Day 1 UK - Istanbul

Kent Hotel (4*) or Holiday Inn Istanbul - Old City (4*)

Day 2 Istanbul

A full-day city tour introduces us to the sights and sounds of Istanbul. We’ll travel back thousands of years as we visit Sultanahmet Meydanı, once the sporting and social heart of Constantinople; admire the incredible tiles adoring the Blue Mosque; and gaze up at the domes and minarets of UNESCO-listed Hagia Sophia.

Later, we’ll tour the Topkapı Palace Museum. Once home to Ottoman sultans, it’s now filled with treasures including fine art, jewel-encrusted swords, Chinese porcelain and scrolls of delicate calligraphy. The complex is as much an attraction as the exhibits, though, with peaceful gardens, opulent décor and tales of courtiers and concubines.

We’ll finish off our day in the colourful Grand Bazaar. With almost 4,000 shops hawking antiques, carpets, jewellery and more, it’s the biggest souk in the world. We’ll call in at one of the bazaar’s historic coffee roasters for a cup of authentic Turkish coffee, prepared and poured the traditional way. A fantastic end to a whirlwind first day in Turkey.

Kent Hotel (4*) or Holiday Inn Istanbul - Old City (4*)

Day 3 Istanbul

This morning, we’ll pay a visit to Süleymaniye Mosque, considered to be the most beautiful imperial mosque in the city. One of the mosque’s outbuildings is home to a display of 14th and 15th-century books, manuscripts and orders of the sultans. Although it’s not open to the public, we’ll have private access to view the collection.

Next, we’ll make our way to Misir Carsisi, the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, where spices, herbs and all sorts of dried teas have been sold since the 17th century, and where many locals still shop today. We’ll have time to wander through the warren of stalls, perhaps picking up some fragrant cardamom or saffron to take home. Our final stop for the morning is the Sunken Cistern, an atmospheric underground reservoir built in the 6th century and held up by more than 300 columns.

The afternoon is free for you to explore Istanbul at your own pace. If you like, join our optional food tasting tour, where you’ll have the chance to snack on Turkish pizza or kebabs at Kadikoy Market, nibble sticky baklava at a pastry shop in Beyoğlu, and sample street food at Balik Pazari fish market.

Kent Hotel (4*) or Holiday Inn Istanbul - Old City (4*)

Day 4 Canakkale

A five-hour drive alongside the Sea of Marmara will bring us to the Gallipoli peninsula. This area is steeped in history, so our guide will talk us through the importance of the Dardanelles strait and the part it played during the First World War as we go.

Arriving at Gallipoli, we’ll tour the battlefields, scene of the aborted Allied invasion of 1915, visiting Cape Helles, Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove. Before dinner, we’ll enjoy a glass of wine while watching sunset over the waters of the Dardanelles - a lovely chance to reflect on the day together.

Buyuk Truva Hotel, Canakkale (4*)

Day 5 Pergamon - Kusadasi

The World Heritage Site of Troy is our destination this morning. Uncover 4,000 years of history as you stroll around this ancient archaeological site, immortalised in Homer’s epic, ‘The Iliad’.

For lunch, we’ll head to the nearby village of Bergama. Splitting into smaller groups, we’ll visit local houses, chatting with our hosts as we enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal. We’ll continue to the Greco-Roman city of Pergamon, admiring its acropolis, temples and 10,000-seat theatre. From here, we drive south to Kusadasi.

Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel, Kusadasi (4*)

Day 6 Ephesus - Aphrodisias - Pamukkale

Ephesus is first on our agenda today. The remains of this ancient Greek city are remarkably well preserved. We’ll see the famous façade of the Celsus Library, mosaicked pedestrian walkways and roads scored with ruts from chariot wheels. We’ll also stop at the House of the Virgin Mary, just outside Ephesus, where Mary was believed to have spent her final years.

Lunch will be a picnic in the sunny gardens of a cooperative in nearby Selcuk. Get involved with the cooking if you like, or simply sit back and enjoy your surroundings. While we’re here, you’ll have the chance to see how traditional carpets are hand-woven.

After lunch, we’ll visit the beautiful classical site of Aphrodisias, with its stadium and temple of Aphrodite, before continuing to our hotel in Pamukkale.

Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal Pamukkale (5*)

Day 7 Pammukale - Perge - Antalya

Explore Pamukkale-Hieropolis this morning, a spa and wellness resort popular with the Romans. See the necropolis and 2nd-century theatre, and photograph the dream-like white travertine terraces, filled with pools of mineral-rich water.

We’ll continue to Perge, an ancient Roman city once visited by St Paul, and then Antalya, a historic port city where we’ll end our tour.

Best Western Plus Khan Hotel, Antalya (4*)

Day 8 Antalya - UK

Today we depart for the airport and your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

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