Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport and transfer to your hotel. The afternoon and evening are free, so you can wander through the markets, grab some traditional Turkish tea, or simply settle in after your travels.
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul markets
- Enjoy traditional Turkish tea
- Day 2
Istanbul
After breakfast, your guided tour takes you through Istanbul's main landmarks. You'll see the Blue Mosque with its distinctive blue tiles, walk through St Sophia Museum to check out the Byzantine architecture, and head to Topkapi Palace to see the Hagia Irene and the Harem. The historic Hippodrome and Dolmabahce Palace round out the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Istanbul
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Explore St Sophia Museum
- Tour Topkapi Palace including Hagia Irene and Harem
- Visit historic Hippodrome
- Visit Dolmabahce Palace
Landmarks/POIs Blue Mosque St Sophia Museum Topkapi Palace Hagia Irene Hippodrome Dolmabahce Palace 
- Day 3
Istanbul to Gallipoli to Cappadocia
You depart Istanbul for Gallipoli Peninsula to see World War I sites. This morning you'll visit Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, spend time reflecting at ANZAC Cove where troops first landed, and explore Nek and Johnston's Jolly to see original trenches. Later you travel to Cappadocia for the night.
Included Activities
- Visit Lone Pine Memorial
- Visit Chunuk Bair Memorial
- Visit ANZAC Cove
- Explore Nek and Johnston's Jolly trenches and tunnels
Landmarks/POIs Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair Memorial ANZAC Cove Nek Johnston's Jolly 
- Day 4
Canakkale to Troy to Bergama to Kusadasi
The day starts at Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site linked to the Trojan War. You'll tour the Troy Museum and see the artifacts on display. From there you head to Bergama to climb up to Pergamon's acropolis, see the temples and ancient library. You'll finish in Kusadasi for the night.
Included Activities
- Explore ancient city of Troy
- Visit Troy Museum
- Visit acropolis of Pergamon
- See temples and ancient library at Pergamon
Landmarks/POIs Troy Troy Museum Pergamon - Day 5
Kusadasi to Ephesus to Sirince to Kusadasi
After breakfast, your guided tour takes you through Ephesus's history. You'll see the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders, walk through the Library of Celsus, and check out the amphitheatre. Next you visit the Ephesus Archaeology Museum, then see local carpet-making at a traditional village. The day ends with wine tasting in Sirince before returning to Kusadasi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Artemis
- View Library of Celsus
- Explore amphitheatre
- Visit Ephesus Archaeology Museum
- Visit traditional carpet village
- Wine tasting in Sirince
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Artemis Library of Celsus Ephesus amphitheatre Ephesus Archaeology Museum Sirince - Day 6
Kusadasi to Karacasu to Pamukkale
You leave Kusadasi with a quick stop at a leather shop, then reach Aphrodisias, the ancient city dedicated to the goddess of beauty and love. You'll explore the well-preserved stadium, Temple of Aphrodite, Tetrapylon, theatre, and museum. Then it's on to Pamukkale for the night.
Included Activities
- Visit Aphrodisias
- Explore stadium at Aphrodisias
- Visit Temple of Aphrodite
- Visit Tetrapylon
- Explore theatre at Aphrodisias
- Visit museum at Aphrodisias
Optional Activities
- Stop at local leather shop
Landmarks/POIs Aphrodisias 
- Day 7
Pamukkale to Hierapolis to Salda Lake to Fethiye
This morning you see Pamukkale's white travertine terraces and walk through the ancient ruins of Hierapolis. You'll soak in the hot springs once valued by Romans for healing, with ancient columns right there in the water. Later you head to Salda Lake (known locally as the Turkish Maldives) to see the striking blue waters, then travel south to Fethiye for the night.
Included Activities
- Visit Pamukkale travertine terraces
- Explore Hierapolis ruins
- Soak in hot springs
Landmarks/POIs Pamukkale Hierapolis Salda Lake 
- Day 8
Fethiye
After breakfast, you have the freedom to explore Fethiye on your own. If you prefer a guided activity, optional excursions include a scenic 12-island boat trip or an adventurous tour through Saklikent Gorge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Scenic 12-island boat trip
- Adventurous tour of Saklikent Gorge
- Explore Fethiye town
- Day 9
Fethiye to Kayakoy to Antalya
You travel to Kayakoy, a former Greek village now abandoned with stone houses dotting the hillside. The soft morning light works well for photography. After that you head to the vibrant resort town of Antalya to visit the Antalya Museum, which holds an impressive collection of artifacts from ancient cities across the province. You'll settle into your accommodation for the night.
Included Activities
- Visit Kayakoy
- Visit Antalya Museum
Landmarks/POIs Kayakoy Antalya Museum - Day 10
Antalya to Perge to Aspendos to Antalya
Early morning takes you to Perge, an important centre of Hellenistic and Roman culture with a well-preserved theatre, colonnaded streets, and city gates. You continue to Aspendos to see Turkey's best-preserved 2nd-century amphitheatre, famous for its acoustics. By afternoon you're back in Antalya with the rest of the day to yourself.
Included Activities
- Explore ancient city of Perge
- Visit theatre at Perge
- Visit Aspendos amphitheatre
Landmarks/POIs Perge Aspendos 
- Day 11
Antalya to Konya
After breakfast, you visit the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the influential 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet. The Mevlana Museum shows his ornately decorated tomb and exhibits on the Whirling Dervishes. You then travel along the historic Silk Road to the Catalhoyuk Museum to see one of the world's oldest Neolithic settlements.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mevlana Mausoleum
- Explore Mevlana Museum
- Visit Catalh\u00f6y\u00fck Museum
Landmarks/POIs Mevlana Mausoleum Mevlana Museum Catalh\u00f6y\u00fck Museum - Day 12
Konya to Cappadocia
Your journey to Cappadocia starts with the Sultanhani Caravanserai, a historic Silk Road rest stop. In the afternoon you explore an underground city with its many levels. After checking into your accommodation, you'll have dinner at a traditional Turkish home, and there's an option to participate in a cooking course.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a traditional Turkish home)
Included Activities
- Visit Sultanhani Caravanserai
- Explore underground city
- Dinner at traditional Turkish home
- Cooking course in Cappadocia
Landmarks/POIs Sultanhani Caravanserai - Day 13
Cappadocia
You explore Cappadocia's otherworldly landscape starting with the Goreme Valley Open-Air Museum and its rock-cut churches and frescoes. You see the fascinating fairy chimneys, then visit Pigeon and Red Valleys. Next is Cavusin village with its rock dwellings, and you finish in Avanos to learn about hand-made pottery, a local tradition, before heading back to your accommodation.
Included Activities
- Visit G\u00f6reme Valley Open-Air Museum
- View fairy chimneys
- Visit Pigeon Valley
- Visit Red Valley
- Visit \u00c7avu\u015fin village
- Discover hand-made pottery in Avanos
Landmarks/POIs G\u00f6reme Valley Open-Air Museum Pigeon Valley Red Valley \u00c7avu\u015fin Avanos - Day 14
Cappadocia to Ankara to Van
You depart Cappadocia in the morning and travel to Ankara for a flight to Van, arriving around 17:15. Your guide meets you at the airport, and before checking in, you explore the Van Citadel with its 3,000-year-old Urartian fortress. You'll catch the sunset before returning to your accommodation.
Included Activities
- Explore Van Citadel
- View Urartian fortress at Van Citadel
- Enjoy sunset at Van Citadel
Landmarks/POIs Van Citadel - Day 15
Van to Akdamar Island to Van
After breakfast, you take a ferry to Akdamar Island to see a 10th-century church built by an Armenian king. If time allows, you can swim in Lake Van. Back in the city centre you visit the world's largest Urartu Museum with artifacts displayed chronologically from Paleolithic to Ottoman times. Then you head to the Van Cat House to meet the unique Van cats.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry to Akdamar Island
- Explore 10th-century church on Akdamar Island
- Visit Urartu Museum
- Visit Van Cat House
Optional Activities
- Swim in Lake Van
Landmarks/POIs Akdamar Island Urartu Museum Van Cat House - Day 16
Van to Dogubayazit to Kars
You leave Van heading to Dogubayazit, passing through Muradiye and the Bendimahi Falls. In Dogubayazit you see the remarkable Ishak Pasha Palace built between 1685 and 1784, which blends Seljuk, Ottoman, Georgian, Armenian, and Persian architecture. From there you travel north along Mount Ararat's western edge and reach Kars for the night.
Included Activities
- Travel through Muradiye
- View Bendimahi Falls
- Visit Ishak Pasha Palace
Landmarks/POIs Ishak Pasha Palace Mount Ararat 
- Day 17
Kars to Ani to Kars
You travel to Ani, the former capital of the Armenian kingdom, known in the mid-10th century for its unmatched grandeur in Europe. You explore the intriguing ruins including several churches, the imposing Cathedral of Ani, the citadel, and a mosque. You see surviving frescoes in the Church of St Gregory, then in the afternoon visit the Church of the 12 Apostles and Kars Castle.
Included Activities
- Explore ruins of Ani
- Visit Cathedral of Ani
- Explore citadel at Ani
- Visit Church of St Gregory (Tigran Honentz)
- Visit Church of the 12 Apostles
- Visit Kars Castle
Landmarks/POIs Ani Cathedral of Ani Church of St Gregory (Tigran Honentz) Church of the 12 Apostles Kars Castle - Day 18
Kars to Istanbul
You have some free time to explore Kars on your own before transferring to Kars Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. You arrive around 13:45 and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul, grab lunch, or take things easy.
Optional Activities
- Explore Kars at own pace
- Day 19
Istanbul
After your final breakfast, you may have time to further explore Istanbul depending on your departure flight, grab a coffee, or relax before your transfer to the airport.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul
- Grab a coffee
