Christmas Turkey - 12 days

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Carbon neutral

12 daysDuration

Group TourJoin a group of travelers

24 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 80 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Istanbul, Turkey

Ends

Istanbul, Turkey

Highlights

Istanbul - Tour historic Istanbul, taking in the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more

Gallipoli Peninsula - Pay your respects at the WWI battlefields and cemeteries including ANZAC Cove

Troy - See the replica Trojan Horse in the ancient city, the setting of one of Ancient Greece's most famous tales

Ephesus - Marvel at the Library of Celsus in Roman Ephesus and explore the Ancient Greek city of Pergamum

Pamukkale - Take a dip in the thermal pools and walk along the beautiful white cotton castles, known as travertines

Demre - Spend Christmas Eve visiting the Church and Tomb of Saint Nicholas and enjoy dinner in Antalya

Konya - Delve into the fabulous and well-preserved Roman ruins of Perge and Aspendos on a wonderfully Turkish Christmas Day

Cappadocia - Enjoy two days spent exploring the incredible cave cities and subterranean churches of this fascinating region

Demre - Spend Christmas Eve visiting the Church and Tomb of Saint Nicholas and enjoy dinner in Antalya

Konya - Delve into the fabulous and well-preserved Roman ruins of Perge and Aspendos on a wonderfully Turkish Christmas Day

Cappadocia - Enjoy two days spent exploring the incredible cave cities and subterranean churches of this fascinating region

Itinerary

Experience the magic of Turkey during the festive season with the Christmas Turkey - 12 Days tour. Perfect for seasoned travelers and seniors, this easy-paced city sightseeing trip starts and ends in Istanbul, taking you through celebrated destinations such as Cappadocia, Ephesus, Troy, and Pamukkale. Imagine snowflakes drifting onto fairy chimneys, exploring legendary ruins, and relaxing in thermal springs. The highlight of the trip is a magical Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas’s historic church, offering a unique festive twist. With all accommodations, transport, and meals included, this tour package provides a stress-free holiday alternative, making it the perfect getaway for those seeking relaxation, culture, and a touch of Christmas spirit in an enchanting setting.

day 1 - Welcome to Istanbul

18 December. Welcome to Turkey! Arrive Istanbul and transfer to hotel. Remainder of the day and evening at leisure.

OverNight:Istanbul

day 2 - Old City Sights

Enjoy a tour of old Istanbul. The only city to span two continents sits on the Bosphorus - the strait of water that divides the continents of Europe and Asia. Its illustrious past leaves a rich legacy of churches, mosques, palaces and museums, complemented by the behemoth Grand Bazaar and colourful street life.

Sultanahmet, the compact old city of Istanbul, is full of parks, gardens and stunning sights. The Blue Mosque is famed for it’s blue Iznik tiles and unique 6 minarets. Here, explore the exterior of the Hagia Sophia, constructed in the 6th century and considered by some to be the epitome of Byzantine architecture, reigned as the grandest and biggest church in Christendom until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, when it became a mosque.

Just around the corner is the stunning Topkapi Palace and the Underground Cistern. Rest of day free. Tonight, we are free to explore or relax in our hotel.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Istanbul

day 3 - Gallipoli

Istanbul – Canakkale. Today, we enjoy a visit to battle-scarred Gallipoli. On the 25th April 1915, under the guidance of the British Command, the combined forces of Australia and New Zealand, otherwise known as the ‘ANZACs’, mounted an assault at a beach in North-Western Turkey. The futile campaign, infamously known as Gallipoli, is poignantly etched in history due to the enormous loss of lives and the impossibly hopeless situation faced by these brave young soldiers, many of whom had left home for the first time, destined never to return. In the fierce struggle for Turkish territory, thousands perished as the odds were resolutely stacked against them. The Turks sustained terrible losses. Thousands of British, French and Indian Allied troops also died. As always in war, common men died, cruelly robbed of their potential because of actions and decisions of military leaders.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Canakkale

days 4-5 - Troy & legendary Ephesus

Canakkale - Kusadasi. Step back in time as we visit the legendary Roman ruins of Pergamum and Troy - inspiration for Homer's Illiad and much more recently the movie Troy. On day 5, we explore ancient Ephesus. Exemplifying the finesse of Roman urban life, Ephesus boasts carefully restored elements including a Great Theatre, Curetes Way, the Temple of Serapis and the Library of Celsus. Stop by the ancient public toilets and public brothel! Afterward, we stop at a local leather manufacturer. Turkey produces some of the finest leather goods in the world and many are made here before branding in Italy.

Meals:2 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Kusadasi

day 6 - Pamukkale

Kusadasi – Pammukale. Today we visit the famous gleaming white calcium terraced pools of Pamukkale. Known locally as the Cotton Castles, they are a natural phenomena and gift of Mother Nature. We can also opt to enjoy a unique and very pleasant dip in the warm waters at the Pamukkale Thermal with its submerged fragments of fluted marble columns near the centre of the ruined spa town of Hierapolis, which was a was a Roman curative centre.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Pamukkale

day 7 - Xmas Eve at St Nic's

Pammukale - Demre - Antalya. The legend of Saint Nicholas (aka Santa Claus) began in Turkey! St Nicholas - a 4th century bishop gave anonymous gifts to dowryless village girls. He would drop bags of coins down the chimneys of their houses and this ‘gift from heaven’ would allow them to marry. We visit the church and tomb of St Nicholas in Demre before continuing to coastal Antalya for a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner on a hilltop restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Antalya

day 8 - Christmas Day & Roman Ruins

Kemer - Konya. Merry Christmas! En route to Konya we tour the incredible Roman ruins of Perge and Aspendos. Settled first by the Hittites around 1500 BC, Perge was an important city in Pamphylia (today’s Mediterranean region). The ruins of the ancient theatre (capacity 12,000 people) boasting marble reliefs depicting the life and times of Dionysos along with the remains of the first church built in Perge, and various temples can be seen. Nearby Aspendos is famous for its well-preserved theatre of antiquity.

Meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Konya

days 9-10 - Cappadocia

Konya – Cappadocia. Day 9 we tour Konya and the Mevlana monastery before heading north east to Cappadocia. We stop en route at an ancient caravanserai and later take a short walk through the beautiful Ihlara Valley. In the evening, opt for a traditional Turkish dinner and folklore evening. On day 10, we explore the stunning Goreme Valley, fairy chimneys, amazing troglodyte villages, Uchisar Castle and Derinkuyu underground city.

Stopping on the outskirts of Goreme Village we have the opportunity to see Pigeon Valley where century’s old pigeon houses are carved into the surrounding cliffs, the pigeon droppings that litter the area have been used as fertilizer on crops for generations. Here you will also have the opportunity to visit an Onyx shop, specialising in historic jewellery designs unique to Turkey and using local materials and craftsmen. For those not interested in shopping spend a little time relaxing and grab a drink from the local cafe.

Meals:2 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

OverNight:Cappadocia

day 11 - Back to Istanbul

Cappadocia - Istanbul. Today we head back to Istanbul, stopping en route for lunch (payable locally).

If you'd prefer to avoid the long journey over land today, we also offer the opportunity to fly from Cappadocia to Istanbul.

Meals:1 Breakfast

OverNight:Istanbul

day 12 - Istanbul

29 December. After breakfast our tour concludes with an onward departure transfer to the airport. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas in Turkey!

Meals:1 Breakfast

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What's Included

Accommodation

10 nights 4 star and special class hotels, 1 night 5 star hotel

Meals

Breakfast daily and 6 dinners inclusive of a special Christmas Eve Dinner in Antalya overlooking the Mediterranean Sea

Transport

Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and departure transfer (to Istanbul International Airport) on day 12Relevant transfers and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles

Guide

Escorted by an English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide

Others

Guided sightseeing - Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome and Hagia SofiaGuided sightseeing - Gallipoli, Troy, Ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum, Pamukkale and Roman Hierapolis, Perge, Aspendos, Konya and Cappadocia

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

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