Europe and Aegean Side Tours of Turkey, Ephesus Kusadasi Turkey

Europe and Aegean Side Tours of Turkey

Duration: 8 Days Best of Turkey Tours

Destination: Istanbul - Gallipoli - Troy - Pergamon - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Istanbul

Transportation by: Bus + Filght

Overnight in Istanbul

After Breakfast

Hagia Sophia; St. Sophia, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century. It is one of the architectual marvels of all time. Hippodrome; It was the scene of chariot races and constains three monuments: Obelisk of Theodosius,bronze serpentine column and German Fountian of Wilhelm II. Blue Mosque; Built by the Ottoman architect Mehmet to honor Sultan Ahmet III in the 16th century. Grand Covered Bazaar; A historical bazaar which is one of the biggest in the world. Topkali Palace; Imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans, the maze of buildings that was the focal point of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centruies. In these opulent surroundings the sultans and their court lived and governed. A magnificent wooded garden fills the outer, or first, court. In the second court, on the right, shaded by cyprees and plane trees,stand the palace kitchens, which now serve as galleries exhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain. Suleymaniye Mosque; It is masterpiece of Sinan, built between 1550 and 1557, it is one of the best Works of the Ottoman Empire, built in the name of Suleyman The Magnificent during the 16th century, considered as the best amongst the imperial mosques.

At the end of the Istanbul Oldcity Tour, return to Hotel.

Overnight in Istanbul

City Walls; The first breach of the walls was by the Fouth Crusade in 1204, the second by the cannons and troops of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453. Drive by bus on the Golden Horn; As a natural and extremely secure harbor, the Golden Horn has played an important role in the development of Istanbul. The inlet separates the European shore into two. It is approximately 8 km long, and the widest part is the entrence from the Bosphorus.Two streams drain into this inlet at its far end. Spice Bazaar; It is located at Eminonu behind the New Mosque(Valide Sultan Mosque).It was constructed by Turhan Sultan in 1660 as a pious foundation attached to New Mosque. Bosphorus Boat Cruises; A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway seperating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavillions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of is marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries. The Bosphorus Bridge; It also called the First Bosphorus Bridge (Turkish: Bogazici Koprusu or 1. Bogazici Koprusu) is a bridge in Istanbul, Turkey spanning the Bosphorus strait (Turkish: Boğaziçi)The bridge is located between Ortaköy (European side) and Beylerbeyi (Asian side). Beylerbeyi Palace; It was built by Sarkis Balyan Usta by order of Sultan Abdulaziz in 1865. It is on the Asian coast of Bosphorus, which was constructed, in the same style as the Dolmabahce Palace. Çamlica Hill; It is the highest point in Istanbul.At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphourus from the beautiful gardens, Iandscaped in traditional style.If you climb great Pine Mountain 268m. above sea-level,you will have the opportunity to look over the Golden Horn Sea of Marmara.

At the end of the Bosphorus and Two Continents Tours, return to Hotel. Short Rest.

Overnight bus from Istanbul to Selcuk

Early Morning Depart from Istanbul to Gallipoli Peninsula

06:30 Very early in morning we will depart from Istanbul, drive along the northern shores of the Marmara Sea, and as soon as we arrive we will have a break for lunch.

*Gallipoli and The Dardanelles after our lunch we will stop to visit Gallipoli, a place of fierce WWI fighting between Allied forces and the Turks. At ANZAC Cove thousands lost their lives in one fateful dawn morning. We will also see other famous battle sites of World War 1 in this area, such as Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. From here we go to a ferry and cross the Dardanelles. For World War 1 buffs, you will know the Dardanelle Straits were a strategic crossing point for the allied armies to cross from Europe to Asia Minor. Over a nine month campaign, more than half a million soldiers lost their lives in the fight to control this strait of water and nearby Gallipoli peninsula.

*Canakkale will be our final destination for today and where we will spend the evening. After dinner, you might want to stroll the harbor walk and experience the local culture. The locals buy sunflower seeds and stroll with their families, gossiping and looking at the sunset. When they reach the harbor''s end, they turn around, buy their ice cream and walk the other direction.
Overnight stay in Canakkale.

After Breakfast.

Depart from Canakkale to visit the legendary site of Troy, with its nine levels of civilization. Troy is the city of Helen and was famous in Homer’s Iliad. After lunch the tour will continue to Pergamon. We will visit the Pergamon Acropolis, where the ruins of Zeus Altar "Throne of Satan" can still be seen today.

Pergamon was a center of Roman authority and a place of persecution for Christians who denied imperial worship. The acropolis is situated high above the plain and has a unique panoramic view. The very narrow and steep theater on the hillside could seat up to 10,000 people. Parchment paper was first produced in Pergamon. We will visit the remains of the Great Library, which rivaled the one of Alexandria in Egypt, the palaces of the kings, and Temple of Trajan. Continue to Kusadasi or Selcuk and drop off at your hotel. Check in to Hotel.

Overnight in Kusadasi.

Arrival in Selcuk. Met on arrival and transfer to hotel. Check into hotel. Before you start Ephesus Tour. and short rest.

Ephesus is one of the best preserved cities from Roman times. At the time St. Paul lived in Ephesus in the 60-lsquo;s AD, it was at it-rsquo;s Roman heyday with a population around 250,000. When St. Paul lived in Ephesus he would have addressed the Ephesians in the great theatre, that today impresses everyone that walks into it-rsquo;s stands. Ephesus was a great ancient city and much of it has been preserved for you to see. More than any other site, you can walk the streets, stand in the great theatre, wander in the library, look towards the hill where St. Paul was put into prison, and feel that you are walking back into the time that St. Paul lived. After being here, you will read the book of Ephesians with new eyes.
*The House of The Virgin Mary where it is believed St. Mary came to live with St. John in the last years of her life.

Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

Fly home

• Hotel pick up and Drop off
  - Istanbul, Canakkale, Selcuk or Kusadasi, Pamukkale
• Flight Tickets.
  - Denizli Istanbul
• All Transportation by non-smoking & airconditioned touristical vehicle
• Hotels included breakfast.
  - Canakkale, Selcuk or Kusadasi, Antalya
• Guided Istanbul Tours
• Guided Gallipoli Tours
• Guided Troy Tours
• Guided Pergamon Tours
• Guided Ephesus Tours
• Guided Pamukkale Tours
• Museum Tickets
• Professional English Speaking Tours Guide
• Lunches in the tours
• Local Taxes
• Service Charges.