Mix & Match: Turkey Express

Welcome to Turkey! You'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the heart of Istanbul. The rest of the day is yours to explore as you see fit. Tonight you will have a welcome meeting in your hotel reception at approximately 7pm. Special InformationArrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed. If you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are generally no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel's discretion.

This morning after breakfast we set out on a guided tour of the only city in the world to sit across two continents. We visit the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace with its Hagia Irene and Harem sections, and the ancient Hippodrome at the heart of the old city. The afternoon is free. There is an optional cruise for those who would like to see Istanbul from the water, or we may prefer to explore the bazaars and cafes of the old town at our own pace. The evening is at leisure to find a local eatery near the hotel. Inspiring Highlights Istanbul - Old City (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Istanbul - Blue Mosque Istanbul - Hagia Sophia Istanbul - Topkapi Palace (Hagia Irene and Harem) Istanbul - Hippodrome

After breakfast we leave Istanbul and travel west towards the Gallipoli peninsula, one of the most moving places in Turkey. Here we visit the WW1 battlefields, including the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek and Johnston's Jolly, walking among the original trenches and tunnels. We then continue to Çanakkale, where we stay overnight and enjoy dinner together. Inspiring Highlights Gallipoli - Battlefields tour Gallipoli - ANZAC Cove Gallipoli - Lone Pine (Australian Memorial) Gallipoli - Chunuk Bair (New Zealand Memorial) Gallipoli - The Nek and Johnston's Jolly, original trenches and tunnels Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 8 hours. Today involves a long drive. Driving times are estimates and can be affected by traffic and road conditions.

After breakfast we depart Çanakkale for the ancient city of Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we explore the ruins and the award winning Troy Museum. We continue to the old village of Behramkale, also known as Assos, a hillside settlement of stone houses and narrow lanes. There is time to take in the scenery and perhaps stop for a Turkish tea or coffee at a local cafe. From Behramkale we head south along the coast to Kuşadası, our base for the next two nights. Inspiring Highlights Troy - Ancient City and Museum (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Behramkale (Assos) village Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours. Today involves a long drive. Driving times are estimates and can be affected by traffic and road conditions.

This morning after breakfast we visit Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world. We walk the marble streets and the great theatre and see the site of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. We also visit the Ephesus Archaeology Museum and its collection of artefacts from the region, and stop at a carpet village to see how Turkish carpets are woven by hand. We return to Kuşadası with the evening at leisure to find a local restaurant near the hotel. Inspiring Highlights Ephesus - Ancient City (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Ephesus - Site of the Temple of Artemis Ephesus - Archaeology Museum

After breakfast we begin with a display of locally handcrafted leather goods before travelling inland to Pamukkale. Here we see the white calcium terraces known as the Travertines and tour the ancient city of Hierapolis, which sits above them. There is the chance to bathe among ancient columns in the thermal springs the Romans prized for their healing waters. We stay overnight in Pamukkale and enjoy dinner together. Inspiring Highlights Pamukkale - Calcium Travertines (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Pamukkale - Hierapolis Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours. NOTE: Bathing in the thermal pool may be weather dependent

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight back to Istanbul. On arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel, with time in the afternoon for some last minute shopping or exploring before our final night in the city. The evening is at leisure. Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. Your included flight allows one checked bag of 25kg and one 7kg carry-on, with options to increase your luggage allowance at the airport if needed. Your flight will be unescorted, however your tour leader will assist you on either end to ensure that your journey is trouble free. Your flight documentation will be given to you on tour by your tour leader.

After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our fellow travellers. Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience. Special Information Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight. If you choose to extend your stay (e.g., departing after the final tour date) and have booked your additional accommodation independently, this included service will be forfeited and no refund will be issued. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.