Upon arrival at Istanbul NEW airport, you will be transferred to your hotel, where there will be a welcome briefing this evening. Overnight Conrad Hotel. 

Enjoy a full-day tour of Istanbul, including Hagia Sophia Church, an extraordinary building and masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Your tour also includes visits to Topkapi Palace Museum , the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and the Hippodrome where the chariot races and competitive athletic events took place during the Roman period. Optional: Dinner with belly-dancing and entertainment. Overnight at Conrad Hotel. (B)

Visit Troy, founded by Ilus the son of Tros in 3000 BC. At the site stands a symbolic wooden horse that was built to commemorate the legendary war. Drive to Pergamum, the rival city of Ephesus and the capital of the rich Pergamum Kingdom before the Roman Empire. Experience lunch at a local village, where residents of the village will welcome you to join them for lunch in their homes. Enjoy time at leisure to stroll around the village before visiting the Asclepion, the ancient medical centre. Continue to Izmir for overnight at the Swissotel Grand Efes Hotel or similar. (B, L)

Visit Troy, founded by Ilus the son of Tros in 3000 BC. At the site stands a symbolic wooden horse that was built to commemorate the legendary war. Drive to Pergamum, the rival city of Ephesus and the capital of the rich Pergamum Kingdom before the Roman Empire. Experience lunch at a local village, where residents of the village will welcome you to join them for lunch in their homes. Enjoy time at leisure to stroll around the village before visiting the Asclepion, the ancient medical centre. Continue to Izmir for overnight at the Swissotel Grand Efes Hotel or similar. (B, L)

Tour the famous ruins of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world. During the Roman era Ephesus was an extremely wealthy city, known worldwide as a city of trade, art, entertainment and finance. Take a short drive to St Mary’s stone cottage, where it is believed the Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St John. Continue to a regional rug production centre for a first-hand experience of this unique art form. Return to Izmir for dinner and overnight at the Swissotel Grand Efes Hotel or similar. (B, D)

After breakfast, drive to Bodrum and take an explorative tour of this wonderful city, visiting the Castle of St Peter and the renowned Underwater Museum. Dinner and overnight in Bodrum at The Marmara Hotel or similar. (B) 

Enjoy a day at leisure. Optional: There is the opportunity to take an optional day tour to the Greek island of Kos. Overnight in Bodrum at The Marmara Hotel or similar. (B) 

Drive through fertile valleys to Pamukkale, the ‘cotton fortress' and a natural site of white lime cascades formed by hot mineral springs. Visit the ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis and enjoy a swim in your hotel's thermal pool. Overnight at the Doga Thermal Hotel and Spa or similar. (B, D)

After breakfast, depart for Antalya, a resort city and gateway to Turkey's southern Mediterranean region, known as the Turquoise Coast for its blue waters. Remnants remain from Antalya's time as a major Roman port, including Hadrian’s Gate, built to honour the Roman emperor’s visit in 130 AD and the 2nd century Hidirlik Tower, with its beautiful views of Antalya Bay. Dinner and overnight at Akra Antalya or similar. (B, D)

This morning, visit the ancient sites of Perge and Aspendos. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight at Akra Antalya or similar. (B, D)

Depart early this morning for Cappadocia, visiting the 13th Century Sultanhani Caravanserai and the fascinating underground city of Saratli enroute. Dinner and overnight in Capadoccia at Gamirasu Hotel or similar. (B, D) 

This morning, there is the opportunity to take an optional early morning balloon tour over Cappadocia. Experience floating over the volcanic valleys and fairy chimneys as the sun rises over this unique landscape. After breakfast, visit Goreme, the open-air museum, a complex of rock churches and chapels covered with frescs that were first settled during the Roman period. Continue to the town of Avanos, renowned for its high quality earthenware, visit Pasabagi, Red Valley and attend a brief regional pottery workshop. Enjoy dinner at a special local restaurant. Optional: Whirling Dervishes performance.  Overnight in Capadocci at Gamirasiou Hotel or similar. (B, D)

This morning, depart early for Turkey's capital city of Ankara. Enjoy an afternoon tour of the Ataturk Mausoleum and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, that houses the most extensive and valuable collection of Hittite artifacts in the world, including those from the Old Hittite Kingdom, the Assyrian Trade Colonies, the Late Hittite kingdoms, the Phrygian and Urartian cultures. Enjoy dinner at a special local restaurant. Overnight in Ankara at the Ankara Sheraton Hotel or similar. (B, D)

After breakfast, drive to Istanbul. Optional afternoon tour including a cruise on the Bosphorus and a visit to the exotic Spice Market. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your tour group. Overnight at the Conrad similar. (B, D)

Transfer to Ataturk airport. (B)