Wonders of Turkey - Small Group

Insight Vacations is also known as Insight Tours. Their name was changed some years ago. Insight Vacations features their Insight Vacations Italy at great prices, trips to the Bay of Fundy, to The Baltic, and more. Insights escorted European Tours are a favorite of Pavlus Travel's Travel Agents. All of Insights Tours are discounted at Pavlus, one of their largest sellers in the United States.
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Wonders of Turkey

Small Group



Tour Description:

Fall in love with Turkey on this 11-day guided tour. See Ephesus, an ancient city built in the 10th Century B.C. with an amphitheater that once sat 24,000 people. Drive through the Maender River Valley to an organic farm, where you can walk the lush lands, then feast on fresh produce during a mouth-watering lunch. See the turquoise travertine pools in Pamukkale where ancient Romans used to soak — then dip into the spa at your hotel to indulge in its Turkish baths. Take a tour of a traditional cave house in Cappadocia with the local who lives there, then dine as you watch whirling dervishes dance nearby. Visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, the resting place of the country’s first president, in Ankara. Travel to Istanbul, where you’ll see the infamous Blue Mosque before bargaining at the eclectic Grand Bazaar, which boasts more than 4,000 shops.

Map for Wonders of Turkey - Small Group
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Dates & Pricing

Thursday 04 Jul 24 — Sunday 14 Jul 24Starting at $3,075Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 01 Aug 24 — Sunday 11 Aug 24Starting at $3,075Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 29 Aug 24 — Sunday 08 Sep 24Starting at $3,075Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 26 Sep 24 — Sunday 06 Oct 24Starting at $3,475Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 14 Nov 24 — Sunday 24 Nov 24Starting at $2,850Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 30 Jan 25 — Sunday 09 Feb 25Starting at $2,850Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 13 Mar 25 — Sunday 23 Mar 25Starting at $2,850Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 03 Jul 25 — Sunday 13 Jul 25Starting at $3,675Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 31 Jul 25 — Sunday 10 Aug 25Starting at $3,675Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 28 Aug 25 — Sunday 07 Sep 25Starting at $3,675Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 25 Sep 25 — Sunday 05 Oct 25Starting at $3,675Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 23 Oct 25 — Sunday 02 Nov 25Starting at $3,095Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 13 Nov 25 — Sunday 23 Nov 25Starting at $2,995Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 29 Jan 26 — Sunday 08 Feb 26Starting at $2,995Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Thursday 12 Mar 26 — Sunday 22 Mar 26Starting at $2,995Check Mark Icon SPECIALGet a Quote
Check Mark Icon Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.


Destination & Sightseeing

Destination Highlights:

: Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
: Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
: We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
: From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
: Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
: If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

ITINERARY

Welcome to Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey. You’ll start in vibrant Istanbul, where a representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel.  Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and getting to know your fellow travelers over a delicious Welcome Dinner.

Gallipoli, Anzac Cove and Troy
Marvel at breathtaking coastal views as you make your way along the shores of the Sea of Marmara to historic Gallipoli. Located in the southern part of East Thrace, it was here that for nine months during the Great War, Anzac troops fought in an in an attempt to gain control of the Dardanelles Strait. Learn more about these events as you visit Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery. Later, join your group as you head from Eceabat across the sea to Çanakkale before arriving to the historic city of Troy, the focal point of the Trojan War and the backdrop to one of history’s most famous love stories, that of Paris and Helen of Troy, the face that launched 1000 ships. A replica of the mighty Trojan horse, which helped the Greeks capture the city in 1200 B.C., can be seen beside the city’s walls.

Pergamon and Kusadasi
Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Copmadam, a women's co-op turning recycled materials into unique items, and addressing women's employment issues. Continue on to Pergamon, once a powerful ancient Greek city, you’ll find the Asklepion temple here. A famous shrine and healing center, it was built in honor of Asklepios, the god of medicine. After some time exploring, continue your journey to the coastal resort of Kusadasi.

Ephesus - Kusadasi Relaxed Start
Start your morning with a trip to the nearby town of Selçuk. Home to the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis, you’ll begin with an educational visit to the Archaeological Museum. Once here, delve into the area’s history as you explore the museum’s exhibits, many of which have been retrieved from the nearby Ephesus excavation site. Later, explore the famous site itself. Walk through the colonnaded Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and the huge Amphitheater, before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, situated above the Ephesus ruins.

The Pools of Pamukkale
This morning, following the winding Maender River Valley, with its twists and turns, head to a local organic farm. Once here, you’ll meet the agricultural director who will take you on a walking tour of the eco-friendly lands. You’ll have the satisfying task of picking fruits and vegetables from his fields. Delight in a mouth-watering Farm-to-Table lunch, prepared with fresh produce from the farm. Continue to Pamukkale. Famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters and chalk-white limestone terraces, explore the area with your Travel Director. See the ruins of the ancient Roman spa city of Hierapolis, founded in 190 B.C. You’ll see the city’s well-preserved theater and its turquoise travertine pools. Later, head back to your hotel, the esteemed Doğa Thermal Health & Spa. Take full advantage of its indoor and outdoor thermal pools, steam room and its Turkish bath complex.

The Underground City and Cappadocia
Today your journey takes you to Urgup, a historic town in the heart of Cappadocia. Visit the 13th-century Sultanhani Caravanserai before exploring the underground city of Saratli. You will recognise this famous area from the striking golden, volcanic landscapes that surround it.

The Cappadocia Experience
Move on to Göreme, a striking town in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. Explore its rock-hewn churches decorated with ancient wall paintings before moving on to the Pasabag Valley. Located on the road to Zelve, you’ll find otherworldly earth pillars here, ‘fairy chimneys’ and troglodyte dwellings. Later, join a Cappadocian local who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house. You’ll learn more about their unique way of living, local traditions and family life. Complementing the day’s events, this evening you'll witness a performance of the Whirling Dervishes before dining at a local restaurant.

Ankara
One for art lovers, this morning, you’ll learn about the art of pottery making in Avanos. A town based in Cappadocia, it is famous for its earthenware pottery.  Continue your journey to Ankara, where you’ll visit the Hittite Museum and Anit Kabir, the Mausoleum of Atatürk, Turkey's greatest modern leader and the first President of the Republic of Turkey. Perhaps relax in the spa and wellness center at your hotel this evening.

To Istanbul
It’s time to head to Istanbul. A glorious fusion of east and west, this popular city offers something for everyone, with history, culture, modernity, delicious cuisine and of course, the friendliest of faces. Board a cruise along the Bosphorus. As you make your way from Eminönü to the Black Sea, witness the area’s beautiful Ottoman palaces and fortresses lining the waterfront. Your evening is at leisure, why not ask your Travel Director for suggestions on places to dine.

Istanbul & the Ottoman Empire
Today you’ll take in the sites of Istanbul. In the morning, visit the historic Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held, before exploring Hagia Sophia. Built in A.D. 537, it is famous for its domed roof. Visit the Topkapi Palace, perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the primary inlet of the waterway. Enjoy the excitement of bargaining in the bustling Grand Bazaar. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant.

Farewell Istanbul
It’s time to say goodbye to your new friends, as your trip comes to an end. A transfer will take you to the airport for your onward flights, or for those extending their stay in Istanbul, speak to your Travel Director for tips and tricks on where to head.

Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

From experience Pavlus Travel staff have toured with Insight Vacations, they had access to rare and authentic true experiences that are unavailable on most escorted tours. With Insight Tours you will know your destination intimately with a mix of dining experiences, meaningful interactions with your fellow guests, local experts and exciting cultural activities such as playing pétanque or trying your hand at hurling to seeing the Bay of Fundy and its wicked tides. Insight Vacations has some 70 featured escorted tours to many parts of the World. Pavlus Travel is one of the World's largest sellers of Insight Tours and of course a favorite Insight Italy Tours a favorite of so many guests.