Turkish Escape
Turkish Escape
Turkish Escape
8 Days Starting and ending in Istanbul, Turkey
Visiting: Turkey
Tour operator:
Tour code:
KQRX-2024
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Please Advise Request
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Turkey is a unique country with a unique identity straddling both Europe and Asia. Your 8-day Turkish Escape starts in Istanbul, a city of great diversity and a combination of tree-lined boulevards, cafés and cosmopolitan restaurants set against a backdrop where little has changed for centuries. During its 3,000 years of turbulent history, it has been home to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans and the Turks themselves- all leaving their marks. Highlights of your sightseeing are inside visits to the 6th century Hagia Sophia, the largest ever church and for over a thousand years the largest covered space on earth and to the amazing Topiaki Palace which was the seat of the government of one of the greatest Empire of the Medieval age. Pay tribute to the fallen war heroes at the Anzac cemetery and visit 3 of the most famous ancient sites in the country: Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus. Each very different and distinctive. Troy, the oldest, dating from 3,000BC and made up to 9 separate cities all built over each other; Pergamon an impregnable defensive site with amazing views in all directions which flourished as one of the ancient world’s greatest centres of and healing; Ephesus, the greatest city in the Eastern Mediterranean during Roman times which boasts an extraordinary number of superbly preserved monuments.Cross from Europe to Asia on board a scenic ferry journey across the Dardanelles Straight and get ready to taste the superb Turkish cuisine, an interesting blend of Mediterranean specialties and flavours.This is the perfect vacation if you are looking for a genuine and unique blend of diverse cultures, centuries of history and an atmosphere the mysterious East with the familiar West.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Istanbul,Turkey
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Titanic City
Meals Included: Dinner
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at the hotel.ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL,TURKEY Welcome to Istanbul! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)
Day 2: Istanbul
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Titanic City
Meals Included: Breakfast
ISTANBUL A Gateway between Orient and Occident ISTANBUL Guided sightseeing includes the Topapki Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Roman Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque followed by a Turkish Delight tasting. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURE & TRADITIONS Founded by the Greeks as Byzantium more than 2,500 years ago, 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 a gateway between Orient and Occident, the Islamic and the Christian worlds, and the Black Sea and the Mediterranean predestined it for a turbulent yet exciting history.
Day 3: Istanbul,Gallipoli,Troy Area
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Doubletree
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
ISTANBUL–GALLIPOLI–TROY AREA Bravery on the BeachGALLIPOLI Visit the WWI battlefields on the Gallipoli peninsula, the Anzac Cemetery and the Lone Pine Memorial before crossing the Dardanelless by ferry. (B,D) 236 mi/ 380 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORY & HERITAGE Visit the moving and inspirational sites, 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.
Day 4: Troy Area,Pergamum,Kusadasi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Charisma De Luxe Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
TROY AREA–PERGAMUM–KUSADASI Trojan War TROY Enjoy a guided visitPERGAMUM Guided visit of the Asklepion, a shrine to the Greek God of medicine. (B,D) 267 mi / 430 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT HEALING THE BODY &THE SOUL Nestled between hills, the Asklepion retains a sense of serenity and history. The sick approached the temple via the Sacred Way, a path that started their journey to health determined according to what dreams the patience experienced and which also included theatre shows. All of this was done in the belief that healing was a sacred art and that people’s souls needed to be mended as well as their bodies.
Day 5: Kusadasi,Ephesus,Pamukkale
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Adempira Termal & Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
KUSADASI–EPHESUS–PAMUKKALE Ancient Civilization Preserved EPHESUS Follow your Guide for a walk through the ancient ruins and the archaeological museum. (B,D) 137 mi / 220 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SPOTS Ephesus was one of the most famous cities of the ancient Mediterranean. It was the second biggest city of the Roman Empire and today it is one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean.
Day 6: Pamukkale,Hierapolis,Bursa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Moevenpick Bursa Hotel And Thermal Spa
Meals Included: Breakfast
PAMUKKALE–HIERAPOLIS–BURSA In the Shadow of Mount Olympus HIERAPOLIS Visit the thermal resort founded by a Pergamene king in 190 BCE.BURSA Visit the Great Mosque the covered bazaar and the silk market followed by a Kestane Sekeri tasting. (B) 280mi / 450 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT ANCIENT TASTES ON THE SILK ROAD Wander through the long winding bazaar in Bursa, Turkey’s centuries-old city center, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the buzzing marketplace. Treat your taste buds to one of the city’s famous sweets, the Kestane Sekery, and find the perfect gift for yourself or a friend, a piece of authentic Bursa-made silk.
Day 7: Bursa,Iznik,Istanbul
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Titanic City
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
BURSA–IZNIK–ISTANBUL Ancient Walls & Ecumenical Council IZNIK Guided visit includes St. Sophia’s Church and the Archaeological museumISTANBUL Farewell dinner at a local restaurant (B,D) 137 mi / 220 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT CERAMIC BEYOND TIMES Iznik is a completely "open-air museum" with its rare ancient history and uniqueness. It is also the birthplace of the world famous Iznik tiles – a treasured artform dating back to the Ottoman Empire.
Day 8: Istanbul
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.ISTANBUL Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
What's Included
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Welcome Dinner
Enjoy a welcome dinner with your tour director and traveling companions on the first day in Istanbul.
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Guided Sightseeing Tours
Explore Turkey's rich history and natural beauty with guided tours of Istanbul, the WWI battlefields on the Gallipoli peninsula, the ancient city of Troy, the ruins of Pergamum and the Asklepion, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Bursa, and Iznik.
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Accommodations
Stay in comfortable and luxurious hotels throughout your journey, including The Artisan Istanbul Mgallery, Kolin Hotel Canakkale, Charisma De Luxe Hotel Kusadasi, Colossae Thermal & Spa Hotel, Moevenpick Bursa Hotel and Thermal Spa, and Movenpick Hotel Istanbul Bosphorus.
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Meals
Meals as per itinerary, including breakfasts and dinners at selected hotels and local restaurants.
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Transportation
Travel comfortably with all transportation provided as per itinerary, including any in-country flights, coach, or boat transfers.
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Entrance Fees
All entrance fees to the sights and museums as mentioned in the itinerary are included.
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Tastings
Experience local flavors with a Turkish Delight tasting in Istanbul and a Kestane Sekeri tasting in Bursa.
What's Not Included
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers to ensure protection against unforeseen events.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, minibar, and additional meals or drinks outside of the provided meals are not included.
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Optional Excursions
Any optional excursions or visits not mentioned in the itinerary are not included and may incur additional costs.
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Tips and Gratuities
Tips and gratuities for tour guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included and are at the discretion of the traveler.
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Visa Fees
Any visa fees required for entry into Turkey are not included and are the responsibility of the traveler.
UNESCO Sites
Archaeological Site of Troy|Ephesus|Hierapolis-Pamukkale|Historic Areas of Istanbul
Accommodation
Istanbul:The Artisan Istanbul MgalleryTroy Area:Kolin Hotel CanakkaleKusadasi:Charisma De Luxe Hotel KusadasiPamukkale:Colossae Thermal & Spa HotelBursa:Moevenpick Bursa Hotel and Thermal SpaIstanbul:Movenpick Hotel Istanbul Bosphorus
Notes
Uneven terrain of Ephesus' archaeological sites may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
Meals
7 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes, 5 years and above
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Will I know the names & details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Yes
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Will there be an escort accomanying this tour?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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