Compare Turkey Blue Cruises - 18 Days by Tour Altinkum Travel vs Treasures of Turkey - with Anzac Day, Small Group, 2022 With Anzac Day Small Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul

Upon arrival at Istanbul / SAW Airport, you will be greeted and drive to your hotel. Check-in. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2: City Highlights Tour

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore Hagia Sophia; was the largest building on earth barring the Egyptian Pyramids or the Great Wall of China. It was the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period. Next; Topkapı Palace; As well as being the imperial residence of the Sultan, the palace was also the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. It housed the ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Continue to with Hippodrome; Built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203AD, during the Roman period hippodrome was the civil center for the people of the city where once 100,000 spectators could be held. Next, Blue Mosque; Built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in the year 1616, Blue mosque today is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city with its famous six minarets and magnificent dome.  Next, Grand Bazaar; With 18 entrances and more than 4000 shops it is one of the greatest bazaars in the World.  At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul

Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise/Flight to Izmir

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out, leave your luggage at the lobby. According your pick up time meet with your guide and start your half-day tour. Visit Spice Bazaar; It was called Egyptian Bazaar during the ottoman period because shopkeepers used to sell herbs and spices brought throughout Egypt and Asia. Next, Cruising on Bosphorus; where you will enjoy a magnificent view. A great history and beautiful nature. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion, you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, Rustem Pasa Mosque, Rumeli Fortress and further along with the parks and imperial pavillions of Yildiz Palace. After tour drive you back to your hotel. Take your luggage and drive to Airport for your 1hour 30min domestic flight to Izmir. Upon arrival you wıll be greeted by your driver and driven to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 4: Ephesus Tour

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Visit The House of Virgin Mary; a church was built from the 6C AD to the top of the foundations of a house from 1C AD and it is declared by the church to be the final house where Mary spent her last days. Your tour continues with the Ancient Ephesus; The best-preserved classical city in Eastern Mediterranean. During the 1C AD, Ephesus was the second-largest city on the planet after Rome with more than 250.000 citizens. Ephesus is also well preserved that, walking on the ancient streets among the beautiful monuments such as the third largest library of the ancient world or the largest roman theatre on the Asia continent, gives you the feeling of a time traveller.

Next; Temple of Artemis or Artemision was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its ancient cult dedicated to Artemis was very famous in antiquity and made Ephesus a much-visited pilgrimage place. After tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 5: Pamukkale Tour

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out, According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Visit Pamukkale; Pools of Heaven on Earth… Pamukkale has always been a very popular settlement where hot springs were believed to have healing powers so it is considered to be the earliest spa on earth where in history people travelled long distances in order to find a cure. The unique terraces were formed by running warm spring water at a temperature of 35 C, containing calcium bicarbonate. Today Pamukkale is declared as a worlds heritage site by UNESCO. Visit; ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. Also, The Sacred Pool is one of the highlights of the site. Theır shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath. At the end of the tour drive you to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 6: Bodrum to Black Islands/Cruising

Meals: Dinner

According your pick up time from the hotel, drive to Bodrum harbor at 16:00 for check-in and information, if you require directions our staff can aid you. This afternoon you will board your gulet at 4 pm for check-in information about your upcoming week onboard cruising from Bodrum into Fethiye. You will leave harbor shortly after binding for Black Island. This will be your first chance for a dip into the beautiful ocean and as you will spend the night here you can even sit back and enjoy your first cruise life sunset with a cold drink in hand.

Day 7: Black Island to Palamutbuku/Cruising

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning you cruise onto Knidos. This is an Ancient City that still is under current excavation. You will find that you can still clearly see the old harbors of this once ancient settlement. You will have time to go exploring before cruising onto Palamutbuku.  After all your hard walking and exploring of Knidos, it’s time to enjoy the pristine clear waters of Palamutbuku and spend the afternoon swimming and snorkeling.

Day 8: Palamutbuku Bay to Datca/Cruising

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today it’s time to cruise onto Datca. Inland from where you will anchor down is the ancient city of Datca. What you will find today is the old temples and other buildings of this ancient settlement. You will have time to go explore on land and also wander through modern-day Datca, have tea with the locals or have a cold drink along the harbor before jumping back on board and cruising off to a quiet bay for the evening.

Day 9: Serce or Bozukkale/Cruising

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today is your day for complete R&R. Grab a book, grab a sunbed, sunnies, hat, and sunscreen as you get to simply kick back and enjoy the beautiful waterways of the coastline of Turkey. Today you will cruise through for Datca onto Service or Bozukkale. You will have time to swim in beautiful bays, turquoise waters and recharge for some fun nights ahead.

Day 10: Marmaris/Cruising

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning, feeling fully re-energized after your day of R&R its time to hit up one of the biggest harbors in Turkey – Marmaris. You will cruise ınto Marmaris to anchor down into the harbor and then it’s time to explore. You can wander around the old town which is still littered with old homes and cobbled streets, hit up some of the seaside markets to shop for that bargain or find yourself a quaint little harbour side café to sit in and watch the world go by. Enjoy the day before jumping back on board for dinner. Marmaris has some pretty impressive nightlife, so after dinner and a few drinks on board, the night is yours to go and explore.

Day 11: Marmaris to Ekincik/Cruising

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning you will cruise out of the harbor and it's back onto the waterways of Turkey. You will cruise onto an area called Ekincik. If you would prefer to stay on board you can enjoy chilling out on the deck or you may be tempted by the local water sports on offer.

Day 12: Ekincik to Fethiye/Cruising

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today you will cruise on the 12 Islands area close to Fethiye. The first stop is the beautiful Cleopatra Baths. Here you can still swim through the ruins of this once ancient Hamam. You will then make one last swimming stop at Flat Island before cruising into Fethiye Harbour in the afternoon. Fethiye is a smaller scale version of Marmaris with plenty more charm. You will have the afternoon to explore the old town scattered with your souvenir shops, wander up to the old Lycian tombs for sunset or you may like to venture further and catch the bus onto the ghost town of Kayakoy. You will be served dinner back on board and then you may like to wander back to the lively bar street and find your bar of choice to spend the evening in and ponder back on the week before.

Day 13: Fethiye

Meals: Breakfast

This morning breakfast will be served nice and early and then it’s time to bid farewell to your cruise buddies and crew. Check out will be around 9 am after breakfast. Meet with your guide at the port and drive to Antalya. Check inn. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 14: Antalya city tour

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Drive to the Duden waterfalls; most beautiful and the most visited in the Antalya region. Enjoy a green environment, fresh air and pine scent, cool atmosphere and spectacular waterfalls.

After lunch at a local restaurant with a beautiful panoramic view, you will have 1-1.5 hours of free time to explore the old town (Kaleici). You will see top attractions of the city: Hadrianus Gate, Clock Tower, Kesik Minare (Truncated Minaret) and city walls dated back to the 2d century. Old Town with its narrow stone streets is also a great place to explore numerous boutiques, art galleries, and interesting museums.

The tour will continue wıth the cable car ride 'from sea to sky'. Enjoy amazing views from the top of Tunektepe which stands 1365 mt above sea level. You will see the beautiful coastline of the Antalya region, gorgeous mountains, pine forests, and turquoise Mediterranean sea. Great pictures taken during the trip will remind you of this unforgettable experience. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 15: Flight to Cappadocia

Meals: Breakfast

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out, according to your flight departure time drive to Antalya Airport for your domestic flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival you will be greeted by your driver and driven to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 16: Fairy Chimneys Tour

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore Goreme Museum; consists of many rock-cut churches from the second half of 9C with beautiful colourful frescoes decorating the walls. Next; Pasabagi which means: the Pacha's vineyard. This site is also called Monks Valley. The hermitage of Simeon monks was here. A chapel dedicated to St. Simeon (Simon), and a hermit's shelter is built into one of the fairy chimneys with three heads. Proceed to Zelve; was the name of a village with homes carved from natural tufa and was inhabited until 1950s.Early churches and houses can be seen in three different canyons intersecting each other.

Next continues to with Pigeon Valley earned its name from the countless man made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Next; Devrent Valley; famous for its quirky animal shaped rocks. It looks like a sculpture zoo made by nature. Take in the unique lunar landscape of the valley and feel like you're in another World. At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 17: Underground Cities Tour/Flight to Istanbul

Meals: Breakfast

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out, According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore Underground Cities; once a place of refuge for 15000 Christians. These settlements were of enormous value to the development of Christianity as they provided shelter and worship and were in use until the end of 7C AD. Witness the ancient bedrooms, church, meeting hall, and food storage rooms in this eight-story city connected by 30km of corridors and passageways. Next; Panorama Esentepe; is a variety of great panoramic viewpoints in Cappadocia for the ones who want to enjoy the stunning views of Cappadocia and also for photographers. Tour continues with Ortahisar; famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets, and lovely churches as well as the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named. Next; Uchisar the Naturel highest Rock Castle provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area. At the end of the tour drives to Kayseri Airport for your 1hour 30min domestic flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival you wıll be greeted by your driver and driven to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 18: Departure Day

Meals: Breakfast

Upon breakfast at the hotel check out and according to your flight time drive you to Istanbul Airport. End of our service.

Day 1: Welcome to Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey. You’ll start in vibrant Istanbul, where a representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Located in the heart of the city, you’ll be close to Taksim Square, which is famous for its Republic Monument, dining and shopping options. Join your Travel Director at 18:30 for a Welcome Reception and Dinner, where you’ll get to know your fellow travellers.

Day 2: Bosphorus Cruise and Bursa

In the morning embark on a cruise along Bosphorus Strait, one of the world’s busiest waterways. Leisurely cruise past the quaint fishing villages that line its shores. Travel towards the old city and see the beautiful Ottoman palaces and fortresses, on the waterfront. Later, leave Istanbul for Bursa. A large city in northwest Turkey, it was the first major capital of the Ottoman Empire. There will be time in the afternoon to explore the city’s bazaars, silk markets and historic monuments. This evening, venture to a local restaurant for a tasty meal.

Day 3: Cumalikizik and Gordion

Begin your day of culture in Bursa with a visit to the Green Mosque, the Grand Mosque and the Mausoleum complex. Continue to the charming village of Cumalikizik, with its traditional wooden houses and very narrow cobblestone streets. Later you’ll head to Gordion, which was once the capital city of ancient Phrygia, as you make your way to Turkey’s modern capital, Ankara. Enjoy a relaxed evening at your hotel, the Hilton SA. Perhaps take a dip in its indoor pool or unwind in its jacuzzi or hammam.

Day 4: Sophisticated Ankara

A day for history enthusiasts, explore Turkey’s bustling cultural capital, Ankara. Sightseeing includes a visit to the Hittite Museum and Anit Kabir, the Mausoleum of Atatürk, Turkey's greatest modern leader and the first President of the Republic of Turkey. Later, head to Avanos in Cappadocia. Famed for its unique geological formation, Cappadocia is a scenic delight with golden hills and panoramic views.

Day 5: The Underground Cities of Cappadocia Experience

With its striking golden, volcanic landscapes, underground city and otherworldly buildings, Cappadocia could never be called ordinary. At every turn you’ll be delighted with yet another geographical or architectural surprise. Today you’ll travel to the striking town of Göreme. Explore its rock-hewn churches decorated with ancient wall paintings. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Uçhisar Kadineli Restaurant and get a taste of Anatolia’s regional flavours. This establishment provides employment for the women of the village and supports their financial freedom. Next, continue on to the Pasabag Valley and visit the underground city of Özkonak where you’ll have time to explore its tunnels and holes with your Travel Director. Later, join a Cappadocian local who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house. Explore this unique way of living, learning about local traditions and family life. Dinner tonight will be at a local restaurant, later you’ll witness a performance of Whirling Dervishes.

Day 6: Konya

Start your day by learning more about traditional pottery making in Avanos. It’s then time to take a journey along the famous Silk Road to visit a 13th century caravanserai, a historic roadside inn where travellers would rest and recover after a day’s journey, most notably along the iconic road itself. Later, you’ll head to Turkey’s most religious city, Konya, the old capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire. Once here, visit the Mevlana Museum, with its beautiful fluted turquoise dome, and see the Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret.

Day 7: Through the Taurus Mountains

You day begins with a scenic drive down the Taurus Mountains to Aspendos, an ancient city in Antalya. Known for having the best-preserved Roman theatre anywhere in the world, learn more as you explore it with your fellow travellers. Continue to your hotel for the next two nights and enjoy time to relax.

Day 8: Antalya's Old Town

Start your day with a visit to Antalya's pretty Old Town, with its souvenir markets and sweeping sea views. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the leisure facilities at your hotel. Alternatively, explore Antalya at your own pace. Ask your Travel Director for recommendations on places to explore in the city, take a stroll around the harbour or perhaps take a boat trip off the coast.

Day 9: The Pools of Pamukkale

Cross the soaring Taurus Mountains to see the remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis, a Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. Next to the ruins, you can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale. Famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters and chalk-white limestone terraces, explore the area with your Travel Director. Later, head back to your hotel, the esteemed Doğa Thermal Health & Spa. Take full advantage of its indoor and outdoor thermal pools, steam room and its Turkish bath complex.

Day 10: Izmir

Start your morning with a trip to the Temple of Aphrodite, dedicated to the goddess of love, beauty and fertility, in Geyre. Based in the ruins of the ancient city of Aphrodisias, it was the focal point of the city in its heyday. You’ll see the towering, fourteen columns of the temple that have been re-erected. End your day in the quaint Aegan port of Izmir.

Day 11: Ancient Ephesus

Today you’ll spend the day exploring pretty Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city. A vibrant destination on Turkey’s Aegean coast, it is was founded by the Greeks and has been an important port since ancient times. Explore one of the world's finest archaeological sites, Ephesus. Walk through the colonnaded Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and the huge Amphitheatre, before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, situated above the Ephesus ruins.

Day 12: Canakkale

Dawn and first light signals the commencement of the annual Dawn Service. Attend alongside Australian, New Zealand and other foreign dignitaries and military personnel to honour the fallen soldiers. After, return to your hotel for the rest of your day at leisure. Perhaps relax poolside with a cocktail and admire the beautiful surroundings or book in for one of the many treatments on offer at the hotel spa.

Day 13: Gallipoli and ANZAC Cove

This morning, cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferry to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Located in the southern part of East Thrace, it was here that, for nine months during the Great War, Anzac troops fought, in an attempt to gain control of the Dardanelles Strait. Learn more about these events as you visit Anzac Cove and pay your respects at the Lone Pine Cemetery. Later, return to Istanbul where you’ll spend the next two nights.

Day 14: Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire

Today you’ll take in the sites of Istanbul. In the morning visit the historic Blue Mosque. Made up of domes and minarets, head inside and see its beautiful blue tiled interiors. See the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held, before exploring Hagia Sophia. Built in A.D. 537, it is famous for its domed roof. Visit the Topkapi Palace, perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the primary inlet of the waterway. Enjoy the excitement of bargaining in the bustling Grand Bazaar. In the evening, join your fellow travellers and toast to your trip over a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 15: Farewell Istanbul

It’s time to say goodbye to your new friends, as your trip comes to an end. A transfer will take you to the airport for your onward flights, or for those extending their stay in Istanbul, speak to your Travel Director for tips and tricks on where to head.