From the Sublime Porte to the Palace of Rhodes

A journey for those who are enamoured both by nature and culture

Programme

11 days and 10 nights with full board included (three meals per day, from dinner on the first day to lunch on the last day) and lodging in 4* and 5* hotels.  Discover the imperial capitals of Istanbul and Bursa, the Turkish Aegean coast with the city of Ephesus as well as the Greek island of Rhodes with its Grand Master’s Palace.

A « nature and culture » trip including 7 sites classified as World Heritage by Unesco.

Book an unforgettable hot air balloon ride and fly over the stunning Cappadocia landscapes sculpted by geological erosion. Reservations can be made with your guide for an extra charge.

100% customisable programmes.

AN EXCEPTIONAL VOYAGE

THREE REASONS FOR CHOOSING SCOPE VOYAGE

1. IRREPROACHABLE QUALITY

• Enjoy full board throughout your stay: tour price includes catering from dinner on the first day to lunch on the last day.
• Reap the benefits of small group travel: 18 participants maximum.
• Be accompanied by an experienced bilingual and knowledgeable tour guide. Individual audio-phones for all guided tours will also be provided.
• Delight in the high standards and comfort of the 4* and 5* hotels we have chosen for you.
• Participate in food and wine tastings of local products.

2. ABSOLUTE COMFORT

• Discover Turkey while having fun and relaxing. Our tours are designed to give you just the right amount of time to explore.  Spend 3 nights in Istanbul, 1 night in Bursa, 1 night in Çanakkale, 1 night in Selçuk, 1 night in Pamukkale, 1 night in Marmaris, 1 night in Rhodes and 1 night at Dalaman, from where you will depart to Istanbul.
• Airlines: Turkish Airlines, Onur Air, Pegasus Airlines, Sun Express.
• Comfortable, spacious and air-conditioned coaches equipped with Wi-Fi.
• Excellent roadway infrastructure, guaranteeing comfortable travel.

3. UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS WITH7 SITES CLASSIFIED BY UNESCO

Follow in the footsteps of the great Turkish viziers and the grand masters of Rhodes.  From Prince Zizim – imprisoned by his rival brother the Ottoman Sultan Bajazet – to Pierre d’Aubusson, the « shield of Christianity ».

After the sultan capitals of Istanbul and Bursa, discover Ephesus, Pamukkale and Dalyan, where you will navigate on the lagoons, between blue crabs and giant tortoises.  Highlights of the trip are the boat ride on the Bosphorus and the visit to the sea turtle care centre.

Itinerary

DAY 1   : Flight to Istanbul

Meeting point at your departure airport. Assistance with check-in and boarding of your flight to Istanbul.  Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your guide, then transfer to your hotel. Welcome cocktail before heading to your room.

Accommodation and dinner for 3 nights at the Yasmak Sultan 4*  or similar hotel.

On Christmas eve 537, Justinian I dedicated the Church of Hagia Sophia to the Wisdom of God, incarnated by Christ.

DAY 2 : From Emperors to Sultans

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

You will start the day with a visit to Hagia Sophia, one of the most remarkable monuments in the world. Its architecture is an example of the refinement of the Byzantine capital during the sixth century and marked the height of the reign of Emperor Justian I.

Onwards to the Basilica Cistern, an ancient water reservoir and superb Roman hydraulic masterpiece of engineering.

Across from the Hippodrome Square, you will visit the worldwide famous Blue Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616 for the Sultan Amhet I.  Its six elegant minarets tower over the Sultanahmet Square where sporting, political and cultural activities took place during the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

After lunch, you will discover the incredible beauty of the Topkapi Palace; the lavish residence of Ottoman Sultans and ladies of the harem for four hundred years.  Surrounded by five kilometres of ramparts, it stretches over 70 hectares.  In 1985, Unesco inscribed it on the World Heritage list, describing it as «an unmatched assemblage of buildings constructed over four centuries». You will be captivated by its art collections: ceramics, jewellery, silverware, ceremonial furniture, miniatures, weapons and mosaics.

At the end of the day, you will have free time to stroll and shop in the Grand Bazaar.  With its 60 alleys and 4,000 stalls and shops spanning over 30 hectares, it is still the largest indoor market in the world today.

Dinner and night at the hotel.

Hagia Sophia: Pope Leo VI prostrates himself before Christ.  On either side, two medallions enclose the icons of the Virgin and the Archangel Gabriel (9th century).

DAY 3  : The Golden Horn and the Port of Ancient Byzantium

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

In the morning, you will discover the Suleiman the Magnificent Mosque, a 16th century masterpiece by Sinan, a brilliant architect.

After a look at the medieval ramparts, visit of the Church of Saint-Sauveur-in-Chora, whose mosaics and frescoes are among the most beautiful in the Byzantine world.

Then take the cable car up to the Pierre-Loti café where tea or Turkish coffee will be served whilst you view the Golden Horn, immortalised by the famous French writer.

After lunch, take a stroll in the picturesque Spice Market with its exotic colours and flavours.

At the end of the afternoon, take a boat trip on the Bosphorus and admire the best views of Istanbul.  Along the strait on both banks, you will pass by the marble palaces of Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi, the beautiful wooden Ottoman mansions (the yali ») and the medieval fortresses.

Dinner in Kumkapi, the famous fishermen’s district.

Night at the hotel

In Kumkapi, a well-known fishing district, dinner of Greek, Turkish and Armenian specialties: fresh fish and «mezzes» (appetisers similar to tapas). A festive and gourmet atmosphere is guaranteed!

DAY 4  :Istanbul – Bursa – Bandirma (250 km – 4 hours)

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

In the morning, you will take the suspension bridge over the Bosphorus to reach the Asian side of Istanbul.  Then the new bridge, completed in 2019, over the Gulf of Izmit to finally reach Bursa (the ancient bush).

Located on the Silk Road at the foot of ancient Mount Olympus (Uludag), Bursa has always been nicknamed the « Green City» because of the many mulberry plantations surrounding it.

Capital of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century, the city has a multitude of monuments dating from this period.  In this natural setting, visit of the Green Mosque, the Green Mausoleum, the Tombs of the Sultans, founders of the Ottoman dynasty, and the Silk Bazaar.

Unlike other cities some of which have lost their glorious reputation, Bursa is a bustling and lively city, unusually modern. It is a dynamic and oriental Turkish city living in the turmoil of this century.

After lunch, en-route for Bandirma.

Arrival at this small town and your hotel, located on the shores of the Sea of Marmara.

Accommodation and dinner at the Grand Asya 5* or similar hotel.

Koza Han, historic silk market.  The rooms of this former caravanserai have been transformed into shops, where high-quality items such as fabric, silk scarves and shawls as well as designer and other valuable goods are displayed.

DAY 5   : Bandirma – Troie – Ayvalik (320 km – 4 hours)

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

In the morning, departure for Troy, classified as World Heritage by Unesco in 1998.

According to several legends, the city of Troy, whose history dates back to 3,000 BC, was described as the city of love, heroism and civilisation. Built at the foot of Mount Ida, it is located 4,5 km from the Dardanelles strait.

The glorious city of King Priam, mentioned in the Iliad, Homer’s epic poem, was immortalised through mythological characters: Helen, Menelaus, Paris, Agamemnon, Achille, Hector, not to mention the legendary Trojan horse, a reconstruction of which is at the entrance to the site. You will walk on the land where the Trojan wars were fought thousands of years ago!

Lunch and drive to Ayvalik, a charming little coastal town by the Aegean Sea.   Situated in an enchanting setting opposite the island of Lesbos, it is surrounded by hills covered with olive trees and pines.

Accommodation and dinner at the l’hôtel Bacacan 4* or similar hotel.

The remains of Troy.  Unfortunately, not much remains of the immensely rich city of Troy, an important place of ancient Anatolia where fierce battles were fought: Ulysses, Achille or Agamemnon, told by Homer in his Iliad.

DAY 6 : Ayvalik – Pergamon – Ephesus (230 km – 3 h 30)

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Visit of the city of Pergamon, capital of the Attalid dynasty. The sanctuary of Aesculapius was a renowned medical centre and, during the 2nd century, was the homeland of Claude Galien, the illustrious Greek anatomy physician.

A political and cultural power, Pergamon forged very close links with other contemporary civilisations.  The Attalids created their own school of sculpture in Pergamon, in artistic competition with the one in Aphrodisias.

During the 2nd century BC, Pharaoh Ptolemy II, begrudged the growing reputation of the Pergamon library and stopped supplying it with papyrus.   The Pergamon scribes were thus forced to use parchment, a new type of writing medium (in Greek, «Pergamēnós», made rom skin prepared at Pergamon).

In the year 130 BC, the last King Attalus, worried about the fate of his kingdom after his death, offered it in his will to the Romans.  For the first time, Rome could expand into Asia and with the arrival of the Romans a new era started: Anatolia became Asia Minor.

96% of Turkey and its capital Ankara is located in Asia, with 4% being located in Europe (Thrace).

This long Roman period left a rich heritage: on the Acropolis are the remains of the temple of Trajan, with agoras, temples and palaces; the library (containing 200,000 books) and the podium with the altar of Zeus. The theatre built on the hillside slopes, offers a superb panoramic view.

Depending on weather conditions, the ascent to the Acropolis is either by cable car or by taxi.

Accommodation and dinner at the Ramada by Wyndham 4* Kusadasi or similar hotel.

Pergamon, its acropolis and theatre.  Built on the steep mountain slopes, this Hellenic-style theatre could accommodate up to 10,000 spectators.  The temple of Dionysus was situated down below at the stage level.

DAY 7   : Ephesus – Pamukkale (180 km – 3 hours)

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast, visit Ephesus, one of the most beautiful ancient cities and remarkable for its architecture.  Among its gems are the Library of Celsus, the theatre and the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

At the peak of the 3rd century BC, Ephesus was an important port and a major administrative centre with a population of 200,000 inhabitants. Ephesus played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in large partly due to Paul’s lengthy stays in the area as of the year 52.

And to end the visits, a fashion show of leather designer clothes will be presented specially for you.

En-route for your hotel at Pamukkale.

Upon arrival at your hotel, enjoy a taste of what awaits you the next day and take time to relax at the swimming pools, thermal water baths and spa.

And, why not treat yourself to a relaxing massage? (optional, at your own expense).

Accommodation and dinner at the Doga Thermal 5* or similar hotel.

The large mansions were judiciously ventilated, bright and connected to running water, even on the upper floors, often with private bathrooms.  Their rooms, richly decorated with frescoes and marble slabs, gave on to peristyle courtyards with exquisite mosaics that could rival those of Pompeii or Herculaneum.

DAY 8 :Pamukkale – Marmaris (210 km – 3 hours)

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

After breakfast, discover Pamukkale, classified as World Heritage by Unesco:  from the top of a 200 m high cliff overlooking the plain, hot springs bearing deposits of calcite created an unreal landscape of petrified waterfalls and stepped basins.  This unique site in the world was named Pamukkale or «cotton castle».

The city of Hierapiolis, an exceptional Greco-Roman spa complex, was built on this extraordinary natural site.  The remains of the Martyrium of Saint Philip, discovered only in 2011, can also be seen and affirms the extraordinary influence of the Christian community from the first century.

Like the nearby city of Laodicea, Hierapolis is one of the seven churches mentioned in the Revelation of the apostle Saint John.

The beauty and quality of a Turkish carpet can’t be matched. This ancestral art will be explained during a visit to a renowned carpet factory.

Accommodation and night at the Blue Bay Platinium 4* Marmaris or similar hotel.

Pamukkale:  17 sources saturated with mineral salts and carbon dioxide which allow the calcium carbonate to settle on the sides of the cliff, thus giving the site the appearance of frozen waterfalls.  You can swim or just soak your feet in this water which has multiple virtues.  Some sources reach 45 °C.

DAY 9 : Beautiful Sea crossing to Rhodes in Greece

Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Departure, by motorised catamaran, for approximately a one-hour crossing from the port of Marmaris to the port of Rhodes.

Rhodes is 18 km from the Turkish coast with the Aegean Sea to the northwest and the Mediterranean to the southeast.  It is the largest island in the Dodecanese and has 120,000 inhabitants for an area six times smaller than that of Corsica.  Founded in the 14th century by the Knights of St. John, the city of Rhodes is the largest medieval city still inhabited and the best preserved in the world.  It is part of the Unesco world heritage.

From the Gate of Amboise, wander through the old town of the Palace of the Grand Masters to the Archaeological Museum and discover a city full of charm, with its cobbled streets, taverns and shops.  Lunch is free for you to taste the Greek mediterranean cuisine which is similar to Italian, Balkan, Turkish and Cypriot cuisine.

Stroll through the historic port, the entrance of which was once straddled by the gigantic statue of Helios, the sun god.  The Colossus of Rhodes was the sixth of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Accommodation and dinner at the  BW Plaza 4* or similar hotel.

Hippocrates Square and the Turkish fountain, situated inside the high ramparts and built in the time of Knights.

DAY 10 :Rhodes – Marmaris – Dalyan – Dalaman (90 km – 1 hour)

After breakfast, return to Marmaris by catamaran.

Then onwards to Dalyan and lunch.

You will take a slow boat trip meandering through water canals lined with reeds, a protected ecosystem.  Along the way, admire some of the Lycian tombs which are nestled in the ocher coloured cliffs that plunge into the water.  These royal tombs were carved 2,400 years ago.

Arrival at Iztuzu beach.  On this sandy strip, two of the nine species of mediterranean turtles come to breed: the green turtle Chelonia mydas and the Loggerhead sea turtle, a rare species also known as Caretta caretta.  150 million years ago these turtles came into existence and with a lifespan of 50 to 60 years, they can measure up to 1.25 m and weigh 160 kg.

Why not plunge into the water of this fabulous place for a swim only 52 km from the coast of Rhodes!

On the boat trip back, your guide will serve you a glass of raki, the Turkish national drink.

End the day with a visit to a search and rescue centre exclusively dedicated to turtles.  Injured or sick sea turtles found on the beach or in fishermen’s nets, are taken care of by the Dekamer centre.  The centre is unique on the Turkish Mediterranean coast and its mission is to provide care, study and keep the sea turtles under observation before releasing them back into their natural environment.

Accommodation and dinner at the Thermemaris Spa & Thermal 4* or similar hotel.

Iztuzu is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  It has been designed so that people and turtles can be together: access to the sea is by a wooden pontoon with a first lane for swimmers, a second one 15 m wide for the turtles and the third strip for parasols.  This protected site closes at 5 p.m.

DAY 11  : Return flight home

Breakfast and transfer to Dalaman airport according to your flight schedule.

Assistance with check-in and departure to your destination.

From the western Atlantic sea to the Mediterranean, the Caretta caretta travels very long distances between where it lives and where it nests.

The price includes

✈ International round trip flights.

o Meeting upon your arrival.

o Transfers airport/hotel/airport.

o Assistance from your experienced bilingual guide during the tour.

o Double room accommodation in the assigned hotels or ones of similar standing, hotel luggage porters.

o Full board from dinner on the first day to lunch on the last day.

o Transportation in comfortable vehicles adapted to the size of the group, a window per person.

o Visits and entrance fees to sites and museums mentioned in the programme.

24/7 assistance from our agency.

The price does not include

X Single room supplements.

X Hot air balloon ride: reservations can be made with your guide (extra charge)

X Drinks and personal expenses, tips for the guide and the driver.

X No insurance is included (Scope Voyage recommends you purchase travel insurance).

Important: in the event of very bad weather conditions, the boat company has the right to cancel the crossing to Rhodes.  In this case, an alternative programme would be proposed.