestic flights between Ankara and Van, and Kars and Istanbul, with transfers included.
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Are there any meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour includes 18 breakfasts and 7 dinners.
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Is there a guided tour included in the itinerary?
Yes, a professional English-speaking tour guide is provided for the duration of the tour.
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Are entrance fees to attractions included in the tour?
Yes, entrance fees are included in the tour package.
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a Bosphorus Cruise, wine tasting in Sirince, and a cooking course in Cappadocia.
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What is the accommodation like during the tour?
The tour includes 18 nights of accommodation in various hotels, ranging from boutique to 4-star and 5-star hotels.
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Are tips included in the tour package?
Tips are included except for the driver and guide.
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What optional activities are available during the tour?
Optional activities include a 12 island boat trip and a Saklikent Gorge tour in Fethiye.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for our latest Covid-19 policies, however, we adhere to recommended health & safety guidelines on all our tours.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Fez Travel has been in operation since 1997.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
Please contact us as soon as possible and we will be able to let you know what is possible and any associated price changes.
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Low Deposit
Fez Travel requires a minimum deposit of 25% 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 fez travel charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.