Ancient Turkey’s Religious Wonders

Izmir, Pamukkale, Kusadasi & Istanbul

Best time to travel

Apr-Oct

Ideal length

6 nights

Perfect for

All

From (incl flights)

€2,799 pp

At a glance

International flights from Dublin to Izmir and home from Istanbul.
All private transfers as well as your internal flight from Izmir to Istanbul.
6 nights’ accommodation in Izmir, Pamukkale, Kusadasi and Istanbul.
Guided small group tours of archaeological ruins and historic wonders across Turkey including the marvellous Library of Celsus and ruins of Pergamon.
In-depth exploration of Istanbul on a guided city tour and luxury cruise along the Bosphorous.

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Introduction

Asia Minor’s modern day Turkey will take you on a historical discovery that is difficult to match anywhere else in the world. Starting in Izmir, you are immediately on historic soil, a destination founded by the ancient Greeks, taken over by the Romans and rebuilt by no other than Alexander the Great. From Izmir to Pamukkale, on towards Kusadasi and finishing in Istanbul, this suggested itinerary takes you on an exclusive exploration focusing on the Seven Churches of Early Christianity.

View all of our luxury holidays to Turkey.

Trip Overview

Depart from Dublin to Izmir, a city on Turkey’s Aegean Coast.

Your private driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in central Izmir where you will spend the next two nights. Meet your small group in the lobby and set out to explore Izmir’s sites, followed by lunch in a local restaurant.

Set out on an archaeological exploration of Pergamon and Thyatira.

Follow your expert guide to the once rich and powerful city of Pergamon. Explore its mighty ruins before continuing to Thyatira, a city visited by Paul the Apostle during his missionary travels.

Next stop is Pamukkale, visiting Sardis along the way.

Visit the famed Temple of Artemis and its Byzantine church lying along the Pactolus River. Continue to the historic ruins in Philadelphia and Laodicea before arriving in Pamukkale, where you’ll spend the night.

Visit the sacred city of Hierapolis.

Believed to have been founded by Apollo, it also holds religious significance as it was mentioned by St Paul in his Letter to the Colossians. Continue to Kusadasi to visit the House of Mary and the Basilica of St. John before spending the night in a nearby hotel.

Continue your exploration in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus.

Spend the day exploring iconic ruins like the magnificent Library of Celsus. After a busy day, take a short flight to the capital of Istanbul, where you’ll spend two nights.

Explore the highlights of Istanbul with your local guide.

You’ll have the opportunity to visit sites like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Hippodrome of Constantinople. Continue to browse the colourful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world.

Cruise along the Bosphorous Waterway on a luxury cruising tour.

You will be introduced you to a wealth of sites like the opulent Beylerbei Palace, Bosphorous Bridge and scenic Camlica Hill. Afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the vibrant stalls of Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar and St Chora Museum.

Transfer to the international airport for your flight home.

Arrive in Dublin.

Tailoring your holiday

OROKO Itineraries are created with you in mind and no two are the same. These can be used to help plan your trip - or we can design a completely different itinerary to suit you.

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Accommodation

Where to rest your head

Looking for the best accommodation? We've got the contacts

Blanca Hotel Izmir

Blanca Hotel is a modern property set in central Izmir. Centrally located, it is just a short distance from landmarks like the Izmir Archaeological Museum and Konak Square.

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Charisma Deluxe Hotel

The Charisma Deluxe Hotel is ideally set on the coast of Turkey’s Aegean Sea. Traditional from the exterior, interiors are contrastingly modern and stylish.

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Occidental Taksim

Occidental Taksim occupies a prime position in Istanbul, just steps away from the famed promenade and Taksim Square. The centrally situated property is modern and comfortable.

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What people are saying

Conor in OROKO arranged a holiday this summer for us and our four teenage boys. We were unsure where to go and his advice was fantastic! He took over completely after a consultation about our expectations, taking into consideration our boys’ needs too! He most certainly delivered a tremendous holiday for us all – way beyond what we could have done ourselves, with each of our three destinations better than the last. All incredibly located and absolutely stunning!

Everything was done for us – check-ins/five-star transfers/individual bag tags/ferry transfers with all seats pre-booked! Conor was incredibly helpful, patient, knowledgable and open. It made our trip truly memorable from conception to finish and I cannot fathom planning a trip again without OROKO! Thank you for everything we will never forget it!

Valerie & family – Greece, 2022