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Christmas Turkey

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12 days

CHRISTMAS TOUR: There’s no stuffing birds or entertaining aunts! Enjoy snowflakes on fairy chimneys, legendary sites at Ephesus, Troy and Aspendos, thermal springs at Pamukkale and Christmas Eve at St Nic’s on this 12 day tour of Turkey.

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Free cancellation
Free amends
Available on all departures booked at least 40 days in advance. Cancel or change your booking for FREE for up to 7 days after booking

Tour Overview

Duration

12 days

Starts

Istanbul

Ends

Istanbul

Range

Signature

Tour Guide

Yes - escorted by a tour guide

Group Size

Min 2 / Max 24

Minimum age

15 yrs, accompanied by an adult

Departs

18 Dec 2024

Hotel Rating

4 - 5 star

Countries

Turkey

Arrival Transfer

Yes - from IST or Sabiha

Departure Transfer

Yes, to Istanbul Airport at any time on day 12

Meals included

Breakfast: 11, Dinner: 6
Save 20% today
Per Person From
$2,645.00
USD$2,116.00
Deposit From
Final payment
USD$800.00
$3,432.00

Tour Highlights

Istanbul - Tour historic Istanbul, taking in the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more
Gallipoli Peninsula - Pay your respects at the WWI battlefields and cemeteries including ANZAC Cove
Troy - See the replica Trojan Horse in the ancient city, the setting of one of Ancient Greece's most famous tales
Ephesus - Marvel at the Library of Celsus in Roman Ephesus and explore the Ancient Greek city of Pergamum
Pamukkale - Take a dip in the thermal pools and walk along the beautiful white cotton castles, known as travertines
Demre - Spend Christmas Eve visiting the Church and Tomb of Saint Nicholas and enjoy dinner in Antalya
Konya - Delve into the fabulous and well-preserved Roman ruins of Perge and Aspendos on a wonderfully Turkish Christmas Day
Cappadocia - Enjoy two days spent exploring the incredible cave cities and subterranean churches of this fascinating region

Included

Breakfast daily and 6 dinners inclusive of a special Christmas Eve Dinner in Antalya overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
10 nights 4 star and special class hotels, 1 night 5 star hotel
Guided sightseeing - Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome and Hagia Sofia
Guided sightseeing - Gallipoli, Troy, Ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum, Pamukkale and Roman Hierapolis, Perge, Aspendos, Konya and Cappadocia
Escorted by an English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide
Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and departure transfer (to Istanbul International Airport) on day 12
Relevant transfers and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles

Not Included

International flights and visa
Tip for your tour guide and driver. We recommend you allow EUR €5 - 7 per day, per traveller as a tip for your guide and EUR €2 per day for your driver. Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture
Entrance Fees: EUR€280-300pp, paid in EUR
Tipping Kitty: EUR€65-75pp, paid in EUR
Tipping is not a natural part of many Western cultures and many of us feel uncomfortable, or unsure, about when, or how much, to tip. However, in the places you will visit, tipping makes up a significant part of many people's wages so it's important that we get it right. For this reason we've developed a very simple system to take all the hassle out of tipping. With our 'tipping made easy' policy, a nominal pre-determined amount is collected from all group tour participants to cover tips en route. This then saves you the hassle of when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, local guides and other support staff through the tour. Our 'tipping made easy' doesn't include a tip to your group tour leader. Naturally, though, the amount is up to you as tipping is an entirely personal gesture.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to Istanbul

18 December. Welcome to Turkey! Arrive Istanbul and transfer to hotel. Remainder of the day and evening at leisure.

Overnight: Istanbul

Day 2 - Old City Sights

Enjoy a tour of old Istanbul. The only city to span two continents sits on the Bosphorus - the strait of water that divides the continents of Europe and Asia. Its illustrious past leaves a rich legacy of churches, mosques, palaces and museums, complemented by the behemoth Grand Bazaar and colourful street life.

Sultanahmet, the compact old city of Istanbul, is full of parks, gardens and stunning sights. The Blue Mosque is famed for it’s blue Iznik tiles and unique 6 minarets. Here, explore the exterior of the Hagia Sophia, constructed in the 6th century and considered by some to be the epitome of Byzantine architecture, reigned as the grandest and biggest church in Christendom until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, when it became a mosque.

Just around the corner is the stunning Topkapi Palace and the Underground Cistern. Rest of day free. Tonight, we are free to explore or relax in our hotel.

Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Gallipoli

Istanbul – Canakkale. Today, we enjoy a visit to battle-scarred Gallipoli. On the 25th April 1915, under the guidance of the British Command, the combined forces of Australia and New Zealand, otherwise known as the ‘ANZACs’, mounted an assault at a beach in North-Western Turkey. The futile campaign, infamously known as Gallipoli, is poignantly etched in history due to the enormous loss of lives and the impossibly hopeless situation faced by these brave young soldiers, many of whom had left home for the first time, destined never to return. In the fierce struggle for Turkish territory, thousands perished as the odds were resolutely stacked against them. The Turks sustained terrible losses. Thousands of British, French and Indian Allied troops also died. As always in war, common men died, cruelly robbed of their potential because of actions and decisions of military leaders.

Overnight: Canakkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Days 4-5 - Troy & legendary Ephesus

Canakkale - Kusadasi. Step back in time as we visit the legendary Roman ruins of Pergamum and Troy - inspiration for Homer's Illiad and much more recently the movie Troy. On day 5, we explore ancient Ephesus. Exemplifying the finesse of Roman urban life, Ephesus boasts carefully restored elements including a Great Theatre, Curetes Way, the Temple of Serapis and the Library of Celsus. Stop by the ancient public toilets and public brothel! Afterward, we stop at a local leather manufacturer. Turkey produces some of the finest leather goods in the world and many are made here before branding in Italy.

Overnight: Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast x2, Dinner

Day 6 - Pamukkale

Kusadasi – Pammukale. Today we visit the famous gleaming white calcium terraced pools of Pamukkale. Known locally as the Cotton Castles, they are a natural phenomena and gift of Mother Nature. We can also opt to enjoy a unique and very pleasant dip in the warm waters at the Pamukkale Thermal with its submerged fragments of fluted marble columns near the centre of the ruined spa town of Hierapolis, which was a was a Roman curative centre.

Overnight: Pamukkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 - Xmas Eve at St Nic's

Pammukale - Demre - Antalya. The legend of Saint Nicholas (aka Santa Claus) began in Turkey! St Nicholas - a 4th century bishop gave anonymous gifts to dowryless village girls. He would drop bags of coins down the chimneys of their houses and this ‘gift from heaven’ would allow them to marry. We visit the church and tomb of St Nicholas in Demre before continuing to coastal Antalya for a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner on a hilltop restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Overnight: Antalya
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 - Christmas Day & Roman Ruins

Kemer - Konya. Merry Christmas! En route to Konya we tour the incredible Roman ruins of Perge and Aspendos. Settled first by the Hittites around 1500 BC, Perge was an important city in Pamphylia (today’s Mediterranean region). The ruins of the ancient theatre (capacity 12,000 people) boasting marble reliefs depicting the life and times of Dionysos along with the remains of the first church built in Perge, and various temples can be seen. Nearby Aspendos is famous for its well-preserved theatre of antiquity.

Overnight: Konya
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Days 9-10 - Cappadocia

Konya – Cappadocia. Day 9 we tour Konya and the Mevlana monastery before heading north east to Cappadocia. We stop en route at an ancient caravanserai and later take a short walk through the beautiful Ihlara Valley. In the evening, opt for a traditional Turkish dinner and folklore evening. On day 10, we explore the stunning Goreme Valley, fairy chimneys, amazing troglodyte villages, Uchisar Castle and Derinkuyu underground city.

Stopping on the outskirts of Goreme Village we have the opportunity to see Pigeon Valley where century’s old pigeon houses are carved into the surrounding cliffs, the pigeon droppings that litter the area have been used as fertilizer on crops for generations. Here you will also have the opportunity to visit an Onyx shop, specialising in historic jewellery designs unique to Turkey and using local materials and craftsmen. For those not interested in shopping spend a little time relaxing and grab a drink from the local cafe.

Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast x2, Dinner

Day 11 - Back to Istanbul

Cappadocia - Istanbul. Today we head back to Istanbul, stopping en route for lunch (payable locally).

If you'd prefer to avoid the long journey over land today, we also offer the opportunity to fly from Cappadocia to Istanbul.

Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 - Istanbul

29 December. After breakfast our tour concludes with an onward departure transfer to the airport. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas in Turkey!

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Reviews

It was one of the best holidays we've ever had, we met some lovey people on our tour. They were long days, packed with interesing places to see, we now know a lot more about Turkey and it history, because we had an excellent tour guide. We are looking to do something like it again this year with On the go tours.

We picked this tour because of the name Christmas Turkey. Neither of us had been to Turkey before and were interested to find out about the country that is often in the news for the wrong reasons. We were very pleasantly surprised as despite there being a bombing just before we left we felt perfectly safe in the country and everybody we met was very helpful. Turkey is really suffering because of bad press. Tourism is down 80%. Turkey is a fascinating country so rich in culture and history. Having travelled around a large part of it we could see why so many nations wanted to invade it. For us Ephesus, Pamakkale and Cappadoccia ( and our snowman built on Xmas Day ) were the highlights and we felt we only scratched the surface and so intend to return. We both came home feeling thoroughly enriched by the experience and empowered. The government is investing hugely in the economy building big highways to link the west to the east , tunnels under the Bosphorus, a huge water pipeline under the Mediterranean sea sharing water from Turkey with Northern Cyprus.Recep was an excellent guide and prepared to answer any question the group posed. He made sure the whole group was catered for and consequently everyone gelled very well. It was a very special way to spend Christmas 2016

This tour was fantastic, exactly what I wanted to get in terms of learning some history and culture of Turkey. Recep was very knowledgeable, he provided enough information and background for us to understand what we were looking and needed to look. The driver worked hard and often had to drive a long time to reach the sites. I really enjoyed this holiday.

This was one of my best Christmases ever, even though it was spent with complete strangers miles from home! The group worked really well, just the right number of people and mix of personalities, but above all it was our fantastic guide Recep who made the trip for me. His knowledge, enthusiasm, patience and timings were excellent. I was well looked after from the moment I landed in Istanbul, with nothing to worry about or organise because everything was taken care of. I was on my own yet it didn't feel like that at all, everyone was so friendly and kind to me within the group. The hotels we stayed in were far better than I expected. A few had pools, all had WiFi, which are things I wouldn't have expected. There was so much information to take in on the trip and the sites we visited were out of this world. Ephesus was the highlight for me! I would love to go back to Turkey and learn even more about the history. The pace of the tour was busy but I have still returned home feeling relaxed and slightly more knowledgeable than when I left! This is my 3rd trip with On The Go and I would highly recommend this particular cultural trip and our brilliant guide Recep.

Having returned from our trip, we'd like to share some of our thoughts and feedback regarding the Christmas Turkey Tour with On the Go. This was our first tour experience together and were not certain what to expect. The full itinerary was enticing and we were intrigued by Turkish culture and Anatolian history, but had no familiarity with the format or standards of tour guides and tour groups. After nearly two weeks with our traveling group, I have to say my wife and I have walked away from the experience thoroughly impressed by our tour guide and driver. Recep was incredibly knowledgeable and shared his knowledge with eloquence and humor. He was accommodating and gracious, happily amending the itinerary for the requests of our small group without impacting our overall timeline and subjecting any of the tour members to unwanted inconveniences. We visited many historical sites with Recep and always walked away with far more fascinating history than we could retain. His lectures were always filled with interesting tidbits and there were no questions of relevance that Recep could not answer. We were a curious group with many questions as well and Recep was patient with each of our questions. Above all, Recep was very warm and friendly. This was a personal touch that made our trip incredibly memorable. His approach helped set the tone of our group dynamics and we all walked away with new friends spread around the world. I believe this is what truly separates our On the Go tour experience from all other options. We are extremely happy and very grateful to have had Recep as our tour guide. Even with limited English, our driver Yusuf was funny, endearing, and very helpful. He was ALWAYS on time, but usually early so we were always able to rely on his presence. Yusuf did an excellent job in navigating us through difficult mountain passes and rough Istanbul traffic with speed and safety above all. We were never lost and always made it to our destinations diligently and with surprising punctuality. The bus was always clean and reliable and we never had to be concerned about missing a bag. He did not say so, but I believe Yusuf had learned to recognize each of our bags and had a count of how many belonged to the group. Sometimes he would hand our bags specifically to the owners, knowing which bag belonged to whom. Yusuf was a reassuring presence throughout the tour and we could not have asked for a better driver. Again, please extend our heartfelt gratitude to Yusuf.

Extras and add-ons

If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation

Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.

Pre-Tour Accommodation - Istanbul (From price)

Double

$155per passenger

Twin

$155per passenger

Single

$285per passenger

Post-Tour Accommodation - Istanbul (From price)

Double

$155per passenger

Twin

$155per passenger

Single

$285per passenger

Additional Excursions

Enhance your tour with these optional extras, helping you to get the most from your adventure.

Princes' Island | Istanbul | Russia
Princes Islands

Located in the Sea of Marmara off the coast of Istanbul, the Princes’ Islands are a chain of nine islands offering a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of Turkey’s largest city. Buyukada is the largest island of the nine and one of the most attractive with two peaks and gingerbread-style villas lining the slopes.

$165

per passenger
Turkey Uncovered Flight Option | Turkey
Christmas Turkey Flight from Cappadocia

Opt to fly from Cappadocia to Istanbul in lieu of taking the journey by bus on day 11 of our Turkey Unplugged tour. The short flight from Kayseri Airport will have you in Istanbul in no time and an evening free for you to explore.

$375

per passenger

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.

If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.

Kent Hotel
Istanbul

The charming Kent Hotel is a great example of contemporary design and a friendly atmosphere. Guest rooms are superbly equipped with modern facilities including Wi-Fi connectivity, state of the art technology and bright marbled bathrooms. Enjoying a delicious Turkish meal at the in house Calcedoine Restaurant after a hard days sightseeing is highly recommended. The hotel is also fantastically located within a 10-minute walk of the Grand Bazaar and Old Town in the Bayazit area in the European side of Istanbul.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
DoubleTree by Hilton Canakkale
Canakkale

Located in Canakkale, just 2 km from Mega Beach, the Doubletree By Hilton Canakkale offers luxurious accommodation with a range of amenities, including a restaurant, free private parking, a shared lounge, and a spa and wellness center. This 5-star hotel features a 24-hour front desk and room service. Guests can also relax with a drink at the snack bar. Each room at the hotel is furnished with a desk, air conditioning, a safety deposit box, and a flat-screen TV, providing a comfortable and secure stay. Additionally, the hotel offers convenient proximity to Canakkale Airport, which is only 4 km away.

Our Rating
Deluxe
Local Rating
5 Star Hotel
Ramada Kusadasi
Kusadasi

Perched on the coast next to the Aegean Sea, the palatial Ramada Kusadasi has no less than six outdoor pools with water slides, a stunning indoor pool and luxury spa centre. Guest rooms are spacious and well equipped all with private balconies. Guests can choose from Turkish or Italian inspired restaurants as well as a number of bars. There is also a large golf club with excellent facilities and beautiful grounds.

Our Rating
Deluxe
Local Rating
5 Star Hotel
Adempira Termal & Spa Hotel
Pamukkale

Adempira Termal & Spa Hotel is ideally located just a short drive from the Pamukkale Travertines surrounded by mountains. Guest rooms are modern and comfortable equipped with private bathrooms, air conditioning and satellite tv channels. There is a restaurant and bar onsite offering Turkish and international cuisine. The hotel features a Thermal Pool, Outdoor Swimming Pool, 2 Red Thermal Pools, Turkish bath and sauna as well as an array of luxurious spa treatments to indulge in after a day of sightseeing.

Our Rating
Deluxe
Local Rating
5 Star Hotel
Best Western Khan Hotel
Antalya

Modern and elegant, the Best Western Khan has good sized rooms with en suites and a range of modern amenities, and free transportation to Konyaaltı, one of the most beautiful beaches in Antalya. A breakfast buffet iserved in the hotel's restaurant on a daily basis and various Turkish delicacies can be found here as well. The hotel also has a pool and fitness centre. The hotel is located in the city centre, within easy walking distance of the Old Town and Marina.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Novotel Konya
Konya

Novotel Konya is a modern hotel in Konya, offering comfortable and well-equipped rooms with amenities like free WiFi, LCD TVs, and private bathrooms. Guests can enjoy leisure facilities including an outdoor pool, fitness center, and sauna. The hotel also boasts a 24-hour front desk, complimentary on-site parking, and an on-site bar and restaurant serving Turkish and international cuisine. Its convenient location, just 3 kilometers from the Mevlana Museum and close to Konya Highway, makes Novotel Konya an ideal choice for travelers looking for a blend of relaxation and accessibility during their stay in Konya.

Our Rating
Deluxe
Local Rating
5 Star Hotel
Crowne Plaza Nevsehir
Cappadocia

Situated only 15 minutes from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of Goreme, this modern hotel boasts an excellent location in Cappadocia. Its guestrooms are located in quiet zones to ensure you have a restful sleep and offer modern amenities including free WiFi so you can stay connected to friends and family back home. Guests can unwind in the indoor pool or book a revitalizing treatment at the onsite spa centre. A rich breakfast is served in the Gurme Restaurant, then for dinner head to the a la carte Manzara Roof Restaurant on the top floor for some delicious international cuisine.

Our Rating
Deluxe
Local Rating
5 Star Hotel

Prices & Dates

All departure dates are guaranteed to operate when there are 2 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room.

2024
Twin/Double
Single
18 Dec - 29 Dec
Save 20%
$2,645$2,116
$3,435$2,748
2025
Twin/Double
Single
18 Dec - 29 Dec
Save 20%
$2,645$2,116
$3,435$2,748

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