Overview
Turkish Escape
Turkey is a unique country with a unique identity straddling both Europe and Asia. Your 8-day Turkish Escape starts in Istanbul, a city of great diversity and a combination of tree-lined boulevards, cafés and cosmopolitan restaurants set against a backdrop where little has changed for centuries. During its 3,000 years of turbulent history, it has been home to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans and the Turks themselves- all leaving their marks. Highlights of your sightseeing are inside visits to the 6th century Hagia Sophia, the largest ever church and for over a thousand years the largest covered space on earth and to the amazing Topiaki Palace which was the seat of the government of one of the greatest Empire of the Medieval age. Pay tribute to the fallen war heroes at the Anzac cemetery and visit 3 of the most famous ancient sites in the country: Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus. Each very different and distinctive. Troy, the oldest, dating from 3,000BC and made up to 9 separate cities all built over each other; Pergamon an impregnable defensive site with amazing views in all directions which flourished as one of the ancient world’s greatest centres of and healing; Ephesus, the greatest city in the Eastern Mediterranean during Roman times which boasts an extraordinary number of superbly preserved monuments.Cross from Europe to Asia on board a scenic ferry journey across the Dardanelles Straight and get ready to taste the superb Turkish cuisine, an interesting blend of Mediterranean specialties and flavours.This is the perfect vacation if you are looking for a genuine and unique blend of diverse cultures, centuries of history and an atmosphere the mysterious East with the familiar West.
Highlights of Turkish Escape
Price Details US
All Escapes by Globus tours and departures are excluded from the following Globus discounts: Book Early & Save Discounts, Second Tour Discount and Small Group Discount.
Private Touring
6 guests in a party: $306*18 guests in a party: $128*
Product Group
Turkish Escape
Inclusions
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect vacation—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring in spacious comfort by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach. Free Wi-Fi is included on board your coach and in most hotel lobbies and common areas.
Itineraries
Day 1
ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL,TURKEY Welcome to Istanbul! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)ISTANBUL-NARROW-STREET.jpg
Day 2
ISTANBUL A Gateway between Orient and Occident ISTANBUL Guided sightseeing includes the Topapki Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Roman Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque followed by a Turkish Delight tasting. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURE & TRADITIONS Founded by the Greeks as Byzantium more than 2,500 years ago, and finally called Istanbul after the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, the city on the Bosporus remains one of the most exciting places in the world. Its strategic location as a gateway between Orient and Occident, the Islamic and the Christian worlds, and the Black Sea and the Mediterranean predestined it for a turbulent yet exciting history.ISTANBUL-HAGIA-SOPHIA.jpg
Day 3
ISTANBUL–GALLIPOLI–TROY AREA Bravery on the Beach GALLIPOLI Visit the WWI battlefields on the Gallipoli peninsula, the Anzac Cemetery and the Lone Pine Memorial before crossing the Dardanelless by ferry. (B,D) 236 mi/ 380 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORY & HERITAGE Visit the moving and inspirational sites, where Allied troops, mainly Australians and New Zealanders, suffered heavy casualties in a disastrous campaign. Pay tribute to the heroes of those tragic months of 1915 at the Anzac Cemetery and the Lone Pine Memorial. GALLIPOLI.jpg
Day 4
TROY AREA–PERGAMUM–KUSADASI Trojan War TROY Enjoy a guided visitPERGAMUM Guided visit of the Asklepion, a shrine to the Greek God of medicine. (B,D) 267 mi / 430 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT HEALING THE BODY &THE SOUL Nestled between hills, the Asklepion retains a sense of serenity and history. The sick approached the temple via the Sacred Way, a path that started their journey to health determined according to what dreams the patience experienced and which also included theatre shows. All of this was done in the belief that healing was a sacred art and that people’s souls needed to be mended as well as their bodies.PERGAMUM.jpg
Day 5
KUSADASI–EPHESUS–PAMUKKALE Ancient Civilization Preserved EPHESUS Follow your Guide for a walk through the ancient ruins and the archaeological museum. (B,D) 137 mi / 220 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SPOTS Ephesus was one of the most famous cities of the ancient Mediterranean. It was the second biggest city of the Roman Empire and today it is one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean. EPHESUS.jpg
Day 6
PAMUKKALE–HIERAPOLIS–BURSA In the Shadow of Mount Olympus HIERAPOLIS Visit the thermal resort founded by a Pergamene king in 190 BCE.BURSA Visit the Great Mosque the covered bazaar and the silk market followed by a Kestane Sekeri tasting. (B) 280mi / 450 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT ANCIENT TASTES ON THE SILK ROAD Wander through the long winding bazaar in Bursa, Turkey’s centuries-old city center, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the buzzing marketplace. Treat your taste buds to one of the city’s famous sweets, the Kestane Sekery, and find the perfect gift for yourself or a friend, a piece of authentic Bursa-made silk.BURSA-BAZAAR.jpg
Day 7
BURSA–IZNIK–ISTANBUL Ancient Walls & Ecumenical Council IZNIK Guided visit includes St. Sophia’s Church and the Archaeological museumISTANBUL Farewell dinner at a local restaurant (B,D) 137 mi / 220 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT CERAMIC BEYOND TIMES Iznik is a completely "open-air museum" with its rare ancient history and uniqueness. It is also the birthplace of the world famous Iznik tiles – a treasured artform dating back to the Ottoman Empire. ARCHAEOLOGICAL-TILES.jpg
Day 8
ISTANBUL Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)ISTANBUL-CITYSCAPE.jpg
Departures
| # | Air Start Date | Land Start Date | Land End Date | Land Only Price | Discount | Final | Departure Code | Status |
Hotels
| # | Name | Description | City | Address | Rating |
| 1 | The Artisan Istanbul Mgallery | Located in the heart of Istanbul's commercial city center, this contemporary 136 room property offers artisanal local culinary delights at the rooftop restaurant which features sweeping views of the city and the Bosphorous strait. All air-conditioned guest rooms are decorated in a modern style and are fitted with flat-screen TV's, a telephone, an electric kettle, a safety deposit box and a minibar. Other amenities include a 24-hour fitness room, a spa and Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout. | Istanbul | Omer Avni Mah Inonu Caddesi 42 | Deluxe |
| 2 | Kolin Hotel Canakkale | This hotel occupies a prime position on the Canakkale coastline with a sandy beach and gardens offering spectacular views overlooking the Dardanelles strait. The property boasts six bars, indoor and seasonal outdoor pools, as well as a modern spa. The large air-conditioned guest rooms are modern in style and include Free Wi-Fi internet access, a minibar and satellite TV. | Canakkale | Ataturk Caddesi No. 2 | First-Class |
| 3 | Charisma De Luxe Hotel Kusadasi | Located close to Kusadasi Marina and Kusadasi Castle, this 218-room seafront hotel features a 60m private beach, a seasonal infinity pool with sweeping views of the Aegean Sea and is only a short walk away from Kusadasi's shopping and entertainment area. Relaxation options include a heated indoor pool, Turkish Hammam, Spa treartments and fitness center. The hotel's main restaurant serves a mix of international and Turkish cuisine and there is also an a-la carte seafood restaurant and lobby bar. All rooms have a partial sea-view and balcony, LCD TV with satellite channels, a minibar, bathrobes and slippers and Free Wi-Fi internet access. | Kusadasi | Turkmen, Gazi Beendi sk No:7 | First-Class |
| 4 | Colossae Thermal & Spa Hotel | Featuring thermal pools, an outdoor swimming pool and a spa center, this eco-friendly hotel offers comfortable accommodation just 4 km from the ancient city of Hierapolis. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel. All 327 guest rooms are air-conditioned and tastefully decorated and feature balconies. Every room has a mini bar, safe, Wi-Fi internet connection, telephone, hair dryer and complimentary toiletries. The hotel also boasts an in-house restaurant offering a a variety of dishes in an elegant ambience. International dishes as well as traditional Turkish cuisine are served as an open buffet. The adjacent bar also provides a welcoming corner for drinks and snacks. Guests can also relax at the in-house Turkish bath or the solarium. The spa center offers a range of treatmenets and massages. | Denizli-Pamukkale | Fatih Mh. 112 Sk., 4 | First-Class |
| 5 | Moevenpick Bursa Hotel and Thermal Spa | Located in the city centre of Bursa, close to the greenery of Bursa Kültür Park this upscale property blends city life with nature. The 136-room hotel boasts an Italian Restaurant, an international restaurant combining Turkish cuisine, a lobby bar with a classical warm atmosphere and a trendy rooftop restaurant bar. The hotel also features a thermal swimming pool and Spa area with thermal Turkish bath and a wellness center. The spacious guestrooms are contemporarily decorated and come with a flat screen TV with satellite channels, minibar and electric kettle and have Free Wi-Fi internet access. | Bursa | Cekirge Cad. No:81, Osmangazi | First-Class |
| 6 | Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Bosphorus | Located in the heart of Istanbul, this elegant hotel, has a rooftop restaurant which offers panoramic views across Istanbul and the Bosphorus Bridge. Various wellness facilities, such as an indoor pool, a sauna, a fitness centre and massage services. The stylish 257 modern, air-conditioned guest rooms offer a tranquil retreat from the bustling city and all have tea and coffee-making facilities, a seating area and a minibar. There are several shopping malls located just a short drive away and Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout. | Istanbul | Balmumcu, Barbaros Blv. No 165 | Moderate Deluxe |
