Day 1 – depart Johannesburg
Make your way to OR Tambo International Airport for you overnight flight to Istanbul via Cairo.

Day 2 – arrive Istanbul
Arrive at Cairo International Airport and transfer to your onward flight to Istanbul.
Welcome to Turkey! On arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Istanbul

Day 3 – Istanbul sightseeing
After breakfast, you will depart at 08h30 for the Istanbul city tour. You will begin with the ancient Hippodrome, which was the scene of chariot races and the three monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. We will then continue to the Sultanahmet Mosque across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet. It is also known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Then arrive at our last stop which is the famous Hagia Sophia. This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time. After your tour you have the option to experience The Bosphorus Cruise – you will have the chance to enjoy magnificent views of the Bosphorus which connects Asia to Europe.
Overnight in Istanbul

Day 4 – Gallipoli Battlefields tour
This morning you will depart at 06h30 for Canakkale. The group will arrive in Eceabat at noon and begin the fully guided Gallipoli tour. Visiting Kabatepe Museum, Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly, The Nek and Chunuk Bair New Zealand memorial. During the tour there will be a lunch break. Late in the afternoon you will arrive in Canakkale.
Overnight

Day 5 – Helen of Troy tour to Kusadasi
After breakfast we depart for the ancient city of Troy. Your guide will explain the mythology surrounding Troy, the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy, as well as the history and discoveries of the archaeological diggings from its discovery by Heinrich Schliemann in the 1870’s to the present day and on going. Nine cities have been discovered built one on top of the other dating back to 3500 B.C. After Troy we will depart for Kusadasi, late arrival to Kusadasi.
Overnight

Day 6 – Ephesus tour
After breakfast, you will be taken on a fully guided tour of Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient ruins in the world. You will also visit the house of the Virgin Mary (supposedly where St. John brought her to live out her final days). After the tour, we will visit a carpet-weaving centre, which belongs to the national arts of Turkey. Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 7 – Trip to Turkish Village Sirince
Sirince’s construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all original with their white paint. Sirince is very popular for its building style, house, streets and apple wine made by the villagers. In 1922 the Anatolian Greeks immigrated back to Greece and Turks coming from Greece settle there. There are remains of 42 churches and monasteries in and around the village that is why Sirince is also know as “Ephesus in the mountains”. Sirince is one of the Government Protected Areas of Izmir and so most of its original authentic buildings are well preserved, especially the 2 churches in the village centre. Overnight in Kusadasi

Day 8 – Pamukkale tour
Following breakfast, you will depart at 08h00 for Pamukkale. On the way we will visit one of the famous leather production centres of the region. We then arrive at Pamukkale for lunch. Afterwards we shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, then walk around this natural phenomenon and have the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs.
Overnight in Pamukkale

Day 9 – Pamukkale & Cappadocia
After breakfast, you can enjoy the thermal pool and sun till 10h00. Then depart for Cappadocia (9 hours drive). Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 10 – Cappadocia tour
Today we will get to know the Cappadocia region, a volcanic area in which the geological formation started 10 million years ago. As a result of these formations phallic like pillars have come to life. The beautiful horse country “Katpatuka” (as the Persians called her) is an unbelievable strip of land. Your guided tour will start at 09h30 and cover’s Avcilar, Pigeon Valley, Goreme Open Air Museum, Dervent Valley, Uchisar Castle and the pottery village of Avanos.
Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 11 – Cappadocia to Istanbul
We depart at 09h30, after breakfast, for one of the most interesting sites of Cappadocia – Derinkuyu Underground City. The Christians hid from the armies of Rome and the raids of hostile tribes in these self sufficient cities in which there were halls for stocks of crop, barns, rooms, kitchens and ventilation channels. Overnight bus to Istanbul

Day 12 – Istanbul
Check into the hotel and have breakfast. Day at leisure in Istanbul.
Stay at the hotel or explore the city, shop in the Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar. Experience Taksim, which is the heart of the night and intellectual life of Istanbul. It has nice bars, restaurants, café’s and cinemas. Overnight

Day 13– depart Istanbul
Check out of the hotel after breakfast. You will be transferred to Istanbul Airport for your departure flight via Cairo back to Johannesburg

Day 14 – arrive Johannesburg
Early morning arrival at OR Tambo International Airport.

Included:
• Airfare on Egypt Air – JNB/CAI/IST/CAI/JNB (subject to certain seats & conditions)
• Return airport transfers in Istanbul
• 3 nights accommodation at a 3* hotel in Istanbul incl. breakfast
• 1 nights accommodation at a 3* hotel in Canakkale incl. breakfast
• 3 nights accommodation at a 3* hotel in Kusadasi incl. breakfast
• 1 nights accommodation at a 3* hotel in Pamukkale incl. breakfast
• 2 nights accommodation at a 3* hotel in Cappadocia incl. breakfast
• Guided Istanbul city tour, Gallipoli tour, Troy tour, Ephesus tour, Pamukkale tour, Turkish Village Sirince & 2 different Cappadocia tours
• All entrance fees mentioned in itinerary
• Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
• Professional English speaking tour guide