Turkey, and The Ottomans 15 Fascinating Days – Istanbul to Istanbul

Albatross gives you more… • Spend 2 nights in Istanbul and visit the Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet • Relax over 2 nights in Pamukkale and visit the famous limestone Square, the Underground Cisterns andTopkapi Palace, enjoyTurkish cascades and the tombs of the ancient Necropolis Tea at the historic Caferaga Medresesi and explore the Grand Bazaar • Savour 3 nights in a stunning cave hotel amongst the rock chapels • Spend 3 nights in the Gallipoli region and explore all the relevant and ‘fairy chimneys’ of Cappadocia, visit a caravanserai, a pottery battlefields, memorials and cemeteries on the Gallipoli Peninsula village and the‘underground city’ of Kaymakli • Gain insights into the life of the diggers from our specialist Turkish • Fly high over the lunar like landscape in a hot air balloon ride Battlefield Tour Guide, and the Turkish story in an evening presentation by a Turkish Historian The Albatross Difference • Pay your respects as part of a private morning commemoration at Genuinely Inclusive • Visit ancient Troy • Stay 3 nights on the Turquoise Coast at Kusadasi, visit ancient Less time on coaches, Max 30 passengers for Over $1,200 value of Pergamum, theTemple ofTrajan, visit the amazing ruins of Ephesus, average 136 kms a more personal extras included with the Virgin Mary’s House and Aphrodisias travelled per day touring experience no hidden costs

Capadoccia Blue Mosque, Istanbul

DAYS 1 –5 ISTANBUL AND GALLIPOLI the nearby House of the Virgin Mary, nestled high in the hills overlooking The first five days of this tour are exactly the same as the first five days of the city of Ephesus. (B, D) ‘The Spirit of Gallipoli’ tour illustrated on the previous three pages. On DAY 8 KUSADASI Day 6, following your three night stay in the Gallipoli region, instead of A wonderful day left at leisure! Your day is completely free to enjoy the returning to Istanbul we drive south and continue exploring this sights and shopping in this attractive and bustling resort town. (B, D) fascinating country. DAY 9 PAMUKKALE DAY 6 KUSADASI Heading past Mugla we reach Aphrodisias, one of 's most important Travelling south down the mountainous coastline of Turkey, our first archaeological discoveries of recent decades. These marvellous ruins rival stop will be at the ancient Acropolis of Pergamum which is famous for its Ephesus and include the Temple of Aphrodite with its dazzling white wealth of archaeological ruins. From the Temple of Trajan you will admire marble and a vast, virtually intact amphitheatre. Later we drive to the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. We then continue Pamukkale where we stay two nights. (B, D) down the west coast to the popular port of Kusadasi - a resort town Your Pamukkale hotel - Hotel Tripolis. Located close by the travertines of for the wealthy citizens of Ephesus in ancient times. We stay here three Pamukkale, Hotel Tripolis offers air-conditioned rooms and features an nights. (B, D) outdoor thermal pool, an indoor pool, and a traditional hammam. See Your Kusadasi Hotel – Hotel Korumar Deluxe. The Korumar Hotel is located www.tripolishotel.com approximately 2.5km from the town centre and commands the most DAY 10 PAMUKKALE beautiful sea view. This hotel combines style, a high standard of Today we visit the petrified white lime cascades of Pamukkale. At the accommodation and a wide range of modern facilities including 2 private nearby Hierapolis we will see the stadium and take a fascinating stroll beaches, 2 pools and extensive spa facilities. See www.korumar.com.tr through the tombs of the Necropolis. Your afternoon is at leisure to relax DAY 7 KUSADASI in the thermal pools and spas at your hotel. (B, D) The highlight of today will be a visit to one of the ancient wonders of the DAY 11 CAPPADOCIA world, the inspiring ruins of Ephesus. Rated one of the world’s best Crossing the Anatolian Plain we visit the Caravanserai Sultanhan on the archaeological sites, you will walk along the 2,000 year old marble streets, Silk Road. Entering Cappadocia our first stop will be a visit to the Bronze visit the Temple of Hadrian and the famous Library of Celsus. We also visit Age ‘pottery village’of Avanos. Cappadocia is located south of Mount

ISTANBUL 2 1 Gallipoli battlefields Q ANZAC Cove 3 CANAKKALE TURKEY Troy Pergamum

CAPPADOCIA Aegean Sea 3

Ephesus KUSADASI 3 2 PAMUKKALE Aphrodisias Tour commences Overnight stays Included excursions

74 When talking with fellow Australians Australian and New Zealand travellers in mind, it was obvious to spend three and New Zealanders who are nights in the Gallipoli region to allow time to sensitively explore all the planning a Turkish trip, it was quite relevant sites and properly reflect on the sorrow and heartache at Gallipoli. It clear that as well as Istanbul, the two allows us to include extra visits to places like Cape Helles, and return to ANZAC specific areas that really appealed Cove early one morning for our own moving, private commemoration. and fascinated them were Gallipoli and Cappadocia. We did not forget how fantastic the caves and fairy chimneys of Most mainstream, scheduledTurkey tours are sold worldwide to people Cappadocia are. We know that staying 3 nights in an authentic cave hotel, from many nations who often have little or no understanding of the including an amazing hot air balloon ride and allowing enough time to ANZACs and the significance of the . As such,‘those’ tours properly explore this unique area will be a‘turkish delight’. allow maybe an hour or two of sightseeing on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Turkey is a very big country. Including three night stops at three vital So what is so different about this Turkey tour? stages of the tour makes absolute sense to allow time to properly enjoy this Since we design and control all aspects of our tours with the needs of intriguing country.

Erciyes, and is a volcanic region known for its curious 'fairy chimneys,' cones and strange rock formations that have been sculpted by wind and rain. Over many centuries people seeking shelter from the conquerors and marauding armies of the Central Anatolian Plateau settled here, burrowing whole subterranean towns. We will stay three nights in this remarkable place. (B, D) Your Cappadocia Hotel – Gamirasu Cave Hotel. Gamirasu is the name of an exquisitely restored 30 rooms troglodyte cave house in Ayvali Village near Urgup in the heart of Cappadocia. The hotel is located in a restored thousand-year-old Byzantine monastic retreat which offers modern conveniences without distracting from the spiritual feeling of the area. Hotel rooms are built into volcanic rock with vaulted ceilings and decorated in traditional Turkish style. See www.gamirasu.com DAY 12 CAPPADOCIA Enjoy a full day touring the moon-like landscape of Cappadocia. The unique scenery of the Goreme Valley (one of the oldest settlements of the region) with rock chapels, carved by early Christians, is an unforgettable experience. We see Uchisar Castle and later we visit the‘underground city’ of Kaymakli. It is thought that the Hittites originally constructed this city over 3,000 years ago. These chambers were later expanded into an extensive troglodytic complex by Christians escaping the Arab invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries. (B, D) Pamukkale DAY 13 CAPPADOCIA This morning we have included a memorable activity that will surely be a highlight of your tour. Boarding a hot air balloon we gently ascend to enjoy a dramatic journey gliding silently over the fairy chimneys of Goreme and across the Cappadocia ‘moonscape’ countryside. Later we return to our wonderful ‘cave hotel’ to relax. The rest of the day and evening are free to explore this intriguing area at your own pace, and the perfect opportunity to discover a local restaurant and experience the regional cuisine. (B) DAY 14 ISTANBUL 3 nights in Cappadocia gives you This morning we transfer to the Airport for our flight to Istanbul. On arrival time! Time to explore this back in Istanbul we will visit the famous Grand Bazaar, a maze of 65 intriguing area and time to relax winding, covered streets and arguably the most famous‘covered market’ and enjoy your wonderful, in the world. In its 4,000 shops you will find Turkish carpets, glazed tiles authentic ‘cave hotel’. It also and pottery, copper and brassware, leather clothes and many other provides a wider window of treasures. Tonight we have included a farewell dinner in a local restaurant. opportunity to hit perfect (B, D) weather so we can soar silently into the morning sky, drifting Your Istanbul Hotel – Innova Sultanahmet Hotel peacefully over the amazing landscape and weather beaten ‘fairy DAY 15 ISTANBUL chimneys’ on our incredible, included , hot air balloon ride. Sadly your tour finishes this morning after breakfast with a transfer to the airport. (B) 75 Tour Inclusions

• All sightseeing, scenic drives, excursions and entrances as described in the itinerary • Fully escorted by an experienced Turkish Tour Guide • First class coach for transfers and touring • End of tour tips to Turkish Tour Guide and driver • 14 nights selected accommodation as described • Hotel porterage (1 bag per person) • Arrival and departure airport transfers in Istanbul • Breakfast daily • 12 dinners including welcome and farewell dinners in Istanbul • Hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, Turkish tea at Caferaga Medresesi, lunch at Kum Hotel on Gallipoli Peninsula • Private commemoration at ANZAC Cove and evening presentation by a local Turkish historian • Entrance fees to Topkapi Palace, Underground Cisterns, Kabatepe Museum, Troy, Pergamum Acropolis, Ephesus, House of Virgin Mary, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale Hierapolis, Sultanhan Caravanserai, Goreme Open Air Museum and Kaymakli Underground City

2014 Dates and Prices

15 days only $3,889 pp twin share SPECIAL Early Bird Single supplement $989 O!er (land only prices in Australian dollars) Special Earlybird Offer - Book by 22 Dec 2013 to save $300 pp!

STARTS ENDS STARTS ENDS 11 May 25 May 17 August 31 August 2 June 16 June 7 September 21 September 20 July 3 August

‘From start to finish our tour was informative and lots of fun! The highlight for me was the hot-air balloon flight over Cappadocia. The other would be Gallipoli, especially the private dawn service.‘ Sue s u s e h p E 76