Western Anatolia's Ancient Cities Tour

Highlights: DENİZLİ · PAMUKKALE · NYSA ANCIENT CITY · HIERAPOLIS ANCIENT CITY · ANCIENT THEATRE · CLEOPATRA'S POOL · PAMUKKALE TRAVERTINES · PANORAMIC DENİZLİ

After the open buffet breakfast at our hotel, we head to Nysa Ancient City, known in antiquity as an educational centre. Located in Sultanhisar and recognised as the hometown of the geographer Strabo, we tour Nysa's Roman-era theatre, library and tunnels with our guide.

From here we continue to Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We first enter Hierapolis Ancient City. One of the leading health centres of the Roman period, at Hierapolis we visit the Ancient Theatre, the Necropolis, the Domitian Gate and the Temple of Apollo. We then see Cleopatra's Pool, believed to be where Cleopatra once swam and containing fragments of ancient columns within it. Guests who wish may take a swimming break here.

The most memorable moment of the day is the pure white Pamukkale Travertines. Walking barefoot across this natural wonder formed by calcium-carbonate-rich waters, we have the opportunity to photograph Hierapolis from above. We continue to our hotel accompanied by a panoramic view of Denizli.

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Denizli

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Denizli

Total Daily Distance and Duration

Hotel - Nysa Ancient City: 34 Km (37 Minutes)

Nysa Ancient City - Hierapolis Ancient City: 100 Km (1 Hour 16 Minutes)

Hierapolis Ancient City - Hotel: 8 Km (12 Minutes)

TOTAL: 142 KM (2 HOURS 5 MINUTES)

Highlights: BURDUR · SALDA LAKE · İNSUYU CAVE · BAKİBEY MANSION · FİRDEVS MOSQUE (MİMAR SİNAN MOSQUE) · FİRDEVS BEY BEDESTEN · DALBOYUNOĞLU BATH · KUTLU BEY MOSQUE · ISPARTA · VIEWING TERRACE · ROSE BAZAAR

After the open buffet breakfast at our hotel, we set off for Salda Lake, known as "Turkey's Maldives." At this striking lake with its turquoise water and white sand shoreline, we have free time to enjoy the setting and take impressive photographs.

From here we continue to Burdur, arriving at İnsuyu Cave, one of the first caves in Turkey opened to tourism. After touring the cave, known for its stalactites and stalagmites, we visit the Historic Bakibey Mansion in central Burdur. Following this outstanding example of Burdur's residential architecture, we continue towards Isparta.

In Isparta, we see Firdevs Mosque (also known as Mimar Sinan Mosque), a work of the architect Mimar Sinan, along with Firdevs Bey Bedesten, Dalboyun Oğlu Bathhouse and Kutlu Bey Mosque panoramically. We then go up to the Isparta Viewing Terrace to take in a bird's-eye view of the rose gardens. We have free time at the Rose Bazaar to shop for rose products.

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Isparta

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Isparta

Total Daily Distance and Duration

Hotel - Salda Lake: 103 Km (1 Hour 28 Minutes)

Salda Lake - İnsuyu Cave: 88 Km (1 Hour 13 Minutes)

İnsuyu Cave - Bakibey Mansion: 12 Km (11 Minutes)

Bakibey Mansion - Isparta Viewing Terrace: 33 Km (37 Minutes)

Isparta Viewing Terrace - Firdevs Mosque (Mimar Sinan Mosque): 4 Km (8 Minutes)

Firdevs Mosque (Mimar Sinan Mosque) - Hotel: 2 Km (5 Minutes)

TOTAL: 242 KM (3 HOURS 42 MINUTES)

Highlights: EĞİRDİR LAKE · EĞİRDİR CASTLE · AFYONKARAHİSAR · GREAT MOSQUE · SULTAN DİVANİ MEVLEVIHANE MUSEUM · AFYON CULTURE AND ARTS HOUSE · GEDİK AHMET PAŞA MOSQUE · AFYON BEDESTEN · HISTORIC STONE KHAN BAZAAR · AFYON BAZAAR

After the open buffet breakfast at our hotel, we reach Lake Eğirdir, the pearl of the Lakes Region. We photograph Turkey's fourth-largest lake alongside Eğirdir Castle on its shore and views of Can Island.

From here we set off for Afyonkarahisar. On arrival, our first stop is Afyon Grand Mosque, one of the finest examples of Seljuk timber architecture. Built in 1273 with 40 wooden columns, after touring the mosque we continue to the Sultan Divani Mevlevi Lodge Museum, an important centre of Mevlevi (Sufi) culture.

We then walk through the Afyon Culture and Art House, Gedik Ahmet Pasha Mosque — built by the Ottoman grand vizier of the same name — the Afyon Bedesten and the Historic Taşhan Bazaar. After free time in Afyon Bazaar to shop for the region's famous sausage, clotted cream and Turkish delight, we continue to our hotel.

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Afyonkarahisar

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Afyonkarahisar

Total Daily Distance and Duration

Hotel - Eğirdir Lake: 36 Km (33 Minutes)

Eğirdir Lake - Afyonkarahisar: 137 Km (2 Hours 7 Minutes)

Afyon Bazaar - Hotel: 7 Km (9 Minutes)

TOTAL: 180 KM (2 HOURS 49 MINUTES)

Highlights: AYAZİNİ · EMRE LAKE · SEYİTGAZİ · ESKİŞEHİR · TÜRASAŞ DEVRIM AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM · SAZOVA SCIENCE CULTURE AND ARTS PARK · ESKİŞEHİR FAIRY TALE CASTLE

After the open buffet breakfast at our hotel, we go to Ayazini, the heart of the Phrygian Valley. We tour the Phrygian-era rock-cut churches, rock tombs and the Ayazini Metropolis Church with our guide. Following a walk among the Phrygian rock monuments, we reach the volcanic Emre Lake in Döğer. After a photo stop by the lake, we continue to Seyitgazi.

In Seyitgazi, we visit the Seyyid Battal Gazi Complex. We then arrive in Eskişehir. Our first stop is the TÜRASAŞ Devrim Cars Museum, home to Turkey's first domestically produced automobiles. From here we continue to Sazova Science, Culture and Art Park. Within the park, we take in panoramic views of the Fairy Tale Castle, the Pirate Ship and the pond, followed by free time.

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Eskişehir

Accommodation Information

Eskişehir

Total Daily Distance and Duration

Hotel - Ayazini: 35 Km (34 Minutes)

Ayazini - Emre Lake: 25 Km (33 Minutes)

Emre Lake - Seyitgazi: 68 Km (1 Hour 2 Minutes)

Seyitgazi - Türasaş: 43 Km (44 Minutes)

Türasaş - Sazova: 4 Km (8 Minutes)

Sazova - Hotel: 7 Km (13 Minutes)

TOTAL: 182 KM (3 HOURS 14 MINUTES)

Highlights: ODUNPAZARI · ARASTA BAZAAR · KURŞUNLU MOSQUE AND COMPLEX · MEERSCHAUM GALLERY · YILMAZ BÜYÜKERŞEN WAX SCULPTURE MUSEUM · KÜTAHYA · KÜTAHYA CASTLE · HUNGARIAN HOUSE · KÜTAHYA GREAT MOSQUE · TILE MUSEUM · KÜTAHYA BAZAAR · GERMİYAN STREET

After the open buffet breakfast at our hotel, we go to Odunpazarı, regarded as the historic heart of Eskişehir. Walking among the Odunpazarı Houses, some of the finest examples of Ottoman civil architecture, we have the chance to shop for meerschaum at Arasta Bazaar. We tour Kurşunlu Mosque and Complex, a work of the architect Mimar Sinan, along with the Meerschaum Gallery and the Yılmaz Büyükerşen Wax Figures Museum.

In the afternoon we set off for Kütahya. On arrival, we take in a panoramic view of Kütahya Castle on Hisar Hill, and visit the Hungarian House, where Hungarian freedom fighter Lajos Kossuth once stayed. We then tour Kütahya Grand Mosque, built by Yıldırım Bayezid, and the Tile Museum, home to the world-famous Kütahya tiles. After free time at Germiyan Street and Kütahya Bazaar, we continue to our hotel.

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Kütahya

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Kütahya

Total Daily Distance and Duration

Odunpazarı - Kütahya Castle: 81 Km (1 Hour 12 Minutes)

Kütahya Castle - Hungarian House: 2 Km (5 Minutes)

Germiyan Street - Hotel: 1 Km (3 Minutes)

TOTAL: 84 KM (1 HOUR 20 MINUTES)

Highlights: AİZANOİ ANCIENT CITY · KULA · KULA HOUSES · SALİHLİ · SARDES ANCIENT CITY

After the open buffet breakfast at our hotel, we go to Aizanoi Ancient City, home to the world's earliest known stock exchange and a Temple of Zeus. Located in Çavdarhisar and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, at Aizanoi we tour one of the world's best-preserved Temples of Zeus, the Macellum building and the Penkalas Bridge.

From here we continue to Kula, shaped by ancient volcanic activity. We view the Historic Kula Houses and the Kula fairy chimneys panoramically. Our final stop is Sardis Ancient City, capital of the Lydian Kingdom. Located in Salihli, at Sardis — known as the site where the first coin in history was minted — we tour the Temple of Artemis, the Synagogue and the Gymnasium with our guide before arriving at our hotel in İzmir.

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İzmir

Accommodation Information

İzmir

Total Daily Distance and Duration

Hotel - Aizanoi Ancient City: 60 Km (51 Minutes)

Aizanoi Ancient City - Kula Houses: 138 Km (2 Hours)

Kula Houses - Sardes: 58 Km (50 Minutes)

Sardes - Hotel: 90 Km (1 Hour 12 Minutes)

TOTAL: 346 KM (3 HOURS 53 MINUTES)

Highlights: TRANSFER · AIRPORT

After the open buffet breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to Adnan Menderes Airport. We say goodbye, hoping to see you again on another AlaTourqo tour.

Total Daily Distance and Duration

Hotel - Airport: 18 Km (21 Minutes)

TOTAL: 18 KM (21 MINUTES)

 Total Tour Distance and Duration

1.294 KM

18 HOURS 38 MINUTES