Riviera Travel Ancient Turkey

• Return flights and transfers
• 12nts in 4* accommodation
• Selected meals: Daily breakfast, 1 lunch & 9 dinners
• Welcome drink
• 25 included experiences
• Services of an Expert Tour Manager
• Local guide throughout tour
• Checked luggage

• Watch the sunset over the Red Valley of Cappadocia while sipping on an aperitif
• Learn about Turkey’s culinary heritage as you enjoy a lunch feature local produce near Ephesus
• Admire the magnificent palaces and mosques lining the shores of Istanbul as you cruise on a privately chartered boat
• Celebrate your time in Turkey with a traditional meal in Istanbul
• Explore Istanbul, taking guided tours of the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, also visiting the Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar
• Visit the famous ancient ruins of Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus
• Explore Ankara, visiting Ataturk’s mausoleum and the Anatolian Civilisations Museum
• Venture underground to explore the city of Kaymakli and visit the open-air museum of Göreme

Day 1: Arrive in Ankara
Fly to Ankara via Istanbul. On arrival, check into your hotel

Day 2: Ankara
Spend the morning exploring Ankara, beginning with a visit to the Anatolian Civilisations Museum. With an expert guide, you’ll learn about the history of Anatolia and the people who lived there throughout history. From here, head to the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, who established modern-day Turkey. Take a tour of the complex before having some time at leisure. Leaving Ankara, travel to Cappadocia, admiring the unique landscape, including Tuz Golu, one of the world’s largest salt lakes and the unique volcanic rock formations. On arrival in Cappadocia, check into your hotel

Day 3: Cappadocia
This morning, get the chance to visit the astonishing underground city of Kaymakli, which consists of 8 levels. Enjoy some free time to explore, seeing the stables, kitchens and a church. Next, visit Pasabaglari, where the rocks have formed mushroom-like pillars referred to as ‘fairy chimneys’. Back above ground, head to Göreme to see its intricate rock-cut churches. After a day of exploring, sit down to enjoy views of the sun setting over the Red Valley with a delicious aperitif in hand. Head back to the hotel for dinner

Day 4: Caravanserai of Sultanhani
Start the day with a visit to Avanos, a village known for its pottery where you’ll enjoy a demonstration of traditional crafting techiights before setting out towards Konya. Heading west, you’ll follow part of the historic Silk Road which will bring you to the Caravanserai of Sultanhani, once a resting place for travellers. Take a guided tour in small groups, seeing its expansive courtyard and the attached rooms. Continue to Konya. On arrival, visit the Mevlâna Museum, housing the Mausoleum of Rumi, one of the most esteemed philosophers in Islam and found of the Whirling Dervishes. Enjoy a dinner as a group tonight.

Day 5: Pamukkale
Journey to Pamukkale this morning. On arrival, take a guided tour of the thermal pools before having free time to explore the ruins of Hierapolis. Pamukkale is home to terraces of calcium carbonate formations that create cascading thermal pools. Check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner.

Day 6: Aphrodisias
Today, visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias. Joined by an guide, you’ll tour the ancient Greek and Roman ruins including the Temple of Aphrodite. After lunch, head to the coast and check into your hotel in Kusadasi

Day 7: Ephesus
This morning, travel to the ancient city of Ephesus to explore with a local guide. See its famous Library of Celsus and the amphitheatre as well as one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Ancient World’, the Temple of Artemis. Also amongst the ruins are the remains of St John’s Basilica and the site of the House of the Virgin Mary. Heading slightly outside Ephesus, visit a family-owned restaurant for a delicious lunch of traditional Turkish dishes before returning to the hotel.

Day 8: Pergamon
Saying goodbye to Kusadasi, drive along the coast to reach Pergamon. Take a guided tour of the ancient city which is famous for its library, the Temple of Trajan and the world’s steepest ancient amphitheatre. After the tour, continue along the coast to Canakkale and check into your hotel before enjoying dinner

Day 9: Troy and Gallipoli
Arrive in Troy, where you can explore some of the sections of the archaeological site here before taking a short ferry ride across to the Gallipoli peninsula. On arrival, visit the Lone Pine Memorial and Anzac Cove before continuing to Istanbul

Day 10: Istanbul
This morning, split into small groups and explore the streets of Istanbul with a local guide. Along the way, visit the remains of the Hippodrome. Continue to the Grand Bazaar before making your way to the iconic Hagia Sofia. Heading inside, you’ll explore the second floor and its galleries, home to lavish Byzantine mosaics and views of where the Empress would have sat.

Day 11: The Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque
Begin the day with a visit to one of the city’s renowned subterranean cisterns, the Basilica Cistern. Dating back to the 6^th century, its feature impressive marble columns, some decorated with intricate carvings. Emerging from underground, continue to the Sultanahmet Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque due to the striking blue tiles used in the interior. Admire the exterior before heading to the waterside to board a privately chartered boat. Enjoy an afternoon cruise along the Bosphorus, admiring the palaces and mosques along the shoreline, with drinks and snacks available onboard.

Day 12: Topkapi Palace
This morning, head to Topkapi Palace. In small groups with a local guide, you’ll explore the complex, learning about its history as the royal residence of the Sultans. See the beautiful treasure and weapons gallery before heading back out into the city to visit the Spice Bazaar. The rest of the afternoon is free before regrouping for an traditional dinner at a rooftop restaurant.

Day 13: Return home
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Movenpick Hotel Ankara, Ankara*****
Located close to the city’s top attractions, the modern hotel features a restaurant, lounge and bar. The rooms are comfortable and are equipped with a hairdryer, safe, a tv and tea/coffee making facilities

Utopia Cave Cappadocia****
This cave-style hotel is located in the heart of Cappadocia, and throughout the hotel you’ll find terraces and seating area to relax in. The hotel also has a restaurant, spa and Turkish bath. The rooms feature a hairdryer, safe, TV and tea/coffee making facilities

Hotel KoruMar, Kusadasi****
Close to the main bay of Kusadasi, this hotel has 4 restaurants, several bars and a luxurious spa. The terrace overlooks the sea and there’s private beach available. All rooms have a private balcony, and come with a hairdryer, a safe, tv and tea/coffee making facilities

Hotel Kolin, Canakkale****
This hotel overlooks the Dardanelles and is 5 minutes’ drive from the centre of Canakkale. This modern hotel has two pools, a spa and a selection of bars and restaurants. All rooms have a hairdryer, safe, telephone and a TV

Hotel Armada Old City, Istanbul****
This hotel sits just inside the original ramparts of the Old City and overlooks both the Bosphorus Strait and the Sea of Marmara. The rooms are comfortably furnished with a safe, tv and tea/coffee making facilities

Please note the use of air conditioning and outdoor pool opening is at the discretion of the hotels. The pools usually operate from mid-May to early October, depending on weather conditions.

Fact File

• Currency: Turkish Lira (Euros are also widely used but at a poor exchange rate)
• Flight time: Approx. 4 hrs 30 mins
• Language: Turkish
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Country: Turkey

*All transfer times listed here are approximate and dependent on traffic

Exclusive prices available on request. Our Pricing Policy.