(A UNIT OF NOVA GROUP OF COMPANIES)

NOVA TRAVEL

Classical Turkey-10Days

Istanbul, capital of the great Ottoman Empire, enjoyed more than four centuries of imperial patronage, which created one of the most famous skylines in the world. Its mosques and palaces are complemented by exquisite tile decoration, fine woodwork and luxurious furnishings. The Topkapi Palace, home to the sultans and their families, remains a magnificent treasure house and, together with the Blue Mosque and Aghia Sophia, this monument represents a fusion of cultures where East meets West

Canakkale has historically had an important strategic role. Pilgrims, conquering armies and trade caravans stopped here before or after crossing the Dardnelles. Today most travellers come here to visit the Gallipoli battlefields and Canakkale is also the nearest major town to the site of ancient Troy

Formerly called Smyrna, Izmir was once an important trading city largely populated with Christians and Jews. Set in a bay and backed by mountains, today Izmir is Turkey's third largest city. Although much of the Old Town was destroyed in a fire in 1922 there remain many interesting sites including the ancient Agora (marketplace) built for Alexander the Great, and the Ethnography Museum housing colourful displays of local arts

Located on the coast of the Aegean Sea, Kusadasi is an ideal base for exploring the many interesting sights of the South Aegean area. In addition to pretty beaches, the town has a small stone fortress and caravanserai (fortified way-station)

Home to a remarkable natural wonder, Pamukkale is a highlight of south western Turkey. The main attraction is a vast white cliff side with scallop-shaped basins of water and frozen waterfalls, caused by hot thermal springs which used to pour down the hillside and deposit calcium carbonate, which solidified as travertine

Day 1: Istanbul

Arrive in afternoon.Transfer to from Airport to Hotel and check in at Hotel.Rest of the day at Leisure.
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Istanbul
Meals : Dinner

Day 2: Istanbul

Morning tour of Istanbul including Hagia Sofia, built as a church by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century; the Blue Mosque, with its exquisite blue tiles; and the remains of the Hippodrome, which at its height could accommodate 100,000 spectators. Afternoon tour of Topkapi Palace, formerly the imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans. Continue to the Basilica Cistern, a marvel of Byzantine engineering located underneath the city. (B)
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Istanbul
Meals : Dinner

Day 3: Canakkale

Morning drive to Canakkale. Tour of the Gallipoli battlefield, scene of the aborted Allied invasion of 1915. Visit Cape Helles, Suvla Bay and Anzac Cove.
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Canakkale
Meals : Dinner

Day 4: Troy • Pergamon • Izmir

Drive from Canakkale to Izmir, stopping en route to visit the Unesco world heritage site of Troy. Continue to Pergamon for a tour of the historic town, including visits to the Acropolis, the Asclepion and the Red Basilica.

Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Izmir
Meals : Dinner

Day 5: Hierapolis • Pamukkale • Laodicea

Morning drive to the ruins of Hierapolis and the travertine terraces and hot springs at Pamukkale. Continue to Laodicea, where the ruins of one of the seven biblical churches of Asia remain.
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Pamukkale
Meals : Dinner

Day 6: Aphrodisias • Kusadasi

Drive to Aphrodisias, one of the most beautiful classical sites in Turkey. Visit the Temple of Aphrodite and the most complete amphitheatre to have survived from the ancient world.
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Kusadasi
Meals : Dinner

Day 7: Ephesus

Morning tour of Ephesus, once the capital of Roman Asia Minor. See the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the original Seven Wonders of the World, as well as the main site with its fabled Library of Celsus. Continue to the house of the Virgin Mary. Afternoon at leisure or optional visit to the hillside town of Priene and the ancient Ionian ports of the Menderes valley. (B)
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Kusadasi
Meals : Dinner

Day 8: Fly from Kusadasi to Istanbul

Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to the airport and fly to Istanbul. (B)
Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Istanbul
Meals : Dinner

Day 9 : Istanbul

Day at Leisure and see the beautiful city on your own and Shopping.

Overnight : Hotel Accommodation in Istanbul
Meals : Dinner

Day 10 :Istanbul

After Breakfast proceed to Airport for your flight back home.