Turkey Pearls Experience

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul at your own pace. Whether you choose to wander through the vibrant streets, visit local cafés, or simply relax, this is your opportunity to acclimatise and begin discovering the city. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, meet your guide for a full-day tour of Istanbul’s most iconic sites. Begin at Hagia Sophia, once the city’s religious heart during the Byzantine era and one of the largest buildings in the world. Next, explore Topkapi Palace, the former imperial residence and administrative centre of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Continue to the Hippodrome, built in 203 AD by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, which was once a bustling public arena holding up to 100,000 spectators. Visit the Blue Mosque, completed in 1616 under Sultan Ahmet I, renowned for its six minarets and impressive dome. Finally, wander through the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets with over 4,000 shops and 18 entrances. At the end of the day, we will return you to your hotel in Istanbul for overnight.

After breakfast, check out and meet your guide for the drive to Çanakkale. Today’s visit focuses on the ANZAC battlefields, where we explore key sites including Brighton Beach, ANZAC Cove, Beach Cemetery, the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, and the Turkish and Allied tunnels and trenches at Johnston’s Jolly. We also visit the 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, each offering insight into the significant events of the Gallipoli campaign. Afterwards, we tour the Troya Archaeological Site, home to the UNESCO-listed ruins of the ancient city of Troy. Wander among the remains of walls, temples and theatres, gaining a direct connection to the history and mythology of the Trojan War. Following the tour, we transfer to your hotel in Çanakkale for check-in and overnight stay.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Pergamum, a city that served as a capital for nearly four centuries. Pergamum’s history spans from the Stone and Bronze Ages through the Archaic and Classical periods. Explore its impressive ruins, including temples, palaces, and agoras, with a highlight on the Asclepion—a renowned ancient medical centre linked to the great Zeus Altar and the Parchment Library. After lunch, visit the Asklepion, dedicated to Asclepius, the god of health, where medicine was practised for centuries. Pergamum was home to notable medical scholars such as Hippocrates and Galenus. En route to Kuşadası, enjoy views of the Aegean Sea, dotted with olive groves and glimpses of Greek and Turkish islands. Arrive in Kuşadası and check in to your hotel for the night.

After breakfast, meet your guide for a full-day tour of Ancient Ephesus. Begin with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, where a church now stands. Continue to the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved classical cities in the Eastern Mediterranean. In the 1st century AD, Ephesus was the world’s second-largest city after Rome, home to over 250,000 people. Walking along its ancient streets, you will see remarkable monuments such as the third-largest library of the ancient world and the largest Roman theatre in Asia. The tour concludes with a visit to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a significant pilgrimage site in antiquity. After the tour, we will return to your hotel in Kusadasi for the evening.

After breakfast, meet your guide for a full-day tour to Pamukkale, often called the Pools of Heaven on Earth. This site has long been renowned for its hot springs, believed to possess healing properties, making it one of the earliest known spa destinations. The striking white terraces are formed by warm spring water rich in calcium bicarbonate, flowing at around 35°C. Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will also explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, notable for its extensive necropolis with 1,200 gravestones—the largest in Anatolia. A highlight here is the Sacred Pool, where thermal waters gently ripple over submerged Roman ruins. After the tour, we will drive to Antalya for your overnight stay.

Today we take a cable car from sea level to the summit of Tunektepe, which rises 1,365 metres above sea level. From the top, we enjoy stunning views of Antalya’s coastline, surrounding mountains, pine forests and the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Afterwards, we visit Düden Waterfalls, the most popular and picturesque falls in the region. You can stroll through the peaceful park and listen to the soothing sound of cascading water. Following lunch at a local restaurant with panoramic views, you have free time to explore Antalya’s old town, Kaleiçi. Here you can see key landmarks such as Hadrian’s Gate, the Clock Tower, Kesik Minare (Truncated Minaret) and the city walls dating back to the 2nd century. Wander the narrow stone streets, browse boutiques, art galleries and museums, and pick up some authentic souvenirs before returning to the hotel for the night.

Enjoy the last breakfast at the hotel before checking out.