Turkey Through the Ages
Tour Operator:
Tour Code:
1249
Start City:
Istanbul
End City:
Istanbul
Tour Style:
Tour Quality:
First Class
Tour Length:
11 days
Age Requirement:
16+ Years Old
Tour Capacity:
16
Physical Rating:
2 - Classic
Dates & Prices
| Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | Friday, May 24, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Jun 11, 2024 | Friday, Jun 21, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Sep 17, 2024 | Friday, Sep 27, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Oct 08, 2024 | Friday, Oct 18, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Apr 22, 2025 | Friday, May 02, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | Friday, May 30, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Sep 09, 2025 | Friday, Sep 19, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Oct 07, 2025 | Friday, Oct 17, 2025 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote |
Promotions
Save 7% Off this Tour - Guaranteed!
$600 Off Pay-In-Full Savings
$600 Off Pay-In-Full Savings
Promotion Details
Save $600 per couple ($300 solo) on Small Group, Small Ship and Private Journeys when you book and pay-in-full within 7 days of booking and prior to the final payment date. Before prices begin to increase due to higher demand, now is a great time to take advantage of these remarkable savings. Plus as always, receive our AffordableTours.com 7% extra everyday savings. (Not all dates/itineraries apply, contact your Travel consultant for applicable dates.)
Must Book By Tue, Dec 31, 2024
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›
Offer valid on new bookings only. Discounted rates are per person. For travel in 2024 and 2025. Cannot be combined with any other offer, promotion or discount. Additional restrictions may apply. Offer is capacity controlled and may be removed at anytime without notice.
Family & Friends Discount: Save $100
Family & Friends Discount: Save $100
Promotion Details
Travel is one of life's most rewarding experiences, perhaps even more so when it's shared with those you love! Take advantage of our Family & Friends offer and Save $100 per person anytime you book 4 or more people on the same A+R program.
Combinable with pay-in-full discount.
Must Book By Tue, Dec 31, 2024
View Promotion Terms & Conditions ›
Applies to new bookings only. Offer combinable with pay-in-full discount. Certain restrictions may apply.
Tour Itinerary
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Day 1
Day 1 - Welcome to IstanbulUpon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and chauffeured to General Tours charming and luxurious hotel, The Four Seasons Sultanahmet. The balance of this day is yours to relax and enjoy as you wish.
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Day 2
Day 2 - Exploring a Fascinating CityHeralded throughout the ages as Byzantium, Constantinople and now Istanbul, this bustling city on the Bosphorus straddles the European and Asian Continents and presents an intoxicating blend of cultures and traditions. Setting out after breakfast with your expert native Trip Leader, today’s sightseeing begins at the Hippodrome, a handsome public square that stands on the site of the ancient Byzantine stadium. Nearby at the 17th Century Blue Mosque , you’ll marvel at its lavish interior decorated with more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles. Next up is St. Sophia , the Church of Divine Wisdom that was dedicated in 537 by Emperor Justinian, now once again a mosque.
Take a break from sightseeing at Giritli. Set in a restored residence in the heart of the Old City, this inviting restaurant is known for its blend of Turkish cuisine and the chef’s favorite dishes from her home island of Crete. After lunch, you’ll descend into one of the city’s subterranean cisterns. The one you’ll visit, the Basilica Cistern, is the largest - famed for its 336 marble columns! General Tours day ends with a private cruise along the Bosphorus. With Europe on one shore and Asia on the other, the scenery is captivating – punctuated by the towering minarets of the city, charming century-old wooden homes built at water’s edge, erstwhile summer palaces, and the impressive sight of Rumeli Hisari, the 15th-century fortress of the great Sultan, Mehmet the Conqueror. This evening, we’ll dine at Ali Ocakbasi Oligark with its creative cuisine and a spectacular view overlooking the Bosphorus. Meals B+L+D -
Day 3
Day 3 - Topkapi Palace + Grand Bazaar + Egyptian MarketAfter breakfast, another enriching day begins with a privately guided tour of the Topkapi Palace – fabled residence of sultans, courtiers, concubines and eunuchs for more than 400 years since its founding in the 15th century. In addition to its pavilions, kitchens, barracks, audience chambers and sleeping quarters, you’ll see the Harem that was the exclusive domain of the Sultan and his family. In the Treasury, you’ll discover a glittering collection including crown jewels, gem-studded daggers and even a hair of The Prophet. Then in the heart of the bustling Old City, you’ll explore the labyrinthine passageways of the one-and-only Grand Bazaar, where colorful shops and vendor stalls overflow with a bewildering variety of items including jewelry, spices, leather goods, textiles, carpets and ceramics.
Then continue to the Egyptian Market. Dating to the 1600’s, this was once the last stop for merchants and laden camels traveling the fabled Silk Road from China, India and ancient Persia. Originally built with money from taxes that were levied on goods coming from Egypt, this landmark building is still a busy commercial center overflowing with fragrant spices, tantalizing displays of Turkish Delight and myriad other delicacies from farm-fresh cheeses and Turkish Coffee to dried fruits and caviar. Explore its bustling corridors and experience its timeless rhythms as you mingle with other visitors as well as the many city residents who still come here to do their shopping. With General Tours in-the-know resident guide, you’ll also engage with friendly vendors, pausing to sample some of their tempting treats. Meals B -
Day 4
Day 4 - Cappadocia's 'Fairy Chimneys' + The Whirling DervishesWe’ll be chauffeured to the airport this morning for General Tours included flight into central Turkey. On arrival in Kayseri, General Tours head to the Goreme Open-Air Museum . Here in a picturesque valley, you’ll discover a complex of painted cave churches that were carved and decorated by monks nearly 1,000 years ago. Walking along a well-maintained path, you’ll visit a number of these ancient churches as your expert guide offers illuminating insight into their ancient history. The Cappadocia region is also famed for its remarkable scenery of unusual rock formations and tuff cones – fondly referred to locally as “Fairy Chimneys” for their whimsical silhouettes; exploring the Pasabag and Devrent Valleys with your engaging guide offers a chance to experience some of these dramatic landscapes. You’ll also meet skilled carpet weavers and pottery artisans in the village of Avanos.
This evening will begin with the 700-year-old music and dance ceremony of the Mevlevis, followers of the Sufi poet Rumi, who demonstrate through spinning how one can approach the union of all mankind to the love of God. We’ll follow this experience with dinner in the home of a Cappadocian family before General Tours first of two nights at the Argos, an enchanting boutique hotel in the hilltop village of Uchisar. Meals B+L+D -
Day 5
Day 5 - Above and Below CappadociaArise early this morning for General Tours hot air balloon adventure over the remarkable rock formations and remote valleys of Cappadocia. Floating silently above these amazing landscapes is singular experience you will long remember. Back on the ground, we’ll return to the Argos for breakfast before a visit for morning tea with a local family whose cave home is in one of the ‘Fairy Chimneys.’ Then, we’ll spend time in the tranquil village of Ayvali and explore the amazing scenery of the Rose and Pigeon Valleys.
Of course, no visit to the region would be complete without descending into the tunnels, passages and rooms that comprise Kaymakli Underground City . As General Tours explore living quarters, community kitchens, storage areas and even subterranean stables that descend far below ground, we’ll learn about the early Christians who built this city to protect themselves from Roman soldiers and the later Ottoman conquest. This evening, you’ll dine at Elai. Set in a historic building partially carved into the sandstone, this inviting and stylish restaurant is known for its distinctive fusion of Turkish, Mediterranean and European cuisines. Meals B+L+D -
Day 6
Day 6 - IzmirAfter breakfast, we’ll return to Kayseri for General Tours included flight to Izmir on Turkey’s Aegean coast. On arrival, you’ll be met and chauffeured to the 5-star Marriot Izmir. The balance of this day is at leisure to relax, enjoy and explore as you wish. Meals B
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Day 7
Day 7 - Excursion to EphesusFollowing breakfast, we’ll visit one of the most renowned cities of the ancient world - revered in antiquity for its Temple of Artemis, one of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. With jour expert Trip Leader, General Tours exploration of Ephesus begins as General Tours enter through the grand Magnesia Gate and walk along an ancient marble-paved roadway that still shows evidence of ancient chariot wheels. Among the excavated ruins that will astound you are the expansive Forum, the steam-heated Baths of Scholastica, and the magnificent façade of the Library of Celsus. The highlight of General Tours visit may well be the great amphitheater where Paul preached to the Ephesians.
From Ephesus, we’ll travel into the forested hills to visit the house where some believe the Virgin Mary had spent the last years of her life. After lunch, your afternoon continues at Urla Vineyards where we’ll enjoy a tour of the vineyard and a tasting of their fine wines. This evening, we’ve made arrangements for us to dine at Adabeyi. Set in a waterfront building designed by Alexander Gustave Eiffel, architect of his Paris tower, this inviting restaurant is famed for its traditional meze small-plates and fresh seafood. Meals B+L+D -
Day 8
Day 8 - Onward to BodrumAfter breakfast, enjoy the coastal scenery as General Tours travel south to Bodrum. On arrival in this inviting coastal town, set on a peninsula that extends into the Aegean, General Tours guided sightseeing will include the ancient amphitheater, originally built in the 4th century BCE during the reign of King Mausolus of Halicarnassus and later expanded during the Roman era nearly 600 years later! We’ll also visit the evocative windmills of Bodrum, built in the 1700’s of stone and wooden planks. They were used for centuries to grind flour but now stand as scenic reminders of the region’s rich heritage. Enjoy two nights here in Bodrum at the luxury Kempinski Barbaros Bay. Meals B
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Day 9
Day 9 - A Day on the AegeanWe’ve privately chartered a gulet today for a relaxing exploration of Turkey’s spectacular Turquoise Coast. With a full crew and a delightful lunch served onboard this traditional Turkish wooden sailing yacht, we’ll visit remote bays and quiet coves where you can go for a swim, if you like. It’s the best way to experience the magnificent beauty of Turkey’s Aegean shores. Meals B+L
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Day 10
Day 10 - Back to IstanbulAfter breakfast, we’ll fly back to Istanbul and will return to General Tours luxury hotel on the shores of the Golden Horn. The balance of this day is yours to do as you wish – a bit of independent sightseeing or some shopping might be a great way to spend your final day in the city. General Tours Farewell Dinner this evening is at one of General Tours favorite restaurants in town. Set on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn, Firuze Meyhane is a stylish restaurant loved by locals for its distinctive blend of modern Mediterranean style and traditional Ottoman cuisine. Meals B+D
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Day 11
Day 11 - Depart IstanbulWe’ll be chauffeured to the airport today for onward flights. Meals B
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
Health and Safety Protocols for Alexander Roberts Tours
Alexander+Roberts Tours is committed to your well-being and safety while you travel.
- All Alexander+Roberts staff will maintain appropriate physical distancing at all times.
- All high-touch surfaces in coaches and private cars – like door handles, railings, armrests, and window controls – will be sanitized each morning and regularly throughout the day.
- Alexander+Roberts expert guides and drivers will wear face masks whenever in proximity to guests.
- Alexander+Roberts staff have been trained on Extra Care procedures – and how to respond to issues that may arise as you travel.
- Complimentary face masks and hand sanitizer will be available in all vehicles while touring.
- Larger luxury motorcoaches so each traveler will have two seats to themselves while touring.
- Private airport transfers with a spacious luxury vehicle when you come and go for every tour.
- Regular and frequent sanitizing of all high-touch vehicle surfaces.
- Prearranged entry for all sightseeing minimizes standing in line with other travelers.
- Whisper Headsets for groups of 5 or more allow for proper physical distancing while sightseeing, except for certain nature activities in remote areas like the Amazon.
- Alexander+Roberts carefully selects restaurants to avoid crowded high-capacity venues; Alexander+Roberts emphasizes fine farm-to-table dining with attentive and efficient service – and the choice to dine al fresco whenever available.
- No large-group dining; enjoy more spacious dining settings and smaller, well-spaced tables for included meals.
- Restaurant staff will follow the guidance of local health authorities and WHO protocols which may include facial coverings.
- Alexander+Roberts hotels are always selected for their outstanding locations, evocative ambiance, impeccable service – and cleanliness.
- Alexander+Roberts partners include the most respected luxury brands – like Belmond, Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, Kempinski and JW Marriott; they are now leading the industry with their sophisticated hygiene standards and protocols to ensure the well-being of all their guests.
- Hotels will be continuously and rigorously vetted to ensure that they are following established WHO guidelines including social distancing and sanitizing procedures of guestrooms and public spaces.
- Hotel breakfasts will usually feature à la carte service and group seating will be replaced by smaller, appropriately distanced tables.
In a Small Group of Never More than 16 Guests or on a Privately Guided Tour for just your traveling party, their experienced guides have the flexibility to adjust your sightseeing based upon local conditions – to avoid times of heaviest traffic and crowding, for example. Alexander+Roberts can dine in smaller authentic restaurants, minimize the time waiting in lines, and leave a lighter footprint. You'll learn the history and stories behind the world's most iconic landmarks, immerse more deeply in the wonders of the natural world, and delight in genuine cultural engagement not possible in a larger group. It's travel without a crowd.
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
Question: How many suitcases can I take with me on my trip?
Each person is allowed one "check-in," and one "carry-on." Remember to take all valuables with you as "carry-on", because electronic equipment, cameras, laptops, jewelry, business documents and money are not covered by the airlines' liability, so always carry them aboard with you.
Question: Is Airfare Included in the Price?
Airfare from your point of origin to and from the trip is not included in the land price.
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Our tour guide was the best! He was knowledgeable about the country, always early, courteous and made us feel welcome in his country. Our tour had a side trip that was incredible due to our guide's particular experiences, The pick of our guide for our trip was absolutely perfect. Thank you for making our trip so wonderful.