World War I Trenches in Gallipoli

FROM ALEXANDER TO GALLIPOLI:
FAMOUS BATTLEFIELDS OF ASIA MINOR
18 DAYS

Asia Minor, with an extremely rich history of civilizations going back 10,000 years, has witnessed many wars, some of which changed the destinies of many empires and kingdoms. As a result of these battles, great empires disappeared from history, only to be unearthed by archaeologists several thousand years later. Amazingly, some of the famous battlefields described by their contemporary historians still exist almost the way they looked during those historic battles. In this tour, the first of its kind, we will visit some of the battlefields as well as other much fabled sites, study the tactics of the warring sides, and try to learn from history. An ideal tour for history and war buffs!

DAY 1: ANKARA Arrival in Ankara and transfer to the hotel for Welcome Cocktail, dinner and briefing about the tour. (D)

DAY 2: ANKARA Morning: Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations to get a glimpse of the vast history of Asia Minor. After lunch, drive to Gordium, capital of the Phrygian Kingdom where Alexander the Great cut the famous Gordion Knot. Return to Ankara for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 3: CAPPADOCIA Early morning departure from Ankara to drive to Hattusas, capital of the mighty Hittite Empire. Study the war and defense tactics of the 2nd Millennium, B.C. Drive to Cappadocia for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 4: CAPPADOCIA Full-day sightseeing in the land of "Fairy Chimneys". Visit the underground city of Derinkuyu, or Kaymakli, and learn how people could live for up to a year in cities carved under the earth for protection! Overnight in Urgup. (B,L,D)

DAY 5: KONYA Departure from Cappadocia to drive to Konya, ancient Iconium. Visit a Seljuk Caravanserai (inn, used at about the time of the Crusaders). Afternoon: Visit Konya, capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire that fought the Crusaders. (B,L,D)

DAY 6: ANTALYA Drive through the Taurus Mountains (that so many armies tried to pass) to get to Antalya, a beautiful city on the "Turkish Riviera". Dinner and overnight in Antalya. (B,L,D)

DAY 7: ANTALYA Full-day sightseeing in Side, Perge and Aspendos. Overnight in Antalya. (B,L,D)

DAY 8: PAMUKKALE Morning drive to Termessos, built on a mountaintop, the only city that Alexander the Great could not capture. Then, continue to Pamukkale for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 9: BODRUM After sightseeing in Hierapolis and visiting the travertines of Pamukkale, drive south to Halikarnassus, present Bodrum. (B,L,D)

DAY 10: BODRUM Full-day sightseeing in Bodrum, a city that has seen major wars throughout her history. Study naval battles of thousands of years ago. Visit the Castle of the Knights of St. John and the site of the Mausoleum of Halikarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (B,L,D)

DAY 11: KUSADASI Morning departure from beautiful Bodrum to drive to Aphrodisias, a magnificent city of marble. Then, continue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 12: KUSADASI Full-day sightseeing in Ephesus, the best preserved city of antiquity. Overnight in Kusadasi. (B,L,D)

DAY 13: CANAKKALE (GALLIPOLI) Early morning departure from Kusadasi to drive to Izmir, ancient Smyrna, where the Turkish War of Independence ended in victory in 1922. Then, continue to Troy, the city of the famous war from Homer's Iliad. Overnight in Çanakkale on the Dardanelles. (B,LD)

DAY 14: BURSA Morning: Visit the Gallipoli battlefields on the European side, one of the most famous World War I sites. See the trenches and the war monuments. Then, cross the Straits of Dardanelles back to Asia and drive to the site of the first major battle between Alexander the Great and the Persians on the River Granicus (Biga Çayi). Learn about the military genius of Alexander and how he won that battle against all odds. Continue to Bursa for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 15: ISTANBUL Morning: Sightseeing in Bursa, the first major capital of the Ottomans. After eating the best Döner Kebab (Gyro) in the world, continue to Istanbul for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 16: ISTANBUL Morning tour of Istanbul to visit the St. Sophia Museum, the Blue Mosque and the Underground Cistern. After lunch, visit Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman Sultans for about 500 years, and the Covered Bazaar (world's oldest covered mall, with over 4,000 stores!) Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (B,L,D)

DAY 17: ISTANBUL Morning: Cruise on the Bosphorus. After lunch, visit Dolmabahçe Palace and the Military Museum. Enjoy a performance of the Janissary Band*, the world's first military band, which marched with the Ottoman armies to battles in Europe. In the Military Museum, take a look at the innovations made by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453 for his conquest of Constantinople, and his ingenious strategies and tactics. Farewell Dinner. (B,L,D)

DAY 18: Transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)

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.