Welcome to Turkey’s Cultural Capital!
Arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST or SAW), where you’ll be greeted by your driver and transferred to your hotel. Take the rest of the day to relax or explore Istanbul at your own pace.

Hotel Avicenna Hotel 4*
Meals N/A

Where East Meets West – Discover the Icons of Istanbul
After breakfast, meet your guide for a full-day Istanbul city tour exploring its most iconic landmarks:

• Hagia Sophia: Once the largest building in the world and a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture.

• Topkapi Palace: The lavish residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years.

• Hippodrome: The social and sporting center of ancient Constantinople, once seating 100,000 spectators.

• Blue Mosque: Renowned for its six minarets and over 20,000 hand-painted blue tiles.

• Grand Bazaar: One of the world’s oldest covered markets with over 4,000 shops.

Return to your hotel in the afternoon.

History, Heroism, and Ancient Legends
After breakfast, depart for Canakkale to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula, a sacred site for both Turks and ANZACs. Explore:

• ANZAC Cove and Lone Pine Memorial

• Chunuk Bair and 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial

• Allied and Turkish trenches and tunnels

Continue to the ancient city of Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk among the ruins of this legendary city, see the replica of the Trojan Horse, and imagine the epic battles of Achilles and Hector.

The Ancient City of Wisdom and Healing
After breakfast, depart for Pergamum (Bergama), once the capital of the Attalid Kingdom and one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world.
Visit the Acropolis, with remains of temples, altars, and the famous Zeus Altar. Continue to the Asklepion, one of the earliest medical centers in history dedicated to the god of healing, Asklepios. Learn about ancient treatments and innovations that influenced modern medicine.

Enjoy scenic views of the Aegean coastline with its olive groves and distant Greek islands as you travel to Kusadasi.

Walk Through the Heart of the Roman Empire
After breakfast, embark on a guided tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world. Highlights include:

• Library of Celsus – a stunning symbol of ancient knowledge.

• The Great Theatre – capable of seating 25,000 spectators.

• Marble Streets – lined with ancient temples, shops, and bathhouses.

• Temple of Artemis – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

• House of the Virgin Mary – believed to be her final residence, now a peaceful pilgrimage site.

The Cotton Castle of Turkey – Natural Beauty Meets Ancient Healing
After breakfast, drive to Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its surreal white travertine terraces and thermal springs known as the “Pools of Heaven on Earth.”

• Walk barefoot along the shimmering terraces.

• Explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, featuring a grand Roman theatre, ancient baths, and the largest necropolis in Anatolia.

• Visit the Sacred Pool (Cleopatra’s Pool), where submerged Roman columns shimmer beneath warm mineral-rich waters.

At the end of the tour, you’ll be transferred to Denizli Airport for your onward flight or to your hotel in Pamukkale, depending on your travel plans.