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.. Turkey, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has  a rich history  with sights not to be missed. This tour also takes in sights of interest for garden lovers including the birthplace of tulips ..

Tour summary

Turkey has a long and fascinating history. Less well known are its horticultural connections. We all know about the tulips in Amsterdam and Holland, but few people realize that these bulbs originally came from Turkey.

This tour takes in stunning historical sights such as Ephesus and Aspendros. It spends 3 nights in Istanbul where you will visit the Blue Mosque, Topkapi and more. In addition the interest of garden lovers is catered for in visits to the home of the tulip, historic gardens in Istanbul and fine parks and landscapes throughout.

 

Example Itinerary

Day 1 Tuesday: Flights from UK to Antalya where our guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you to your hotel where you will have a welcome dinner.

Day 2 Wednesday: A full day tour of the area including visits to Koprulu Kanyon National Park,with its famous Mediterranean Cyprus trees,  and Aspendos, one of the best preserved Roman theatres in the world.  We then return to our hotel for dinner.

Day 3 Thursday: Today we drive west to Gulluk Mountain National Park (Termessos) with forests and many varieties of typical Mediterranean plants and Ciglikara, famous for its Cedars. We continue on our route where we will see wild spring flowering crocuses. Overnight in Fethiye with dinner in the hotel.

Day 4 Friday: Our botanic destination today is unique Dilek Peninsula National Park where we will discover a wide range of plants from Anatolia, Black Sea andthe Mediterranean. Indigenous species to be seen include Sweet Chestnut, Phoenician Juniper, Kermes Oak and cypresses. This area has also been designated as a European Biogenetic Reserve. Overnight in Kusadasi with dinner in the hotel.

Day 5 Saturday: Today’s excursion takes us to Ephesus, the largest ancient city ever uncovered. Once with a population of around  300,000 people, it has an enormous amphitheatre, which can still hold 24,000 spectators.  As you walk down the marble covered streets, see gymnasiums, bath houses, public latrines, the library of Celsus and the Temple of Artemis you can imagine what life was like in those times. We continue to the House of Virgin Mary, where she is believed to have spent her last few days and Sirince Village with its peach, grape and olive gardens. We stay overnight in Kusadasi with dinner in the hotel.

Day 6 Sunday: Spil National Park, famous for its Manisa Tulips, which gave their name to a period of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey is where tulips originally grew before being taken to other parts of Europe. We then drive to Pergamum once ruled by Alexander the Great. Pergamum was famous for its parchment paper and had a library containing 200.000 books. The remains of a splendid Acropolis with the Altar of Zeus can still be seen as well as an amphitheatre with seating for 10,000. We spend the night in Assos with dinner in the hotel.

Day 7 Monday: Today we travel to Istanbul. On the way we explore Hayrettin Karaca Arboretum, near Yalova. Established in 1980, on the site of an apple and pear orchard, Turkey’s premier arboretum contains some 7,000 woody plants bulbs, and a large collection of herbaceous plants. It won an award for International Dendrology. We spend the night in Istanbul with dinner in the hotel.

Day 8 Tuesday: We spend the morning visiting Nezahat Gokyigit Botanic Garden, an unexpected oasis amongst the towering high-rise blocks and motorways that surround it. To date, more than 50,000 trees and shrubs have been planted in this 50-hectare park, which aspires to establish the largest collection of oaks in the world.. Then drive back to Europe Side to have lunch and to continue to explore Emirgan Park housing the Tulip Festivals in April each year and Sabanci Museum that used to be home of Sabanci Family, one of the two richest families in Turkey. You will wonder at the fine and calligraphic art, religious and state documents, paintings of the Ottoman era as well as the garden, overlooking the Bosphorus. We spend the night in Istanbul.

Day 9 Wednesday: Today’s included excursions are unique Blue Mosque whose interior walls are covered with 20,000 blue Iznik tiles and magnificent Topkapi Palace, once home to the great Sultans, filled with treasures and antiquities including twelve thousand pieces of fine Chinese porcelain. After lunch at Konyali Restaurant in the garden of Topkapi Palace, famous for its Ottoman food, we explore the Hippodrome and domed Basilica of St. Sophia.. Constructed in 326 by Constantine the Great, it has been a cathedral, a mosque, and now a museum. In the afternoon explore Bulbous Plants Park in front of Yedikule City Walls. We spend the night in Istanbul.

Day 10 Thursday: Transfer to the airport for return flights to UK

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Date of Departure & Pricing

1 April 2014 prices from £1,899 per person

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What’s Included

Return flights from London to Turkey. (Flights from your local area on request.)
9 nights accommodation in specially selected hotels on bed and breakfast basis plus two lunches and seven dinners.
Escorted by knowledgeable local guide.
Guided visit to Koprulu National Park and Aspendos Roman theatre
Guided tour of Gulluk Mountain National Park with its forests and Mediterranean plants
Visit Dilek Peninsula an area of natural beauty set aside as a Biogenic Reserve
Whilst staying in Kusadasi take a guided tour of Ephesus, the largest ancient city ever uncovered and House of Virgin Mary.
Visit Spil National Park, home of Manisa Tulips, which where all of the tulips of Europe originated and Pergamum, famous for parchment paper and its library which is said to have contained 200,000 books
Enjoy the famous sights of Istanbul – Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome and Basilica of St. Sophia.
Discover Istanbul’s ‘natural side’ – its Botanic Garden, Emigran Park, home to annual tulip festivals, the garden of Sabanci Museum and Bulbous Plants Park in front of Yedikule City Walls.

How Strenuous

Moderate Pace

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