treasures of turkey · mosque and now a museum. included activities • topkapi palace • blue...

TREASURES OF TURKEY 16 DAY SOLO TOUR: SEPTEMBER 2020

§ Exclusively for Solo Travellers § Your Own Room Always § Visit Amazing Destinations

ITINERARY

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TURKEY

The more you see of Turkey, the more you realise you have yet to see. From the cosmopolitan delights of Istanbul to the Roman remains of Ephesus, you’ll discover a country of fascinating contrasts. You’ll cover a lot of ground in 16 days but still have plenty of time to stroll, shop, gaze and relax with a pot of apple tea. We will explore cities brimming with modern delights, visit archaeological sites filled with ancient splendour, gawk at curious landscapes straight out of a storybook and wander along picture-perfect coastlines… this is tantalising Turkey! Visitors won’t be able to forget travelling through this exotic land which sits at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, yet displays a fair bit of Middle Eastern flair. Oh, and after a full day of sightseeing you will get plenty of opportunities soak in an invigorating Turkish bath- nothing in the west quite compares to this refreshing and healing ancient ritual!

Will you join us?

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TREASURES OF TURKEY 16 DAY SOLOS TOUR – 8TH - 23RD SEPTEMBER 2020

w w w . t w o s a c r o w d . c o m . a u IRAN ADVENTURE

Day 1 - Tuesday 8th September 2020 ISTANBUL ARRIVAL (D)Welcome to Istanbul; the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans have called home. Your welcome meeting will be at 6pm today where you can meet your Two’s a Crowd tour host, fellow travellers and local guide. The group will then enjoy dinner together and sample some local delicasies while getting to know each other. Included Activities• Istanbul - airport to hotel arrival transfer

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Dosso Dossi Old City Hotel,’ in Istanbul (4 star)

Day 2 - Wednesday 9th September 2020 ISTANBUL (B) After breakfast we begin our full day tour of Istanbul’s

historical sites. We will see many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as the magnificent Topkapi Palace. Once home to the great Sultans, it is filled with treasures and antiquities including twelve thousand pieces of fine Chinese porcelain. We will then visit the unique Blue Mosque built in 1609 by Sultan Ahmet. The interior walls are covered with twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles. Later, visit the Hippodrome, and then on to the domed Basilica of St. Sophia, which has inspired architects and religious leaders for over fifteen hundred years. Constructed in 326 by Constantine the Great, it has been a cathedral, a mosque and now a museum. Included activities• Topkapi Palace • Blue Mosque• Hippodrome • Basilica of St. Sophia

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Dosso Dossi Old City Hotel,’ in Istanbul (4 star)





Day 3 - Thursday 10th September 2020 ISTANBUL - CANAKKALE (B, D) Early this morning, after breakfast we begin the drive to Çanakkale, located on the shores of the Dardanelles, which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean Sea and touches both Europe (with the Gelibolu Peninsula) and Asia (with the Biga Peninsula). After lunch we will visit Gallipoli, visit the beach and cemeteries of Anzac Cove. Then head up the hill toward the poignant memorials of Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. Look down upon the rough hills and gullies that became the graveyard for so many thousands of young men from both sides. You will tour the former battlefields and find remnants of trenches used by the Turkish soldiers. We will return to Canakkale to enjoy a group dinner this evening. Included Activities• Gallipoli - guided visit

§ Accommodation: your own room at ‘‘ Set Özer Hotel’ Çanakkale (3 star)

Day 4 - Friday 11th September 2020 CANAKKALE - SELCUK - KUSADASI (B)En route to Kusadasi today you’ll stop at the site of Troy (UNESCO World Heritage Site). As well as seeing the remnants of the ancient city walls and the famed wooden horse, you will learn more about the groundbreaking archaeological digs here and how the site has baffled historians. Then explore UNESCO World Heritage Site, Asklepion Sanctuary, a well-known healing centre of Pergamon.We will arrive at Selcuk later in the day and visit Sirince to enjoy a tasting of local fruit wine. Included activities• Troy - Archeological Guided Site Visit • Asklepion• Sirince - Wine Tasting

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘İlayda Avantgarde Hotel’ in Kusadasi (4 star)

Day 5 - Saturday 12th September 2020 SELCUK - EPHESUS TOURING (B) This morning enjoy an orientation walk around the village of Selcuk, a sprawling town lying at the base of the ancient Aysoluk Hill fortress. You’ll visit the last remaining column of the Temple of Artemis, the ancient aqueducts and the 14th-century Isabey Mosque. Later this afternoon we visit Ephesus, one of the best-preserved classical cities in the Eastern Mediterranean and arguably the greatest GrecoRoman site in the world. Tour around the amphitheatre, stroll the marble streets once walked by Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and marvel at the gymnasium, baths and beautifully restored Library of Celsus. Included Activities• Selcuk - Orientation Walk • Ephesus - guided archaeological site visit • Selcuk - Isa Bey Camii

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘İlayda Avantgarde Hotel’ in Kusadasi (4 star)

Day 6 - Sunday 13th September 2020 KUSADASI - PAMUKKALE (B, D)After having breakfast this morning we drive to the east to Aphrodisias, dedicated to Aphrodite. This is an important centre of the arts. The Sculpture School of Aphrodisias enjoyed great fame and is evident by the fine marble statues and architectural reliefs scattered throughout the site. Included Activities • Aphrodisias

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Melrose House Hotel’ in Pamukkale (4 star)

Day 7 - Monday 14th September 2020 PAMUKKALE - FETHIYE (B) After breakfast this morning we drive to Pamukkale, also known as ‘Cotton Castle’ and a truly unique sight. This magical and spectacular natural phenomenon was created by deposits from thermal waters that cascaded down the mountainside over hundreds of years, forming a myriad of pools and terraces. As the water overflows from the pools, dazzling cream-coloured stalactites are formed that, from afar, resemble cotton or snow. The pools are filled with hot spring waters that supposedly have healing properties for a person’s circulation and digestive systems. Close to Pamukkale are the ruins of Hierapolis, which was founded by the King of Pergamon in 190 BC and by the 2nd Century AD it had become an important Roman bath centre. The extensive ruins of Hierapolis are well worth exploring and include a theatre, temple, holy area, monumental fountain, bath, basilica and necropolis. Next we drive to the Mediterranean coast, arriving first in the Greek ghost-town of Kayakoy. Stroll around and take in the eerie atmosphere, due in no small part to population repatriation and earthquake damage. Continue on to Fethiye, a culturally fertile town located on a bay, surrounded by pine forests and islands. Included Activities • Pamukkale - Hierapolis & Travertines National Park • Kayakoy- Ghost Village visit

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Blueberry Boutique Hotel’ in Fethiye (4 star)




Day 8 - Tuesday 15th September 2020 KAŞ (B)Our tour continues with visiting of UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Xanthos capital city of the Lycian Federation and its greatest city for most of Lycian history and also Letoon, sacred cult center of Lycia. Continue on to the seaside village of Kas. Here you’ll see charming whitewashed houses covered in bougainvilleas as well as an ancient Greek theatre. Sample the local cuisine and enjoy the night in the town’s quaint centre. Included Activities• Xanthos capital city

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Kas Artemis Hotel,’ in Kas (4 star)

Day 9 - Wednesday 16th September 2020 KAS - KEKOVA (B, L) Drive to Kekova and embark on a boat cruise around the local islands. Your hosts, Mehmet and Sebahat, are definitely people of the Mediterranean. Hailing from the small village of Ucagiz on the Turkish Mediterranean Coast they married young, bought a boat and went fishing. Like a lot of our oceans their home became a victim to over fishing to new and modern methods of reaping the perfect catch. They had a boat, and they had one of the best cooks in the district so they set out to share their love of the sea and their love of food. The cruise takes you to the settlement of Ucagiz and also to the village of Simena. You’ll also sail from large bays to beautiful protected inlets where you can go for a swim. Onboard the boat you’ll enjoy lunch in Tersane bay. The water here is deep but you can still see the bottom; the shore is lined with the ruins of an ancient city long ago sunken into the clear waters. Look out for rock formations and houses that have been submerged under the clear water. Return to Kas in the evening. Included Activities• Kas - Boat Cruise and lunch

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Kas Artemis Hotel,’ in Kas (4 star)




Day 10 - Thursday 17th September 2020 KAS - ANTALYA (B) Continuing our exploration of the Mediterranean we take a 3.5 hour scenic drive to the jewel in the Mediterranean crown - Antalya. Your hotel is located in the Kaleiçi (old city) and you’ll go on an afternoon walk to see Hadrians Gate, the old Roman Harbour and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, and take a guided tour of the Antalya Museum this afternoon. Included Activities• Antalya - Antalya Museum• Guided Tour of Phaselis

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Puding Hotel,’ in Antalya (4 star)

Day 11 - Friday 18th September 2020 ANTALYA - KONYA (B)Continue on to Konya, an ancient city important in Roman times, and where the mystic Sufi practice of ‘whirling’ originates. You’ll visit the mausoleum of the famous mystic Mevlana, the museum housing manuscripts of his works, as well as various artefacts relating to the mystic sect. Our journey to Konya is approximately 6 hours. On the way glimpse beautiful views of the Taurus Mountains and enjoy a special Two’s A Crowd moment as we stop at Beyşehir to see the Eşrefoğlu Mosque, a fine example of Seljuk Turkish architecture.Included Activities• Konya - Mevlana Museum

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Sems-i Tebrizi Hotel,’ in Konya (4 star)

Day 12 - Saturday 19th September 2020 KONYA - CAPPADOCIA (B, D) Today’s itinerary includes a visit to the incredible underground city of Derinkuyu. See dwellings that span seven levels beneath the ground. From here you’ll make your way to the archaeological site of Asikli Höyük, which was first settled in 8,000 BC. Then settle into the relaxed pace of Goreme for the next three nights. Included Activities• Goreme - Derinkuyu Underground City tour

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Anatolian Houses Hotel,’ in Goreme (3 star)




Day 13 - Sunday 20th September 2020 GOREME (B)Early birds have the option of taking a hot air balloon over the otherworldly Cappadocian landscape. The scene at sunrise is sure to take your breath away. (Please note this activity can only be booked locally. Please speak to your trip leader on Day 1 to organise this). After a relaxing breakfast from your Terrace overlooking the valley we visit the Goreme Open Air Museum. See the many incredible houses, churches and monasteries carved out of the soft cliff face. The Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art, cave chapels and colourful biblical frescoes from the 10th–12th centuries. Later in the afternoon, you’ll go on a short walk through ‘Love Valley’ which is famous for its phallic rock formations. Then head back to your hotel in Goreme. Perhaps take an optional Turkish bath to unwind at the end of the day.Included Activities • Goreme - Valley Walk in Capadoccia • Goreme - Open Air MuseumOptional Activities• Hot Air Balloon, Cappadocia Regular Flight - EUR175


Day 14 - Monday 21st September 2020 GOREME (B,D) Enjoy a relaxing breakfast and then go for a walk to the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia, Kizilcukur. You’ll see fascinating rock formations such as cones, peaks and fairy chimneys, as well as manmade cave chapels from early Christian times. Later in the afternoon visit the red river of Cappadocia famous for its clay which is still used to make magnificent pieces of Art, learn about this ancient craft today when we visit a local potter. And, at night you will experience a home-cooked dinner in a local house. Included Activities• Goreme - Valley Walk in Capadoccia • Pottery & craft village visit• Dinner in a local houseOptional Activities • Goreme - Whirling Dervishes - Sema Performance -

EUR25 • Goreme - Hot Air Balloon, Cappadocia Regular Flight

- prices start from EUR175




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Day 15 - Tuesday 22nd September 2020 CAPPADOCIA - ISTANBUL (B, D) After breakfast we transfer to the airport to take the short flight back to Istanbul. The afternoon is yours to explore some more of the hidden charms of Istanbul. There are endless markets to shop for some last-minute Turkish trinkets, welcoming cafes to enjoy some local delicacies and watch the World go by, explore the New and Old Towns, as well as there been many museums to explore. Tonight we will enjoy a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.Included Activities • Domestic flight/taxes from Cappadocia to Istanbul (economy

class)• Farewell dinner

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Dosso Dossi Old City Hotel’, in Istanbul (4 star)

Day 16 - Wednesday 23rd September 2020 ISTANBUL (B)After the breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home or onwards for further adventures.Alternately you can continue your touring with Two’s a Crowd and join our solos tours through Persia, Morocco and Egypt/ Jordan while over in this fascinating part of the world.

§ Accommodation: Your own room at ‘Dosso Dossi Old City Hotel’, in Istanbul (4 star)

NEED MORE INFORMATION? CONTACT THE TEAM: (Phone: 1300 55 45 01 (AUS) or 0800 895 145 (NZ) Email: [email protected]

ABOUT TWO’S A CROWD: We are an award winning tour company exclusively dedicated to the needs of solo travellers. At Two’s a Crowd, single and solo travellers have access to fantastic itineraries at great prices without ever feeling like a third wheel to someone else’s

private getaway. Our travellers enjoy the best of both worlds: private time, personalised attention, low single supplements, as well as thecamaraderie of like-minded travellers. For your peace of mind we are ATAS accredited (No A13850).

Our commitment is to make solo travel more enjoyable and affordable.Terms & Conditions: • Prices are per person and based on sole use rooms throughout • Pricing correct at March 2019 and is subject to change until paid in full. • Refer to our website www.twosacrowd.com.au for full terms and conditions. ©2019 Travel Passion Pty Ltd | ABN 32 140 754 856 trading as Two’s a Crowd.

Two’s a Crowd and the disk logo are registered trademarks of Travel Passion Pty Ltd.Issued: 18/03/2019

TOUR PRICE A$5,638 PLUS INTERNATIONAL AIRFARESTOUR DATES: 8TH - 23RD SEPTEMBER 2020

Tour Inclusions: § Two’s a Crowd tour host from Australia.

§ English speaking tour leader/guide throughout

§ Private, comfortable and air-conditioned transport throughout

§ Economy airfare/ taxes from Cappadocia to Istanbul (Day 15)

§ 15 nights hotel accommodation in your own room — always!

§ Meals as per itinerary (B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner)

§ All included activities, entrance fees and guided tours as per itinerary

§ Arrival and Departure Transfers are included on a group basis

§ Tips and gratuities

§ Standard CHI Travel Insurance Policy. Additional premium may be payable if over 69 years, have an existing medial condition or wish to extend your travelling dates (underwritten by Allianz)

Tour Exclusions: § International airfares/ taxes

§ Visas (required)

§ Any services not mentioned in the itinerary

§ Meals and drinks not mentioned as included in the itinerary

§ Personal expenses, such as laundry, souvenirs phone calls, etc

§ Any optional activities that you choose to join



treasures of turkey · mosque and now a museum. included activities • topkapi palace • blue...

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