16 Day Antiquities Of Turkey With Gulet Premium Small Group Tour

• Return Economy International airfares with a full service airline
• Small group tour, up to 14 guests only
• Airport transfers included on the first and last day of tour and station transfers
• Internal Istanbul to Cappadoccia airfare
• 12 nights 5-star and boutique accommodation
• Including 3 nights in a spectacular cave hotel in Goreme, Cappadoccia
• 3 nights sailing on a traditional Gulet along the Turkish coastline
• Daily breakfast, 11 lunches & 8 dinners
• The services of a professional English-speaking guide throughout
• In-depth sightseeing & all entry fees as per the itinerary
• Dedicated private transportation throughout

• Istanbul - Uncover the grandeur of the incredible Blue Mosque.
• Istanbul - Visit the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the amazing Hippodrome of Constantinople.
• Istanbul - No visit to Turkey would be complete without a visit to the Grand Bazaar.
• Cappadocia - Explore the out-of-this-world landscape of Cappadocia, walking among the fabled region's incredible fairy chimneys.
• Cappadocia - Witness the spirituality of a Whirling Dervish ceremony.
• Cappadocia - Tour the Derinkuyu underground city.
• Antalya - Travel to this Mediterranean coastal city and visit Hadrian’s Gate.
• Antalya - Walk around the old Roman Harbour and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean.
• Fethiye - Delve into the history and remnants of Greek-Turkish ghost-town, Kayakoy.
• Gulet - Board a traditional wooden gulet and sail along the country's renowned Turquoise Coast, enjoying the leisurely pace and refreshing swims at secluded beaches.
• Pamukkale - Travese the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, and watch the sun set over this fascinating lunar landscape.
• Pamukkale - Visit the ruins of Hierapolis and the ancient Roman baths that are said to date back to 190AD.
• Kusadasi - Walk around the village of Selcuk and visit the last remaining column of the Temple of Artemis.
• Ephesus - Explore Ephesus, arguably the greatest Greco-Roman site in the world, which features the iconic Library of Celsus and a huge amphitheatre.
• Troy - See the remnants of the ancient city walls and the famed wooden horse.
• Canakkale - Pay a visit to a weavers' association in Bergama and see first-hand how Turkish carpets are made.
• Gallipoli - Visit the beach and cemeteries of Anzac Cove and the memorials of Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair.

Inspiring Stay

• Spend 3 nights in a boutique cave hotel in the town of Göreme, in the Cappadocia region, staying in rooms carved into the rock.
• Sail for 3 nights on board a traditional gulet. Handcrafted from mahogany, pine and teak, the gulets follow a design developed for these waters in Byzantine times.

Inspiring Sights

• To enhance your journey, we're offering guests two bonus sightseeing experiences out of a choice of three options (details listed under 'Optional Tours').

Inspiring Tastes

• Sample a 'pottery kebab', Cappadocia's traditional, must-try dish, prepared in a clay pot.
• Enjoy a glass of wine as the sun sets atop the travertine terraces of Pamukkale.
• Drive to Şirince village to join a cooking class led by a local expert.
• Enjoy a guided visit to Suvla Winery, along with the all-important tastings!

For further information on your gulet cruise, click HERE. Please note that multiple gulets are in operation from our departure point - the link is for reference only and may not represent the exact sailing boat that you will experience.

PLEASE NOTE - These traditional-style gulet boats are not meant to be luxurious, but they are very comfortable and an exceptional way to spend three nights. All cabins are nicely appointed and have private ensuites. Most of your time will be spent on deck enjoying the view.

No drinks are included as part of our package, however drinks may be purchased on board. Some Gulets provide drinks packages however, each gulet is privately owned so options provided will differ from ship to ship. Please enquire with your guide on tour.

Limited Time Offer - Return Economy International Flights for $499 per person

• Flight offer is only valid from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane
• For flights departing outside of these cities, additional charges may apply at the time of ticketing
• Full-service airline used which will include meals, luggage and entertainment. Flights will be based on the best available. Airlines used include China Southern, China Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Qatar or similar. We are not limited to the airlines listed and will book the best available option.
• Flights may not be direct and may include a maximum of two connections.
• All tickets will include 20 kilos checked baggage per person, along with 7 kilos of hand luggage.
• Internal airfares (where applicable and included in the itinerary) will be using a local carrier and may include low-cost carriers without meals or entertainment. Checked baggage will still be included for each passenger. Any additional baggage required is payable at time of check-in. 
• Despite any airline’s baggage allowance, we recommend travelling with 20 kilos per person due to restrictions with internal flights (where applicable), as well as coach and train transportation.
• You will be responsible for handling your luggage at all times as the services of porters are not included. If travelling over the recommended amount, you will be liable for any excess baggage fees enforced by the airline, payable directly.
• Once ticketed, flights are non-refundable; any changes will be subject to the airline rules and change fees. 
• Full names as per passport (including all middle names) are required at the time of submitting your traveller booking form. Any error in the names submitted will be subject to fees to amend with the airline or the ticket may be non-refundable with the purchase of a new ticket required. 
• Depending on departure date and time of booking, the required booking class for airfare offer may be too far in advance to book with the appropriate airline. You will be contacted once your airfares are available to book.
• If the required booking class is unavailable at time of booking, surcharges may apply. Total cost is final only at time of ticketing. Once issued, air tickets are subject to amendment and cancellation fees or may be non-refundable
• Any airline schedule changes or cancellations are beyond our control and it is the responsibility of the customer to ensure they are familiar with the most up to date airline schedule prior to departure

Premium Economy or Business Class Upgrades;
Please specify this in the “Special Request” field when completing your booking and you will be quoted for the additional fare at the time of booking your flights. 

Extending Your Stay;
Some customers like to enhance their holiday by extending their stay pre- and/or post-tour or including a stopover in another destination. Please include this information in the “Special Request” field when booking. Surcharges may apply at time of booking. When extending your stay, any additional room nights’ required must be booked independently.

Inspiring Vacations has been globally recognised and awarded for its handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our highest concern during this time of uncertainty, and we are continuously monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation.

We have adopted the advice of the WHO to ensure all customers can travel with the knowledge of how to travel safely and with confidence.

Australian owned and operated with 100% Australian Customer Service support

We are proudly 100% Australian owned and operated, with our head office located in Melbourne, Victoria. When you make your booking, you will receive dedicated and ongoing support from our team of travel professionals throughout your booking, up until you are due to depart.

Cooling off period

If you change your mind within 7 days of making your booking online, you can request a refund of your initial deposit payment as part of our cooling off period. Once your purchase date falls outside of the 7 day period, our standard terms and conditions will apply.

Please ensure that any request to cancel your booking is received via email to [email protected], including the reason for cancellation.

Deposit & Installment Payment Option:

• Secure your package with a deposit of $99 per person.
• Pay a 2nd instalment of $2,950 per person within 28 days.
• You will then be invoiced for final payment 120 days prior to departure.

Full Payment Option:

• Pay in full to receive a 5% discount off your selected holiday.
• Please select this option at the payment page prior to finalising your booking. 
• The 5% discount will then be deducted from your total balance.
• The 5% discount does not apply to extras including optional tours, pre/post accommodation, airfare (unless included as part of the package) or any special requests.
• Cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or offer.
• Not available when using account credit to make payment.

Booking Process

• 'Sign Up' first by entering your email and creating a password
• Then select the red 'Book now' tab of the tour you have selected
• Select your Departure Date, Number of Passengers, Room Configuration, any Upgrade Options, and enter any Special Requests
• Click the red ‘Proceed to Secure Checkout' tab
• Enter your credit card or PayPal details to secure your deposit/payment.
• Once your order is complete, you will be prompted to complete a Booking Form so that we can fulfil your booking
• Your booking is on request and will be confirmed by Inspiring Vacations once all components of your package have been secured with our partners, please see below for further information

COVID -19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be affected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.

Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.

As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.

This particular tour is categorised as a “3”:

3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.

Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. At the commencement of your tour, your Tour Leader will suggest contributing towards a ‘tipping kitty’ which can then be used to tip local guides, hotel staff, driver, etc. You will have complete visibility over amounts tipped and any funds left will be distributed back to travellers. This tipping kitty is not mandatory, however, over time we’ve found it frees travellers from the stress of keeping the right change at hand and not knowing appropriate tipping amounts. We suggest EUR2-4 for hotel staff, local guides and the driver (suggestions are per person per day).

Please note that this tipping is not for your Tour Leader. If you are happy with the service provided by your Tour Leader we recommend tipping EUR3-5 per person per day.

Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.

Single Supplement
Single supplement is $2,307 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.

Triple Share
Not available.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.

Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from your intended date of return.

All Australian passport holders will require a visa to enter Turkey. The visa must be issued prior to departing Australia.

How: Turkey has an e-visa system which can be applied for online by clicking HERE.

Cost: USD $60 per person (subject to change)

Visa Type: Tourist Visa / Single Entry

When to apply: 30 days prior to departure

Please note: Do NOT apply for your visa until you receive your tour documentation from Inspiring Vacations 30 days prior to your departure.

Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.

Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.

Group Size
6-14 people.

Trip Style - Small Group Tour
These tours are our proudest creations. They have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. You will travel with only a maximum of 20 other guests. Enjoy choice features such as hand-picked accommodation, a sampling of the region’s best culinary delights and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.

Children
Children must be 5 years old or over and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.

Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent inflight and is subject to change, depending on the flight schedule. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent in your destination(s).

You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:

Pre Tour Accommodation

• $396.00 per room, per night for double and twin share
• $396.00 per room, per night for solo travellers

Post Tour Accommodation

• $396.00 per room, per night for double and twin share
• $396.00 per room, per night for solo travellers

Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.

To enhance your journey, we're offering 2 free sightseeing experiences out of a choice of 3 options, listed below. Guests can also purchase any of the remaining two sightseeing experiences (cost is per person):

• Wine & Sunset tour (Day 3)- $65 per person
• Kelebek Turkish Bath (Day 3) - $87 per person
• Homecooked dinner in Istanbul (Day 15) - $109 per person

Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online or speaking with your Dedicated Support Agent for assistance.

Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 65 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding.

• Visas
• Travel insurance (compulsory)
• Tipping
• Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
• Optional activities
• Personal expenses

Click HERE for more information on weather in Turkey.