GLOBUS 2012: THE BEST OF TURKEY (QR)
8 days from Istanbul to Istanbul, or 9 days incl. travel
Enjoy a week vacation in this fascinating country and visit the main highlights. Start in Istanbul, where a welcome dinner is included as well as guided sightseeing with visits to Topkapi Seraglio, the Blue Mosque, and more. See the Anzac Cemetery, cross the Dardanelles by ferry, and visit the archaeological sites of Troy and Ephesus. In Pergamum, visit its museum, the Asclepion, and the Acropolis. In Pamukkale, visit the Hierapolis; in Bursa, visit the Green Ottoman Complex and the Great Mosque; and in Iznik, a visit to the St. Sophia Church is included. Return to Istanbul in style by a leisurely private cruise on the Bosporus, and back in Istanbul, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
HOTELS
ISTANBUL The Zurich Hotel (SF), TROY AREA Kolin (F) at Canakkale, KUSADASI The Charisma (SF), PAMUKKALE Lycus River (F) at Karahayit, BURSA Kervansaray Thermal (F)
HOTELS
ISTANBUL The Zurich Hotel (SF), TROY AREA Kolin (F) at Canakkale, KUSADASI The Charisma (SF), PAMUKKALE Lycus River (F) at Karahayit, BURSA Kervansaray Thermal (F)
Details
- Tour Operator
- Globus
- Offer
- Offer valid through 3/31/2012
- Duration
- 8 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Istanbul | After arrival at Ataturk Airport, check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to start soaking up the unique atmosphere of this city built on two continents. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel. (D) |
| Day 2 | Istanbul | Founded by the Greeks as Byzantium more than 2,500 years ago, renamed Constantinople in 330 AD when Constantine the Great elected it the capital of the Roman Empire, and finally called Istanbul after the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, the city on the Bosporus remains one of the most exciting places in the world. Its strategic location as gateway between Orient and Occident, the Islamic and the Christian worlds, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, predestined it for a turbulent history. Guided sightseeing starts at TOPKAPI PALACE, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Admire its exquisite collection of Chinese porcelain and the Imperial Treasury, including the stunning 'Spoonmaker's Diamond.' Then, visit Sultan Ahmet's BLUE MOSQUE followed by the ROMAN HIPPODROME, and tour the HAGIA SOPHIA and the SPICE BAZAAR with its 4,000 tiny shops. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. For a taste of Turkish nightlife, join our optional dinner outing and discover the fascination of belly dancing. (B) |
| Day 3 | Istanbul-Troy Area | Visit the colorful GRAND BAZAAR before setting out on your discovery tour of a country with the population of Britain and more than three times its size. Drive along the European shore of the Sea of Marmara and head westward through sunflower and olive groves to the Dardanelles. Visit the WWI battlefields on the Gallipoli peninsula, where Allied troops, mainly Australians and New Zealanders, suffered heavy casualties in a disastrous campaign. Pay tribute to the heroes of those tragic months of 1915 at the ANZAC CEMETERY and the LONE PINE MEMORIAL. Travel by ferry across the Dardanelles to the Troy area for your first overnight in Asia on the Aegean coast. (B,D) |
| Day 4 | Kusadasi | Call at TROY, the perfect place to brush up on Homer's Trojan War-hollow wooden horse and all! Vistas of the Greek isle of Lesbos greet you as you follow the shores of the Bay of Edremit. Continue south to Pergamum, an ancient center of learning and the arts, and visit its MUSEUM. After lunch, visit the ASCLEPION, a shrine to the Greek god of medicine. Drive to Kusadasi for an overnight. (B,D) |
| Day 5 | Kusadasi-Ephesus-Pamukkale | Today, visit Ephesus, home of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, and later, the capital of Roman Asia Minor. Visit the SITE OF ANCIENT RUINS and the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM with its famous statue of Artemis, goddess of fertility and destiny. Then, travel along the Silk Road, and through the lush valley of the meandering Menderes River. Focus on APHRODISIAS, in Roman times a prosperous center dedicated to the cult of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. See the impressive and well-preserved elliptic STADIUM, which held up to 30,000 spectators, and visit the MUSEUM. Next Pamukkale. The name means 'Cotton Castle' and refers to the spectacular white lime cascades formed by its hot springs. At your hotel tonight, maybe a leisurely bath in a pool of hot thermal water might be just the way to relax after a busy touring day. (B,D) |
| Day 6 | Bursa | This morning, visit the fascinating archaeological site of HIERAPOLIS, the thermal resort founded by a Pergamene king in 190 BC and greatly enlarged and embellished by the Romans. Then, enjoy the ever-changing cultivated landscapes and timeless scenes of rural life on your way to Bursa. Spot farmers working their fields or transporting produce in traditional horse-drawn carts. Bursa lies in the shade of the Uludag-also called Mount Olympus of Mysia-a 7,700-foot-high ski mountain surrounded by lovely orchards and tobacco fields. Founded by the Greeks, like most ancient cities in this part of the world, and hotly contested during the Crusades, Bursa had its heyday as the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. In the afternoon, visit the GREAT MOSQUE (Ulu Camii). Also on the agenda, of course, the ANCIENT COVERED BAZAAR and the Silk Market. (B,D) |
| Day 7 | Bursa-Iznik-Istanbul | Visit Iznik, site of the first Ecumenical Council. See its ancient city walls before visiting ST. SOPHIA CHURCH and the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM. Later, return to Istanbul in style. Enjoy a leisurely private CRUISE on the Bosporus, the narrow strait that links the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and separates Asia from Europe. Take pictures of exquisite private residences along the scenic shoreline, and of strategically located castles that once protected the approaches of the city. Tonight, a farewell dinner at a local restaurant celebrates the success of your Turkish adventure. (B,D) |
| Day 8 | Istanbul | Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- US$ Price Details
Dates and prices do not include international air travel. When planning your trip, allow one extra day before tour date for travel between the USA and Europe.Prices based on double room occupancy.Single room supplement: $374Triple room reduction: $17Extra nights per person in Istanbul:in single room $145, in twin room $102, in triple room $90
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-We may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city.
-Additional accommodations before or after your vacation may be available at our low prices.
Additional Information:
-Departure/arrival taxes and fares from other cities will be advised at the time of booking.
-Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
Guaranteed air-inclusive prices:
Air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional $250 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e., air-inclusive vacation.) However, once your airfare is confirmed and Avalon Waterways has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.
We also accept your reservation on a land-only basis:
While booking your vacation air-inclusive gives you various advantages, you can also choose the land-only option. But remember, airlines' special fares generally apply to very brief periods. (Our low air-inclusive fares apply throughout the year.) Plus, to get these 'deals' you often are required to pay full fare at the time of booking.
Taxes & fees
Taxes and fees are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full land and air deposit are received.
Applicable Taxes and Fees (Airfare & Charges Not Included in the Price)
Air-Inclusive Vacations
Air-inclusive prices provided online include a September 11th fee up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government imposed fees between $200-$375 depending on your itinerary. The total airfare price, the base airfare price, and the applicable government taxes and fees are broken-out line-by-line and shown while booking online and on the invoice after your travel is booked.
Not Included In Your Vacation Price (Air-Inclusive, Land-Only or Cruise-Only)
Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities: port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); additional excursions and activities not listed as 'included' in the itinerary; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection premiums; excess baggage fees; and all other items of a personal nature.
Tours
GLOBUS 2012: THE BEST OF TURKEY (QR)
From $1,289.00 (USD)
Enjoy a week vacation in this fascinating country and visit the main highlights. Start in Istanbul, where a welcome dinner is included as well as guided sightseeing with visits to Topkapi Seraglio, the Blue Mosque, and more.
