17 Day Antiquities of Turkey & Gulet Cru
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17 Day Antiquities Of Turkey & Gulet Cru... Istanbul Cappadocia Konya Antalya Fethiye Gulet sailing Pamukkale Kusadasi Ephesus Sirince Troy Canakkale Gallipoli 17 Day Antiquities of Turkey FROM NZ $5,999 PER PERSON, TWIN SHARE Straddling eastern Europe and western Asia, Turkey is a melting pot with cultural connections to ancient Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Explore this richly historical land, from Istanbul’s colourful nightlife to Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys and balloons. Book Now TOUR ITINERARY The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be effected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 0800 475 025 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 1 TOUR ITINERARY DAY 1 Destination Home Istanbul Meals included Hotel 5 Fer Hotel, or similar Your premium small group tour through Turkey awaits! Your holiday will begin with your flight to Istanbul. Prepare to receive a warm welcome to this continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans have all called home. Upon arrival into Istanbul you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your 5 star hotel to relax after your journey. PLEASE NOTE: Some flights depart the night before Day 1. DAY 2 Destination Istanbul Meals included Breakfast, lunch, dinner Hotel 5 Fer Hotel, or similar This morning your guide will meet you in the lobby for a welcome meeting, where you'll discuss the trip ahead and meet your fellow travellers. Afterwards, we start our journey by following in the footsteps of the city’s most famous ruler, Sultan Ahmed, and head to the district of Sultanahmet, within Istanbul's old city. The historic centre of Istanbul, here you'll explore the legacy of the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Take in the majesty of the 6th-century Hagia Sophia, whose stunning construction is said to have changed the history of architecture. When not erecting splendid buildings, the Byzantine Emperors loved a bit of entertainment, and the Hippodrome of Constantinople was their stadium. Inspect some of the decorative statues and obelisks that remain, harking back to a time when this space would play host to thousands of chariot racing fans. Bathe in the beauty of the 15th-century, fairy tale-esque Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman Sultans. And spend time meandering through the narrow lanes that burrow through the huge Grand Bazaar, packed with more than 3,000 stalls of handcrafted jewellery, textiles, books and spices. Tonight, your guide will take you to his favourite restaurant to have a real meyhane (Turkish tavern) experience at the heart of Istanbul! The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be effected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 0800 475 025 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 2 TOUR ITINERARY DAY 3 Destination Istanbul Cappadocia Meals included Breakfast (Boutique) Artemis Cave hotel (2019) / Best Western Hotel Premier Cave Hotel (2020), or similar This morning you will be transferred to Ataturk Airport to fly to Cappadocia. 2019 Departures – Göreme – the pearl of Cappadocia – is where you’ll find your Inspiring Stay at the Artemis Cave Hotel. The 21st Century will fade away as you find yourself in rooms carved right into the rock, taking you back through the ages. You may not want to leave! 2020 Departures – Tonight's Inspiring Stay is at the Best Western Premier cave hotel. The 21st Century will fade away as you find yourself in rooms carved right into the rock, taking you back through the ages. You may not want to leave! Your guide will then take you on a leisurely hike of the beautiful surrounding valley. Afterwards spend the rest of the day at your leisure or enjoy one of our bonus Inspiring Sights options to enhance your experience. You may choose to include two optional Inspiring Sights throughout your tour, free as part of your package. Optional Inspiring Sight (1 of 4) - Wine and Sunset - On this tour you'll learn about wine-making, hike through valleys, visit vineyards and sip some local wines as the sun slides away for another day. Optional Inspiring Sight (2 of 4) - Kelebek Turkish Bath - Enjoy some pampering and experience a Turkish bath (60mins). The Turkish bath, also known as hamam, is one of the ancient world’s most widely exported customs and a not to be missed experience when in Turkey. (Both options can be chosen as they take places at different times) OPTIONAL INSPIRING SIGHT - KELEBEK TURKISH BATH Enjoy some pampering and experience a Turkish bath (60mins). The Turkish bath, also known as hamam, is one of the ancient world’s most widely exported customs and a not to be missed experience when in Turkey. The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be effected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 0800 475 025 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 3 TOUR ITINERARY OPTIONAL INSPIRING SIGHT - WINE AND SUNSET TOUR On this tour you'll learn about wine-making, hike through valleys, visit vineyards and sip some local wines as the sun slides away for another day. DAY 4 Destination Cappadocia Meals included Breakfast, lunch (Boutique) Artemis Cave hotel (2019) / Best Western Hotel Premier Cave Hotel (2020), or similar Enjoy a relaxing breakfast before your walk to the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia, Kizilcukur. You'll see fascinating rock formations such as cones, peaks and fairy chimneys made from tuff – a light, porous rock formed by consolidaed volcanic ash – as well as man-made cave chapels from early Christian times. Around noon, your guide will take you to a beautiful lodge to watch the spiritual Mevlevi, or Whirling Dervish Ceremony – an 'active meditation' that is said to show devotion to god, and a practice that been recognised by UNESCO. Soon after this you will enjoy your first Inspiring Taste with a local specialty called a Pottery Kebab – Cappadocia's traditional, must-try dish, prepared in a clay pot. Optional Tour: Hot Air Ballooning – Early birds have the option of taking a hot air balloon over the surreal Cappadocian landscape. The scene at sunrise is sure to take your breath away. Please note, this activity can only be booked locally. Please speak to your trip leader on day one to organise this (approximate cost EUR 175pp). DAY 5 Destination Cappadocia Meals included Breakfast, lunch (Boutique) Artemis Cave hotel (2019) / Best Western Hotel Premier Cave Hotel (2020), or similar Today, we visit the incredible underground city of Derinkuyu. Prepare to be blown away by this vast subterranean site, which comprises ancient dwellings that span seven levels beneath the ground, extending to a depth of approximately 60 metres. Next, you'll make your way to the archaeological site of Asikli Hoyuk, an ancient neolithic settlement and now a museum, which was first settled in 8,000 BCE. Later in the afternoon we'll visit Kizil Irmak, or the Red River of Cappadocia, famous for its clay, which is still used to make magnificent pieces of art today. You’ll learn about this The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be effected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 0800 475 025 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 4 TOUR ITINERARY ancient craft when we visit a local potter. DAY 6 Destination Cappadocia Konya Antalya Meals included Breakfast, lunch Hotel 5 Akra Hotel, or similar We leave Cappadocia today and head towards the Mediterranean coast. The drive is long, but it's also incredibly scenic. We'll enjoy a pit stop in Konya to try the local food before continuing to the jewel in the Mediterranean crown – Antalya. The ancient city is the eastern gateway to Turkey's southern Mediterranean region, known as the Turquoise Coast for its magnificent blue waters. Remnants from Antalya's time as a major Roman port remain: from Hadrian’s Gate, built to honour the Roman emperor’s visit in 130 CE, to the 2nd-century Hidirlik Tower, which boasts stunning harbour views. DAY 7 Destination Antalya Kayakoy FethiyeAntalya Kayakoy Fethiye Meals included Breakfast, lunch Hotel (Boutique) Blueberry Boutique Hotel, or similar This morning you’ll enjoy a walk to see Hadrian’s Gate, the old Roman Harbours and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean before enjoying lunch. We will then be travelling on to the Greek ghost town of Kayakoy, which is said to be the setting for Louis de Bernières' novel Birds Without Wings. Stroll around and take in the eerie atmosphere. From here we continue to Fethiye, a beautiful town surrounded by pine forests and dotted with islands. DAY 8 Destination Fethiye Embark on Gulet sailing Meals included Breakfast, dinner Hotel Gulet Sailing boat, or similar This morning will be at your leisure. After lunchtime, we will board a traditional Turkish sailboat known as a gulet – your home for the next three days. A gulet is a wooden yacht usually built in Bodrum or Marmaris in Turkey that measures 20 to 30 metres in length on average. Handcrafted from mahogany, pine and teak, the gulets follow a design developed for these waters in Byzantine times, with a sharp bow, broad beam and rounded aft.