Celsus Library in Ephesus

THE BEST OF ISTANBUL& WESTERN TURKEY
9 DAYS

If the time that you can allocate to your tour is rather limited, and yet you do not want to miss seeing Istanbul, Ephesus, Troy, Pergamum, etc., this is the tour for you. The itinerary described here was designed to "offer you the most within the least amount of time." Although this tour will keep you on the go, it is not a tiring bus trip and you do not generally have to do more than three or four hours of driving at a time. You will get an excellent introduction to Turkey in eight nights and nine days. Once you complete this tour and fall in love with Turkey and the Turks, you will most likely desire to go on our other tours to see the rest of this country.

DAY 1: ISTANBUL Arrive at Istanbul airport. Transfer to hotel. Welcome cocktail and dinner at hotel (D)

DAY 2: BURSA Drive to Bursa. Lunch at a famous Doner Kebap (Gyro) restaurant. Visit the Green Mosque and Mausoleum, and the Silk Bazaar. Dinner at hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 3: CANAKKALE Drive to Canakkale. Sightseeing in Troy. Lunch at Gelibolu. Visit the Gallipoli Battlefields. Dinner at hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 4: KUSADASI Drive to Pergamum for sightseeing. Lunch at Bergama (Pergamum). Drive to Kusadasi via Izmir. Dinner at hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 5: KUSADASI Sightseeing in Ephesus, Basilica of St. John, House of The Virgin Mary, The Archeological Museum. Lunch at Selçuk. Dinner at a restaurant. (B,L,D)

DAY 6: ISTANBUL Drive to Pamukkale. Sightseeing in Hierapolis and Aphrodisias. Transfer to Izmir; lunch en route. Flight to Istanbul*. Arrival at Istanbul airport and transfer to hotel. Dinner at hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 7: ISTANBUL Visit the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Underground Cistern, and St. Sophia Museum. Lunch on the grounds of Topkapi Palace. Visit Topkapi Palace and the Covered Bazaar. Dinner at a restored mansion or other special restaurant. (B,L,D)

DAY 8: ISTANBUL Cruise on the Bosphorus, with lunch on the European coast. Visit the Dolmabahce Palace. Performance of the Janissary Band at the Military Museum**. Farewell Cocktail and dinner at a special restaurant. (B,L,D)

DAY 9: Transfer to the airport for flight to your next destination.

B = Breakfast included, L = Lunch included, D = Dinner included, D/E = Dinner and entertainment included
NOTE: The city or region designated next to a tour day (e.g., DAY 6: ANTALYA) indicates the location of overnight stay.