Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and meet your group leader plus fellow travelers at a 6 pm welcome meeting. After that, you might head out together to find some good Turkish food at a street-side café if you're interested.
Optional Activities
- Street-side dining for Turkish cuisine
- Day 2
Beypazari
This morning starts with a guided walk through Istanbul's important sites like the Blue Mosque with its six minarets and handmade Iznik tiles, plus the ancient Hippodrome and its monuments. Then you'll travel by private vehicle to the rural town of Beypazari where historic houses and the local community give you a real sense of Turkish culture. The rest of the day you can explore at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Blue Mosque visit and guided walk
- Hippodrome exploration with monuments including Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II
- Private vehicle transfer to Beypazari
Landmarks/POIs Blue Mosque Hippodrome Obelisk of Theodosius Snake Pillar German Fountain of Wilhelm II - Day 3
Cappadocia
You'll start at the Living Museum of Beypazari to see re-enactments and interactive experiences of traditional Turkish folk culture. After that, you're driving to Cappadocia where you can walk around at your own pace and take in the unique landscape with all its fairy chimneys, cave networks, and honeycombed terrain.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Living Museum of Beypazari visit with re-enactments and interactive experiences
Optional Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Cappadocia towns
Landmarks/POIs Cappadocia - Day 4
Cappadocia
Wake early if you want to try an optional hot air balloon flight to watch sunrise light up the landscape. Later, you'll visit Goreme Open Air Museum, a monastic complex with carved churches and monasteries dating between AD 900 and 1200, where you can see cave chapels and biblical frescoes. The afternoon is free to explore on your own or consider a sunset hike.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Goreme Open Air Museum visit with cave chapels and biblical frescoes
Optional Activities
- Hot air balloon flight at sunrise
- Dark Church visit at additional cost
- Sunset hike
Landmarks/POIs Goreme Open Air Museum - Day 5
Cappadocia
You'll walk through the surrounding valleys to see rock formations and fairy chimneys. Then you'll visit a local cave home where Nuray prepares a special home-cooked lunch. After lunch, you'll meet a local potter at the red river of Cappadocia and learn about traditional pottery-making with a chance to buy handcrafted pieces. The day continues with exploring Devrent Valley and Pasabag Valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Home-cooked lunch prepared by local woman Nuray in cave home)
Included Activities
- Valley walks with rock formations and fairy chimneys
- Home-cooked lunch in cave home
- Pottery demonstration and meeting with local potter
- Devrent Valley and Pasabag Valley exploration
Optional Activities
- Handcrafted pottery purchases
Landmarks/POIs Devrent Valley Pasabag Valley - Day 6
Konya
Start your morning exploring the Underground City of Ozkonak, an ancient place with subterranean labyrinths and dwellings. Then you're heading to Konya, where the mystic Sufi whirling practice started. You'll have an orientation walk followed by a guided tour of the Mevlana Museum to learn about Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Underground City of Ozkonak exploration
- Konya orientation walk
- Mevlana Museum guided tour
Landmarks/POIs Underground City of Ozkonak Mevlana Museum - Day 7
Antalya
You'll drive across the Taurus Mountains to reach the coastal town of Antalya. There's an orientation walk through the Old City along cobblestoned streets where you'll see the clock tower, Hadrian's Gate, and the old Roman Harbour. You can venture into Kaleici, the historic zone with Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman remains. Spend time swimming and relaxing while enjoying Mediterranean views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Taurus Mountains drive
- Old City orientation walk
- Hadrian's Gate visit
- Old Roman Harbour visit
- Kaleici historic zone visit
Optional Activities
- Swimming and relaxation at Mediterranean
Landmarks/POIs Hadrian's Gate Kaleici - Day 8
Kas
You'll take a guided tour of Antalya Museum with its great collection of Turkish archaeological treasures and well-preserved statues. After that, you're traveling to the seaside village of Kas with whitewashed houses and bougainvillea. You can explore on foot, eat at waterfront restaurants with private water access, and browse handicraft markets in the evening. Dinner features freshly-caught seafood.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Antalya Museum guided tour
Optional Activities
- Swimming and refreshing dip at waterfront
- Handicraft market exploration
- Seafood dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Antalya Museum Kas Ancient Greek Theatre (Kas) - Day 9
Kekova
You're driving to Kekova and boarding a local boat for a relaxing cruise through peaceful islands with distinctive rock formations. Look for ancient houses under the clear water as you go. There's homemade Turkish food served onboard, then you'll arrive in Ucagiz to walk around and see stone houses covered in colorful flowers. The cruise continues to protected inlets where you can swim before heading back to Kas for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Homemade Turkish meal onboard boat)
Included Activities
- Kekova boat sailing trip through islands
- Ucagiz settlement exploration
Optional Activities
- Swimming in protected inlets
Landmarks/POIs Kekova Ucagiz - Day 10
Pamukkale
You're heading to Pamukkale, which is known for its mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down a terraced hillside. You'll have a restorative soak in the hot springs. Then you'll tour the nearby ancient city of Hierapolis, a Roman bath center founded in 190 BC, where you'll see an ancient temple, holy area, monumental fountain, bath, basilica, necropolis, and impressive theatre. The evening is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Pamukkale thermal hot springs dip
- Hierapolis ancient city guided tour
Landmarks/POIs Pamukkale Hierapolis - Day 11
Selcuk
You'll start early driving to Selcuk, which is your base for visiting Ephesus. On the way, you'll pass through apple and peach orchards and the quaint village of Sirince with charming red-roofed houses climbing up the hillside. You'll stop at a local wine house to taste locally produced fruit wines. After that, you'll explore Ayasoluk Hill's historical buildings including the 14th-century Isa Bey Mosque, Byzantine Grand Fortress, and ruins of the Basilica of St John. You'll arrive in Selcuk for an orientation walk with the evening free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sirince village visit
- Fruit wine tasting at local wine house
- Isa Bey Mosque exterior viewing
- Byzantine Grand Fortress exploration
- Basilica of St John ruins visit
- Selcuk orientation walk
Landmarks/POIs Sirince Isa Bey Mosque Grand Fortress (Byzantine) Basilica of St John - Day 12
Ephesus
You're visiting Ephesus, one of Turkey's most important ancient sites. Your leader will guide you through this well-preserved classical city and show you its 1500-year history. You'll see how sophisticated this former metropolis was with its running water, public toilets, medical institute, and Roman baths. The theatre and library are highlights. You'll stop for lunch at a family restaurant serving fresh gozleme, the famous Turkish pancake. The afternoon and evening are free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Gozleme (Turkish pancake) made fresh at family-run restaurant)
Included Activities
- Ephesus archaeological site guided tour
Optional Activities
- Afternoon and evening self-exploration
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus - Day 13
Canakkale
You're traveling to Canakkale, a university city on the Dardanelles. Your leader will do an orientation walk with you. After that, the rest of the day is yours. You might want to see the Trojan horse prop from the 2004 Troy film, now in the city. You can try different restaurants and take a walk along the waterfront to sample dondurma, Turkish ice-cream.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Canakkale orientation walk
Optional Activities
- Trojan horse viewing from film Troy
- Waterfront exploration
- Dondurma (Turkish ice-cream) tasting
- Dining at local restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Canakkale - Day 14
Gallipoli - Istanbul
You're crossing the Dardanelles to the Gallipoli Peninsula, a place of major significance to Australians and New Zealanders. You'll visit the beach and cemeteries of Anzac Cove, then head to the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials. From the Ataturk Memorial, you can view the Dardanelles while thinking about World War history and the Turkish trench remains. You'll return to Istanbul late afternoon or early evening. There's an optional group dinner to celebrate the trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dardanelles crossing
- Anzac Cove beach and cemeteries visit
- Lone Pine memorial visit
- Chunuk Bair memorial visit
- Ataturk Memorial visit
- Turkish trench exploration
Optional Activities
- Group dinner celebration
Landmarks/POIs Gallipoli Peninsula Anzac Cove Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair Memorial Ataturk Memorial - Day 15
Istanbul
Your trip ends this morning. If you want to stay longer in Istanbul, the tour operator can help arrange additional accommodation if rooms are available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Additional accommodation in Istanbul (subject to availability)
