Highlights of Turkey
Active pace with longer touring days. Expect intermittent walking at a moderate pace for 2–3 hours over a variety of terrain, including cobblestones, hills and uneven pavements. Must be able to negotiate stairs of varying heights, sometimes without handrails. Can tolerate periods of standing during guided tours and be able to climb in/out of various modes of transportation. Some days may include 5–7 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Istanbul, direct from Toronto.
We arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel. This evening is our Welcome Dinner.
Our full day tour starts at the magnificent Byzantine church of St. Sophia, one of the first and largest architectural works of art in the world; then on to the beautiful Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace - a former imperial residence from where the great Ottoman sultans once ruled. We finish with a visit to the Grand Bazaar
This morning we cruise the unforgettable Bosphorus, and sail past palaces, churches, villages, old wooden houses, mansions, and modern villas. In the afternoon we visit the Asian side of Istanbul via the two bridges that link the east to the west. This evening we enjoy a “Whirling Dervish” performance, which is both a form of entertainment and a spiritual journey.
A day at leisure to explore this amazing city on your own. You may want to revisit the Grand Bazaar - one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops selling everything under the sun. Optional tours will be offered.
We take a short flight to the unique Cappadocia region. Upon arrival we’ll transfer to our hotel, and spend the rest of the day enjoying the serene beauty of this place. The landscape here is a honeycomb of manmade caves, which serve as places to live, work, and worship.
Today we visit the Goreme Valley, also known as the Petrified Valley, where years of wind and rain have eroded the volcanic soil into a spectacular, bizarre landscape of rock cones, capped pinnacles, and deep ravines. This area is also famous for its rock churches.
Our tour of this fascinating region features ancient excavated towns, troglodyte villages, and breathtaking scenery. This area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has changed little over time - with locals travelling between villages in horse-drawn carts.
We proceed to Konya, one of Turkey’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Scenically situated on a high plateau, it has long been a centre of the Muslim faith, and the home of the Whirling Dervishes who date back to the 11th century. We will visit the mausoleum of Mevlana, the founder of the sect.
The drive from Konya to Pamukkale is a picturesque journey through varied unique landscapes. As we approach Pamukkale, it first appears as an enormous, chalky white cliff, and then takes on the appearance of a cotton castle. The thermal spring here has attracted visitors for over 2000 years, so upon arrival we can spend time at the mineral pools for those who wish to try the healthy warm waters
Today we visit the holy city of Hierapolis - a spa and religious centre since Roman times. There will also be more time to enjoy the thermal pools of Pamukkale
We travel across a highland plateau rich in farms to Aphrodisas, one of the most important artistic sites, where we will see the beautiful Temple of Aphrodite - goddess of love. Later we arrive at the picturesque seaside resort of Kusadasi, for the remaining 4 nights of our tour.
This morning we visit Ephesus, once the capital of the Roman's province of Asia. Here, the Temple of Artemis was counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it is the site in which St. Paul wrote his most profound epistles. A white marble avenue known as the Arcadian Way stretches through the city with ruins of great buildings such as the Library of Celsius, the Temple of Hadrian, and the public latrines! Finally we see the house of the Virgin Mary where it is believed she spent her last years.
A day of leisure to enjoy this seaside resort town. The town centre has an interesting waterfront with ample shopping, colourful bazaars, and interesting teahouses.
We take an excursion to Miletus and Didyma, to see the beautiful Great Theatre - a remarkably intact 25,000 seat amphitheatre, as well as the Roman baths and gymnasium. We continue to the Temple of Apollo - one of antiquity’s most sacred places. This evening is our Farewell Dinner
We fly back to Istanbul, then on to Canada, on our direct flight to Toronto.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (120 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
