Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll get picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel in central Istanbul. From there, the afternoon and evening are open for you to walk around and get a feel for the city on your own terms.
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul independently
- Day 2
Istanbul
A guide takes you through Istanbul's history today, covering both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. You'll see the Blue Mosque, spend time at Aya Sofya museum, walk through Topkapi Palace, and finish at the Hippodrome before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Istanbul
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit Aya Sofya museum
- Tour Topkapi Palace
- Visit Hippodrome
Landmarks/POIs Blue Mosque Aya Sofya Topkapi Palace Hippodrome - Day 3
Istanbul to Canakkale
You're driven to Gallipoli for a full guided tour of the World War I battlefield. The itinerary includes Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, ANZAC Cove, Johnston Jolly, and The Nek, plus time at the Gallipoli Museum. You'll see original trenches and tunnels before continuing on to Canakkale for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gallipoli World War I battlefield site
- 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/POIs Gallipoli Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair ANZAC Cove Gallipoli Museum - Day 4
Canakkale to Kusadasi
Drive to Troy and walk through this famous archaeological site, then check out the Museum of Troy. Later you head to Assos to see the Temple of Athena with views over the Aegean, and you'll have free time to wander the harbor. By evening you're in Kusadasi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of ancient city of Troy
- Visit Museum of Troy
- Visit Temple of Athena at Assos
- Free time at Assos ancient harbour
Optional Activities
- Meal at harbourside seafood restaurant in Assos
Landmarks/POIs Troy Museum of Troy Temple of Athena Assos - Day 5
Kusadasi
Travel to Ephesus to see the well-preserved Roman site. You'll explore the Temple of Artemis and walk the ancient marble streets. In the afternoon, head to Sirince village to learn about fruit wine production and Turkish carpet weaving techniques before returning to Kusadasi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
- Explore ancient marble streets of Ephesus
- Visit fruit wine growing village of Sirince
- Learn about carpet weaving history in Turkey
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Temple of Artemis Sirince - Day 6
Kusadasi to Pamukkale
Drive east toward Pamukkale to see the white calcium terraces called Travertines. Later you visit Hierapolis, the ancient city built above these formations, and you can swim in the thermal pools surrounded by old Roman columns.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- View Pamukkale white calcium terraces (Travertines)
- Visit ancient city of Hierapolis
- Dip in hot thermal pools at Hierapolis
Landmarks/POIs Pamukkale Hierapolis - Day 7
Pamukkale to Cappadocia
Head east along the Silk Road route, stopping at Sultanhani Caravanserai to learn about this historic trade path. Then visit the Mevlana museum in Konya, the former home of the original Whirling Dervishes, before driving to Cappadocia for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sultanhani Caravanserai
- Learn about Silk Road history
- Visit Mevlana museum in Konya
Landmarks/POIs Sultanhani Caravanserai Mevlana Museum - Day 8
Cappadocia
Spend the day exploring Cappadocia's strange rock landscape and underground villages. A full tour takes you through subterranean churches and fortresses that Christians used for protection from persecution centuries ago.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Full tour of Cappadocia landscape
- Explore subterranean churches
- Explore fortresses
- Learn about Christian persecution history
Landmarks/POIs Cappadocia - Day 9
Cappadocia to Adiyaman
Leave Cappadocia early and drive through Kahramanmaras toward Adiyaman. You'll reach Mount Nemrut in time to see the sunset over this Commagene Kingdom site with its royal tombs and statues of Greek and Persian gods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive to Mount Nemrut
- Visit Mount Nemrut royal tombs
- View statues of Greek and Persian gods
- Sunset viewing at Mount Nemrut
Landmarks/POIs Mount Nemrut Tumulus of Antiochos - Day 10
Adiyaman to Sanliurfa
Travel to Sanliurfa via a scenic route past the Ataturk Dam. Stop in Harran to see the distinctive beehive-shaped mud-brick houses and ancient walls. Once in Sanliurfa, visit the Holy Pools of Abraham and the cave believed to be Abraham's birthplace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- View Ataturk Dam
- Visit ancient town of Harran
- Explore beehive-shaped mud-brick houses
- Visit Holy Pools of Abraham
- Explore Abraham's birthplace cave
Landmarks/POIs Ataturk Dam Harran Holy Pools of Abraham Abraham's Birthplace Cave - Day 11
Sanliurfa
Start at Gobekli Tepe, an archaeological site with temples dating back 11,000 to 13,000 years. Later you'll see Roman mosaics at the Haleplibahce Museum, visit the Kizilkoyun Necropolis with rock-cut tombs, and check out the Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Gobekli Tepe
- Visit Haleplibahce Mosaic Museum
- Visit Kizilkoyun Necropolis
- Visit Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum
Landmarks/POIs Gobekli Tepe Haleplibahce Mosaic Museum Kizilkoyun Necropolis Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum - Day 12
Sanliurfa to Istanbul
Drive to Gaziantep and take a boat to Halfeti, a village partially underwater now. Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum with its collection of mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma. Later you'll fly back to Istanbul for your last night there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Halfeti
- Visit Zeugma Mosaic Museum
Landmarks/POIs Halfeti Zeugma Mosaic Museum - Day 13
Istanbul
Your final day in Istanbul is free for any last shopping or sightseeing you want to do before heading to the airport for your transfer and departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Last-minute sightseeing in Istanbul
- Shopping in Istanbul
- Optional tours available locally to see more of Istanbul
- Extra nights in Istanbul hotel
