TURKISH ESCAPE

Posted on by Kenneth Reece, Agent of Modern Travel Professionals

Turkey is a unique country with a unique identity straddling both Europe and Asia. Your 8-day Turkish Escape starts in Istanbul, a city of great diversity and a combination of tree-lined boulevards, cafés and cosmopolitan restaurants set against a backdrop where little has changed for centuries. During its 3,000 years of turbulent history, it has been home to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans and the Turks themselves- all leaving their marks. Highlights of your sightseeing are inside visits to the 6th century Hagia Sophia, the largest ever church and for over a thousand years the largest covered space on earth and to the amazing Topiaki Palace which was the seat of the government of one of the greatest Empire of the Medieval age.

Pay tribute to the fallen war heroes at the Anzac cemetery and visit 3 of the most famous ancient sites in the country: Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus. Each very different and distinctive. Troy, the oldest, dating from 3,000BC and made up to 9 separate cities all built over each other; Pergamon an impregnable defensive site with amazing views in all directions which flourished as one of the ancient world’s greatest centres of and healing; Ephesus, the greatest city in the Eastern Mediterranean during Roman times which boasts an extraordinary number of superbly preserved monuments.

Cross from Europe to Asia on board a scenic ferry journey across the Dardanelles Straight and get ready to taste the superb Turkish cuisine, an interesting blend of Mediterranean specialties and flavours.

This is the perfect vacation if you are looking for a genuine and unique blend of diverse cultures, centuries of history and an atmosphere the mysterious East with the familiar West.

Globus takes you beyond the guidebooks with more ways to discover each destination.

  1. Every Globus tour includes their exclusive Local Favorites, specially included to share the authentic experiences that make each destination unique. Get to know the locals and local flavors you might just miss on your own!
  2. Discover something unexpected and unforgettable in the special way only Globus can share—with sightseeing highlights to off-the-beaten-path surprises to out-of-this world moments you’ll remember for a lifetime!
  3. Explore or relax as you please, or choose exciting options available at MyGlobus. Get local maps and free time tips on your GlobusGO mobile app. Your Tour Director can suggest the perfect way to design your day!
At Globus, we create tours with just the right balance of included features – from Local Favorites to VIP access at must-see sites – and free time. We’re all about hidden gems, not hidden charges. That’s why we throw in more visits, toss in more experiences and include more sightseeing, all in the price of the tour package. We also rest where the action is. Every Globus tour itinerary features hotels in the heart of each destination. And, when you know the ropes of travel, you also know how to get in front of them. We work hard behind the scenes to get our travelers front and center at the world’s greatest sights. As a result, we minimize lines and wait times. Plus, with the world’s best Tour Directors leading the way, we maximize the scene, scenery and overall enjoyment for each and every traveler.

Globus has vetted and hand-selected the best hotels around the world with location, comfort, and style in mind. Enjoy first-class hotels in each destination, and check in with the confidence that we’ve already checked everything out for your comfort and convenience.

On this tour, you’ll be staying at these (or similar) hotels:

Istanbul: The Artisan Istanbul Mgallery

Troy Area: Kolin Hotel Canakkale

Kusadasi: Charisma De Luxe Hotel Kusadasi

Pamukkale: Colossae Thermal & Spa Hotel

Bursa: Moevenpick Bursa Hotel & Thermal Spa

Day 1

ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL,TURKEY

WELCOME TO ISTANBUL!

  • At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at the hotel.

Dinner is included today.

Day 2

ISTANBUL

A GATEWAY BETWEEN ORIENT AND OCCIDENT

  • ISTANBUL Guided sightseeing includes the Topapki Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Roman Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque followed by a Turkish Delight tasting.

Breakfast is included today.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

CULTURE & TRADITIONS Founded by the Greeks as Byzantium more than 2,500 years ago, and finally called Istanbul after the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, the city on the Bosporus remains one of the most exciting places in the world. Its strategic location as a gateway between Orient and Occident, the Islamic and the Christian worlds, and the Black Sea and the Mediterranean predestined it for a turbulent yet exciting history.

Day 3

ISTANBUL–GALLIPOLI–TROY AREA

BRAVERY ON THE BEACH

  • ISTANBUL Visit the grand bazaar.
    GALLIPOLI Visit the WWI battlefields on the Gallipoli peninsula, the Anzac Cemetery and the Lone Pine Memorial before crossing the Dardanelless by ferry. 236 mi/ 380 km

Breakfast & Dinner are included today.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

HISTORY & HERITAGE Visit the moving and inspirational sites, where Allied troops, mainly Australians and New Zealanders, suffered heavy casualties in a disastrous campaign. Pay tribute to the heroes of those tragic months of 1915 at the Anzac Cemetery and the Lone Pine Memorial.

Day 4

TROY AREA–PERGAMUM–KUSADASI

TROJAN WAR

  • TROY Enjoy a guided visit
    PERGAMUM Guided visit of the Asklepion, a shrine to the Greek God of medicine. 267 mi / 430 km

Breakfast & Dinner are included today.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

HEALING THE BODY &THE SOUL Nestled between hills, the Asklepion retains a sense of serenity and history. The sick approached the temple via the Sacred Way, a path that started their journey to health determined according to what dreams the patience experienced and which also included theatre shows. All of this was done in the belief that healing was a sacred art and that people’s souls needed to be mended as well as their bodies.

Day 5

KUSADASI–EPHESUS–PAMUKKALE

ANCIENT CIVILIZATION PRESERVED

  • EPHESUS Follow your Guide for a walk through the ancient ruins and the archaeological museum.

Breakfast & Dinner are included today.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

HISTORIC SPOTS Ephesus was one of the most famous cities of the ancient Mediterranean. It was the second biggest city of the Roman Empire and today it is one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean.

Day 6

PAMUKKALE–HIERAPOLIS–BURSA

IN THE SHADOW OF MOUNT OLYMPUS

  • HIERAPOLIS Visit the thermal resort founded by a Pergamene king in 190 BCE.
    BURSA Visit the Great Mosque the covered bazaar and the silk market followed by a Kestane Sekeri tasting.

Breakfast is included today.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

ANCIENT TASTES ON THE SILK ROAD Wander through the long winding bazaar in Bursa, Turkey’s centuries-old city center, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the buzzing marketplace. Treat your taste buds to one of the city’s famous sweets, the Kestane Sekery, and find the perfect gift for yourself or a friend, a piece of authentic Bursa-made silk.

Day 7

BURSA–IZNIK–ISTANBUL

ANCIENT WALLS & ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

  • IZNIK Guided visit includes St. Sophia’s Church and the Archaeological museum
    ISTANBUL Farewell dinner at a local restaurant

Breakfast and Dinner are included today.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT

CERAMIC BEYOND TIMES Iznik is a completely “open-air museum” with its rare ancient history and uniqueness. It is also the birthplace of the world famous Iznik tiles – a treasured artform dating back to the Ottoman Empire.

Day 8

ISTANBUL

SAFE TRAVELS UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!

  • Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast is included today.

This sounds like an amazing escape to Turkey…We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect vacation—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring in spacious comfort by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach. Free Wi-Fi is included on board your coach and in most hotel lobbies and common areas.

Contact me today.

Published by Kenneth Reece, Agent of Modern Travel Professionals

Hi! My name is Kenneth Reece, a native from Stockbridge, Georgia. I am a travel agent for Modern Travel Professionals. I opened Enchanted Gardens Florist & Gifts in 1986--when I was just 19. My love affair with Disney started in 1998 when I added Walt Disney collectibles to my merchandise displays. When I started to learn about the rich history of The Walt Disney Company, (which is required to successfully sell Walt Disney Animation Art) is when my store came alive. I've enjoyed hosting Disney Artists, Sculptors & Imagineers for in-store signing events, and was thrilled to tour the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank a few times as a guest of the company. One of my fondest Disney memories is that of holding one of Walt Disney's personal Academy Awards while visiting the Walt Disney Archives in Burbank, CA. As my love of Disney grew, I began planning trips to Disney for my clients at my store, which grew into a new career! After a few years of both running my retail store and planning travel, I closed my brick & mortar store, moved to Vero Beach, Fl where I've been planning travel full-time now for over five years. Vero Beach has small-town charm with world-class luxury. It's an incredible place to live. I help take care of my parents here, and travel extensively with them. Together, we visit Disneyland and The Walt Disney World Resort often. I've planned tours in England, Scotland, Paris, Greece, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, & France including Disneyland Paris. Living in Vero Beach, where retirees seem to outnumber all other age groups, I've become an expert on helping people travel who are "young at heart". Living a short road trip away from the Orlando area, I visit the theme parks at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando & Sea World often. Many times I'm there once a week! I've stayed at every Disney Resort in North America, toured every hotel at the Universal Resort, and have taken over 25 cruises, being a Platinum Castaway Cay member with Disney Cruise Line. I've cruised to the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Trans-Atlantic (East & Westbound), Mediterranean & Northern Europe. Also, if you need restaurant recommendations, I've personally ate at most of the restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort & at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is my favorite Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa is my favorite resort at Disneyland. I've attended various events at Walt Disney World such as: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Star Wars Weekends, Disneyana Conventions, EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival, The Flower & Garden Festival and the new Festival of Arts. Contact me for personalized, concierge-level service. I'll help you as much (or as little) as you like, whatever your needs. I want to provide you with a worry free, incredible vacation, with memories that will last a life time.