Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul
You'll get picked up at Istanbul airport and head to your 4-star hotel. This gives you time to settle in, freshen up, and get your bearings before things kick off tomorrow.
- Day 2
Istanbul
Spend the full day exploring Istanbul's Byzantine and Ottoman past. You'll check out the Blue Mosque, walk through Aya Sofya museum, tour Topkapi Palace, and see the Hippodrome. It's a packed day covering the city's main historical sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Full day tour of Istanbul
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit Aya Sofya museum
- Explore Topkapi Palace
- Visit Hippodrome
Landmarks Blue Mosque Aya Sofya Topkapi Palace Hippodrome 
- Day 3
Istanbul to Gallipoli to Canakkale
Drive out to Gallipoli for a guided World War I battlefield tour with your guide. You'll see the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, visit ANZAC Cove, Johnston Jolly, and The Nek. After exploring original trenches and tunnels, you'll head to your hotel in Canakkale for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Fully guided tour of Gallipoli World War I battlefield
- Visit Lone Pine memorial
- Visit Chunuk Bair memorial
- Visit ANZAC Cove
- Visit Johnston Jolly
- Visit The Nek
- Visit Gallipoli Museum
- Explore original trenches and tunnels
Landmarks Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair Memorial ANZAC Cove Johnston Jolly The Nek Gallipoli Museum - Day 4
Canakkale to Troy to Pergamum to Kusadasi
A short drive gets you to Troy where you can see the archaeological remains tied to the Trojan horse legend. From there you'll continue south to Pergamum's acropolis for a full tour. The Temple of Trajan and the ancient library (which rivaled Alexandria) are highlights of this site.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit ancient city of Troy
- Full tour of Pergamum acropolis
- Visit Temple of Trajan
- Visit famous library of Pergamum
Landmarks Troy Pergamum Acropolis Temple of Trajan 
- Day 5
Ephesus and Sirince
Head to Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient cities around the Mediterranean. You'll visit the Temple of Artemis and walk the ancient marble streets. Later this afternoon you'll drive to Sirince, a fruit wine village, where you can learn about local carpet weaving traditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Roman site of Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Artemis
- Explore ancient marble streets of Ephesus
- Visit fruit wine growing village of Sirince
- Learn about history of carpet weaving in Turkey
Landmarks Ephesus Temple of Artemis Sirince - Day 6
Kusadasi to Pamukkale
Travel east to Pamukkale to see the white calcium terraces called Travertines or cotton castles. After that you'll head to Hierapolis, the ancient city above the terraces, and you can take a dip in the hot thermal pools with Roman columns surrounding you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Pamukkale white calcium terraces (Travertines)
- Visit ancient city of Hierapolis
- Dip in hot thermal pools at Hierapolis
Landmarks Pamukkale Hierapolis - Day 7
Pamukkale to Konya to Cappadocia
You'll follow the ancient Silk Road route heading toward Konya, stopping at Sultanhani Caravanserai along the way. This stop helps illustrate the importance of that old trade route. Once in Konya, you'll visit the Mevlana museum, the former home of the original Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel along ancient Silk Road
- Stop at Sultanhani Caravanserai
- Visit Mevlana museum
Landmarks Sultanhani Caravanserai Mevlana Museum 
- Day 8
Cappadocia
Cappadocia's unusual rock formations and underground villages make for a surreal landscape. You'll spend the full day exploring subterranean churches and fortresses that Christians used for refuge over a thousand years ago. The scale and oddness of the terrain here is really something.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full tour of Cappadocia landscape
- Explore subterranean churches
- Explore underground fortresses
Landmarks Cappadocia - Day 9
Cappadocia to Ankara to Istanbul
An early start takes you to Ankara, Turkey's modern capital. You'll visit Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Getting back to Istanbul is a long drive, though you can upgrade to an internal flight from Kayseri if you prefer (extra cost applies).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Anitkabir mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
Optional Activities
- Internal flight upgrade from Kayseri to Istanbul (price and times available on request)
Landmarks Anitkabir - Day 10
Istanbul Departure
You'll have free time in Istanbul for any last minute sightseeing or shopping you want to squeeze in. After that, you'll head to the airport for your departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Last minute sightseeing in Istanbul
- Shopping in Istanbul
