Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and get transferred to your hotel. From there, the rest of your day is yours to do what you want. Wander around the city, grab some food, or just settle in at a relaxed pace.
- Day 2
Istanbul
After breakfast, you'll take a guided tour covering both sides of the city. The morning includes the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace with the Hagia Irene and Harem, and the Hippodrome. In the afternoon, you'll take a relaxing cruise on the Bosphorus, watching Europe and Asia pass by from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Istanbul
- Visit to Blue Mosque
- Visit to St Sophia Museum
- Visit to Topkapi Palace including Hagia Irene and Harem
- Visit to Hippodrome
- Bosphorus Cruise
Landmarks/POIs Blue Mosque St Sophia Museum Topkapi Palace Hagia Irene Hippodrome Bosphorus - Day 3
Gallipoli
You'll head out to see the World War I battlefields at Gallipoli. The tour takes you through Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek, Johnston's Jolly, plus the original trenches and tunnels that are still preserved from that historic campaign.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gallipoli WW1 battlefields
- Visit to Lone Pine Memorial
- Visit to Chunuk Bair Memorial
- Visit to ANZAC Cove
- Visit to The Nek
- Visit to Johnston's Jolly
- Exploration of original trenches and tunnels
Landmarks/POIs Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair Memorial ANZAC Cove The Nek Johnston's Jolly - Day 4
Troy to Bergama
This morning you'll see Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and check out the award-winning Troy Museum. After that, you'll head to Bergama and climb up to the Pergamon acropolis to see the temples and ancient library. This place was once a major cultural and political hub in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Troy UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit to Troy Museum
- Visit to Pergamon acropolis
- Exploration of Pergamon temples and library
Landmarks/POIs Troy Troy Museum Pergamon - Day 5
Ephesus
You'll take a guided tour through the ancient city of Ephesus, which used to be a big trade and religious center. You'll see the Temple of Artemis site, the Library of Celsus, the amphitheater, and the Ephesus Archaeology Museum. Later, you'll learn about carpet weaving at a local village and finish with a wine tasting in Sirince.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ephesus
- Visit to Temple of Artemis site
- Visit to Library of Celsus
- Visit to Ephesus amphitheater
- Visit to Ephesus Archaeology Museum
- Carpet weaving workshop
- Wine tasting in Sirince
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Temple of Artemis Library of Celsus Ephesus Archaeology Museum Sirince - Day 6
Aphrodisias to Pamukkale
After stopping at a leather shop, you'll head to Aphrodisias, the ancient city dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite. You'll explore the sculpture school and see the stadium, Temple of Aphrodite, Tetrapylon, theatre, and museum. From there, you'll continue on to Pamukkale.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Leather shop visit
- Guided tour of Aphrodisias
- Visit to Aphrodisias stadium
- Visit to Temple of Aphrodite
- Visit to Tetrapylon
- Visit to Aphrodisias theatre
- Visit to Aphrodisias Museum
Landmarks/POIs Aphrodisias Aphrodisias Stadium Temple of Aphrodite Tetrapylon Aphrodisias Museum - Day 7
Pamukkale to Fethiye
You'll see the white calcium terraces called Travertines at Pamukkale and walk through the ancient city of Hierapolis. You'll get to swim in the hot springs that people have used for therapy since Roman times, and you might even float among ancient columns. Later, you head to Salda Lake before traveling south to Fethiye.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exploration of Pamukkale travertines
- Guided tour of Hierapolis
- Swimming in Pamukkale hot springs
Optional Activities
- Hot Air Ballooning - Short Flight 45 Minutes (EUR 20 surcharge for credit card payments; longer flights available on request; prices subject to change)
- Whirling Dervish Show
- Cleopatra's Pool - Swim amongst the ruins in thermal spring pool
Landmarks/POIs Pamukkale Travertines Hierapolis Salda Lake - Day 8
Fethiye
This is a free day in Fethiye where you can explore the city however you like. If you want to do something specific, optional tours and activities are available, or you can just relax and wander around on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- 12 Island Boat Trip
- Saklikent Gorge Tour
- Paragliding at Oludeniz
Landmarks/POIs Fethiye Saklikent Gorge Oludeniz - Day 9
Kayakoy to Antalya
You'll go to Kayakoy to photograph the deserted Greek village there, which has great light for photos. From there, you'll move to the coastal city of Antalya and visit the Antalya Necropol Museum to see ancient burial practices and artifacts from different historical periods.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Kayakoy
- Visit to Antalya Necropol Museum
Landmarks/POIs Kayakoy Antalya Necropol Museum - Day 10
Antalya
Early in the morning you'll visit Perge, a major ancient site. Then you'll drive to Aspendos to see what's probably the best preserved 2nd-century amphitheater in Turkey. You'll get back to Antalya in the afternoon with the rest of your day free to check out the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Perge
- Visit to Aspendos amphitheater
Optional Activities
- Demre, Myra & Kekova - Visit Lycian tombs at Myra and the Church of St. Nicholas
- Turkish Bath
Landmarks/POIs Perge Aspendos Myra Church of St. Nicholas - Day 11
Konya
You'll visit the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet, plus the Mevlana Museum with its ornate tomb, ancient manuscripts, and information about the Whirling Dervishes. After that, you'll travel along the Silk Road to the Çatalhöyük Museum, which shows one of the world's oldest and most advanced Neolithic settlements.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Mevlana Museum and mausoleum
- Visit to Çatalhöyük Museum
Optional Activities
- Whirling Dervish Show
Landmarks/POIs Mevlana Museum Çatalhöyük Museum - Day 12
Cappadocia
You're heading to Cappadocia and will stop at Sultanhani Caravansary, an ancient Silk Road stop where merchants used to stay. You'll explore an underground city with multiple levels. After you check into your cave hotel, you'll visit a traditional Turkish home for dinner and can join a cooking course to help prepare the meal if you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Turkish dinner at a local home with cooking course)
Included Activities
- Visit to Sultanhani Caravansary
- Exploration of underground city
- Cooking course at traditional Turkish home
- Dinner at traditional Turkish home
Landmarks/POIs Sultanhani Caravansary - Day 13
Cappadocia
You'll see the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia, visiting Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys. You'll walk through Pigeon Valley and Red Valley, stop at Cavusin village, and visit Avanos town where locals show you how hand-made pottery is made.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Goreme Valley Open Air Museum
- Exploration of fairy chimneys
- Visit to Pigeon Valley
- Visit to Red Valley
- Visit to Cavusin village
- Visit to Avanos town
- Hand-made pottery demonstration
Optional Activities
- Hot Air Ballooning - Short Flight 45 Minutes (EUR 20 surcharge for credit card payments; longer flights available on request; prices subject to change)
- Traditional Turkish Folklore Evening - Dinner, unlimited beer, wine, Turkish Raki, soft drinks and entertainment included; show without dinner option available
Landmarks/POIs Goreme Valley Open Air Museum Pigeon Valley Red Valley Cavusin Avanos - Day 14
Ankara to Istanbul
Early in the morning you'll leave for Ankara, Turkey's capital. You'll visit Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, before returning to Istanbul for your overnight stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Anitkabir mausoleum
Landmarks/POIs Anitkabir - Day 15
Departure from Istanbul
After breakfast, your tour wraps up. You'll say goodbye to the people you've met and get transferred to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
