Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll land at Istanbul airport and get transferred to your hotel. The rest of your day is open, so you can wander around the city, hit the shops, or settle into a traditional Turkish café and take things slowly.
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul city
- Shopping
- Visit traditional Turkish café
- Day 2
Istanbul
After breakfast, head to the Spice Market to browse and shop around. Then you'll take a 1.5-hour Bosphorus cruise with great views of Istanbul's waterfront. Grab lunch at a local spot, followed by visits to the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, and Hagia Sophia. By evening, you'll end up at the Grand Bazaar with time to explore and pick up anything you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Spice Market shopping
- 1.5-hour Bosphorus Cruise
- Visit Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
- Explore Hippodrome
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Grand Bazaar exploration
Landmarks Spice Market Bosphorus Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) Hippodrome Hagia Sophia Grand Bazaar - Day 3
Istanbul to Ankara
Start your morning at Topkapi Palace, including the harem section where Ottoman sultans once lived. Later you'll drive to Ankara, Turkey's capital, and arrive in the early evening after several hours on the road.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Topkapi Palace with harem section
Landmarks Topkapi Palace - Day 4
Ankara to Cappadocia
This morning covers the Anatolian Civilizations Museum with its collection of Neolithic and Paleolithic remains from various ancient cultures. After that, you'll visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic. In the afternoon, you head toward Cappadocia and stop at one of the largest underground cities that early Christians built as refuge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Anatolian Civilizations Museum
- Visit Mausoleum of Atatürk
- Stop at underground city
Landmarks Anatolian Civilizations Museum Mausoleum of Atatürk 
- Day 5
Cappadocia
You've got a full day in Cappadocia starting with the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO site featuring cave churches carved into the rock. Check out Uchisar Village and its distinctive fairy chimneys, then walk through Derbent Valley's rock formations. You'll stop at workshops for traditional carpets and onyx work. There's also an optional early morning hot air balloon tour if you want aerial views across the landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Göreme Open Air Museum
- Uchisar Village exploration
- Fairy chimneys viewing
- Derbent Valley exploration
- Traditional carpet and onyx stone workshops
Optional Activities
- Hot air balloon tour (departing early morning)
Landmarks Göreme Open Air Museum Uchisar Village Fairy Chimneys Derbent Valley - Day 6
Cappadocia to Pamukkale
You'll leave for Pamukkale this morning with a stop at the Sultanhan Caravanserai, a historic rest station from the Seljuk Empire. Once you reach Pamukkale, walk through the Cotton Steps, a UNESCO site known for its healing thermal waters. After checking in, your afternoon and evening are yours to do as you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sultanhan Caravanserai
- Explore Cotton Steps (Pamukkale)
Landmarks Sultanhan Caravanserai Pamukkale Cotton Steps - Day 7
Pamukkale to Selcuk to Ephesus to Izmir
Drive to Selcuk and spend your time at the Ephesus Ruins, an ancient city built for Artemis. You'll see the Odeon, Temple of Hadrian, House of Love, Library of Celsus, and Agora. Then visit the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where Jesus' mother spent her final years. Before heading to Izmir, you'll stop at a leather production store.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ephesus Ruins
- Explore Odeon
- Visit Temple of Hadrian
- Visit House of Love
- Explore Library of Celsus
- Visit Agora
- Visit House of the Virgin Mary
Optional Activities
- Leather production store
Landmarks Ephesus Ruins Temple of Hadrian Library of Celsus House of the Virgin Mary - Day 8
Izmir to Pergamon to Troy to Canakkale
You'll drive to Pergamon in the Bergama region where you can see either the ancient Asclepion, considered Asia Minor's first hospital, or the Acropolis depending on how much time you have. After that, continue on to Troy, the legendary city from Homer's Iliad. Later you'll drive to Canakkale to settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Pergamon Asclepion or Acropolis
Optional Activities
- Visit Troy
Landmarks Pergamon Asclepion Pergamon Acropolis Troy - Day 9
Canakkale to Gallipoli to Istanbul
Take a car ferry across the Dardanelles Strait to reach the Gallipoli Peninsula. Spend your day visiting the WWI Battlefields, one of Turkey's most moving historical sites. You'll make several stops including Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, ANZAC Commemorative Site, Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston's Jolly, the Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels, 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, The Nek, and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Car ferry across Dardanelles Strait
- Visit Gallipoli WWI Battlefields
- Brighton Beach visit
- Beach Cemetery visit
- ANZAC Cove visit
- Ariburnu Cemetery visit
- ANZAC Commemorative Site visit
- Respect to Mehmetcik Statue visit
- Lone Pine Australian Memorial visit
- Johnston's Jolly visit
- Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels exploration
- 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial visit
- The Nek visit
- Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial visit
Landmarks Gallipoli Peninsula Brighton Beach Beach Cemetery ANZAC Cove Ariburnu Cemetery ANZAC Commemorative Site Lone Pine Australian Memorial 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial - Day 10
Istanbul
After breakfast, spend your final hours doing some last shopping, walking around, or just relaxing before your transfer to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Last-minute shopping
- City exploration
- Relaxation
