Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
Your driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Istanbul. After checking in, the rest of your day is open. Walk around the neighborhoods, grab lunch somewhere local, or just settle into your hotel and get your bearings. You're in a city that straddles Europe and Asia, so there's plenty to see whenever you're ready.
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul at your own pace
- Day 2
Istanbul
Start with breakfast at your hotel, then head out on a guided tour covering Istanbul's main sights on both the European and Asian sides. You'll see the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, and Topkapi Palace including the Harem. In the afternoon, there's an optional Bosphorus cruise if you want to get out on the water between the two continents.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Fully guided tour of Istanbul
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit St Sophia Museum
- Visit Topkapi Palace including Hagia Irene and the Harem
- Visit the Hippodrome
Optional Activities
- Half day Bosphorus cruise
Landmarks/POIs Blue Mosque St Sophia Museum Topkapi Palace Hagia Irene Hippodrome - Day 3
Istanbul to Çanakkale
Today you'll travel to the Gallipoli battlefields, which shaped World War I history. Walk through memorials at Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, ANZAC Cove, The Nek, and Johnston's Jolly. You'll also see the original trenches and tunnels that remain from the campaign. It's a significant and moving part of history to take in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Gallipoli WW1 battlefields
- Visit Lone Pine Memorial
- Visit Chunuk Bair Memorial
- Visit ANZAC Cove
- Visit The Nek
- Visit Johnston's Jolly
- Explore original trenches and tunnels
Landmarks/POIs Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair Memorial ANZAC Cove The Nek Johnston's Jolly - Day 4
Çanakkale to Kuşadası
Depart Canakkale and head south to Troy, a UNESCO site with layers of ancient civilization. Spend time at the Troy Museum learning more about what you see. After that, you'll reach Behramkale, a village with traditional stone buildings and quiet streets. Stop at a local café for Turkish tea or coffee before continuing on to Kusadasi.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore ancient city of Troy
- Visit Troy Museum
- Visit Behramkale village
- Explore traditional Turkish village
Optional Activities
- Enjoy Turkish tea or coffee at a local café in Behramkale
Landmarks/POIs Troy Troy Museum Behramkale - Day 5
Kuşadası
A guided tour takes you through Ephesus, one of the ancient world's major cities. You'll explore the old theater and the Ephesus Archaeology Museum, plus visit where the Temple of Artemis once stood. Later, there's a stop at a carpet village where local weavers show how hand-woven carpets are made and what affects their value.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Artemis site
- Explore ancient theatre
- Visit Ephesus Archaeology Museum
- Visit carpet village and learn carpet weaving
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Temple of Artemis Ephesus Archaeology Museum - Day 6
Kuşadası to Pamukkale
This morning includes a display of local leather craftsmanship before heading to Pamukkale. The white calcium terraces, called Travertines, are remarkable. You'll tour Hierapolis nearby, and then you can wade into the thermal pools surrounded by ancient Roman columns. People have valued these hot springs for thousands of years for their health benefits.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- View display of handcrafted leather goods
- Visit Pamukkale Travertines
- Tour ancient city of Hierapolis
- Swim in hot springs with ancient Roman columns
Landmarks/POIs Pamukkale Travertines Hierapolis - Day 7
Pamukkale to Fethiye
After breakfast, say goodbye to your group and meet your driver for the drive through rural Turkey to Fethiye on the Mediterranean coast. This charming resort town sits on the water. Once you've settled into your hotel, you have the rest of the day free to relax, take a walk along the harbor, or explore however you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Fethiye at your own pace
- Day 8
Fethiye - Gulet
Take it slow this morning in Fethiye, then around 3:00 PM head to the harbor to board your traditional gulet sailboat. Your first stops are Turunc Bay or Tarzan Bay for swimming and snorkeling in clear water. Later, cruise to Tersane Island to look around the ruins of an old Greek settlement and historic shipyard.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Board traditional gulet
- Swim and snorkel at Turunc Bay or Tarzan Bay
- Explore Tersane Island ruins and naval shipyard
Landmarks/POIs Turunc Bay Tarzan Bay Tersane Island - Day 9
Gulet Cruise
After breakfast on deck, sail to Hamam Bay where you can swim among ancient Roman Baths. Legend says Mark Antony built them as a gift for Cleopatra. Stop at Sarsala Bay where there's a 45 minute hike up to an ancient Lycian town with walls inscribed in the 3rd century BC. Later, reach Bedri Rahmi Bay, named after a famous Turkish artist, for swimming or exploring.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Swim in ancient Roman Baths at Hamam Bay
- Optional 45-minute hike to ancient Lycian town from Sarsala Bay
- Explore Bedri Rahmi Bay
Optional Activities
- 45-minute hike to ancient Lycian town at Sarsala Bay
Landmarks/POIs Hamam Bay Sarsala Bay Bedri Rahmi Bay - Day 10
Gulet Cruise
Cruise back toward Fethiye, passing the Yassica Islands and Gocek Islands along the way. Most of these islands don't have names but offer quiet beaches and good anchorages. You'll have chances to swim, snorkel, or just sit and enjoy the sun. Your last stop before heading back is Red Island.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Pass through Yassica Islands
- Pass through Gocek Islands
- Swim and snorkel at island stops
- Final swim at Red Island
Landmarks/POIs Yassica Islands Gocek Islands Red Island - Day 11
Fethiye to Dalaman
Wake up gently as your gulet rocks in Fethiye Harbor for the last time. Eat breakfast aboard and then disembark around 10:00 AM. Your driver will be waiting to take you to Dalaman Airport so you can head home or wherever your next destination takes you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Disembark gulet at Fethiye Harbour
