Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll get transferred to your hotel when you arrive in Istanbul. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours to wander around the city however you'd like.
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul at your own pace
- Day 2
Istanbul
After breakfast, a guide takes you through Istanbul's major sites across both continents. You'll see the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace including the Hagia Irene and Harem, then the Hippodrome. Later in the afternoon, you'll head out on a Bosphorus cruise sailing between Europe and Asia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Fully guided tour of Istanbul
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit St Sophia Museum
- Visit Topkapi Palace including Hagia Irene and the Harem
- Visit Hippodrome
- Bosphorus Cruise
Landmarks Blue Mosque St Sophia Museum Topkapi Palace Hagia Irene Hippodrome Bosphorus Strait - Day 3
Gallipoli - Çanakkale
You're traveling to the Gallipoli battlefields where you'll walk through the WWI sites including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek, and Johnston's Jolly. After exploring the original trenches and tunnels, you'll head to Çanakkale for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit WW1 Gallipoli battlefields
- Visit Lone Pine Memorial
- Visit Chunuk Bair Memorial
- Visit ANZAC Cove
- Visit The Nek
- Visit Johnston's Jolly
- Explore original trenches and tunnels
Landmarks Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair Memorial ANZAC Cove - Day 4
Troy - Pergamon - Kuşadası
This morning starts at Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll check out the Troy Museum before heading to Bergama, where you'll go up to Pergamon's acropolis to see the temples and library ruins. From there, it's on to Kuşadası.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Troy ancient city
- Visit Troy Museum
- Visit Pergamon acropolis
- Explore Pergamon temples and library
Landmarks Troy Troy Museum Pergamon - Day 5
Ephesus - Kuşadası
A guided tour of Ephesus has you seeing the Temple of Artemis site, the Library of Celsus, and the old amphitheatre. You'll also visit the Ephesus Archaeology Museum, then head to a carpet village to learn how traditional carpets are made. Later, you'll have a wine tasting in Sirince.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Artemis site
- Visit Library of Celsus
- Visit Ephesus amphitheatre
- Visit Ephesus Archaeology Museum
- Learn carpet-making at carpet village
- Wine tasting experience in Sirince
Landmarks Ephesus Temple of Artemis Library of Celsus Ephesus Archaeology Museum Sirince - Day 6
Aphrodisias - Pamukkale
You'll start by visiting a leather shop, then continue to Aphrodisias where you can walk through the stadium, Temple of Aphrodite, Tetrapylon, theatre, and the museum. After that, you're heading to Pamukkale for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit leather shop
- Visit Aphrodisias ancient city
- Visit Aphrodisias stadium
- Visit Temple of Aphrodite
- Visit Tetrapylon
- Visit Aphrodisias theatre
- Visit Aphrodisias Museum
Landmarks Aphrodisias Temple of Aphrodite - Day 7
Pamukkale - Salda Lake - Fethiye
In Pamukkale, you'll see the white calcium terraces called Travertines and tour the ancient city of Hierapolis. You'll get to bathe in the hot springs that Romans used for their healing properties. Then it's to Salda Lake (sometimes called the Turkish Maldives) before driving south to Fethiye.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Pamukkale Travertines
- Tour Hierapolis ancient city
- Swim in Pamukkale hot springs
- Visit Salda Lake
Landmarks Pamukkale Hierapolis Salda Lake - Day 8
Fethiye
You have the day free to explore Fethiye at your own pace. If you want to stay busy, optional tours and activities are available, or you can just relax as you prefer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Fethiye at your own pace
- 12 island boat trip
- Saklikent Gorge tour
- Day 9
Kayakoy - Antalya
You're heading to Kayakoy early when the light is good for photos of this abandoned Greek village. After exploring there, you'll travel to Antalya and visit the Antalya Necropol Museum to learn about ancient burial practices.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Kayakoy deserted village
- Visit Antalya Necropol Museum
Landmarks Kayakoy Antalya Necropol Museum - Day 10
Perge - Aspendos - Antalya
Early in the morning, you'll check out Perge, a famous ancient site. Then you're driving to Aspendos to see what's considered the best-preserved 2nd century amphitheatre in Turkey. You'll be back in Antalya by afternoon, leaving your evening free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Perge antique site
- Visit Aspendos amphitheatre
Landmarks Perge Aspendos - Day 11
Konya
You're visiting the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the 13th century Sufi mystic and poet, and the Mevlana Museum with his tomb, manuscripts, and Whirling Dervish exhibits. After that, you'll travel along the Silk Road to the Çatalhöyük Museum, showing one of the world's oldest Neolithic settlements.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mevlana Mausoleum
- Explore Mevlana Museum
- Learn about Whirling Dervishes
- Visit Çatalhöyük Museum
Landmarks Mevlana Mausoleum Mevlana Museum Çatalhöyük Museum - Day 12
Cappadocia
You're heading to Cappadocia and stopping at Sultanhani Caravansary, an old Silk Road stop. You'll explore the underground city's multiple levels, then check into your boutique cave hotel. Later, you'll visit a traditional Turkish home where you can take a cooking course and help prepare dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Turkish dinner at a local home with optional cooking course)
Included Activities
- Visit Sultanhani Caravansary
- Explore underground city
- Traditional Turkish dinner with cooking course
Landmarks Sultanhani Caravansary Cappadocia Underground City - Day 13
Cappadocia
In Cappadocia, you'll see the lunar landscape by visiting Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys. Then you're checking out Pigeon and Red Valley, Cavusin village, and Avanos town where local artisans show you hand-made pottery.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Goreme Valley Open Air Museum
- Explore fairy chimneys
- Visit Pigeon Valley
- Visit Red Valley
- Explore Cavusin village
- Visit Avanos town
- Learn about hand-made pottery
Landmarks Goreme Valley Open Air Museum Pigeon Valley Red Valley Cavusin Avanos - Day 14
Cappadocia - Van
Early morning departure from Cappadocia to Ankara, where you catch a domestic flight to Van. Once you arrive, a guide meets you to explore the Citadel with its 3,000-year-old Urartian fortress, and you'll finish by watching the sunset.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Van Citadel
- View Van Urartian fortress
- Watch sunset from Van Citadel
Landmarks Van Citadel - Day 15
Van
You're taking a ferry to Akdamar Island to see a spectacular 10th century church built by an Armenian king, with an option to swim in Lake Van if the weather cooperates. Back in the city, you'll visit the world's largest Urartu Museum with artifacts from different historical periods, then stop at the Van Cat House to learn about the unique swimming cats.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry to Akdamar Island
- Visit Akdamar Island church
- Swim in Lake Van
- Visit Urartu Museum
- Visit Van Cat House
Landmarks Akdamar Island Lake Van Urartu Museum - Day 16
Dogubayazit - Kars
Traveling to Dogubayazit via Muradiye and the Bendimaahi Falls, you'll visit the spectacular Ishak Pasha Palace with its mix of Seljuk, Ottoman, Georgian, and Armenian-Persian styles. From there, you'll head north along the western edge of Mt Ararat, one of the world's great natural spectacles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Muradiye
- Visit Bendimaahi Falls
- Visit Ishak Pasha Palace
- View Mt Ararat
Landmarks Ishak Pasha Palace Mount Ararat Bendimaahi Falls - Day 17
Ani - Kars
You're journeying to Ani, the former Armenian capital. In the 10th century, nothing in Europe matched this city's size and importance. You'll explore the ruins including several churches, the Cathedral of Ani, the citadel, and a mosque. You'll also see the Church of St Gregory with its striking frescoes. In the afternoon, you're visiting the 12 Apostles Church and Kars Castle.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ani ancient city
- Explore Ani churches
- Visit Cathedral of Ani
- Explore Ani citadel
- Visit Ani mosque
- View frescoes at Church of St Gregory (Tigran Honentz)
- Visit 12 Apostles Church
- Visit Kars Castle
Landmarks Ani Cathedral of Ani Church of St Gregory (Tigran Honentz) 12 Apostles Church Kars Castle - Day 18
Kars - Istanbul
You'll transfer to Kars Airport for your domestic flight back to Istanbul. Once you arrive at Istanbul Airport, you're transferred to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 19
Istanbul
After breakfast, your tour comes to an end. You'll say goodbye to the people you've met and get transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
