6-Day Western Turkey Explorer Tour from Istanbul: Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamum, Asklepion, Kusadasi, Pamukkale | Small Group of 12 Pax | Meals Included

What you'll experience

Highlights

6 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Arrival to Istanbul

   Upon arrival at Istanbul / SAW Airport, you will be greeted and drives to your hotel. Check-in. Overnight in Istanbul.

   Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Celal Sultan Hotel / Istanbul - special class
2. 2

   Day 2 — Treasures of Istanbul

   (09:00am - 16:00pm)
   According to your tour pick-up time, meet your guide and begin your full-day tour.
   First, explore Hagia Sophia, which was the largest building on Earth, second only to the Egyptian Pyramids and the Great Wall of China. It served as the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period.
   Next, visit Topkapi Palace, which was not only the imperial residence of the Sultan but also the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. The palace housed the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years.
   Proceed to the Hippodrome, built by Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203 AD. During the Roman period, the Hippodrome was the civil center of the city, where up to 100,000 spectators could gather.
   Following that, visit the Blue Mosque, built by Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in 1616. Today, it is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city, known for its iconic six minarets and magnificent dome.
   Finally, explore the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and most famous bazaars in the world, with 18 entrances and more than 4,000 shops.
   At the end of the tour, you will be driven back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

   

   Hagia Sophia

   

   Blue Mosque

   

   Topkapi Palace

   

   Hippodrome of Constantinople

   

   Grand Bazaar

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Celal Sultan Hotel / Istanbul - special class
3. 3

   Day 3 — Gallipoli&Troy

   (08:30am -19:30pm)
   According to your pick-up time from your hotel, drive to Canakkale. Upon arrival, begin your guided tour of the ANZAC Battlefields, visiting key locations such as Brighton Beach, ANZAC Cove, the Beach Cemetery, and the Lone Pine Australian Memorial.
   Next, explore the Turkish and Allied tunnels and trenches at Johnston's Jolly, followed by the 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.
   Afterward, head to the Troya Archaeological Site, where you can see the UNESCO-recognized ruins of the ancient kingdom of Troy. Stroll through the site and discover many famous terms associated with the Trojan War, including Trojan Horse, Helen of Troy, and Prince Paris. Key highlights include the Battle between Achilles and Hector, Walls of Troy II, Megaron House, the Ramp of Troy II, the Roman Bath, Odeon, Temple of Athena, and the Ruins of Athena.
   At the end of the tour, check-in to your hotel. Overnight in Canakkale.

   

   Troy ruins

   

   Anzac Cove

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Colin Hotel
4. 4

   Day 4 — Pergamum&Asklepion

   (08:30am-19:00pm)
   Upon breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Pergamum, where John wrote his letter. Pergamum was the capital city for almost four hundred years. After the mythical times, it became the scene of several cultures, ranging from the Stone and Bronze Ages to the Archaic and Classical Periods. Among its temples, palaces, and agoras, the Asclepion was constructed over the course of a century and is home to the famous Zeus Altar and Parchment Library.
   Next, visit the ruins of the Asclepion, known as "The Pergamum God of Health." Asclepius was the center for dietary health and medicine, serving the people for several hundred years and making Pergamum an important medical hub. Famous medical scholars, such as Hippocrates and Galen, were born in Pergamum and worked here. Along the way, enjoy the beautiful views of the Aegean Sea, lush olive trees, and some Greek and Turkish islands. Overnight in Kusadasi.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Efe Boutique Hotel / Kusadasi - special class
5. 5

   Day 5 — Ancient Ephesus&House of Virgin Mary

   (09:00-16:00)
   According to your tour pick-up time, meet your guide and begin your full-day tour.
   First, visit The House of the Virgin Mary, a church built in the 6th century AD on the foundations of a house from the 1st century AD. The church is declared by the Christian tradition to be the final house where Mary spent her last days.
   Continue with the Ancient Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ephesus was the second-largest city in the world after Rome, with over 250,000 citizens. It is also home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis. Ephesus is so well preserved that walking on its ancient streets, among beautiful monuments like the third-largest library of the ancient world and the largest Roman theater on the Asian continent, gives you the feeling of being a time traveler.
   Next, visit the Temple of Artemis (also known as Artemision), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its ancient cult dedicated to Artemis was very famous in antiquity, making Ephesus a major pilgrimage site.
   Overnight in Kusadasi.
   
    

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: ExcludedStay: Efe Boutique Hotel / Kusadasi - special class
6. 6

   Day 6 — Pamukkale Tour / End of our servıce

   (08:00am-20:00pm)
   Following breakfast and hotel check-out, you will be met by your guide at the scheduled pick-up time to begin your full-day tour.
   Your first destination is Pamukkale, known as the "Pools of Heaven on Earth." Renowned for its hot springs believed to possess healing properties, this area has been a sought-after settlement since ancient times and is regarded as one of the world's earliest natural spas. Throughout history, people journeyed from afar seeking remedies in its waters. The striking white terraces were formed by flowing thermal spring water at 35°C, rich in calcium bicarbonate. Today, Pamukkale is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
   Your visit continues to the ancient city of Hierapolis, home to Anatolia's largest necropolis, featuring over 1,200 gravestones. Another notable highlight is the Sacred Pool, where shallow thermal waters gently ripple across submerged ruins of ancient Roman structures.
   At the conclusion of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel or to Denizli Airport based on your preference, marking the end of our services.
   End of our service.

   

   Hierapolis

   Meals: B: Included, L: Included, D: Excluded

What's included

Cancellation policy

Important info

Tour operator