Travel Tours of Turkey
- Ankara is the capital city of Turkey, though Istanbul is the largest city.turkey image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
Visitors to the Republic of Turkey can explore ancient ruins dating back to antiquity; see religious monuments from Christianity, Judaism and Islam; and take in natural sites such as volcanoes and the Black, Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Guided tours of the country, which is situated between Europe and Asia, range in length and focus, and some are better suited for first-time travelers. - Pacha Tours' Eastern Turkey excursion is a 14-night guided tour of the country, beginning in Istanbul and ending in Kayseri. Along the way visitors will stop in or explore more than a dozen cities. Famous sights along the way include the historic church-turned-museum Haghia Sophia, the Coruh Valley with its rugged landscape, the snow-capped Mount Ararat volcano, Akhtamar island and its 10th-century church, Mar Gabriel Monastery, the National Park of Nemrut Dag and Mount Nemrut and the Gate of Cleopatra in Tarsus, birthplace of St. Paul.
According to the company website, this tour is appropriate for visitors who have been to Turkey before, as it offers a more rustic view of the country. The tour price includes hotel accommodations, meals, ground transportation in an air-conditioned motor coach, museum fees and a professional tour guide. Participants are responsible for their own air fare, travel insurance, personal expenses, gratuities and additional excursions.
Pacha Tours International, Inc
295 Madison Avenue Fl. 43
New York, NY 10017
800-722-4288
pachatours.com - The Turkey Highlights Tour from Tours Istanbul begins and ends in Istanbul. Its stops include Cappadocia, an area known for its rock formations and rich history, and the city of Ephesus, with its ancient ruins. The10-day, nine-night tour is escorted by professional, licensed tour guides.
The trip features tours of Istanbul's Old City and the Strait of Bosphorus, as well as a private tour of Cappadocia and a visit to Izmir--called Smyrna in ancient times--on the Aegean coast. The tour relies on air travel to get to several of its stops. All tours, hotels and transfers are included in the price of the tour, as is the airfare within the tour. According to the company website, all hotels are five-star or boutique establishments.
Tours Istanbul
Ergenekon Cad. No. 6/2
Pangalti - Sisli
Istanbul, Turkey
+1 90-212-225-7670
toursistanbul.com - The eight-day, nine-night Classics of Turkey tour is operated by Key Tours, an American company. The tour begins in Istanbul, with the group then flying to Ankara to explore the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the mausoleum of Ataturk, father of modern Turkey. Other stops include Cappadocia, Ephesus, the city of Troy, the mausoleum of the sufi philosopher Mevlana and the Cotton Fortress, with its white calcium formations, in Pamukkale. The tour also stops in the seaport of Gallipoli before returning to Istanbul for a full tour of the city.
Hotel accommodations, air-conditioned motor coach transportation and some meals are included in the cost of the trip. Travelers are responsible for their own airfare, travel insurance, personal expenses and tips.
Key Tours International Inc.
11096 B Lee Hwy
Suite 103
Fairfax, VA 22030
800-576-1784
keytours.com
