Ancient Turkey | Yampu Tours

Custom Travel Experiences Since 1998

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Ancient Turkey

PRIVATE TOUR - 5 DAY SAMPLE ITINERARY

FROM £$ 3023

Private Tour Highlights

  • Visit one of the world's largest archaeological sites, the ancient city of Ephesus. See ruins of a city that date back to 10th century BC.
  • See one of the Seven World Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis, in Ephesus.
  • Marvel over the incredible decoration of Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years. There are many buildings and courtyards to explore.
  • Wander through Sultanahmet Square, where both the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are located. This section is enriched with so much history and beauty.
  • Haggle over the price of Turkish jewelry, carpets, ceramics, and other goods in the famous Grand Bazaar.
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Tour Overview

Explore Ancient Turkey! The historic sites are never ending! The country has served as a home to many civilizations including the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Incredible remains of these early civilizations have been uncovered and preserved. See one of the earliest libraries known to exist at Ephesus. Visit one of the ancient seats of the Byzantine Church, the Hagia Sophia. Explore the palace that was once used by Ottoman Sultans. Begin to discover the unique blend of cultures in this ancient land. Travelers will be left in awe after seeing such historic sites!

Explore the great ancient site of Asia Minor, Ephesus. Marvel over the ruins of the ancient temples, library, market and spectacular theater. Visit the Virgin Mary’s cottage and the Temple of Diana. Spend time in Pergamum, one a prominent Greek city. The ruins are considered as one of the seven churches of Asia. See Acropolis, embellished with so many beautiful monuments such as the Temple of Trojan and a theater. Go to an ancient Roman medical center, Asklepion.

Discover the ancient city of Istanbul, once known as Constantinople. Spend the majority of the time in Istanbul in the historic section of Sultanahmet Square. In the small area of Sultanahmet Square, see the amazing Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Experience the blend of Byzantine and Ottoman culture. Walk through the Roman Hippodrome that was once used for chariot races. Visit the Topkapi Palace, the main residence of Ottoman Sultans. Make a trip to the seemingly never-ending Grand Bazaar. Wander through the many shops and discover the best of Turkish goods including jewelry, carpets, and ceramics.

Inclusions
Price includes domestic and regional flights within the itinerary; all hotel accommodations including daily continental or buffet breakfast and daily city tax; all transfers between airports and hotels with assistance and baggage handling; guided tours in English including entrance fees.
Exclusions

International airfare (unless specifically included), airport departure taxes that must be paid on-site, gratuities, meals not mentioned, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages with meals, early / late check-out, room service, visa fees/services and other personal items or services not mentioned.

Best Time to Travel
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Best Good Consult

Package Price: From £$ 3023

Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.

Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.

Trip Type:

All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!

Tour Itinerary

Day
1

Arrive in Izmir

Upon arrival into Izmir, you will be met by a local Yampu representative who will transfer you to your Izmir hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Izmir is a city on Turkey's Aegean coast. Known as Smyrna in antiquity, it was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Today, its expansive archaeological sites include the Roman Agora of Smyrna, now an open-air museum. The hilltop Kadifekale, or Velvet Castle, built during Alexander's reign, overlooks the city.

Note: Check-in is normally after 2 pm. Early check-in may be granted subject to availability (not confirmed).
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Kusadasi-Turkey
Day
2

Ephesus

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Private Full Day Ephesus Ancient City Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and driver for your private sightseeing tour of Ephesus. Drive about an hour to the House of Virgin Mary, which is the place where Mary might have spent her last days. The Life of "The Blessed Virgin Mary", was a small stone house, built by the Apostle John who, according to popular belief, brought Mary with him from Jerusalem to Ephesus. The house had a fireplace, apse, round back wall, a bedroom for Mary, and a spring that ran into her bedroom. After Mary was taken to heaven, said Emmerich, the house was turned into a chapel.

After the visit which takes approximately 45 minutes, drive down to the Upper Gate of Ephesus for our main tour. Ephesus was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era. We will see the Odeon, the stream baths of Scholastika, the temple of Hadrian and impressive library of Ephesus. The library is adorned with columns and statues. The Grand Theater, where Saint Paul preached, is the largest theater in antiquity with a capacity of 24000 seats.

A very special visit to the Terrace Houses; opposite the Hadrian Temple and also called as "the houses of rich". It gives a magnificent picture of the daily life of the Romans and the wealth of Ephesus.
The last stop will be the Temple of Artemis (Diana), built in a honor of the Greek Goddess of hunting, wild nature and fertility, which was one of the Seven wonders of the ancient world.
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Day
3

Pergamum and Asklepion and Transfer to Istanbul

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Private Full Day Pergamum and Asklepion Tour

A step back in ancient times today with a visit to the hilltop ruins of Pergamum which once boasted the greatest library of the ancient world which once held 200,000 scrolls. The Asclepion and Acropolis of Pergamum are world famous. Pergamum is where parchment was first invented. It boasted the contents of a fabulous library, given by Anthony to Cleopatra and later lost in a fire at Alexandria. The Temple of Zeus was another ancient marvel although much of it is now in a specially constructed museum in Berlin. The Asclepion was the centre of healing and one of its great doctors was Gelen (120-190AD). We will also explore one of the famous colourful weekly food markets of Bergama, the modern name of Pergamum.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Izmir airport to take your flight to Istanbul.
Domestic Flight from Izmir to Istanbul

Upon arrival into Istanbul, you will be met by a local Yampu representative who will transfer you to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Note: Check-in is normally after 2 pm. Early check-in may be granted subject to availability (not confirmed).
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Pergamum-Turkey
Day
4

Istanbul Tour

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Private Full Day Classical Istanbul & Food Tour

Go on a guided tour exploring the ancient city of Istanbul. The tour includes a visit to the Topkapi Palace, the main residence of Ottoman Sultans. See the Saint Sophia Basilica, an ancient seat of the Byzantine Church. Marvel over the Blue Mosque, still a functioning mosque and one of Istanbul biggest attractions. Walk through the Roman Hippodrome that was once used for chariot races. Finish the day wandering through the seemingly never-ending Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is filled with many small shops offering the best in Turkish goods including jewelry, carpets, and ceramics.

In the evening, go a walking food tour. Start the tour from a Spice Market area learning about spices which dominated Ottoman cuisine. Try sherbet (spice juice), Turkish Delight and nuts. Experience the smells and the colors of Istanbul. Then walk through Galata Bridge to Galata area. Stop to taste ethnic dishes from all regions of Anatolia. Galata district is becoming a cultural center with design shops, cultural designers, wine cellars, and boutique hotels. Taste Turkish coffee cooked on charcoal, maybe a sesame pretzel and roasted chestnuts on the way to Beyoglu. Beyoglu has little labyrinth like streets with hidden tastes of different Greek mezes, Black Sea style Turkish pizza, fried mussels, pickles, tripe soup etc. Conclude the tour with desert, either mastic rice pudding or elastic ice cream or Beyoglu chocolate. Taste all of them if the traveler has a sweet tooth.
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Blue Mosque-Istanbul
Day
5

Depart Istanbul

At the appropriate time you will be met at your hotel to transfer back to the Istanbul airport for your departing flight.

Please note that hotel check out time is typically around 11am. After this time, the hotel will gladly hold your luggage until the time of your transfer.

International Flight Home

At the appropriate time you will be met at your hotel to transfer back to the Istanbul airport for your departing flight.

Please note that hotel check out time is typically around 11am. After this time, the hotel will gladly hold your luggage until the time of your transfer.

International Flight Home

Izmir, İzmir, Turkey

Kusadasi, Kuşadası/Aydın Province, Turkey

Ephesus Archaeological Museum, Selçuk/İzmir, Turkey

Pergamon Antik Kenti, İzmir, Turkey

The Asklepion, Bergama/İzmir, Turkey

Places You'll See

  • Kusdarsi-Turkey

    Kusadasi

    The coastal city of Kusadasi is known for its beautiful location on the Aegean Sea and its fun, exciting nightlife. This makes Kusadasi a great city to stay in for travelers wanting plenty of restaurants and nighttime activities to choose from while visiting the ancient sites of Ephesis, Pamukkale, Pergamum, Asklepion, Priene, Miletus, and Didym.

  • Ephesus-Turkey

    Ephesus

    Ephesus is one of Turkey’s major attractions. This city is one of the world’s largest archaeological sites. Once home to an ancient Greek then Roman city, Ephesus was thought to have over 250,000 citizens. The site is considered one of the largest and best preserved ancient cities, although only a small percent of it has been unearthed by archaeologists. The ancient city’s main attraction is the Library, thought to be one of the world’s first known libraries.

  • Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia-Istanbul

    Istanbul

    Visit the city that has a long, rich history. First known as Byzantium in 660 BC, this city has been home to many different civilizations. Beginning in 330 AD, the city was renamed to Constantinople during the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman empires. After the country’s establishment in 1923, the city was renamed again to Istanbul. The city served a hub for the growth of Christianity until the Ottomans conquered, whose religion was Islam. The city has so many different layers of history, making it an exciting place to explore! The city itself is split by the waters of the Bosphorus strait, onto two different continents, Europe and Asia. This makes it easy to hop from one continent to another without even leaving the city! Istanbul is well known for its landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, the Grand Bazzar, and the popular Turkish hammams(Turkish bath houses). This city has so much to offer!

Hotel Options

4 Star Properties

Istanbul : Levni Hotel

: Park Inn Radisson Izmir

5 Star Properties

Istanbul : Pera Palace

: Renaissance Hotel Izmir

Luxury Properties

: The Peninsula Bosphorus Istanbul

: Swissotel Grand Efes

Testimonials

Let Us Customize This Trip For You

Our World Experts offer full support and dedication to customizing this tour to fit your wishlist - We can mix and match experiences, hotels and highlights to fit your budget and taste.

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