Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll meet your group and local leader at 1 pm in Istanbul, then jump into a guided tour of the Old City. The route takes you through the ancient hippodrome, past the Blue Mosque, and into the Grand Bazaar where you can wander through the shops. Suleymaniye Cami is also on the agenda. Later this evening, there's an option to grab dinner with fellow travelers and try authentic Turkish kebab if you're interested.
Included Activities
- Old City Walking Tour (Half Day) - visit ancient hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and Suleymaniye Cami
Optional Activities
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat) - TRY150
- Galata Tower - TRY650
- Archaeology Museum - TRY340
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - TRY390
- Hagia Sophia - Free
- Topkapi Palace - TRY750
- Dinner at a local restaurant (Turkish kebab)
Landmarks/POIs Blue Mosque Grand Bazaar Suleymaniye Cami Hippodrome of Constantinople Hagia Sophia Topkapi Palace Galata Tower - Day 2
Istanbul to Canakkale
After breakfast, you'll travel to Canakkale on the southern shore of the Dardanelles. Along the way, there's a guided tour of Gallipoli to dive into the WWI history. You'll stop at ANZAC Cove, Brighton Beach, and the ANZAC Commemorative Site while taking in views of the Dardanelles Strait and the peninsula. By evening you're in Canakkale with free time to find your own dinner spot.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Fully guided Gallipoli tour & visit to the Commonwealth graveyards - including ANZAC Cove, Brighton Beach, and ANZAC Commemorative Site
Optional Activities
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Canakkale
Landmarks/POIs ANZAC Cove Brighton Beach ANZAC Commemorative Site Dardanelles Strait - Day 3
Canakkale to Selcuk
This morning you're heading to Troy to explore the ancient ruins with your leader. There's a photo opportunity with a replica Trojan Horse and you'll learn the city's history. From there, you'll continue to Selcuk on the slopes of Ayasoluk Hill for a leader-led orientation walk, passing Isa Bey Mosque and the Byzantine citadel of the Grand Fortress. You'll have free time after to explore on your own.
Included Activities
- Archaeological site visit - Troy ruins including replica Trojan Horse
- Leader-led orientation walk in Selcuk - passing Isa Bey Mosque and Grand Fortress
Landmarks/POIs Troy Isa Bey Mosque Grand Fortress Ayasoluk Hill - Day 4
Selcuk to Izmir
A private minivan takes you to Ephesus, one of the world's best-preserved Greco-Roman classical cities. You'll explore the ruins with a local guide, checking out the Great Theatre and the Library of Celsus. Lunch is included and you'll watch local ladies making traditional gozleme. After free time this evening, you'll transfer to Izmir to board an overnight train heading to Konya.
- Meals
- Lunch (Gozleme with demonstration by local ladies)
Included Activities
- Archaeological site visit - Ephesus ruins including Great Theatre and Library of Celsus with local guide
- Gozleme making demonstration and lunch
Optional Activities
- Terrace Houses entry - TRY320
- Ephesus Archaeological Museum - TRY220
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Library of Celsus Great Theatre of Ephesus - Day 5
Konya to Cappadocia
You'll wake up in Konya, which has deep connections to the whirling dervish sect of Islam and the 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi. First, you'll visit the Mevlana Museum and explore the town. Then it's on to Cappadocia with a drive across the Anatolian plains where you'll watch for fairy chimneys and stop at an underground city that once served as a wartime shelter. You'll arrive in Urgup late afternoon for a sunset walk through the valley and check into your traditional cave-style hotel overlooking the landscape.
Included Activities
- Mevlana Museum visit
- Kaymakli Underground City visit
Optional Activities
- Whirling Dervishes - Sema Performance - EUR30
Landmarks/POIs Mevlana Museum Kaymakli Underground City Cappadocia - Day 6
Cappadocia
Early morning gives you the option of a hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia, or you can stay on the ground and watch the balloon-dotted skyline from there. Later, a scenic valley walk with your leader takes you past fairy chimneys, deserted rock-cut homes, and cave churches. During your free time, the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum is worth a visit if you're interested. This evening you'll be invited into a local home for a home-cooked dinner with the family.
- Meals
- Dinner (Home-cooked dinner at a local family home)
Included Activities
- Valley walk through Cappadocia - featuring fairy chimneys, deserted rock-cut homes, and cave churches
- Dinner at Local Family Home
Optional Activities
- Hot Air Balloon, Cappadocia Regular Flight - EUR270
- Hot Air Balloon, Cappadocia Deluxe Flight - EUR320
- Goreme Open Air Museum - TRY480
Landmarks/POIs Goreme Open Air Museum - Day 7
Cappadocia to Istanbul
You're leaving Cappadocia behind for a flight back to Istanbul, arriving between 1 pm and 4 pm. After checking into your hotel, take an evening stroll to one of the city's trendy neighborhoods where traditional tool-selling shops sit alongside cool cafes and galleries. For dinner, try balik ekmek (fish sandwich), a local street food favorite, then grab some baklava to finish. If you feel like it, you can hit a few bars with your group or enjoy farewell Turkish tea overlooking the Bosphorus.
Optional Activities
- Evening neighborhood exploration and street food dinner (balik ekmek and baklava)
- Bar visits or farewell Turkish tea overlooking the Bosphorus
Landmarks/POIs Bosphorus - Day 8
Istanbul
Your Turkey adventure wraps up after breakfast. There are no scheduled activities today, but you're free to explore Istanbul further if you'd like. Additional accommodation can be arranged if availability allows and you want to stay longer in the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Additional accommodation in Istanbul (subject to availability)
