Turkey Aegean Sea Explorer

Upon your arrival at Istanbul airport, you will see our local representative expecting you there, holding a board with the logo of AgateTravel and your names on. After welcoming you warmly, the representative will transfer you to the hotel by a clean private car. The rest of the day is your free time, so you may have a rest in the room, or explore this ancient and magical city by yourself. 

Istanbul Archaeology Museum is a good place to learn the history of this ancient city. It is only about 8 minutes’ walking away to the west of the hotel, where mainly exhibits carvings and paintings from ancient Greek and ancient Roman. The most valuable treasures preserved here are sarcophaguses from Phoenician Royal Cemetery. 

Accommodation: Yasmak Sultan (4 stars) or similar

With a history of over 2,600 years and situated between Europe and Asia, Istanbul has a lot to offer to its visitors. Today’s guided tour will focus on its old city area, through which you can look deep into its past. 

We will spend the morning visiting Hagia Museum, a representative building of the Byzantine Empire with a big round roof; Blue Mosque, the world’s only mosque with 6 minarets and Hippodrome Square preserving many monuments and historical buildings one by one. 

In the afternoon, the guide will accompany you to visit Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1853. It is currently a museum displaying the luxury life of the royal family and precious treasures. After that, take a stroll in the Grand Bazaar. This indoor market has more than 4,000 shops, selling spices, carpets, nuts, gold and silver wares, and other traditional crafts. It is also a good place to taste various local snacks.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Yasmak Sultan (4 stars) or similar

In the morning at the appointed time, the guide and the driver will pick you up from the hotel and escort you to the Gallipoli Peninsula about 4.5 hours’ drive away. This is the site where the famous Gallipoli Battle during World War I took place. Nowadays, it is the national historical park of Turkey to honor the 50,000 soldiers who died in the battle. Upon arrival, the guide will lead you to visit Kabatepe War Museum, Anzac Cove, the NZ Memorial, the Australian Memorial at Lone Pine, and the Turkish Memorial, most of which are related to the wars happened on this peninsula. 

When today's tour ends, send you to the prior reserved hotel for overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Canakkale Kolin Hotel (5 stars) or similar

After breakfast, drive for about an hour to visit the ancient city of Troy. According to archaeological excavations, there are altogether 9 layers of 9 different time periods under the current Troy, and the deepest layer can be dated to 3000 - 1700 BC. Also, the famous story “Trojan Horse” is said to happen here. Not far from the entrance to the ancient city, there is a giant model of Trojan horse. You may climb up to it to have a bird’s eye view of the ancient city ruins. Just look out the steep stairs while climbing. 

In the afternoon, continue driving for 3 hours to arrive at the ruins of Pergamon, another ancient city built on a hillside by the Aegean Sea. You will find the ruins of amphitheaters, public baths, temples and libraries like many other ancient cities in Turkey. What makes it more famous is that, the first hospital in history was established here. 

At last, drive for approximately 2.5 hours to send you to the hotel in Kusadasi, a charming seaside town not far from the famous Ephesus Ancient City. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel By Karaaslan Inn (4 stars) or similar

Today’s escorted sightseeing will begin with the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, which is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Because it is severely damaged, we will only stay there for a short time, so as to leave more time for visiting Ephesus Ancient City, the largest and best preserved ancient Roman city around the world, where there is Hadrian Temple, Celsus Library, old theater and Hamams inside. After lunch, go on to visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the last place where the Virgin Mary lived. Afterwards, you'll be escorted back to the hotel in Kusadasi and stay overnight there.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel By Karaaslan Inn (4 stars) or similar

Today, we are going to visit one of the most beautiful natural sites in Turkey, Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle” literally, which it looks like from a distance. It will take about 2.5 hours to get there by car, where you will see many white terraced ponds lying layer upon layer, formed by deposited calcium from the hot springs flowing by. It is allowed to swim in those ponds. If you are interested in it, remember to bring your swimwear. After lunch, we'll visit the ruins of the City of Hierapolis, an ancient city that once flourished as a holiday resort for ancient nobles.

Finally, the guide will transfer you to the airport and guide you to take the flight to Cappadocia. Upon landing, our local guide will meet you there and transfer you to the hotel. 

Tip: Hot Air Balloon Ride is very popular in Cappadocia. If you wish to try it during the rest time of the day, we will be glad to book a seat for you on your behalf. Just let us know in advance because the seats are always in demands. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hera Cave or similar

According to the tour arrangements, we will spend the next two days exploring Cappadocia famous for the lunar-like landscapes and architecture carved in the rocks. Today, the guide will accompany you to visit the north Cappadocia. The first stop will be the Goreme Open Air Museum, where preserves more than 30 rock cave churches decorated with exquisite and colorful frescoes. Followed will be Avanos, a town specializing in making pottery; Valley of Monks, which is also called Fairy Chimney Valley for it has many high stone pillars in the shape of chimneys; Devrent Valley featured by various rock formations resembling camels, horses, birds and army, etc.; and Kizilirmak River, the longest river in Turkey also named Red River, where the people in the above mentioned Avanos get red clay to make potteries. 

On the way back to hotel, make a stop at the Love Valley, where you can take magnificent pictures of the evening scenes of Cappadocia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hera Cave or similar

Today, go on to explore the south Cappadocia. At first, we will pay a visit to Uchisar Castle transformed from a 60-meter-high (200 feet) rock. It was once the highest and largest stronghold in Cappadocia. Standing on its top, you can overlook the surroundings. Then in Rose Valley, the guide will escort you to enjoy a short hiking for about 2 hours. Next, move on to the Red Valley to see the red land and rocks. After, visit a historical village- Cavusin Village, where houses are carved out in the rocks. The last stop, as well as the highlight of todays’ sightseeing will be Kaymakli Underground City, the largest underground city in Cappadocia reaching as deep as 40 meters (140 feet). This maze-like underground city served as a sanctuary for Christians over 2,000 years ago. Stay one more night in Cappadocia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Hera Cave or similar

Today, the driver will send you to the airport for you to take the morning flight back to Istanbul. On arrival, you'll be transferred to the hotel for a short break. You will also be given some free time to enjoy local delicacies per your preference as lunch.  

At 2:00 pm, our guide will transfer you from the hotel to the dock for a Bosphorus Cruise which will last for about 2 hours. Bosphorus Strait is the dividing line of Asia and Europe. On the cruise ship, you can admire the cityscapes of Istanbul on two banks at a leisurely pace, which includes Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridge and Camlica Hill. In the end, send you back to the hotel. 

If interested, you may take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront after getting off from the cruise ship at around 4:00 pm and stay till dusk to appreciate the night views. It’s also a good choice to enjoy dinner in one of the restaurants on the bank while taking in the beautiful cityscapes. Finally, go back to the hotel by taxi on your own. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Yasmak Sultan (4 stars) or similar

This will be the last day of your 10 days Turkey tour. Depending on your flight schedule, our driver will pick you up from the hotel and send you to the airport. Happy journey home! 

If you still have some time before leaving, it is advised to go to the Grand Bazaar again, which is within the walking distance from the hotel, to buy some souvenirs for your families and friends.

Meals: Breakfast