7-Day Turkey Christmas Tour: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ephesus & Kuşadası
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Duration
7 days
Max Group Size
45
Departure Type
Guaranteed
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
moderate
Operated In
English
Age Requirement
11 - 99 Ages
About this tour
Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Route: Istanbul → Gallipoli → Çanakkale → Troy → Pergamon → Kuşadası → Ephesus → Şirince → İzmir Airport
Tour Description ; Celebrate Christmas in Turkey with a seven-day journey combining Istanbul’s historic landmarks, the Gallipoli battlefields, ancient Troy and Pergamon, and a festive stay on the Aegean coast.
Explore Istanbul’s palaces, mosques and bazaars before travelling through western Turkey to Kuşadası. Walk along the ancient streets of Ephesus, visit the House of the Virgin Mary and discover the hillside village of Şirince, known for its traditional houses and fruit wines.
On Christmas Eve, enjoy a hotel celebration featuring a festive buffet, music, dancing and unlimited selected local drinks. Spend Christmas Day relaxing in Kuşadası, with all-inclusive hotel hospitality and optional activities available.
Available for group bookings or private arrangements, this Turkey Christmas holiday combines cultural discovery with time to celebrate and unwind.
Route
- 1IstanbulEuropeTurkeyStart
- 2GallipoliEuropeTurkeyCanakkale
- 3Anzac CoveEuropeTurkeyCanakkale
- 4CanakkaleEuropeTurkey
- 5TroyEuropeTurkeyCanakkale
- 6BergamaEuropeTurkeyIzmir
- 7KusadasiEuropeTurkeyAydin
- 8EphesusEuropeTurkeyIzmir
- 9Sirince VillageEuropeTurkeyIzmirSelcuk
- 10IzmirEuropeTurkey
- 11IstanbulEuropeTurkeyEnd
Attractions
What makes this tour special
Itinerary
Welcome to Turkey! Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, meet your representative and transfer to your hotel.
After check-in, enjoy free time to relax or explore independently. An optional Whirling Dervish performance or Turkish dance show can be arranged for the evening.
Overnight: Istanbul.
Meals: Not included.
After breakfast, begin your guided exploration of Istanbul’s historic centre.
Visit Topkapı Palace, the former residence of Ottoman sultans, and discover its courtyards and collections. Continue to the Blue Mosque, admired for its elegant architecture and decorative İznik tiles.
Explore the Hippodrome, once the setting for chariot races, and see the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column and Walled Obelisk. Enjoy an exterior view of Hagia Sophia while your guide introduces its place in Istanbul’s history.
After lunch, visit the Spice Bazaar, where stalls display spices, Turkish delight, coffee, dried fruit and souvenirs.
Return to your hotel after the tour. Dinner is at your own expense.
Overnight: Istanbul.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch.
Depart early after breakfast for the Gallipoli Peninsula, with rest stops along the way.
Following lunch, explore the battlefield landscape with your guide. Planned visits include the Kabatepe museum or interpretation centre, Arıburnu Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Beach Cemetery, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair, subject to local access and timing.
Learn about the campaign and the soldiers commemorated at these moving sites before continuing to your hotel in the Çanakkale area.
Overnight: Çanakkale.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
After breakfast, travel to Troy for a guided visit. Explore its archaeological remains and discover the stories that connect this ancient settlement with the Trojan War.
Continue to Bergama for lunch before exploring the Pergamon Acropolis. See its monumental remains and hillside theatre while learning about the city’s cultural importance.
A short jewellery-centre stop is scheduled before continuing to Kuşadası.
Check in to your hotel and begin your all-inclusive stay. Enjoy dinner and selected hotel beverages within the designated service hours.
Overnight: Kuşadası.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
After breakfast, depart for a guided visit to Ephesus.
Walk along its ancient streets and discover highlights including the Library of Celsus, Curetes Street, Roman baths and the Grand Theatre. Visit the nearby Temple of Artemis site and the House of the Virgin Mary.
Continue to Şirince Village, where traditional houses, small shops and hillside streets create a charming setting. Enjoy a fruit-wine tasting and learn about local wine production.
A visit to a regional leather-production centre is also scheduled before returning to your hotel.
In the evening, celebrate Christmas Eve with a festive buffet, music and dancing. Enjoy unlimited selected local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during the confirmed party service, together with a festive gift box.
Overnight: Kuşadası.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and Christmas Eve dinner.
Merry Christmas! Enjoy a relaxed day at your own pace.
Spend time at the hotel, take a leisurely walk or explore Kuşadası independently. Your all-inclusive hotel meal and beverage arrangements continue throughout the day within scheduled service hours.
Optional activities may include a Turkish bath, Kuşadası city tour or Turkish night experience, subject to availability and additional charges.
Overnight: Kuşadası.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast, enjoy free time until your scheduled transfer to İzmir Airport.
If returning home via Istanbul, take your separately booked domestic flight from İzmir to Istanbul and connect with your international departure.
Your included services conclude at İzmir Airport.
Meals: Breakfast.
Trip includes
Included
2 Nights hotel in Istanbul - 5 Star La Quinta by Wyndham Istanbul
1 Night hotel in Canakkale - 4 Star Troia Tusan Hotel
3 Nights hotel in Kusadasi - 5 Star Ramada Hotel
Please Note: If the above hotels are not available we will provide the similar category hotels.
Professional English-speaking guides during included tours.
Guiding Method
Fully guided
EnglishSix breakfasts.
Four scheduled lunches on sightseeing days, plus Christmas Day lunch at the Kuşadası hotel.
Dinner in Çanakkale.
Three dinners in Kuşadası, including the Christmas Eve celebration.
All-inclusive hotel meals and selected local alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in Kuşadası, within hotel service hours.
Transportation in an air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicle.
Arrival transfer from Istanbul Airport to your Istanbul hotel.
Departure transfer from your Kuşadası hotel to İzmir Airport.
Scheduled Şirince fruit-wine tasting.
Guided Istanbul Old City tour.
Guided Gallipoli tour.
Guided Troy and Pergamon tour.
Guided Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary and Şirince tour.
Entrance fees for scheduled included attractions.
Local taxes and city tax.
Hotels are subject to availability. Similar-category alternatives will be provided if necessary.
The Kuşadası all-inclusive beverage service applies at the hotel. Drinks consumed during excursions are excluded unless specifically stated.
Departure dates: The itinerary runs from 20 to 26 December. Confirm the operating year and availability when booking.
Airport arrangements: Arrival is in Istanbul; the tour finishes at İzmir Airport. Kuşadası does not have the departure airport used for this itinerary.
Return flight: The İzmir–Istanbul ticket is excluded. Coordinate your flight time with the tour team and allow sufficient time for onward connections.
Christmas celebration: The Christmas Eve party is an organised hotel event. The final entertainment schedule and beverage selection are confirmed for each departure.
Meal arrangements: Sightseeing lunches and hotel meals follow the program. Hotel all-inclusive drinks are not available during off-site excursions.
Winter travel: Bring warm layers, a waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes. Outdoor visits can be affected by winter weather.
Walking: Archaeological sites involve uneven surfaces, steps and slopes. Advise the team of mobility needs before booking.
Religious sites: Modest clothing is required. Women should carry a headscarf for mosque visits.
Hagia Sophia: The standard program includes an exterior view. Interior admission requires separate confirmation.
Palace access: If Topkapı Palace is unavailable on the scheduled date, an alternative visit will be confirmed.
Shopping visits: Jewellery and leather-centre stops form part of the itinerary. Purchases are optional.
Hotel facilities: Seasonal facilities and outdoor pools may have limited operation in December.
Dietary needs: Share dietary requirements in advance so suitable arrangements can be discussed.
Excluded
International flights.
Domestic flight from İzmir to Istanbul.
Travel insurance and other insurance coverage.
Optional performances, excursions and wellness treatments.
Turkey entry visa fees, where applicable.
Optional performances, excursions and wellness treatments.
Dinner in Istanbul and other meals not specified.
Drinks during excursions, except the included Şirince tasting.
Imported or premium drinks outside the hotel’s all-inclusive selection.
Personal expenses, laundry, minibar extras and purchases.
Tips for guides and drivers.
Any service not listed in the included section.
Availability
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Make this journey exclusively yours
By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
Personal
Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected
Travel withing your own bubble.
Professional
Access our Travel Specialists insider knowledge.
Privacy
Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
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