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HISTORIC MARMARA

ledgend-of-Troy-Turkey

HISTORIC MARMARA

For those who love natural and military history, this is your tour. We will begin in the heart of Istanbul, where you will be led on an exploration of Istanbul’s historical, world famous landmarks, such as Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, and The Hippodrome. From Istanbul, you will drive down the scenic Marmara Coast to the ancient city of Troy. You’ll stand beneath the Trojan Horse, while learning the true history of that war, before carrying on to Gallipoli National Park. Here, you will be led to the World War I memorials that mark the location, and sacrifice made by Turkish soldiers, and their allies. Learn about the Gallipoli Campaign, in Anzac Cove. Lastly, pay your respects in Lone Pine Cemetery.

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Tour Length:days

Tour Style: Comfort

Tour Theme: Small Group

  • A small group of no more than 20 guests, designed for those seeking new culture, meet new friends and inspiring travel experience.
  • Small Groups are locally escorted with tour guide manager to tell you stories of places you visit, introduce you to the culture and watch the clock for you.

Highlights:

  • Topkapi Palace
  • The Hagia Sophia
  • The Blue Mosque
  • Troy
  • Anzac Cove
  • Lone Pine Cemetery

Advantages

  • Private tour with your own personal guide
  • Private transportation
  • Flexible Itinerary that are customised according to your interests
  • Comfort hotel ( 4 stars boutique hotel)
  • Arrival & departure transfers between the airport and your hotel
  • Services of Citadel Tours Representative in Turkey
  • Around the clock support in each destination
  • Excellent knowledge and recommendations from our tour specialists

Day 1: Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul!  Transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: Istanbul

Explore the highlight of Istanbul including  Topkapi Palace, The Blue Mosque and The Grand Bazaar.

Day 3: Istanbul – Gallipoli -Troy – Canakkale

Drive along the coast of Marmara for Gallipoli and walk around famous Trojan Horse. Spend the night at Canakkale.

Day 4: Canakkale – Istanbul

Visit various World War I memorials including Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery. Drive back to Istanbul.

Day 5: Istanbul

Transfer to airport and tour end.

Day One: Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul. We are honoured to show you everything that Turkey has to offer! During this tour, we will be visiting Istanbul’s most important historical sites, in addition to the site of the Trojan Horse’s infamous deception. You will also visit Gallipoli National Park, home to several World War I memorials. Your driver will meet you at the arrival hall of Istanbul’s international airport, or port and transport you to your hotel. Spend the rest of your day getting acquainted with your new surroundings, and taking advantage of your hotel’s many amenities!

Day Two: Istanbul

After breakfast, your tour guide will lead you through Topkapi Palace. At one time, Topkapi Palace was home to 4,000 urban residents of Istanbul! Today, the lavish remnants of its one time Ottoman rulers, such as clothing, jewels and decorations, are what bring thousands of viewers every day. Your next stop will be The Hagia Sophia Museum! This world renowned feat of architectural brilliance set the tone for art history and architecture for centuries to come. Built in 365 A.D. as an orthodox church, it became a mosque in 1935. Today though, The Hagia Sophia is a museum, where awestruck visitors stand below its magnificent dome, as light streams in from the 40 windows around the base of the dome. A short 200 metres from The Hagia Sophia is The Blue Mosque. This mosque is Turkey’s largest mosque still in operation. At full capacity, 10,000 people can pray in this space at one time. The Sultan Ahmet Mosque, as it is also known was built in 1609, using over 20,000 handmade, ceramic tiles. It is named The Blue Mosque because so many of these intricate tiles are blue. Today, you will also visit The Hippodrome. At the height of ancient Istanbul, and The Grand Bazaar. The rest of the evening is free to spend at your leisure.

Day Three: Istanbul – Gallipoli -Troy – Canakkale

After breakfast, you will leave the busy city of Istanbul for a drive along the gorgeous coast of Marmara. Many visitors overlook this natural treasure, which makes it an even more special location. The Marmara coast circles an entirely inland coastal oasis, with waterways connecting it to The Black Sea, and The Aegean Sea. The Marmara Sea is named for the body of water’s most famous landmass: The Island of Marmara. It is famous for its rich deposits of marble, used heavily by the ancient Greeks. Along this drive you will see beautiful lakes with abundant wildlife, as well as the traditional communities that still surround the Marmara Sea. Your first destination today is the city of Gallipoli, Greek for “beautiful city.” Here you will visit the ancient city of Troy – home of the infamous Trojan Horse. Troy was made famous by the Iliad, an epic poem by Homer who retold the story of the Trojan War. This war began when Helen, the wife of the King of Sparta, was abducted by the Trojan Prince, Paris. Unable to gain access to the city, the Spartans gave the Trojans the gift of a humungous wooden horse, which they happily accepted, unwittingly letting their enemies right into the city centre. Subsequent rulers chose to establish their empires on The Bosphorus, and gradually the city of Troy faded away. After your visit to Troy, you will continue to Canakkale, where you will spend the night.

Day Four: Canakkale – Istanbul

Today, you will be touring some of Turkey’s most influential military sites. Your first destination will be Gallipoli National Park. Here you will walk through the Gallipoli Battlefields, where various World War I memorials stand today. You will learn about The Gallipoli Campaign, and the sacrifices made by thousands of Turkish soldiers while walking through Sulva, Anzac, and Helles Battlefields. The Gallipoli Campaign was an eight month campaign spearheaded Commonwealth and French forces attempting to force The Ottoman Empire to surrender from World War I. Eventually, the allies ended the campaign. The most famous is Anzac Cove. It was here, that two field hospitals, and an enormous store of supplies were located, and defended by Australian and New Zealand soldiers. You will also take a sombre walk through The Lone Pine Cemetery where 4,934 graves honour those Australian and New Zealand troops who were killed during the campaign. Originally named Plateau 400, the cemetery has since been renamed Lone Pine. A single Pine tree was what remained after Turkish troops were forced to cut down pine trees to acquire wood for covering trenches. That same tree was destroyed during one of the many battles that occurred here. The Pine tree that stands today was planted during a commemorative ceremony in 1920. Make sure to wear appropriate footwear, as the battlefields have remained appropriately difficult terrain. Tonight, you will return to Istanbul.

Day Five: Istanbul

Welcome back to Istanbul! After a relaxing night at your luxury hotel, you will be escorted to either the international airport, or cruise ship port in time for your departure. For those with later departure times, take advantage of one more chance to explore your favourite historical Istanbul landmarks, or pick up last minute souvenirs at The Grand Bazaar.

Inclusion:

  • Service of representatives
  • Arrival/Departure transfer
  • Accommodations as listed (4 stars Boutique- hotels)
  • Transportation in private bus, as per itinerary
  • All transfers as listed, as per itinerary
  • All entrance fees as listed, as per itinerary
  • Tour guide at sites as listed, as per itinerary
  • Meals, as per itinerary

Transportation:

Fully air conditioned bus service

Meals:

4 Breakfasts

Exclusions:

  • International airfare, airport departure and taxes
  • Visa entry to Turkey
  • Extra meals not listed in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees or any sites not listed in the itinerary
  • Items of personal nature
  • Any item not specified in the “Inclusions
  • Alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
  • Any transfers not mentioned in the attached detailed itinerary
  • Any sightseeing not mentioned in the attached detailed itinerary
  • Travel insurance
  • Gratuities
  • Telephone calls
  • Personal Items

Visa & Passport

Most tourists require a visa to enter Turkey. As of April 10, 2014, Visas for Turkey will no longer be available upon arrival in Turkey. Travellers should obtain a Visa online, PRIOR to travel to Turkey through the Turkish government website: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/

We highly recommended that you check the required visa updates through the Turkish embassy or consulate in your home country before your departure. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your expected departure-date from Turkey.

Visa

Do I need visa to Turkey

Turkey require a visa. As of April 10, 2014, Visas for Turkey will no longer be available upon arrival in Turkey. Travellers should obtain a Visa online, PRIOR to travel to Turkey through the Turkish government website:https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
Please check the Turkish embassy for the updated changes before your tour.

Vaccinations

Will I need any vaccinations

We recommend that you talk to your local doctor or consult a travel health specialist.

Will we get sick

Standards of hygiene can sometimes be lower than at home but if you take a few basic precautions it is simple to keep you healthy while you are away. In most cases food is freshly prepared for you, however it will probably contain ingredients that you are not familiar with or may be prepared in a different way. This change in diet is one of the most common causes of upset stomachs. Therefore it is a good idea to treat food and drink with caution – at least in the first few days of your holiday. It is a good idea to avoid tap water (even for cleaning teeth), ice-creams and to beware of ice in drinks. Bottled water is widely available and you should drink plenty (much more than you probably would do at home). Finally, and most importantly, try to ensure that you keep your hands clean – especially before you eat. Antiseptic wet wipes or antiseptic hand gel (which you can use without water) are essential.

Insurance

Do I need insurance

Yes, It is mandatory to have travel insurance. Insurance policy needs to provide full medical cover for expenses through illness or accident during your holiday, including the cost of repatriation if necessary. Coverage for cancellation and interruption thus it is important to take out insurance at time of booking. Coverage for loss or theft of personal belongings.

Money

What’s the best way to take money with me

We’d recommend that you take some cash as foreign currency, ATM cards and credit cards that works international.

How much money will I need for meals and excursions

Every trip has different inclusions and please checks the trip details and it would give an idea how much you need.

Hotels

What are the hotels like

It depends on what type of trip style you are doing. We use 4 & 5 stars hotels between all our trip styles. The star rating based on what the country has to offer in terms of hotels and can’t be equated with western style. All the rooms have en-suite bathrooms with toilet plus shower or bath. Most of the hotels will have swimming pools and at-least one restaurant. We usually provide a list of all the hotels you are going to stay in but the final confirmation would be at booking time.
If you trip include camping, the accommodation would be very basic and basic facilities.

Responsible Travel

Do your tours take care of the locals and environment

Absolutely, we cannot operate and run tours without the help of the locals. We employ a high number of locals and we choose our partners overseas with care. We include in our tours visits to locals projects and offer all the support. We participate in humanitarian and environmental projects. You will have chance to visit this project during the tour. Please check our responsible travel project www.citadeltours.com

Packing

What should I pack? What should I bring

After you booked with us, we send you a packing list that you can consider.

Tour

What will the tour be like

Our tours are designed by experts who led successful tours in each country. They understood what could interest all out guests. Tours runs at a relaxed pace with a mixture of sightseeing and free time.

Couldn’t I do all this on my own

Yes, you probably could. However, it will take alot longer to organize the suitable accommodation and transportation for your trip. During your trip, you lose some of your precious time to figure out how to get to place or organize excursion. Also, the language barrier could be overwhelming and frustrating. We organize everything for you and make sure you have a good time. The money difference is not huge and could be cheaper to do organized tours rather than do it in your own.

How much free time is there

The beauty of picking one of our suggested itinerary or customize your own trip is the flexibility. You decide when you will have your free time and how long is your free time.

What’s the difference between all your trip styles

We provide three main core styles for travel and the differences represented in the hotels category, types of transportation, meals and excursions inclusions. Please visit our trip styles for more detailed in formations.

When should I book by

We usually recommend to book early. The availability is subject to change and usually is not guarantee if you tried to book last minute you find spaces available. Remember, we use trains and airplanes in our trip and this is always subject to availability.

What time should I arrive on Day 1 and when the tour starts

The tour officially stars day 1 at 3:00 pm.. Usually day 1 no activities and just for arrival. However, you requested special optional excursion to be done on day1. We will advice you at the time booking when you should be there.

Where’s the meeting point

This information will be in your trip details and should also be included on your travel documents.

Do I have a guide the whole time

Mostly our tours include the service of representative and local guide. However, they don’t escort you the whole time. The representatives always available in each city you visit and they take care of all the tour service. Guides are always escorting you at the sightseeing areas. Some of our tours include guides the whole time and also you can request to have a guide escort you the whole time with any tour with additional cost. The trip details of each tour will mention all the tour inclusions.

When will I be sent my travel vouchers

You will be sent all travel vouchers approximately three weeks before you departure.

I’m a vegetarian – will it be a problem

In most countries you won’t have a problem. At the time of booking, you could mentions that you are vegetarian and we do our best to accommodate your request.

Will we suffer from culture shock

Most travellers experience some level of culture shock. Although the chance to learn about new customs is a positive part of travel, strange or odd customs, sounds, tastes and smells can sometimes be overwhelming.

What will the toilets be like

Toilets vary depending upon where you are – Mostly will be western-style toilets. In very rare cases and camping will be of the squat variety.

Will there be somewhere to charge my camera

This is depending on where in the world you are travelling. Mostly there is electricity everywhere you go but you have to bring the right transformer for the country. This information is available at the country travel guide.

Are there porters to carry my luggage

Porters may be available some of the time, and we always do our best to make your trip as comfortable as possible.

What will the trains be like

This differs from country to country but, in nearly we are using first class trains and sleeper trains in our tours. Please don’t except that you are going to be like your home trains.

Does the price include international flights

The prices are shown in our website for land only. It doesn’t include international flights. If the tour has domestic flights, that would be included in the tour. Also, we can arrange your international flights.

What sort of transport will we be using

We use different type of transportation from adventure type to high-end. It all depends on the travel style.

Can I choose certain activities and places to visit

You have the flexibility to customize your trip before departure and we do our best to accommodate all your requests. During your tour, you still able to request other activities but it would be subject to availability and time. Also, it will be at your own cost.

How do I check the departure dates

It is all listed in each tour under dates and prices in the website. You can click on request this tour and fill the dates you desired. We usually take 2 business days to confirm the availability.

Are airport transfers included in the trip price

Transfers are included in all our tours prices.

What time can I check in

Generally, check in after 3:00 pm but if the rooms are available before, the hotels would check you in. If you arrived after midnight before the tour officially starts, you will require booking a pre accommodation.

Can I book extra nights of hotel accommodation before or after my tour

Yes, we can arrange extra accommodation at our starting or ending hotels but it would be subject to availability.

Ramadan

Does Ramadan affect our tour

Ramadan is big celebration for the Muslims country. It is really good time to visit and experience the atmosphere. Usually the opening hours change during this time but it doesn’t really effect the tour 100 percent. The night time is most lively time. Shops and restaurants extend the opening hours to late time in the evening. Everything shut during the sunset time and opens after. Alcohol is hard to get hold of.

Tipping

Is tipping included and if not, how much should I budget

Tipping is very common in the Middle Eastern counters. Regard the tours, tips are not included but we provide you with a break down sheet of a minimum guide line of how much you should tip during the tour. For the extra excursion that not part of your tours, usually the price includes the tips. At the restaurants that not part of your itinerary you will consider to tip.

To inquire about this tour, please select one of the available dates, enter your email address and one of our representatives will contact you within one business day.
We are looking forward to give you an unforgettable trip.

Interested to book this tour with us? please let us know your name and email and one of our representatives will contact you within one business day.
We are looking forward to give you an unforgettable trip.

Want to tweak this tour?

We can customize this tour just for you. Anything can be tailored!