Journey to the Past with a 6-Day Ancient Turkey Tour

Today, you begin your journey through Turkey’s ancient wonders with a visit to Pamukkale, a natural thermal wonderland, and the Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis before heading to Ephesus.

🚌 Morning: Transfer from Fethiye to Pamukkale
🕡 06:30 AM – Pick-up from Your Accommodation in Fethiye
🚖 A private transfer will take you to the Fethiye Bus Station.
🚌 07:00 AM – Local Bus to Pamukkale (via Denizli)
✔ Enjoy a scenic ride through Turkey’s diverse landscapes.
✔ A stop in Denizli, before transferring to Pamukkale.
🕚 11:00 AM – Arrival in Pamukkale & Meet Your Private Guide
✔ Your expert tour guide and private driver will greet you upon arrival.

🏞️ Pamukkale Tour – The “Cotton Castle”

🌿 Explore the White Travertine Terraces
✔ Walk along the stunning white mineral terraces, created by natural thermal waters.
✔ Take in panoramic views of the valley and the unique, cotton-like formations.
✔ Optional: Relax in the warm pools of the natural thermal waters.

🏛 Discover Hierapolis – The Ancient Spa City
✔ Visit the Grand Theatre, offering spectacular views over the ancient city.
✔ Explore the Necropolis, one of the largest ancient cemeteries in Turkey.
✔ Walk through the Ancient Roman Baths, once part of a healing retreat.
🛁 Optional: Swim in Cleopatra’s Pool
✔ Take a relaxing dip in the warm mineral waters of Cleopatra’s Pool, where submerged ancient Roman columns create a unique setting.

🚗 Evening: Transfer to Ephesus Region (Selcuk or Kusadasi)
🚖 After your Pamukkale and Hierapolis tour, you will continue your journey to Ephesus.
🏨 Overnight Stay in Selcuk or Kusadasi
✔ Check into your hotel and relax, preparing for tomorrow’s Ephesus Full-Day Tour.

Sights Visited

Today, you will explore one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, followed by a visit to sacred religious sites and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

🏛️ Ephesus Full-Day Tour
🕘 Morning Pick-up from Your Accommodation
🚖 Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Selcuk or Kusadasi, and your journey into history begins.

🏛 Explore the Ancient City of Ephesus
Once a thriving trading hub of the Roman and Lycian Empires, Ephesus was home to over 200,000 people and a center of culture, religion, and commerce.

📍 Highlights of Ephesus:
✔ Marble Street – Walk along the main avenue of the city, lined with ancient homes, bathhouses, and archways.
✔ Library of Celsus – One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this architectural masterpiece once held over 12,000 scrolls.
✔ The Grand Theatre – A massive 25,000-seat amphitheater, used for performances and gladiator games.
✔ Temple of Hadrian – A beautifully preserved temple with intricate carvings honoring Emperor Hadrian.
✔ Public Latrines & Bathhouses – A fascinating look at Roman engineering and social customs.
✔ The Brothel & Love House – Discover the hidden passageways leading from the brothel to the library!

🙏 House of the Virgin Mary
After exploring Ephesus’ grandeur, you’ll visit a site of deep religious significance—the House of the Virgin Mary.
✔ Believed to be the final home of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
✔ Recognized as a holy site by the Vatican, visited by several Popes.
✔ A simple, humble stone cottage, with a living area, a small kitchen, and an altar for prayer.
✔ Drink from the holy spring, believed to have healing properties.
✔ Leave a prayer note on the wishing wall, a tradition followed by many visitors.

🏛 Visit the Temple of Artemis – One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
🏛 The Remains of a Legendary Temple
✔ Once one of the largest and most extravagant temples in the world, dedicated to Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting and fertility.
✔ Though only one column remains, its history and grandeur still captivate visitors.
✔ Learn how this magnificent structure symbolized the wealth and power of Ephesus.

🚗 Return to Your Hotel & Overnight in Ephesus Region
🚖 After a full day of exploring Ephesus and its sacred sites, you will return to your hotel in Selcuk or Kusadasi.
🏨 Overnight in Selcuk or Kusadasi

Sights Visited

Today, you will explore Pergamon, an ancient city known for its intellectual and cultural influence during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Its acropolis, grand library, and impressive amphitheater made it a center of learning and arts in antiquity.

🚌 Morning: Travel to Pergamon & Arrival
🚗 After breakfast, you will depart for Pergamon, traveling through scenic countryside.
🕘 Upon arrival, you will meet your guide and begin your exploration of this magnificent historical city.

🏛️ Pergamon Tour – A Center of Learning & Art
🍽 Lunch in Pergamon
Before beginning the tour, enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch at a local restaurant.

📍 Highlights of Pergamon:
✔ Acropolis of Pergamon – A hilltop fortress offering panoramic views over the region.
✔ Library of Pergamon – Once one of the largest libraries in the ancient world, housing over 200,000 scrolls.

✔ Temple of Athena – A stunning example of classical Greek architecture, dedicated to the goddess of wisdom and war.
✔ Temple of Trajan – A grand Roman temple, built in honor of Emperor Trajan.
✔ Theater of Pergamon – One of the steepest ancient theaters, with seating for 10,000 spectators and breathtaking views.
✔ The Gymnasium – A center for physical training and intellectual learning.

🚗 Evening Transfer to the Gallipoli Region
🚖 After the tour, you will continue your journey north to the Gallipoli Peninsula, a site of historical and military significance.

🏨 Overnight Stay in Eceabat or Canakkale
Check into your hotel and relax, preparing for tomorrow’s Troy & Gallipoli Tour.

Sights Visited

Today, you will explore two of Turkey’s most significant historical sites—the legendary city of Troy, home to the Trojan War myths, and Gallipoli, a site of modern wartime remembrance and sacrifice.

🏛️ Morning: Troy Tour – Exploring the Legendary City
🚗 Morning Transfer to Troy
After breakfast, you will depart for the ancient city of Troy, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world.

📍 Highlights of Ancient Troy:
✔ The Wooden Horse Replica – A tribute to the legendary Trojan Horse deception used by the Greeks.
✔ City Walls of Troy – Dating back 3,700 years, these walls once defended the city against the Greek siege.
✔ Houses of Troy – See the remains of nine layers of settlements, built on top of each other over 4,000 years.

✔ Sacrificial Altars – Where religious rituals were held for the gods and goddesses of Troy.
✔ Bouleuterion (Senate Building) – A site where city officials and leaders once held discussions.
✔ Odeon (Concert Hall) – A well-preserved small theater used for musical performances and speeches.
✔ Troy Museum (Optional Visit) – A museum displaying artifacts excavated from Troy, including pottery, weapons, and jewelry.

🌊 Afternoon: Gallipoli Tour – Honoring the Fallen Heroes
🚗 Transfer to the Gallipoli Peninsula
Upon arrival in Eceabat, you will enjoy a lunch break before beginning your guided Gallipoli Battlefield Tour.

📍 Sites You Will Visit in Gallipoli:
✔ ANZAC Cove – The landing site of Australian and New Zealand forces in April 1915.
✔ Lone Pine Cemetery & Memorial – Honoring the Australian troops who fought here.
✔ Chunuk Bair Memorial – Dedicated to the New Zealand forces who made a heroic stand.
✔ The Turkish Martyrs’ Memorial – Commemorating the bravery of the Ottoman soldiers.

✔ Johnston’s Jolly Trenches – Walk through preserved trenches and tunnels, where the battles were fought.
✔ The Beach Cemetery – A peaceful yet somber resting place of many Allied soldiers.
✔ Gallipoli Memorial Museum – A collection of wartime artifacts, letters, and photographs, providing insight into the battle and its impact.
The Gallipoli Peninsula, with its stunning coastal views and war memorials, is a place of reflection and remembrance, honoring those who sacrificed their lives.

🚗 Evening Transfer to Istanbul
🚖 After the Gallipoli tour, you will travel to Istanbul, marking the end of your historical journey through Turkey’s ancient and modern past.

🏨 Overnight Stay in Istanbul
Check into your hotel in Istanbul and enjoy your first evening in this vibrant and historic city.

Sights Visited

Today, you will embark on a historical journey through Istanbul, visiting its iconic landmarks that reflect the city’s Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern influences. From the majestic mosques to the lavish palaces and bustling markets, Istanbul is a city that seamlessly blends past and present.

🕘 Morning Pick-up & Start of the Tour
🚖 Pick-up from your accommodation in centrally located areas:
✔ Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Laleli, Aksaray, or Taksim.
❗ If staying outside these areas, an extra charge may apply—please check with our team.

🕌 Blue Mosque – The Architectural Masterpiece of Sultan Ahmet
✔ One of the most famous mosques in the world, recognized for its six towering minarets.
✔ Admire the stunning blue Iznik tiles that decorate its interior.
✔ Learn about the importance of the mosque in Islamic worship.
✔ Enjoy the peaceful courtyard with a perfect view of the domes and minarets.
❗ Note: On Fridays, due to prayers, the mosque will be closed for visitors during certain hours.

🏛 Hagia Sophia – The Icon of Byzantium & Ottoman History
✔ Originally built as a Byzantine church in the 6th century.
✔ Converted into an Ottoman mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II.
✔ Now a museum preserving both Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy.
✔ Stand beneath its massive dome, one of the greatest architectural achievements of its time.
❗ Note: Hagia Sophia

🏰 Topkapi Palace – The Royal Seat of the Ottoman Empire
✔ Once the home of Ottoman Sultans for over 400 years.
✔ Explore the Imperial Treasury, displaying jewels, swords, and relics.
✔ Visit the Sacred Relics Room, where artifacts from Islamic history are preserved.
✔ Enjoy panoramic views of the Bosphorus from the palace courtyards.
✔ Optional: Explore the Harem Section (extra entrance fee required).
❗ Note: Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

🛍 Grand Bazaar – A Shopper’s Paradise
✔ One of the largest covered markets in the world, with over 4,000 shops.
✔ A maze of jewelry, carpets, spices, leather goods, and souvenirs.
✔ Experience the art of Turkish bargaining with local shopkeepers.
❗ Note: Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.

🌿 Our Recommendation: Visit the Spice Bazaar (Optional Free Time)
After your guided tour, we highly recommend exploring the Spice Bazaar, where you can:
✔ Experience aromatic scents of Turkish tea, saffron, and spices.
✔ Sample Turkish delight, dried fruits, and nuts.
✔ Pick up authentic Turkish coffee and sweets as souvenirs.
📍 This visit is not part of the guided tour, but you will have free time to explore before heading back to your hotel.

🚖 Evening Drop-off & Overnight in Istanbul
🚗 Return to your hotel in the evening after a day of sightseeing.

🏨 Overnight in Istanbul.

Sights Visited

🚖 Private Transfer to Istanbul Airport
As your incredible 6-day journey through Turkey comes to an end, we provide a comfortable and hassle-free transfer to Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport, based on your flight details.

✈️ Departure from Istanbul
Take one last moment to reflect on the amazing experiences you’ve had—walking through ancient cities, exploring historic battlefields, and witnessing Turkey’s stunning landscapes.

💬 Need Assistance?
✔ If you require additional travel arrangements within Turkey, including:
✔ Domestic flights or transport
✔ Hotel bookings & accommodation
✔ Day trips or extended tours (Cappadocia, Troy, or Gallipoli)
✔ Local recommendations for dining & sightseeing
📞 Our team is happy to assist!

✨ Thank You for Exploring Ancient Turkey with Us!
We hope you had an unforgettable journey and look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures in Turkey.