20 Day Antiquities Of Turkey & Greek Island Cruise

• Small group tour, up to 14 guests only
• Airport transfer included on arrival into Istanbul
• Internal Istanbul to Cappadocia airfare
• 12 nights 5-star and boutique accommodation
• 5 night Greek Island Cruise with Celestyal Cruises
• 3 nights sailing on a traditional Gulet along the Turkish coastline
• 3 nights in a spectacular cave hotel in Goreme, Cappadocia
• Daily breakfast, 15 lunches & 13 dinners
• The services of a professional English-speaking guide throughout Turkey
• 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.
• Board a five night cruise of the Aegean Sea and indulge in traditional flavors, admire stunning landscapes and explore charming villages
• Explore the stunningly beautiful and buzzing islands of Santorini and Mykonos
• Make the most of the opportunity to discover hidden secrets and indulge in an authentic experience of Mediterranean cuisine and the classic Greek lifestyle

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 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.

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.

Celestyal Cruises

This cruise is operated by our partners Celestyal Cruises on board their Celestyal Crystal ship. The Crystal is a moderate size-cruise liner with a big ship feel. Spacious, comfortable and complete with a wide range of facilities and services, our friendly team welcomes you onboard for an epic adventure into the idyllic Aegean.

With delectable dining experiences, a full program of entertainment, wellness center, casino, pool and onboard sports activities, we are confident your time aboard with the Crystal will be memorable and exciting.  More information on the Celestyal Crystal can be found HERE.

Cabin Inclusion & Upgrades

Interior Stateroom (IA) - Included
Interior Staterooms at deck 2 and 3 (~11 sqm) can accommodate up to 4 persons with 2 lower beds, 3rd/4th berth, bathroom with shower, air condition, telephone, hair dryer, safety deposit box and TV.

Interior Stateroom (IC) - From AUD 349 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Interior Staterooms at deck 5 and 6 (~11 sqm) can accommodate up to 2 persons with 2 lower beds, bathroom with shower, air condition, telephone, hair dryer, safety deposit box and TV.

Exterior Stateroom (XB) - From AUD 472 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Exterior Staterooms at deck 3 and 4 (~11 sqm) can accommodate up to 4 persons with 2 lower beds, 3rd /4th berth, bathroom with shower, air condition, telephone, hair dryer, safety deposit box, TV and a window.

Balcony Suite (SB) - From AUD $1845 per person, twin share. Single price on application.
Balcony Suites at deck 9 (~27 sqm) can accommodate up to 3 persons with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed, bathroom with bathtub, air condition, telephone, hair dryer, safety deposit box, TV, refrigerated mini bar and a balcony.

• Full payment due at the time of the booking.
• Please select this option at the payment page prior to finalizing your booking

• Book now and secure your package with only a $99.00 deposit per person.
• Pay a 2nd installment of $220.00 per person within 7 days.
• You will then be invoiced for final payment 120 days prior to departure.

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

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while travelling.

Please refer to conditions below, which are agreed to at time of purchase. 

Can I extend my stay pre- and/or post-tour?

This depends on the package you are booking. 

Where available, extensions must be added at time of purchase and cannot be added post-purchase unless inside the 7-day cooling off period.

We can assist in arranging your airfares to accommodate an extension; however, you must also book the additional nights’ accommodation through us at time of booking (where available as an add-on):

• At check-out, please ensure you add the numbers of extra nights you would like pre- and/or post-tour (where available as an add-on). This can only be done at time of booking and cannot be added after purchase.
• Some packages may only offer the opportunity to book one (1) extra night pre and/or post. If you want more nights’ than what is available to book you must choose Land Only (refer below).
• If there is no option to add additional nights’ accommodation to your booking, then extending your stay with Inspiring Vacations is not an option and you can instead choose to change your booking to Land Only so you can arrange both your airfares and additional accommodation independently. 

When adding additional nights to your booking, the cost of the extra nights’ accommodation will be reflected on your invoice and payable with the final balance. 

Airfare surcharges may apply if extending due to airfare seasonal changes and possible fare differences. These are payable at the time of selecting your desired airfare. 

The second installment of your booking must be made before airfares can be booked. 

Outside of extending your stay you must select Land Only if:

• You would like to stopover
• You would like to upgrade your cabin class
• You would like a specific airline booked 
• You would like to extend longer than what is available within the package 
• You intend to book additional accommodation independently
• You would like to arrive and/or depart from another city or airport or; 
• Your preferred domestic departure city point (ie Perth, Australia) is not an option 

If you are interested in one of the above options, please select LAND ONLY at time of check-out and you will need to arrange your own airfares. Inspiring Vacations will not be accountable for flight delays or missed tour components due to late arrival or airline changes.

How to book my flights through the flight portal:

As the travel industry moves towards providing customers with more self-service options, we are excited that our customers will have the opportunity to book their flights through our flight portal. If this option is available to you, you will be notified once flights are available to book for your selected departure date. Flights may be booked by Inspiring Vacations at any time.

Please visit our FAQ for more information.

Conditions of flights for this package bookable by Inspiring Vacations:

• Flight Offer valid from select departure cities within the purchase path only
• Flights will be booked with the best available airline/s with luggage included. Low-cost carriers may be booked in conjunction with a full-service airline. Depending on the carrier, entertainment and meals may not be included but payable at an extra cost on-board. We cannot specify or guarantee the airline booked. If you would like a specific airline, please select land only. 
• Flights may not be direct and may include multiple connections
• Due to disrupted airline schedules globally with the pandemic, stopovers/transit times may be longer than usual (up to 12 hours in duration in some circumstances).
• 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.
• 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
• After booking, the price payable may be subject to change as a result of factors beyond the control of Inspiring Vacations. Inspiring Vacations reserves the right to increase the price payable and this will be reflected on the customer's invoice. Increases may be in relation to, but not limited to, currency fluctuations, airline taxes, airfare increases and fuel surcharges.
• 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. 
• If you are travelling with another party on a separate booking, we cannot guarantee that the same flights will be booked for all parties, as this strictly depends on availability. 
• All tickets will include 20 kilos checked baggage per person, along with 7 kilos of hand luggage 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.

Seat Selection & Frequent Flyer Points

Inspiring Vacations do not arrange seat selection. It is important to highlight that some airlines do not allow pre-selected seats or they may charge a fee to do so. We strongly suggest you contact the airline directly with seating allocation requirements and or arrive at the airport earlier to arrange your seating. While we do not add frequent flyer member details to bookings, you can do this directly with the airline once you have your flight information.

Online check-in 

Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.

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 $4,200.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.

Triple Share
Not available.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.

We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.

Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.

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).

To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are 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.

Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 70 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.

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

• $392.00 per room, per night for double and twin share
• $367.00 per room, per night for solo travellers

Post Tour Accommodation

• $392.00 per room, per night for double and twin share
• $367.00 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.

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

Click HERE for more information on weather in Turkey.