Historic Tour Of Turkey

Arrive Ankara and check-in at hotel. Ankara has been the capital of Turkey since the War of Independence and the creation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. However the area was known to have been inhabited since before 1200 BC when the Hittites named it Ankuwash.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Ankara Risiss Hotel

This morning our first visit is to the famous Museum of Anatolian Civilisations whose exhibits demonstrate the very rich cultural history of this area. Leaving the capital behind us we drive via Hacibektas on our way to Cappadocia. The museum here once housed the famous Bektasi desvish sect and is now set up as it might have looked during the 13th century. Later we continue east to the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia This area is famous the world over for its unique geological formations and a history that stretches back to the Hittites (2000BC) and earlier. Time allowing, in the afternoon we have the option of taking a walk (approx 3hrs) through the Red Rose Valley to better appreciate the remarkable landscape.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Cave Deluxe Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We spend most of the day visiting the major points of historical and topographical interest, including Uchisar and Goreme. Goreme lies at the foot of three extinct volcanoes. Centuries ago, volcanic eruptions covered the Goreme valley with mud, ash and sometimes with blocks of hard rock. Over the ages this volcanic tufa was sculpted by erosion into strange and improbable shapes; cones, needles of stone, pyramids of soft stone – some 30m high. Into this remote spot came the Byzantine hermits, who carved churches, houses, fortresses and even complete underground cities into the cones. Entire troglodite villages and subterranean churches are hewn out of the soft volcanic rock and make the whole place a spectacular sight to behold. We shall wonder at the ‘fairy chimneys’ – tall needles of stone with rocks perched on top, caused by erosion, which fill entire valleys. Goreme contains the area’s largest concentration of rock carved churches. We will also visit the underground city at Kaymakli, built by Christians escaping Arab oppression. More of this incredible underground maze of catacombs is being discovered every year.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Cave Deluxe Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Leaving Cappadocia this morning we drive to Konya. En–route we stop to visit the wellpreserved 13th Century caravanserai of Sultanhani, an impressive reminder that we are travelling along one of the great trade routes which linked Europe to Asia. We then continue on to Konya; Turkey’s holiest city and the home of the Mevlana sect, better known as the Whirling Dervishes. Konya, known as 'Iconium' in Roman times, was also the capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to 13th Centuries and home of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, who founded a mystic Sufi order popularly known as the 'Whirling Dervishes”. This afternoon is free to explore some of the city’s highlights or relax back at the hotel.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Bera Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we head over the mountains, leaving the high Anatolian plateau behind us and descend towards the glittering turquoise seas of the Mediterranean. The journey takes approximately 5 hours, although we’ll break our trip with a visit to the spectacular Roman theatre of Aspendos. The theatre has been well restored and still hosts performances to this day. We’ll also stop at the nearby Roman aqueduct that brought fresh drinking water into the city from the mountains, an incredible feat of engineering, even today. Continuing on to Antalya, there should be time to enjoy a walk around the old harbour and narrow cobbled streets of the old town before heading out for an evening meal.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Aspen Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive the short distance out of the city, heading west along the Mediterranean coast to the secluded and little-visited site of Phaselis. The harbour city began life as a colony of Rhodes in about 690BC and quickly grew to become and important trading centre. The city was visited by Alexander the Great and continued to be busy city port even under the Byzantines. The ruins that remain today are beautifully located among fragrant pine forests with the sea lapping all around. The old harbour area also makes a great place for a swim, so don’t forget your swimming things today! We return to Antalya at lunchtime and the rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore more of the city or perhaps take a boat trip from Antalya’s harbour out to see Duden Waterfalls which cascade dramatically over the cliffs straight into the sea.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Aspen Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Heading out of Antalya today we climb up into the hills and the mountain citadel city of Termessos. Not much is known about the early history of the city however we do know that it was one of the few cities to hold out against Alexander the Great and that the inhabitants had a fearsome reputation as warriors. The ruins that remain today are scattered over the mountain, so expect some walking as we visit the key sites. The highlight of which is probably the theatre, which enjoys spectacular views of the plains below. Continuing on, we cross the high mountain plateau, known as the ‘yayla’ in Turkish. The ‘yayla’ provide a retreat from the hot summer temperatures and are centres of local agriculture, also at certain times of year it is still possible to spot semi-nomadic families with their goat-hair tents set up in the fields. We descend from the ‘yayla’ towards the coast, pausing at the deserted Greek village of Kayakoyu which makes for a haunting reminder of the ‘population exchanges’ that took place between Turkey and Greece in the early 1920s. Finally we continue along the coast to Dalyan, which still retains is sleepy atmosphere, nestled in the river delta and surrounded by agricultural land and small villages.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in BC Spa Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we take a riverboat river boat trip through the reeds to the ancient site of Caunos. Here we can explore the ruins, which date back to 400 B.C and clamber up to the citadel. Bring along your swimming gear as this afternoon there’s a chance to continue on to Iztuzu beach and have a dip in the inviting turquoise sea and, time allowing, head up to the mud baths for a deep cleanse.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in BC Spa Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive to Pamukkale and, depending on the time of year, we will either spend the early afternoon (and main heat of the day) relaxing by the hotel pool (swim hats required), and then head to Pamukkale site or we will head straight to the site to emake the most of it before sun sets. Situated on a high escarpment and home to one of Turkey’s most amazing natural wonders, the ‘frozen waterfall’, which has been an attraction since Roman times (as Hierapolis – the Sacred City, a health spa) Pammukale is a wonder to be seen.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Ayapam Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we visit the Greco-Roman site of Aphrodisias, one of the most interesting and earliest sites in the region. The cult of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, had its most important temple here and the city also established itself as an artistic centre inspiring some of the finest Carian sculptures. Many of these can be seen in the small but very impressive museum on the site. The athletics stadium is one of the largest and best preserved from the classical world. Later we cross to Selcuk and check into our hotel.

Overnight Standard Hotel in Akay Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we visit Selcuk’s historic neighbour, the great Greco-Roman city of Ephesus (Efes). Once visited by Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, and also by the evangelist St. Paul (which inspired the Epistle to the Ephesians), this famous old Asia Minor seaport reached its zenith in the 2nd century AD. Efes became one of the main cultural and economic centres of the ancient world until it went into decline after the 7th century.

Overnight Standard Hotel in Akay Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Continuing our journey north past endless olive groves we come to the Greco-Roman remains of Pergamum (now the typical Turkish town of Bergama). This is the place that gave its name to the word ‘parchment’, for which it was famous throughout the Middle East. We will visit the ancient Acropolis and later continue to the ancient site of Troy where, according to legend, the artful Ulysses devised the Wooden Horse strategy and thereby ended the 10 year Trojan War. Nine ruined cities, one on top of the other, have been uncovered, going back some 5000 years. Troy VI is the assumed walled city of King Priam (1800-1275 BC), celebrated by the blind Greek poet Homer in the Iliad and all but lost in legend until unearthed by amateur archaeologist Schliemann in 1871.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Kervansaray Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We board a ferryboat to cross the Dardanelles Straits to the Gallipoli (Gelibolu) Peninsula. It was here that the ill-fated Allied campaign, after much bloody hand-to-hand fighting and loss of life, was forced to concede victory to the Turks and withdraw (1916). Involved in the fighting on the Turkish side was Mustafa Kemal – later known as Ataturk, the ‘Father of the Turks’. Following the shoreline of the Sea of Marmara to Tekirdag, we arrive in cosmopolitan Istanbul, with time for a night out on the town.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Venera Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we have a full day to explore the city. Formerly Constantinople, Istanbul was the old capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Nearly all the main sites of historic interest are in Old Stamboul. We include a morning tour, taking in the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Sultanahmet Square. The afternoon is left free, you may choose to visit the famous Sunken Palace cisterns, or the great Aya Sofia – crowning glory of Byzantium. Alternatively there is the chance to take a boat trip on the Bosphorous - which offers stunning views of the Istanbul skyline. To appreciate the wonderful skyline of domes and minarets, climb up the Galata Tower.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel in Venera Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our tour ends this morning in Istanbul.

Included meals: Breakfast