Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul to Ankara
Your coach picks you up from your Istanbul hotel between noon and 1pm, then you'll head across the intercontinental bridge and through the rolling countryside toward Ankara, about 450 km away. The drive takes you past small towns and rural landscapes before you reach your hotel. After checking in, dinner's served at the hotel and the rest of the evening is free to relax.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Coach transfer from Istanbul hotel to Ankara
- Day 2
Ankara to Cappadocia
Following breakfast, you'll walk through Ankara's Museum of Anatolian Civilizations to see artifacts spanning from the Palaeolithic period through the Urartu era. Next, you'll visit the Atatürk Mausoleum, which honors the founder of the Turkish Republic. Then it's a 290 km drive to Cappadocia with a stop at an underground city built by early Christian communities for shelter during Arab raids, where you can see preserved stables, shared living spaces, and family quarters.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara
- Visit Atatürk Mausoleum in Ankara
- Visit ancient underground city built by Christian communities
Landmarks Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Atatürk Mausoleum - Day 3
Cappadocia
There's an optional hot air balloon tour available early in the morning if you'd like to see Cappadocia's rock formations, fairy chimneys, and the lunar-like terrain from above. After breakfast, you'll spend the full day exploring the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open Air Museum with its cave churches carved into the rock. From there, you'll check out Uchisar Village and its fairy chimneys, then move on to Derbent Valley to see the distinct rock formations and visit workshops where local craftspeople create traditional carpets and onyx items.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Göreme Open Air Museum
- Visit Uchisar Village and fairy chimneys
- Explore Derbent Valley and rock formations
- Visit traditional carpet and onyx stone workshops
Optional Activities
- Early morning hot air balloon tour of Cappadocia
Landmarks Göreme Open Air Museum Uchisar Village Derbent Valley - Day 4
Cappadocia to Pamukkale
You'll depart for Pamukkale, a 610 km journey with a stop at the Sultanhan Caravanserai, a medieval Seljuk-era inn. Upon arrival in Pamukkale, you'll have free time to explore the 'Cotton Castle' and its natural limestone pools fed by hot springs, plus the petrified travertine waterfalls. Dinner happens at the hotel afterward, leaving the rest of the evening open.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sultanhan Caravanserai
- Free time to explore Pamukkale natural hot spring pools and travertine waterfalls
Landmarks Sultanhan Caravanserai Pamukkale 
- Day 5
Pamukkale to Selcuk to Ephesus to Izmir
After breakfast, you'll travel about 200 km to Selcuk-Efeso and spend time at the Ephesus archaeological site, once a major center dedicated to the goddess Artemis. You'll see the Odeon, Temple of Hadrian, House of Love, Library of Celsus, Agora, Marble Street, and the ancient theater. Later you'll visit the House of the Virgin Mary, thought to be where Jesus' mother spent her final years, and stop at a leather production center before driving 85 km to Izmir for dinner at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ephesus archaeological site
- Visit Odeon in Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus
- Visit House of Love in Ephesus
- Visit Library of Celsus in Ephesus
- Visit Agora in Ephesus
- Visit Marble Street in Ephesus
- Visit largest theater from antiquity in Ephesus
- Visit House of the Virgin Mary
- Visit leather production center
Landmarks Ephesus Odeon Temple of Hadrian Library of Celsus House of the Virgin Mary 
- Day 6
Izmir to Bergama to Troy to Canakkale
After breakfast, you'll drive 110 km to Bergama and explore the Asclepion ruins, one of Asia Minor's most important ancient hospitals and healing centers. From there, it's roughly 190 km to Troy, the legendary archaeological site connected to Homer's Iliad. You'll then travel another 25 km to Canakkale for dinner at the hotel, with the evening free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Asclepion ruins in Bergama
- Visit Troy archaeological site
Landmarks Asclepion Troy 
- Day 7
Canakkale to Gallipoli to Istanbul
After your final breakfast, you'll take a car ferry across the Dardanelles Strait to the Gallipoli Peninsula and tour key WWI ANZAC sites including Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, and the ANZAC Commemorative Site. You'll see the Mehmeçik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston's Jolly with its preserved trenches, the 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, The Nek, and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. By afternoon, you'll head back to Istanbul, arriving between 4pm and 5pm for your hotel transfer and onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Car ferry crossing of Dardanelles Strait
- Visit Brighton Beach at Gallipoli
- Visit Beach Cemetery at Gallipoli
- Visit ANZAC Cove
- Visit Ariburnu Cemetery
- Visit ANZAC Commemorative Site
- Visit Mehmeçik Statue
- Visit Lone Pine Australian Memorial
- Visit Johnston's Jolly trenches and tunnels
- Visit 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial
- Visit The Nek
- Visit Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial
Landmarks Brighton Beach Beach Cemetery ANZAC Cove Ariburnu Cemetery ANZAC Commemorative Site Mehmeçik Statue Lone Pine Australian Memorial Johnston's Jolly 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial The Nek Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial 
