4-Day Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Pamukkale & Ephesus Tour from Istanbul

Day 1: Istanbul to Gallipoli, overnight in Canakkale

An early start from your Istanbul hotel sets you on the road to the Gallipoli peninsula, a drive of roughly four and a half hours with one short break along the way. You’ll reach Eceabat in good time for lunch before the guided walk begins in the early afternoon.

From there you follow the ground where the 1915 campaign unfolded, starting at Brighton Beach and the Beach Cemetery, then on to ANZAC Cove and Ariburnu Cemetery. You’ll pause at the ANZAC Commemorative Site and the Respect to Mehmetcik Statue before climbing to Lone Pine Memorial. The trenches and tunnels at Johnston’s Jolly show just how close the two sides once were, and the tour continues past the Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment Cemetery, The Nek and finally the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. Afterwards you transfer to Canakkale to check in and rest.

• Overnight in Canakkale
• Included Meal(s): Lunch

Day 2: Troy and Pergamon, transfer to Kusadasi

After breakfast you cross to Troy, the city Homer wrote about. You’ll see the wooden model of the Trojan Horse, the Sacrificial Altars, and city walls that have stood for some 3,700 years. Your guide walks you through the Houses of Troy I dating back to 3000–2500 B.C., the Bouleuterion where the senate met, and the Odeon concert hall, with the ongoing excavations laying bare the layers of Troy I through Troy IX.

By mid-morning you’re back on the road to Bergama, arriving in time for lunch. The afternoon belongs to the Pergamon Acropolis, once one of the great powers of the ancient world. You’ll take in the ruins of the Altar of Zeus, the steep Hellenistic Theatre that once held 10,000 spectators, and the Great Library that held some 200,000 volumes. The walk carries on through the terraced Gymnasium, the Lower Agora, and the temples of Dionysus, Athena and Trajan before you transfer down to your hotel in Kusadasi.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Pamukkale and Hierapolis day trip

After breakfast you’re collected from your Kusadasi hotel and driven to the meeting point in Selcuk, where the full group comes together for the run out to Pamukkale — about three hours, with a short break along the way. Lunch comes first on arrival, then the guided tour begins with a licensed guide.

You’ll stand on the Cotton Cliffs, the white travertine terraces formed over centuries by mineral-rich water, and explore the ancient city of Hierapolis spread out above them, including its basilica, theatre and Roman baths. There’s free time at the end to wander at your own pace. If you like, you can pay to swim among the submerged columns in the Pamukkale Antique Pool; your guide will point you to the meeting spot before you set off. In the late afternoon you head back to Kusadasi.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Full day in Ephesus, tour ends

Check out after breakfast and meet your guide for a full day around Ephesus. You begin at the Temple of Artemis, once counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, before moving on to the main event: the Greco-Roman city of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved anywhere. Take your time along its marble streets before breaking for lunch.

The afternoon turns quieter and more reflective at the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her final days and a place of pilgrimage for Christians and Muslims alike. You’ll also visit the Isabey Mosque, then finish in the old Greek village of Sirince, known for its fruit wines and small shops, with about an hour to look around on your own. At the end of the day you’re dropped off at Izmir Airport or your hotel, depending on your onward plans.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

Inclusions

• Professional licensed guide during the tours
• Hotel pickup and all transfers on the program
• One night in Canakkale (3-star) and two nights in Kusadasi (4-star)
• Daily breakfast and lunches as per itinerary
• Air-conditioned transport
• Entrance fees listed in the itinerary
• Local taxes and service charges

Exclusions

• Onward bus or flight tickets after the tour ends in Ephesus
• Optional tours and the Pamukkale Antique Pool entry
• Drinks with meals (except breakfast drinks)
• Personal expenses and items of a personal nature
• Tips and gratuities
• Travel insurance