Greetings and welcome to Istanbul! Once you've arrived at the airport, be on the lookout for the TSG sign, which will guide you to your transfer to the hotel. Once you've checked in, the remainder of the day will be free for you to spend at your leisure. However, you need not wait until tomorrow to begin exploring the city. Take a look at our optional tours listed below. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, the tour will depart for a gorgeous Istanbul City Tour. The first stop is the Topkapi Palace; the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. At the same time, it houses an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the imperial treasury, miniatures, and the holy mantle, enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.

The second stop of the tour is Sultanahmet Square, where the Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque salutes the Hagia Sophia. The Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque, which was built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is also known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Next, the tour will explore the Hippodrome; the site of ancient chariot races, and the home of three ancient monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpent Column, and the Column of Constantine. When you reach the other end of the Hippodrome, the Hagia Sophia Mosque will meet you with all its grandeur.

After a delectable lunch break, TSG will take you to the bazaar, where you can find exotic spices and herbs, Turkish Baklava, delicious Turkish Delights, Turkish Coffee, nuts and fruits, hand made souvenirs and more. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

Following breakfast, you'll be transferred to the ski fields of Kartepe, where you can spend the day skiing and enjoying the breathtaking views from the mountain top. Alternatively, you can choose to explore the city, go shopping in local markets, or unwind in a Turkish bath. We will be spending the night in Kartepe.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

You can enjoy a variety of experiences and activities at the Kartepe Ski Center. For skiers of all experience levels—beginners to experts—it offers a selection of ski trails. There are numerous opportunities to hit the slopes and take in the breathtaking mountain scenery, whether you're an experienced skier or a beginner. In addition to skiing, Kartepe Ski Center also offers snowboarding. If you're new to skiing, you can get some help from professional instructors, and remember that you can experience snowshoeing, tobogganing, and apres-ski. Plus, Kartepe Ski Center is located in a beautiful region of Turkey, and there are plenty of opportunities for sightseeing such as Sapanca Lake, Masukiye Village, or the Kartepe summit for stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Overnight in Kartepe.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
You can enjoy a variety of experiences and activities at the Kartepe Ski Center. For skiers of all experience levels—beginners to experts—it offers a selection of ski trails. There are numerous opportunities to hit the slopes and take in the breathtaking mountain scenery, whether you're an experienced skier or a beginner. In addition to skiing, Kartepe Ski Center also offers snowboarding. If you're new to skiing, you can get some help from professional instructors, and remember that you can experience snowshoeing, tobogganing, and apres-ski. Plus, Kartepe Ski Center is located in a beautiful region of Turkey, and there are plenty of opportunities for sightseeing such as Sapanca Lake, Masukiye Village, or the Kartepe summit for stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Overnight in Kartepe.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

You can enjoy a variety of experiences and activities at the Kartepe Ski Center. For skiers of all experience levels—beginners to experts—it offers a selection of ski trails. There are numerous opportunities to hit the slopes and take in the breathtaking mountain scenery, whether you're an experienced skier or a beginner. In addition to skiing, Kartepe Ski Center also offers snowboarding. If you're new to skiing, you can get some help from professional instructors, and remember that you can experience snowshoeing, tobogganing, and apres-ski. Plus, Kartepe Ski Center is located in a beautiful region of Turkey, and there are plenty of opportunities for sightseeing such as Sapanca Lake, Masukiye Village, or the Kartepe summit for stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Overnight in Kartepe.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
After breakfast, we depart for Kusadasi, stopping along the way for lunch. On arrival, we check you into your Kusadasi hotel, and the rest of the day is yours. You can visit the many beautiful shops, cafes, and restaurants that line the palm-lined boulevards around the port or explore any one of the many sandy beaches Kusadasi has to offer. Overnight in Kusadasi.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
The departure to visit Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient sites in the world, will be early in the morning. In Ephesus, you will visit the Temple of Artemis, Curetes Street, the famous Roman Baths, the Celsus Library, the Grand Theatre, and have a lunch break at a small Turkish restaurant. We will travel to Sirince Village after lunch, which has a great reputation for producing regional wine in Turkey, particularly fruit wines. The 19th-century neighborhood of Sirince still has its original architectural details and is well-known outside of the nation. It is famous for its homemade wines that are specially made from different kinds of fruits, such as blackberries, blueberries, melons, and strawberries. In the evening, you will be tested on your knowledge of making fruit wine. On the way back to the hotel, we will stop at a carpet weaving center or a leather production center for shopping. Overnight in Kusadasi.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
We depart for Pamukkale at 08:00 am. Upon arrival to Pamukkale we have a lunch break until 13:30 pm. Afterwards we shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, then walk around this natural phenomenon and have the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs. Denizli/Pamukkale means seaside in Turkish and is located on the Buyuk Menderes River.  It is a growing industrial town, known for its textile industry and outlet shopping. You will visit one of the famous textile factories of Pamukkale. This tour will end approximately 18.30 and you will be back to your hotel. Dinner and Overnight in Kusadasi.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
Following breakfast, we will set off for Pergamon or Pergamum to witness the Asklepion, Zeus' altar, the Red Basilica, and more. Pergamon was home to the Hellenistic and later Roman city, governed by a potent local dynasty for numerous centuries. Despite the completion of excavations in 1886, much of what was uncovered has since been transported to Germany. However, the Eumenes II acropolis remains a significant attraction, and there are numerous other sites of interest and charming old places. The most notable highlight is the Kizil Avlu or "Red Basilica," an enormous building situated by the river close to the acropolis, initially constructed as a temple for the Egyptian deity Osiris and subsequently transformed into a basilica by the early Christians. It was one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor mentioned by St. John in the book of Revelations. Overnight in Bergama.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)
Following breakfast, we will head to the ancient city of Troy, near the Dardanelles Strait in the province of Canakkale. The site is believed to have been inhabited continuously for thousands of years, with evidence of human settlement dating back to 3000 BCE.
The Trojan War is the center of the mythology of Troy, which was fought between the Trojans and the Greeks. The Greeks built a giant wooden horse, which the Trojans brought inside their walls, unaware that Greek soldiers were hiding inside. The Greeks emerged from the horse and opened the gates of Troy, allowing their army to enter and conquer the city after a ten-year war. Today, visitors to the ancient city of Troy can see the remnants of the nine different cities that were built on top of each other over thousands of years. Overnight in Canakkale. 

(Breakfast included)

Early in the morning, the tour will move to Gallipoli. With breaks, the tour will arrive there at about noon. Kabatepe Museum is the first place that will be visited, which has a rich weapon, photograph, and garment collection that was used by soldiers during the Gallipoli Campaign.
Ariburnu Cemetery will be next, which was built for the soldiers from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, India, and Malta that lost their lives during WWI in the Gallipoli Campaign. Anzac Cove, Beach Cemetery, Lone Pine, and Chunuck Bair are on the list where the most intense struggles have occurred. While listening to their sad stories, you may feel the cruelty of the war again. Overnight in Canakkale. Late in the afternoon, we will arrive in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)

The TSG team will pick you up from the hotel after breakfast around 8:00 a.m. for "Bosphorus by Boat,". a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shoreline is home to dozens of old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. You will have the opportunity to see the 19th-century Ottoman masterpiece Dolmabahce Palace, Yildiz Palace, one of the unique samples of the last period of Ottoman architecture, and Ciragan Palace with its amazing marble facades from the boat. Additionally, the Rumeli Fortress, one of the most exquisite examples of Ottoman military architecture, the harmony of eastern and western architectural styles at the Beylerbeyi Palace, the iconic view of Ortakoy, and more can be seen during the boat tour.
After lunch, the TSG team will take you to the bazaar, where you can find authentic goods. The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme, and various herbs, Turkish baklava, Turkish delight, and fresh Turkish coffee, as well as handicraft souvenirs. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included)

The tour ends this morning after 14 amazing days. Join your fellow travelers for breakfast at the hotel, and take the opportunity to bid farewell to your newfound friends. You can sign up to take advantage of TSG credits, and this is the best way to snag credits and use them for your next trips as a discount, as well as to hear about the hot deals according to your interests. We look forward to welcoming you back on another adventure in the near future!