Turkey and Iran Encompassed
Duration :
21 days
Itinerary :
Istanbul, Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy, Pergamum, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia, Goreme, Mt Nemrut, Kahta, Mardin, Tatvan, Van, Tabriz, Qazvin, Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kashan, Tehran
- Day 1: Arrive Istanbul – Check-in to your hotel and the afternoon is yours to explore. (D)
- Day 2: Istanbul – After breakfast we enjoy a tour of the old city sites of this historical city. (B)
- Blue Mosque & Aya Sofya
- Topkapi Palace
- Hippodrome
- Day 3: Gallipoli Battlefields / Canakkale – One of the most emotionally touching places in Turkey, today we visit the WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli. (B)
- Gallipoli Battlefields – Lone Pine & Chunuk Bair Memorials
- ANZAC Cove
- Johnston's Jolly & The Nek (tunnels & trenches)
- Gallipoli Museum
- Day 4: IsfahanTroy / Pergamum / Kusadasi – This morning step back in time as we visit Troy, home of the famed Trojan Horse followed by the magnificent acropolis of Pergamum and finishing in Kusadasi. (B)
- Troy – Trojan Horse
- Acropolis of Pergamum
- Day 5: Ephesus / Kusadasi – Absorb yourself in history today was we tour Ephesus, known for its well maintained ruins and the nearby carpet weaving villages before returning back to Kusadasi. (B, L)
- Ephesus Tour – Temple of Artemis
- Virgin Mary's House
- Day 6: Hierapolis / Pamukkale – Driving north we stop at the ancient city of Hierapolis before arriving at the calcium terraces of Pamukkale for the evening. (B)
- Hierapolis Tour
- Pamukkale Calcium Travertines terraces
- Day 7: Konya / Cappadocia – Travelling along the Silk Road visiting Konya before finishing in Cappadocia for the night. (B)
- Melvana Museum in Konya
- Sultanhani Caravansary
- Day 8: Cappadocia – Marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia through the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum, the fairy chimneys & explore the many levels of the underground village. (B, L)
- Goreme Open Air Museum
- Underground City tour
- Day 9: Mt Nemrut / Kahta – Driving eastwards we cross the Euphrates River to visit Mt Nemrut and the mountain top sanctuary of Antiochus I, at sunrise or sunset(depending on season). (B)
- Nemrut Dagi – Giant headstones
- Day 10: Harran / Urfa / Mardin – An early morning start to visit the bee hive village houses of Harran and then onto Mardin sitting perched on the vast plains of Mesopotamia.(B)
- Harran beehive village houses
- Abraham's Caves and the pool of the sacred carp
- Deyrul Zaferan Monastery
- Day 11: Tatvan / Van Driving along the spectacular countryside we come to Lake Van. (B)
- Akhtamer Island & Holy Cross Church
- Day 12: Turkey/Iran border - TabrizCross the border around midday drive to the historical city of Tabriz. (B)
- Days 13: Tabriz– Steeped in history the northern city of Tabriz is our starting point to explore Iran. (B)
- Blue Mosque & Bazaar area
- Chandovan Village of troglodyte homes
- Days 14-15: Qazvin / Tehran – Conitnue to Tehran with a stop in Qazvin on day 14. The next day is spent exploring the sights of capitol city. (D)
- Sa'd Abad Museum Complex
- Jewellery Museum
- Carpet Museum
- Day 16: Shiraz– After breakfast we check out and head to the domestic airport for a short flight to Shiraz. Known for it's splendid gardens, exquisite mosques and famous poets we start touring the sites of this famous city. (B)
- Karim Khan Citadel
- Vakil Mosque & Bazzar
- Tombs of Hafez and Sa`adi
- Imamzadeh-ye Ali Ebn-e Hamze shrine
- Day 17: Shiraz & Persepolis – After breakfast we will proceed with a tour of Persepolis before returning back to the city for a little bit of sightseeing for its splendid gardens, exquisite mosques and famous poets we continue touring the sites of this famous city.(B)
- Half day tour of Persepolis Complex (UNESCO Site)
- Rock tombs of Naqsh-e Rajab & Naqsh-e Rostam
- Quran Gateway
- Day 18: Pasargadae / Isfahan – A short drive first takes us to the ruins of Pasargadae before continuing on to Isfahan renowned as the jewel of Persia. A sunset visit to the famous Isfahan bridges is a perfect end to the day. (B)
- Pasargadae – Tomb of Cyrus (UNESCO Site)
- Zayandeh River Bridges (Si-o-seh & Khaju Bridges)
- Day 19: Isfahan– Designed as a city for walking with it's beautiful gardens, exquisite blue mosaic tiles of its buildings and marvellous teahouses, it is truly a highlight of any tour. (B)
- Imam Square (UNESCO Site
- Ali Qapu Palace & Sheikh Lotfollah) Mosque
- Chehel Sotun Palace (UNESCO Site)
- Armenian Vank Cathedral Museum and Jolfa area
- Jameh Mosque
- Day 20: Kashan / Tehran – On the way back to Tehran we stop in Kashan for a tour of this historic city that dates back before over 6000 years.(B)
- Fin Garden (UNESCO Site)
- Khan-e Borujedi
- Agha Bororg Mosque & Madraseh
- Day 21: Tehran and Depart – After breakfast you are free to depart anytime. (B)