We are delighted to present our professional tour package for exploring Turkey. Below, you will find detailed information about each tour,including highlights,duration,inclusions,exclusions,and special notes.
DAY 1/Arrival to Izmir
Welcome to Turkey! Upon your arrival in Izmir, our representative will warmly greet you at the airport and assist with your transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the drive as you catch your first glimpses of this vibrant city,. Once you arrive at the hotel, check-in and settle into your room. Take some time to relax or explore the surroundings at your leisure as you prepare for an unforgettable journey through Turkey.
DAY 2/Pergamon - Thyatira – Izmir Tour Breakfats Lunch and Dinner Included
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Bergama, also known as Pergamon. It is one of the locations of the Seven Churches of Asia.Here, we explore the impressive Acropolis, home to the steepest theater in the world. Visit Asklepion, a well-known classical medical facility, and see the Trajan's Temple marble columns and the Altar of Zeus, which the Book of Revelation refers to as the "Throne of Satan." Furthermore, the library, which was the largest in the world and had long been a rival of the equally well-known Library of Alexandria in Egypt, was thought to contain more than 200,000 books. It served as the basis for parchment's creation. The Red Basilica (St. John's Church) is another place we go. Then we proceed to Thyatira, which is now known as Akhisar and is one of the Seven Churches of Asia. The city was well-known for its purple dyes. We stop by some Roman-era architectural remnants and the ruins of a basilica. Lydia, the seller of purple in Philippi, was from Thyatira. Next, we drive to Izmir, where we enjoy a panoramic ride over Smyrna, the third largest city in Turkey and one of the sites of the Seven Churches of Asia.Smyrna is the old name for the ancient city here, a city scarred by a bloody history of trade and warfare. After the tour, drop back to the hotel. Overnight in Izmir.
DAY 3/Izmir - Sardis - Philadelphia - Laodicea – Hierapolis Tour Breakfast Lunch & Dinner Included
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive to one of the most picturesque areas of any of the Seven Churches of Asia.Sardis is our first stop. It was the capital of the ancient Lydian kingdom of the 6th century BC, and it was described as dead. In Sardis' ancient site, we will see the great Temple of Artemis and the Temple of Cybele, which later became a Byzantine church. We'll also stop by the renovated synagogue, the renovated gym, and the final few meters of Cyrus the Great's "golden" river Pactolus, which runs from Susa to Sardis. A lunch break will be given en route. Then we continue our journey to Philadelphia, nowadays called Alasehir, another church of the Seven Churches of Asia, and the only church not censured. There we will see the remains of a Byzantine basilica built of brick with a bit of a high arch and some 11th century frescoes.We drive to the healing city of Hierapolis, also called Pamukkale, the white "cotton fortress," where hot mineral water bursts from the earth and cascades over steep cliffs, forming pools, channels, and stalactites. The therapeutic waters were known to Hierapolis' founders and Laodicea in 190 BC. We go to the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip in Hierapolis, where he was martyred during the persecutions that Domitian ordered.Proceed to the Laodicea ancient site (present name Denizli), yet another of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor.The ancient theater, the remains of basilicas and ancient stone water pipes, the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, the 2nd century AD theater, the Nymphaeum, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium, and the Necropolis are on our "to-see list." After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Pamukklae and check in. Overnight in Pamukkale.
DAY 4/Ephesus - Sirince Village – Kusadasi Breakfast Lunch & Dinner Included
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Ephesus to see the Basilica of St. John and the other important sites of the city. The Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians and lived here for three years. This church also received an epistle from him. We visit the magnificent ruins of this formerly significant city, which was founded in the tenth century BC, where excavations are still ongoing. In Ephesus, walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Theater. xThe Temple of Artemis of the Ephesians, another of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was built in this city. We will visit the Basilica of St. John and the House of the Virgin Mary. While Sirince promises a cute village visit, it can impress you with its religious gems. In St. Dimitrios Church, explore the interior decoration and architecture. Learn about the history and significance of the church and the Orthodox Christian community in the area. After that, take a short walk to St. John Baptist Church. The distinctive octagonal design of the church will charm you. Take some time to walk around the charming streets of Sirince and explore the traditional houses, shops, and cafes. Sirince is known for its well-preserved historical architecture and traditional way of life, so there is much to discover and enjoy. After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi and check in. Overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 5/Departure from Izmir Breakfast Included
After breakfast pick up from your hotel and transfer to Izmir Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul Airport and then back home. One of Grandoria’s adventures concludes after breakfast. We hope you have enjoyed your journey through Turkey. Wishing you all the best and a pleasant flight. Transfer from the hotel to the airport will follow.