Western Turkey Tour

Day 1 Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey

Welcome to Istanbul!! 

You will be greeted by the Flo Tour Representative and transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2 Istanbul [B]

Today, after breakfast, we start the day by visiting the impressive Topkapi Palace, which served as the palace of the Ottoman Sultans between the XVI and XIX centuries. It has a magnificent location overlooking the Bosphorus. We also visit the magnificent Hagia Sophia (Basilica of Hagia Sophia) built by Constantine the Great and rebuilt by Justinian in the VI century. It is one of the greatest architectural wonders in the world. After lunch, we will visit the enchanting and impressive Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets, beautiful blue Iznik tiles, unique architecture and marble cages. Next, visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, the center of 1000 years of Byzantine life, where chariot races and competitive athletic events take place. We will also visit the Basilica Cistern. Then, we will end the day by visiting the Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest shopping venue. We will be back to the hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3 Istanbul / Gelibolu / Canakkale [B, D]

After breakfast, move to Gallipoli and visit Anzac Bay, Lone Pine Cemetery, Conkbayırı and Gabatepe War Museum. Operation Gallipoli caused 141,113 casualties to the Allies and 195,000 to the Turks. Gallipoli proved to be the biggest victory of the Turks in the war. In London, the failure of the campaign brought Winston Churchill’s rank down and contributed to the collapse of the government of Prime Minister HH Asquith. The conflict at Gallipoli proved to be an exciting national experience for Australia and New Zealand who had not fought in a major conflict before. As a result, April 25, the anniversary of the landings, is celebrated as ANZAC Day and is the most important military commemoration day of both countries. Overnight in Çanakkale.

Day 4 Çanakkale / Troy / Kuşadası [B, D]

After breakfast, we set out for the legendary city of Troy and see the ancient city, whose history dates back to prehistoric times. See Helen’s Trojan horse, Hellenic-Roman ruins, dreaming of Helen’s romantic love story with Paris and the famous Trojan War. This is where we literally step back in time throughout history. The stories of King Priam, Hector, Paris, and the beautiful Helen immortalized this city. Archaeological excavations have revealed nine different settlement periods, as well as ruins of city walls, house foundations, temple and theater ruins. A symbolic wooden Trojan horse commemorates the legendary war. The Battle of the Granikus River also took place near Troy in May 334 BC, the first of three great battles between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire. He fought in northwest Anatolia, near the Trojan region. Here Alexander defeated the forces of the Persian satraps of Asia Minor, including a large force of Greek mercenaries led by Rhodes Memnon. The battle took place at the crossing of the Granicus River (present-day Biga River) on the road from Abydos to Dasclium (near today’s Ergili). Later, to visit the ancient kingdom of Pergamum, one of the Pergamon most beautiful places in Turkey, the city, the Red Hall and the Acropolis before remotely without seeing the ruins of Asklepion medical center, the Temple of Athena and was one of the great cultural centers, we will also visit the famous library. Asklepion was a shelter dedicated to the god of health, Asklepios. It is famous for being the symbol of medicine where the snakes were born. It is home to the former physician Galenos, who contributed a lot to the medical literature and is also known as a medical center where psychotherapy was applied as psychological therapy for the first time in the world. Overnight in Kuşadası.

Day 5 Kuşadası / Ephesus [B, D]

After breakfast this morning, we set out on our walking tour to the ancient city of Ephesus, where the Grand Theater, which was built by the Romans between AD 41-117 and is still used today. The Veduis Gymnasium houses many valuable items from the Roman Empire period, including the magnificent Celsius Library, the Temple of Hadrian guarded by the head of Medusa, the House of Virgin Mary and the Ephesus Archeology Museum in Selçuk, the mother Goddess statue. Artemis-Diana. Next, we will travel from the north of Ephesus to Sardis, where the Greco-Persian wars took place. The Persian King occupied the capital of Sardis, BC. In 546, he conquered the Lydian kingdom and built bridges and towers alongside the river until he was killed by Darius the Great. Darius ruled nearly 50 million people and the largest empire known to the ancient world. Darius has done a lot to support commerce and commerce. He developed the empire’s infrastructure by building canals, underground waterways, and roads. He practiced religious tolerance, did not allow slavery, and, despite his occupation of Greece, supported the idea that the Greeks and Persians were members of kinship peoples. He employed some Greeks in senior positions. He listened to the ideas of the non-Persians, but depended heavily on the Persians to rule the Empire and was based on the work of Cyrus the Great. Overnight in Kuşadası. He did not allow slavery and supported the idea that the Greeks and Persians were members of kin peoples, although he invaded Greece. He employed some Greeks in senior positions. He listened to the ideas of the non-Persians, but depended heavily on the Persians to rule the Empire and was based on the work of Cyrus the Great. Overnight in Kuşadası. He did not allow slavery and supported the idea that the Greeks and Persians were members of kin peoples, although he invaded Greece. He employed some Greeks in senior positions. He listened to the ideas of the non-Persians, but depended heavily on the Persians to rule the Empire and was based on the work of Cyrus the Great. Overnight in Kuşadası.

Day 6 Kusadasi [B]

Transfer to airport or pier as appropriate.