Magnificent Turkey Tour - Istanbul to Antalya
Magnificent Turkey Tour - Istanbul to Antalya
Magnificent Turkey Tour - Istanbul to Antalya
8 Days Starting and ending in UK
Visiting: İstanbul, Çanakkale, Gallipoli Peninsula, Troy, Kuşadası, Bergama, Ephesus Ancient Greek Theatre, aphrodisias turkey, Pamukkale, Perge Ancient City, Antalya
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TTTKY
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 1
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Titan with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
From the ancient streets of Ephesus and the storied halls of Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace, to poignant World War I battlefields, our week-long Turkey tours bring this country’s fascinating past to life. Starting with a city break in Istanbul, we’ll then sweep southwards to Gallipoli and eastwards along the Turkish Riviera, touring Greek theatres, Roman baths and ancient stadia as we go. It's not all about history, though. Our holidays give you the chance to really experience Turkey, too - sip proper Turkish coffee, enjoy lunch with locals, and learn to prepare traditional dishes. Get ready for a true taste of Turkey.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: İstanbul
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Kent Hotel (4-star) or Holiday Inn Istanbul - Old City (4-star)
Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Istanbul.
Day 2
Location: İstanbul
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Kent Hotel (4-star) or Holiday Inn Istanbul - Old City (4-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast
A full-day city tour introduces us to the sights and sounds of Istanbul. We’ll travel back thousands of years as we visit Sultanahmet Meydanı, once the sporting and social heart of Constantinople; admire the vast Blue Mosque; and gaze up at the domes and minarets of the UNESCO-listed Hagia Sophia.
Next is the Sunken Cistern, an atmospheric underground reservoir built in the 6th century and held up by more than 300 columns. We’ll finish off our day in the colourful Grand Bazaar. With almost 4,000 shops hawking antiques, carpets, jewellery and more, it’s the biggest souk and the oldest covered market in the world. To end the day, we’ll call in at a coffee roaster for a cup of authentic Turkish coffee, prepared and poured the traditional way.
Day 3
Location: İstanbul
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Kent Hotel (4-star) or Holiday Inn Istanbul - Old City (4-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, we’ll pay a visit to SĂ¼leymaniye Mosque, considered to be the most beautiful imperial mosque in the city. One of the mosque’s outbuildings is home to a display of 14th and 15th-century books, manuscripts and orders of the sultans. Although it’s not open to the public, we’ll have private access to view the collection.
Next, we’ll make our way to Misir Carsisi, the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, where spices, herbs and all sorts of dried teas have been sold since the 17th century, and where many locals still shop today. We’ll have time to wander through the warren of stalls, perhaps picking up some fragrant cardamom or saffron to take home.
Later, we’ll tour the UNESCO-listed Topkapı Palace Museum. Once home to Ottoman sultans, it’s now filled with treasures including fine art, jewel-encrusted swords, Chinese porcelain, scrolls of delicate calligraphy, and the exquisite Spoonmaker's Diamond. The complex is as much an attraction as the exhibits though, with peaceful gardens, opulent décor and tales of courtiers and concubines.
The afternoon is free for you to explore Istanbul at your own pace. If you like, join our relaxing optional Bosphorus cruise.
Day 4
Location: Çanakkale, Gallipoli Peninsula
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Buyuk Truva Hotel, Canakkale (4-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
A five-hour drive alongside the Sea of Marmara will bring us to the Gallipoli peninsula. This area is steeped in history, so our guide will talk us through the importance of the Dardanelles strait and the part it played during the First World War as we go.
Arriving at Gallipoli, we’ll tour the battlefields, scene of the aborted Allied invasion of 1915, visiting Cape Helles, Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove. We'll then cross the strait to Canakkale.
Day 5
Location: Troy, Kuşadası, Bergama
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel, Kusadasi (4-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is a long but rewarding drive of around six hours. The World Heritage Site of Troy is our first destination. Uncover 4,000 years of history as you stroll around this ancient archaeological site, immortalised in Homer’s epic, ‘The Iliad’.
For lunch, we’ll head to the nearby village of Bergama. Splitting into smaller groups, we’ll visit local houses, chatting with our hosts as we enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal. We’ll continue to the Greco-Roman city of Pergamon, admiring its acropolis, temples and 10,000-seat theatre. From here, we drive south to Kusadasi.
Day 6
Location: Ephesus Ancient Greek Theatre, aphrodisias turkey, Pamukkale
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal Pamukkale (5-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ephesus is first on our agenda today. The remains of this ancient Greek city are remarkably well preserved and protected by UNESCO. We’ll see the famous façade of the Celsus Library, mosaicked pedestrian walkways and roads scored with ruts from chariot wheels. We’ll also stop at the House of the Virgin Mary, just outside Ephesus, where Mary was believed to have spent her final years.
Lunch will be a picnic in the sunny gardens of a cooperative in nearby Selcuk. Get involved with the cooking if you like, or simply sit back and enjoy your surroundings. While we’re here, you’ll have the chance to see how traditional carpets are hand-woven.
After lunch, we’ll continue to our hotel in Pamukkale.
Day 7
Location: Perge Ancient City, Antalya, Pamukkale
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Khan Hotel, Antalya (4-star)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Explore Pamukkale-Hieropolis this morning, a spa and wellness resort popular with the Romans. See the necropolis and 2nd-century theatre, and photograph the dream-like white travertine terraces, filled with pools of mineral-rich water.
We’ll continue to Antalya, a historic port city where we’ll conclude our tour.
Day 8
Location: Antalya
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we depart for the airport and your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.
What's Included
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7 nights in hotels
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International flights. Prices are based on return flights with Turkish Airlines from London Gatwick (may be indirect via Istanbul).
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Local Titan tour manager
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13 meals: 7 breakfasts 2 lunches 4 dinnersundefined excursions and visits
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Istanbul city tour (including Hippodrome of Constantinople, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Sunken Cistern, and Grand Bazaar)
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Coffee tasting
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Istanbul tour (including SĂ¼leymaniye Mosque, Egyptian Spice Bazaar, and Topkapi Palace Museum)
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Tour of Gallipoli battlefields
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Bergama village lunch experience and picnic in Selcuk with cooking and carpet weaving demonstration
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Visits to Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus & House of the Virgin Mary and Pamukkale-HieropolisPlus
What's Not Included
Check out our Q&As
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Do I have to pay a Single Supplement?
In most cases a single supplement will apply. If the price for a Single room for sole occupancy is not shown, please ask our team for details and we will be able to check the details for you.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We've been taking our customers across the world on escorted tours for more than 40 years
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Our commitment to sustainable travel is part of our ethos. We love exploring the world and hope that, alongside our customers, we can be part of a bigger change in respecting the people and wildlife on our planet and minimising the impact we have on our environment.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
With some COVID-19 rules and restrictions still in place there are a few details that you need to know. This information is subject to change. It’s your responsibility to monitor changes and ensure you fulfil all relevant criteria for travel. Rest assured that we’re on hand to help and answer any questions you might have.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
You’ll receive your Final holiday documents via email approximately 14 days prior to your departure.
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Titan Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 75 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Titan Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform titan travel, 75 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Titan Travel requires a minimum deposit of 395 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of titan travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.