Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and connect with your Tour Director at the hotel. This evening you'll settle in and get acquainted with your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner featuring Turkish cuisine.
Optional Activities
- Group Dinner
- Day 2
Istanbul
A local guide takes you through Istanbul's Old Town to see the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and Basilica Cistern. After lunch near Hagia Sophia, you'll have free time to wander around before boarding a Bosphorus cruise that travels between Europe and Asia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hippodrome
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit Basilica Cistern
- Meal at restaurant near Hagia Sophia
- Bosphorus cruise
Landmarks/POIs Hippodrome Blue Mosque Basilica Cistern Hagia Sophia - Day 3
Istanbul to Ankara
You'll head to Ankara, Turkey's capital, and spend time at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations exploring ancient civilizations that once dominated Asia Minor. Dinner happens at the hotel, then you have the evening to check out the city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Landmarks/POIs Museum of Anatolian Civilizations - Day 4
Ankara to Cappadocia
Starting with a visit to Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, you'll then drive through the Anatolian countryside toward Cappadocia. In Avanos, you'll participate in an interactive pottery-making workshop to learn traditional techniques before settling in for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Anitkabir (Mausoleum of Ataturk)
- Interactive pottery-making workshop in Avanos
Landmarks/POIs Anitkabir (Mausoleum of Ataturk) Cappadocia Avanos - Day 5
Cappadocia
Rise early for an optional hot-air balloon flight over the fairy-chimneys (conditions permitting). Later you'll explore Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site with ancient underground cities and chapels. After visiting a carpet-weaving workshop, you can choose between dinner at the hotel or optional activities like whirling dervishes, wine tasting, or a Turkish night show.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Goreme Open-Air Museum
- Visit carpet-weaving workshop
Optional Activities
- Hot Air Balloon flight over fairy-chimneys - €290
- Whirling Dervishes live show
- Wine tasting session
- Turkish Night show - €40
Landmarks/POIs Goreme Open-Air Museum - Day 6
Cappadocia to Konya
You'll go through the underground city of Kaymakli, walking through its ancient tunnel networks, storerooms, burial chambers, and chapels that early Christians used for centuries. Then you're off to Konya, home of the famous whirling dervishes, with dinner at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore underground city of Kaymakli
Landmarks/POIs Kaymakli Underground City - Day 7
Konya to Antalya
Check out the 8th-century Karatay Madrasa and spend time at the Museum and Mausoleum of Mevlana (Rumi), learning about the 13th-century poet and scholar's teachings. You'll drive to Antalya with a lunch break at a local restaurant, arriving late afternoon. Dinner's at the hotel with leisure time afterward.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Karatay Madrasa
- Visit Museum and Mausoleum of Mevlana
- Lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Karatay Madrasa Museum and Mausoleum of Mevlana - Day 8
Antalya
You'll visit the ancient ruins of Perge, about 15 km east of Antalya, to see Bronze Age mosaics. From there, head to Aspendos to see one of the world's best-preserved ancient theatres, featuring 2,000-year-old acoustics and space for 12,000 people. Return to Antalya for the rest of the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit ancient ruins of Perge
- Visit ancient theatre of Aspendos
Landmarks/POIs Perge Aspendos Theatre - Day 9
Antalya
Your tour wraps up this morning with breakfast alongside your new friends. You'll exchange contact information before checking out by 11:00. Complimentary airport transfers are available throughout the day for your departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
