Turkey | Treasures of Turkey
 Port sunset |
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10 days / 9 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Istanbul | 4 |
| Cannakale | 1 |
| Izmir | 2 |
| Cappadocia | 2 |
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Day 01 Arrive Istanbul
Arrive into cosmopolitan Istanbul, the city straddling two continents. Settle into your hotel perfectly located in Sultanahmet.
Istanbul (Choice of category)
Day 02 Design Your Day Istanbul
The day is yours to unfold. Choose one of the following activities. Tour the city’s major monuments, markets and mosques, visiting Aya Sofia, the Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries, the Basilica cistern and the neo-Baroque Dolmabahce Palace. Or spend a leisurely afternoon on the mighty Bosphorus, a 30km stretch of water flowing through the city that joins the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara to the south. From the deck of your private vessel see the passing woodland areas, fishing villages and the many summer palaces from Ottoman times (B,L).
Istanbul (Choice of category)
Day 03 Istanbul-Canakkale
Drive south along the Sea of Marmara to the Gallipoli Peninsula where you visit Anzac Cove and some of the Commonwealth military cemeteries including Lone Pine. Visit the military museum before crossing the Dardanelles by ferry to Canakkale on the Asian side (B).
Canakkale (Choice of category)
Day 04 Canakkale-Izmir
Be dazzled by the archaeological delights on offer today. Start by visiting Troy where excavations first began in the late 1800’s. The scenic road takes you on through olive groves, flat plains, past pebbly Aegean beaches and fertile agricultural land to Pergamum (B).
Izmir (Choice of category)
Day 05 Kusadasi
The morning to explore the important site of Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. Walk in the footsteps of the ancients along the Roman Way and Marble Street. A&K also arranges access to the recently excavated Terrace Houses to see the beautiful mosaic floors and frescoed walls. A short drive to Sirince to meet a local cook in her restaurant. This is a hands-on experience as you help prepare lunch from home-grown produce. Afterwards see Turkish rugs being delicately woven (B,L).
Izmir (Choice of category)
Day 06 Izmir-Cappadocia
A flight to Kayseri in central Turkey to access Goreme, a picturesque town where your lodgings are traditional Cappadocian cave dwellings. This afternoon see the extraordinary rock-carved Byzantine churches, now an open-air museum, famous for their painted frescoes (B).
Cappadocia (Choice of category)
Day 07 Design Your Day Cappadocia
Once heart of the ancient Hittite Empire and later a strategically point on the famed Silk Road, Cappadocia has an incredible historical heritage so plan the day pursuing your own interests. Choose one of the following activities. Explore the underground city of Kaymakli with its network of rock-carved tunnels and hallways used as subterranean hideouts. Or spend the afternoon hiking along the Red River to visit a pottery workshop. Lunch is included in the house of a local family in Ulasli to enjoy some traditional Cappadocian hospitality (B,L).
Cappadocia (Choice of category)
Day 08 Cappadocia-Istanbul
Fly back to Istanbul and to your hotel (B).
Istanbul (Choice of category)
Day 09 Design Your Day Istanbul
One final day in this exotic and cosmopolitan city and so much more to see. Choose one of the following activities. Savour the sights and smells of the Spice market and try your hand at bargaining in one of the 3000 shops in the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar. Or an tour to the Chora Church within the old city walls and Suleymaniye Mosque (B).
Istanbul (Choice of category)
Day 10 Depart Istanbul
Your Turkish sojourn comes to an end as you arrive at the airport for your onward flight (B).
Bodrum Extension
Take time out in the charming Aegean coastal city of Bodrum with its whitewashed buildings and palm-lined streets. A&K recommends 3 nights in the sophisticated surrounds of The Marmara with its heart-stopping views.
Wander the cobblestone laneways of this hillside village on the road to Sirince where women sell their colourful handiwork amongst whitewashed houses where time has stood still. We introduce you to a mother-daughter team who teach you the secrets of Turkish country cuisine in their own kitchen.
No visit to Istanbul is complete without visiting a traditional Turkish bath house. A&K recommends Cagaloglu, an atmospheric establishment built by a 16th century sultan. After trawling the myriad stalls of the Grand Bazaar, relax on the heated marble slab for an authentic steam, wash down, scrub and massage.
Choice of Accommodation
| City | Platinum | Gold |
| Istanbul | Four Seasons Istanbul (Deluxe Room) | Four Seasons Istanbul (Superior Room) |
| Cannakkale | Akol Hotel (Standard Room) | Akol Hotel (Standard Room) |
| Ephesus | Swissotel Grand Efes Izmir (Swissotel Advantage Room) | Charisma Hotel (Seaview Room) |
| Cappadocia | Anatolian Houses (Deluxe Suite) | Anatolian Houses (Deluxe Room) |
| Istanbul | Four Seasons at the Bosphorus (Deluxe Room) | Ritz Carlton Istanbul (Parkview Room) |
