Compare Legendary Turkey by Odysseys Unlimited vs Classic Tour to Turkey by Odynovo
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 15 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 3,592 | $ 3,158 |
| Price Per Day | $ 239 | $ 316 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
13 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches and 8 Dinners |
9 breakfasts |
| Description |
Exotic sights, scents, and sounds reign in this fascinating land where Europe and Asia meet. From Istanbul, magnificent “Empress of the World,” to ancient ruins, stunning landscapes, and the dramatic Turquoise Coast where we board privately chartered “gulet” yachts for a distinctive four-day voyage, Turkey engages and beguiles, offering us an unparalleled small group experience. |
Turkey is a land full of incredible cultures and diverse landscapes. In the 10 days, with our knowledgeable guide, you will marvel at the historical treasure of the celebrated Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire in Istanbul, discover the fairy chimney and delicate paintings in humble rock-cave churches of Cappadocia, and explore ancient Greece ruins from Izmir to Bodrum along the east coast of the Aegean Sea. |
Day 1: Depart U.S. for Istanbul, Turkey
Day 2: Arrive Istanbul
We arrive in Turkey’s cultural and spiritual heart today and transfer to our hotel located near Taksim Square, the heart of modern Istanbul. As guests’ arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities or meals planned; on our own we can explore the area surrounding our hotel or simply relax.
Day 3: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
We get our first real taste of this city straddling two continents today as we set out on a walking tour along lively pedestrian Istiklal Street, lined with boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and late Ottoman-era buildings. We see the acclaimed mosaics and frescoes at Chora Church (now Kariye Museum) then take a panoramic drive along Istanbul’s Old City walls. Then we visit intimate Rustem Pasha mosque, with its exquisite Iznik tiles, followed by the renowned Spice Market. After lunch on our own here, we take a private cruise on the Bosphorus, the waterway that separates Europe from Asia. This evening we take a short walk to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner of traditional Turkish fare.
Day 4: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Today we encounter Old Istanbul, beginning with the ancient Roman Hippodrome, the 3,500-year-old obelisk brought from Egypt in 390 CE. Next we visit the Blue Mosque, with its 20,000 blue Iznik tiles and signature six minarets. We then visit the renowned Museum of Turkish & Islamic Art, housing priceless artifacts from the 8th to 20th centuries. After lunch at a local restaurant we continue on to Hagia Sophia, the 6th-century church that was Christendom’s most important before becoming a mosque in the 15th century.
Day 5: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we tour splendid Topkapi, for 400 years the palace of Ottoman sultans that today ranks among the world’s richest museums. We continue on to the Basilica Cistern, the marble-columned underground chamber that provided water to Istanbul in antiquity. Our next stop is the Grand Bazaar, the covered market housing some 5,000 shops along 60 “streets.” The remainder of the day and evening is free for independent exploration.
Day 6: Istanbul/Gallipoli/Troy/Assos
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Leaving Istanbul this morning, we travel to the northern Aegean Coast for a brief visit to Gallipoli, haunting site of 31 Allied cemeteries from World War I. Then we ferry across the Dardanelles to Troy, once believed to exist only in Homer’s epic poem until the present site was discovered in the 1870s. After touring here we continue south to Behramkale, ancient Assos, where we spend the night.
Day 7: Assos/Pergamum/Izmir
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we explore one of Turkey’s most spectacular ancient sites: windswept Pergamum, a major power in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, with a wealth of Hellenistic ruins. Then we continue on to Izmir.
Day 8: Izmir/Ephesus
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Few ancient sites compare to Ephesus, the world’s best-preserved classical city which we explore today. Dating to at least 1300 BCE, Ephesus was Asia Minor’s largest metropolis and principal port. Our tour includes the Terrace Houses, the recently restored “houses of the rich,” with their outstanding mosaic floors and frescoed walls. Then we enjoy lunch in the rustic village of Sirince.
Day 9: Izmir/Göcek
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we journey south to coastal Göcek, stopping along the way at a carpet factory to watch a demonstration of this age-old craft. Late afternoon we board our gulets.
Day 10: Cruising – Aga Limani/Cleopatra Baths
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Our route for the next few days is along the stunning coastline Antony is said to have given Cleopatra as a wedding gift. We begin our “Blue Voyage” this morning as we cruise to the hidden cove of Aga Limani. From here we have the option of taking a three-hour hike to the Greco-Roman ruins at Lydea, ending at the Sunken Baths of Cleopatra. Set in a breathtaking inlet, the Baths offer crystal-clear waters for swimming and snorkeling. Those who prefer a less strenuous day can stay aboard the gulets as we sail to the Sunken Baths.
Day 11: Cruising – Göcek/Dalyan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we disembark and coach to Dalyan, an environmentally protected area known for its loggerhead sea turtles. Here we board a small skiff for a trip through an intriguing maze of channels. At the Lake of Koycegiz we see well-preserved ancient Lycian rock tombs on the hills above us.
Day 12: Cruising – Gemiler Island/Kayakoy
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we cruise to Gemiler Island to tour its 6th-century Byzantine monastery. Then we coach to the Greek “ghost town” of Kayakoy, abandoned after World War I and now preserved as a historical monument. We explore the town and its churches then return to our gulets for our last night on board.
Day 13: Fethiye/Antalya
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
We cruise this morning to Fethiye, where we disembark then set out by motorcoach through the Taurus Mountains for Antalya. We reach the seaside city in time for lunch and a visit to the acclaimed Archaeological Museum.
Day 14: Antalya/Perge
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
This morning we tour the ruins at Perge, an ancient Greek city once among the world’s prettiest and most prosperous. Then we return to Antalya for a walking tour of its charming Old Town, including Hadrian’s Gate and the lovely Yivli Minaret (Fluted Minaret). This afternoon is at leisure before tonight’s farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 15: Depart for U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we board an early flight for our return to the United States.
Day 1: Arrival – Istanbul
Overnight: Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul, the economic, cultural, and historical heart of Turkey. Touching down at the airport, be welcomed and transferred to your hotel by our representative. After settling into the hotel, you may stroll around the historical center of the timehonored Istanbul to spot some clues about the past Eastern Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire.
Day 2: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Istanbul
Start the city exploration with a one-hour cruise on the Bosphorus Strait to capture the distinctive urban landscapes of Istanbul, one side Asian and the other side European. Disembarking the boat, on a hill at the European side of the narrowest point of this strait, you will see the Rumeli Fortress built on the orders of the Ottoman Sultan between 1451 and 1452. Continue to explore the exotic Spice Bazaar and get a panoramic view of Istanbul at Galata Tower.
Day 3: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Istanbul
Start the tour today from the Topkapi Palace, once the administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire and the main residence of its sultans. Be sure to visit the Imperial Harem, the forbidden quarter for the female member of the Sultan's family. Stepping out of the palace, several minutes away is the Hagia Sophia with history near 1,500 years, during which it has alternated between Christ church, Islamic mosque, and national museum. Nearby it, you will also visit the iconic Blue Mosque, the underground Basilica Cistern, and the historic Hippodrome hosting the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column.
Day 4: Istanbul - Kayseri – Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Cappadocia
After breakfast, take the private transfer to the airport for a short flight to Kayseri. Meet your local guide on arrival and move on to Cappadocia to discover the fairy chimneys at Devrent Valley and Pasabagi Valley. In the afternoon, proceed to discover the beautiful examples of Byzantine art in the cave churches of the Goreme Open Air Museum and the Uchisar Castle standing prominently as the highest point in Cappadocia and offering fabulous panoramic views of this dreamy land. The tour also includes a photo stop at the Pigeon Valley.
Day 5: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Cappadocia
Ortahisar is a small town with a rock castle, like the Uchisar Castle, towering dominantly at 90 meters high over it. Start the tour in the morning from Ortahisar Castle, followed by the Kaymakli Underground City, which, for more than a thousand years, always provided refuge to those persecuted by war and political persecution. Continue to the Cavusin Valley to discover the old village carved into a mountain and inhabited by locals until the 1950s. Take some time in the afternoon hiking in the Red Valley, watching the setting sun sprinkling its dynamic colors over the sharp sandstones, and tasting a cup of local wine that benefits from the mineral-laden volcanic soil of this area.
Day 6: Cappadocia - Kayseri - Izmir – Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Kusadasi
Leave Cappadocia behind and get to Kayseri airport for your flight to Izmir, possibly with a connection in Istanbul. On arrival, meet your guide and explore Izmir with the Agora Open Air Museum and the historical Elevator, the best place to get a panoramic view of the city, before moving on to Kusadasi, the gateway to Ephesus.
Day 7: Kusadasi - Ephesus - Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Kusadasi
Focus the day on Ephesus, a ruined Greek city that is famed in its day for the nearby Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Walk around to explore the many monuments in the majestic archaeological site of Ephesus, including the Arcadian Way, the Antique Theater, the Roman Baths, and the Celsus Library. Before returning to Kusadasi, you will also visit the Shrine of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St. John about 5km from Ephesus.
Day 8: Kusadasi – Bodrum
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Bodrum
Continue south and you will reach Bodrum after about 2.5 hours. On arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy the otherworldly scenery of the Aegean Sea.
Day 9: Bodrum
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Bodrum
Scan the city with your guide. Discover the Bodrum Castle built by the Knights of St. John and with four towers bearing the names of English, French, German, and Italian, the four nations responsible for their construction. Proceed to the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. From the remains and the renatured model, you can imagine how it looked and why it was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Proceed to see the symbolic windmills and explore Bodrum Antique Theater.
Day 10: Bodrum - Istanbul – Departure
Meals: Breakfast
Free in the day until your guide meets and escorts you to the airport in Bodrum for your flight to Istanbul to connect with your homebound flight.
