Turkey has so much to offer the traveller with its breathtaking natural beauty, unique historical sites and the famous turkish hospitality. Walk across the soil that holds intact remains from the Hittites to the Ottomans and more classical Hellenistic sites than Greece! Nearly every major empire has conquered, occupied and left their trace on these lands. It's a vast country and incorporates large disparities in levels of development. At the same time, it's an immensely rewarding place to travel, not least because of the people, whose reputation for friendliness and hospitality is richly deserved.
01 April 2010 Thursday
Depart Brisbane SQ236 2.45pm Arrive Singapore 8.50pm
Depart Singapore SQ490 11.40pm.
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02 April 2010 Friday
Arrive Istanbul 7.40am. You will be met at Ataturk Airport and transferred to your hotel. Drop of bags and then commence your walking tour of the Old City, visit the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome. This will be followed by lunch and a free afternoon and evening. (L)
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03 April 2010 Saturday
This morning some more time to explore Istanbul. You will visit the Topkapi Palace, Turkey's number one tourist attraction, home to the Ottoman sultans for centuries and full of many treasures, St Sophia-Church of the Divine Wisdom, a truly magnificent building. Later cross the Galata Bridge, to the Beyoglu district and enjoy some free time wandering along Independence Ave for a look at the more modern part of Istanbul. The afternoon will see time to enjoy the sights and smells of the Spice markets followed by the awesome shopping experience of the Grand Bazaar. (B)
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04 April 2010 Sunday
After breakfast we will drive to Ankara and visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk and it's museum, the burial place of the national hero who founded the modern Republic of Turkey. We then depart for Cappadocia. After a picturesque trip along the Salt Lake we arrive in Cappadocia for our 3 night stay (B,D)
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05 April 2010 Monday
Early in the morning there will be an optional to go Hot Air Ballooning. (An additional cost.) Enjoy the sunrise before returning to your hotel. Today you will tour to Kaymakli Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Soganli Valley, an Open Air Museum in a wild natural setting near a typical Cappadocian village with its different style Rock-Cut churches and frescoes. Villages in the valleys, surrounded by the "table top" mountains, are spectacular.
Enjoy lunch before a free afternoon and evening. (B,L)
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06 April 2010 Tuesday
In the morning you will experience your first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in the Devrent Valley. Lunch will be enjoyed in Avanos, centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000BC, and there will be a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. An afternoon visit to the famous Goreme Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Continue to the Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. (B,L)
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07 April 2010 Wednesday
Depart Cappadocia and travel to Konya. En route we'll visit the 13th Century Caravanserai Sultanhan, once a hotel and restaurant on the Silk Road. On arriving in Konya city visit the house of Whirling Dervishes of Mevlana and the Tomb of Mevlana. (B,D)
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08 April 2010 Thursday
Depart Konya and travel to Antalya, a very popular holiday resort of Turkey nicknamed "the Turkish Riviera". Before arriving in Antalya, visit the famous Duden waterfalls, one of the natural beauties of the Antalya Region. (B,D)
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09 April 2010 Friday
A morning visit to the Roman/Hellenic city of Perge and Aspendos, the finest preserved Roman theatre in the world followed by an afternoon at leisure in Antalya. (B,L)
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10 April 2010 Saturday
Depart Antalya and travel to Fethiye. An afternoon visit to Saklikent Canyon Gorge. (B,D)
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11 April 2010 Sunday
Full day at leisure for your own activities. Fethiye offers several different sporting activities including paragliding or rafting in the Dalaman River. (B)
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12 April 2010 Monday
Today we travel from Fethiye to Pamukkale, which means "Cotton Castle" in Turkish, is known as the 8th world wonder by Turkish people. Pamukkale is a natural site and a famous tourist attraction in south-western Turkey in the Denizli Province. The water (35 degrees Celsius) which flows down the cliff of Pamukkale has turned the area into a white cotton colour and carved this fantastic formation of stalactites and basins. It is the largest and finest example of elaborate calcium formation in the world. (B,D)
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13 April 2010 Tuesday
Breakfast then a morning visit to the ancient Hierapolis with the magnificent Necropolis, graveyard and the limestone cascade. Afterwards we continue our journey to Kusadasi. (B,D)
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14 April 2010 Wednesday
A morning drive to the ancient city of Ephesus where we will visit the magnificent library, theatre and temples. The afternoon will be free time to explore the shopping and markets of this fabulous town. (B,D)
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15 April 2010 Thursday
An early departure this morning to Pergamum to visit the Acropolis with it's well preserved remains. We then continue on to visit the ancient ruins of Troy before arriving in Canakkale for dinner. (B,D)
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16 April 2010 Friday
A full day on Gallipoli Peninsula to visit the Anzac Commemorative site. Anzac Cove, Shrapnel Valley and Beach Cemetery, the Anzac Memorials at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair, Walkers Ridge, the Nek and surrounging trenches. Included is the entrance fee to Kabatepe Museum. A lunch pack is also included. (B,L,D)
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17 April 2010 Saturday
This morning visit the remote tip of the Gallipoli peninsula. Here at the most south-easterly corner of Europe, is the British Commonwealth's main monument to the whole Gallipoli campaign-the Helles Memorial. All Australian & New Zealand units which fought on the peninsula between April and December 1915 are commemorated here. This afternoon we will travel back to Istanbul. (B,L)
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18 April 2010 Sunday
Day at leisure to explore Istanbul. Tonight a farewell dinner to share the many stories and experiences from your travels around Turkey, a truly fascinating country full of history and fabulous people. (B,D)
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19 April 2010 Monday
You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport for your flight home.
Depart Istanbul SQ491 1.25pm (B)
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20 April 2010 Tuesday
Arrive Singapore 7.30am Depart Singapore 9.55am
Arrive Brisbane 7.25pm.
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