Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow or Luton to Istanbul and transfer to the 4-star Oran or Black-Bird Hotel for three nights.
Day 2 Cruise along the Bosphorus, passing palaces, mosques and wooden waterside villages. Visit St. Sophia and dinner at a local ‘meat and grill’ specialities restaurant.
Day 3A full-day tour includes the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar with lunch at a local restaurant. Special Ottoman dinner.
Day 4 Travel to Gallipoli for a visit before crossing the Dardanelles by boat to visit the ruins of the legendary city of Troy. Overnight at the 4-star Kolin Hotel, Canakkale.
Day 5 Visit the acropolis of ancient Pergamon with its Zeus temple. Continue by road to Kusadasi via Izmir for two nights at the 4-star Hotel Kismet or Surmeli Efes.
Day 6 A morning’s excursion to the site at Ephesus and later visit Didyma.
Day 7 Drive through the valley of the River Meander, visit Aphrodisias and continue to Pamukkale, renowned for its travertine terraces and calcified waterfalls. Visit the ancient Roman city of Hierapolis and overnight at the 4-star Richmond-Thermal or Colossea-Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale.
Day 8A demonstration of the art of handicraft carpets en route to Antalya for a tour of the old city and spend two nights at the 4-star Dedeman or Falez Hotel.
Day 9 Visit Perge, Aspendos and the Archaeological Museum at Side. After dinner enjoy a short walking tour through the old harbour of Antalya.
Day 10 Drive to Konya. Visit the Museum of Mevlana, founder of the ‘Whirling Dervish’ sect. Stay two nights at the 4-star Hotel Perissia or Dinler in Cappadocia.
Day 11 Visit the Valley of Goreme with its early Christian church paintings, underground city of Kaymakh and castle of Uchuisar.
Day 12 Travel via the ‘Salt-Lake’ to Ankara for an overnight stay at the 4-star Ickale or Surmeli Hotel. A tour of the ancient citadel and modern government capital includes the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations.
Day 13 Visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk before continuing to Istanbul for an overnight stay at the 4-star Oran or Black-Bird Hotel. Enjoy a traditional dinner with music at the fisherman’s village of Kumkapi.
Day 14 Return flight.
