Quick Tour of Turkey

Nine Day Private Touring and Private Transfers in Turkey
Give us nine days, and we'll give you the highlights of Istanbul and Turkey
Come see the wonders of "Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque" (late 19th century),
the exotic romance of the "Paris of the East:"

Add a grand tour of Spain

Istanbul and Turkey in only 9 days: Antalya , Pamukkale , Ephesus, Izmir, Pergamon ,Aphrodisias , Troy, Hierapolis , Termessos and Çanakkale . Compare with the 4-Day or the 5-Day Version , or the 6-Day
Click her for the Turkish Riviera & Anatolia Edition
En Espanol

DAY 1 - ISTANBUL -Daily arrival-Year Round -Private Touring-Private Transfers

Our staff meets your plane and escorts you to your hotel. Explore Istanbul as you wish on your own.
In the evening, your guide or local tour manager will go over the itinerary with you over a cup of Mint Tea.

DAY 2 - ISTANBUL (Breakfast. Lunch)
Today you see the best of Istanbul , we tour the great Ottoman capital, visiting the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi, the palace of the sultans, with its fabulous Treasury and collections of priceless Chinese porcelains. In the afternoon we venture out to the great city walls to see the Kariye Museum (Chora Church), the church of St. Savior, resplendent with Byzantine mosaics. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon walk of the Grand Bazaar and maybe some shopping.

Day 3 - ISTANBUL - Gallipoli - Troy - CANAKKALE (Breakfast. Dinner )
In the morning proceed to Çanakkale. After lunch, a pleasant drive to the First World War battlefields of Gallipoli. After a brief visit cross the Dardanelles by ferry boat to Asia. Visit the site of Troy, the Homeric city. The short drive to Troy ends with the thrill of standing atop the ancient walls where beautiful Helen once stood, where the Trojan Horse brought victory for the invading Achaeans 3300 years ago. Dinner and overnight at Çanakkale. Overnight and dinner in Çanakkale.

Day 4 - CANAKKALE - Pergamum - IZMIR (Breakfast. Dinner )
A lovely drive to Pergamum, lunch in town. Visit the Acropolis of Hellenistic Pergamum. Among its buildings are the Altar of Zeus and the temples of Trojan& Dionysus. Visit the Asclepion, the earliest health center of Asia Minor. Time permitting: Quick tour of Izmir is possible on the way from Pergamum to Kusadasi . Dinner and overnight.

Day 5 - Ephesus (Breakfast. Dinner )
Depart hotel for an hour drive to the magnificent site of Ephesus.

Ephesus was the seat of the Council of Ephesus ( If you are interested in visiting the Council of Ephesus, please let's know in advance.

Here at the great Amphitheater in Ephesus the rioters cried against St. Paul " Great is the Diana of Ephesians" .

Ephesus is the best preserved of the Greek/Roman cities in Anatolia and while you are visiting the ancient ruins of this magnificent site and your guide will bring them alive. You will see the beautiful Celsus Library, restored and reconstructed according to its original form by the architect Friedmund Hueber in the 1970's. The most spectacular building of Ephesus is the Grand Theater, built during the Hellenistic age to hold 24,000 spectators. It is there that St. Paul preached. Opposite the Temple of Hadrian are the Hill Houses, homes of Ephesus' wealthy citizens. The city was also the hometown of great philosopher Heraclitus. After a visit to Ephesus Antique Site, you will arrive at Sirince Village. This old Orthodox Village, 30 km from Kusadasi, was once "Cirkince"(ugly). Indeed its inhabitants gave this name on the purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village. Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly and called it "Sirince" (pretty). Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture as of the 1920's; after the Turkish Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all those typical Greek houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received the local layout inside. At Sirince Village you will have chance of seeing the local life at a village and purchasing some small local souvenirs and handicrafts.

The village is also famous for its local grape and other fruit wines. During the lunch, mingle with the local people of the village as you will be a guest in their house for a simple lunch of local specialties. Have a cup of traditional Turkish coffee at the main coffee house of the village.

Time permitting , you may wish to check your future !! , a gypsy fortune teller will be glad to read coffee cup, Your last stop will be the visit to the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus established in 1929. It displays very interesting and valuable finds from Ephesus.

Dinner at the hotel in Kusadasi.

Day 6- KUSADASI - PAMUKKALE (Breakfast , Dinner)
after breakfast drive to Pamukkale. En route visit Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, an ancient city of sculpture and arts. Tour the theater and the magnificent stadium. Afternoon arrive to Pamukkale, the "cotton castle" so named because of limestone hot springs and spectacular white rock formations. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 7 - PAMUKKALE – Hierapolis – Termessos - ANTALYA (Breakfast , Dinner)
After a leisurely breakfast, stroll in the ancient Roman city of Hierapolis with theatre, baths, necropolis. Continue on the "Turquoise Coast" of the Mediterranean. Stop in Termessos and explore the most interesting ancient city in Antalya region. It is a Psidian city built at a height of 1050 meters in the Taurus Mountains. Termessos constitutes an unusual synthesis of a large number of rare plants and animal species, which are under protection in the Termessos National Park. Afterwards drive to Antalya. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.

Day 8 - ANTALYA (Breakfast , Dinner)
after a leisurely breakfast, full day exploration of the ancient Pamphylian cities; Perge with colonnaded streets, and the stadium, Aspendos theatre whose acoustics unrivalled. After lunch, spend the time at the seaside town of Side, visited by St. Paul and which was a bishopric of the early Christian Church. Stay the night at Antalya.

Day 9 - Departure (Breakfast)
Early morning transfer to Antalya airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul included in your rate , economy class, tax included . Connect on your own to your international flight in Istanbul airport. Bon Voyage

RATES per person in USD $

Rates include :

• All transfers on a private basis , air conditioned sedan (Mercedes Benz in most cases) .
• Domestic air fare in Turkey as per itinerary , all in economy class, tax included.
• Meals (Preset menu) as per itinerary .
• Private guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees.
• Hotel accommodation with tax.
• Domestic air fare within Turkey in economy class, tax included
• Lonely Planet Travel Guidebook.

Rate doesn't include :

• International air fare from /to your home country .
• Visa Fee : $20 in cash upon arrival, for US citizens, or $45 for Canadians, or from any of the Turkish Consulates
• Trip/travel insurance, please ask us for the flyer

Sample Four Stars hotels ( or similar):

En Espanol - Back to Turkey Tour List -   Click for the Turkish Riviera & Antalia Edition