Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul
You'll fly into Istanbul and get transferred to your hotel in the central part of the city. Once you're settled, spend some time getting oriented and ready to start exploring this sprawling city that crosses two continents.
- Day 2
Istanbul
This morning you'll check out Istanbul's major landmarks starting with the Hippodrome, then move on to the Blue Mosque with its 2,500 stained glass windows. Next comes the Basilica Cistern where you'll walk through its forest of 9-meter high columns. Later you'll head to Topkapi Palace to see the views across the Bosphorus and get a sense of Ottoman history.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit the Hippodrome
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Visit Basilica Cistern
- Visit Topkapi Palace
Landmarks/POIs Hippodrome Blue Mosque Hagia Sophia Basilica Cistern Topkapi Palace 
- Day 3
Istanbul
Head early to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's largest covered markets, then wander through the Spice Bazaar and check out Rustem Pasa Mosque with its intricate Turkish tiles. After grabbing lunch, you'll explore the colorful streets of Fener and Balat, both UNESCO-listed neighborhoods. By evening, you'll board a private boat cruise along the Bosphorus to see the city's skyline, including Rumeli Fortress, Dolmabahce Palace, and Beylerbeyi Palace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Grand Bazaar
- Visit Spice Bazaar
- Visit Rustem Pasa Mosque
- Explore Fener and Balat districts
- Private cruise along Bosphorus Strait
Landmarks/POIs Grand Bazaar Spice Bazaar Rustem Pasa Mosque Fener District Balat District Rumeli Fortress Dolmabahce Palace Beylerbeyi Palace - Day 4
Gallipoli to Canakkale
You'll pay respects at the Cape Helles Memorial and learn about the historic Anzac campaign at Gallipoli, visiting sites like Anzac Cove, Shrapnel Valley, and Lone Pine. Later in the day you'll cross the Dardanelle Straits and arrive in Canakkale on the Asian side of Turkey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Cape Helles Memorial
- Cross Dardanelle Straits
Landmarks/POIs Cape Helles Memorial Anzac Cove Lone Pine - Day 5
Troy to Pergamon to Selcuk
Start by walking through the ruins of Troy and learning about its legendary past. From there you'll continue to Pergamon to see its Acropolis and the steep theatre carved into the hillside. At lunch you'll have a home-cooked Turkish meal with a local family, then drive to your hotel in Selcuk.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Home-cooked Turkish meal with a local family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit ruins of Troy
- Visit Pergamon
- Home-cooked Turkish meal with local family
Landmarks/POIs Troy Pergamon Pergamon Acropolis 
- Day 6
Ephesus and Sirince
Spend the morning in Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the ancient roads, theater, and building facades give a real picture of how people lived in this city. After lunch, you'll head to Sirince village to taste local wines, relax in the countryside, and learn about traditional Turkish rug-making techniques.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Ephesus
- Explore Sirince village
- Wine tasting in Sirince
- Learn about Turkish rugmaking
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Sirince - Day 7
Magnesia to Pamukkale
You'll travel to Magnesia for a guided tour with experts who'll share the city's history and take you to archaeological sites that aren't normally open to visitors. Later you'll drive to Pamukkale and take a dip in the thermal waters heated by natural hot springs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exclusive guided tour of Magnesia
- Visit archaeological sites in Magnesia
- Dip in thermal waters at Pamukkale
Landmarks/POIs Magnesia Pamukkale - Day 8
Hierapolis to Antalya
This morning you'll see the ancient spa city of Hierapolis and its white terraces of calcium pools cascading down the hillside. You'll learn how this place was built during the Hellenistic period and later became important to Roman worshippers. Then you'll drive south to Antalya on Turkey's Mediterranean coast.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Hierapolis
- View calcium pool terraces
Landmarks/POIs Hierapolis - Day 9
Aspendos and Mediterranean Boat Tour
You'll head inland to Aspendos to see the best-preserved Roman theatre in the Mediterranean. In the afternoon you'll relax on a private boat tour lasting up to two hours, sailing along the Mediterranean shoreline and seeing the attractive Turkish coast from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Aspendos
- Private boat tour along Mediterranean shoreline
Landmarks/POIs Aspendos - Day 10
Antalya to Konya
Drive inland to the Anatolian Plateau and reach Konya, a traditional town known as the burial place of the Islamic poet and mystic Rumi. You'll visit the striking Mevlana Museum where Rumi himself is buried and learn about his influence on Turkish culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mevlana Museum
Landmarks/POIs Mevlana Museum - Day 11
Konya to Cappadocia
You'll leave Konya and stop at Sultanhani Caravanserai, the largest and best-preserved example of this Seljuk architecture in Turkey, which once sheltered Silk Road travelers. Later you'll drive to Cappadocia and arrive at Ihlara Valley, a gorge that drops 100 meters deep. After lunch and a short walk in the valley, you'll check in at your hotel in Urgup. That evening you'll watch a Whirling Dervish performance at the historical Saruhan Caravanserai.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Ihlara Valley), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sultanhani Caravanserai
- Visit Ihlara Valley
- Walk in Ihlara Valley
- Whirling Dervish performance at Saruhan Caravanserai
Landmarks/POIs Sultanhani Caravanserai Ihlara Valley Saruhan Caravanserai 
- Day 12
Cappadocia
Spend the full day exploring Cappadocia's unique landscape and history. You'll see the rock-hewn churches of Goreme, then visit the unusual rock formations at Pasabag Valley. Next you'll climb to the top of Uchisar citadel for views across the region, and finish by watching potters in Avanos work with clay from the Halys River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Goreme rock-hewn churches
- Visit Pasabag Valley
- Visit Uchisar citadel
- Visit potters at Avanos
Landmarks/POIs Goreme Pasabag Valley Uchisar Citadel Avanos - Day 13
Cappadocia
Visit the Greek-built village of Mustafapasa and take a walk through Soganli Valley with its early Christian churches dating back to the 9th century. You'll have lunch in a traditional village home decorated with textiles and carpets where the hosts prepare traditional dishes. Later you'll explore Kaymakli Underground City, a subterranean settlement that once sheltered early Christian communities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional meal in a village home in Cappadocia), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mustafapasa
- Walk through Soganli Valley
- Visit early Christian churches in Soganli Valley
- Traditional village lunch in Cappadocia
- Visit Kaymakli Underground City
Landmarks/POIs Mustafapasa Soganli Valley Kaymakli Underground City - Day 14
Cappadocia to Istanbul
You'll fly back to Istanbul for your final night and check into your hotel. Spend the afternoon on your own, whether shopping for souvenirs or trying the Turkish Bath. That evening head to Kumkapi district on the Sea of Marmara where fishermen have worked for centuries. You'll have dinner with traditional Turkish cuisine, live music, and belly-dance performances.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Turkish cuisine in Kumkapi)
Included Activities
- Visit Kumkapi district
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul independently
- Shop for souvenirs
- Turkish Bath experience
Landmarks/POIs Kumkapi District 
- Day 15
Departure from Istanbul
Have breakfast at the hotel and then head to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
