Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and connect with your guide at the airport. After getting to your hotel, there's a few hours to kill before the 7:00pm group meeting. If you feel like exploring, pop over to Galata Tower for views across the city or wander through the Grand Bazaar to get a sense of the place. Once the briefing wraps up, there's an optional dinner with the group if you want to meet your travel companions.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ottoman Legacy Hotel), Hotel (Legacy Ottoman Hotel or Millennium Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Group Dinner
Optional Activities
- Climb Galata Tower
- Shop at Grand Bazaar
Landmarks/POIs Galata Tower Grand Bazaar 
- Day 2
Istanbul
Following breakfast, you'll spend the morning walking through Istanbul's historic old town with a guide. You'll see the Blue Mosque with its famous blue tilework, the Hippodrome where chariot races once happened, Topkapi Palace where Ottoman sultans lived, and Hagia Sophia with its enormous dome. Each spot has a guided stop so you understand what you're looking at. Later in the afternoon, there's an optional boat cruise on the Bosphorus if you want to view the skyline from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ottoman Legacy Hotel), Hotel (Legacy Ottoman Hotel or Millennium Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Blue Mosque
- Sightseeing of Hagia Sophia
- Sightseeing of Topkapi Palace Museum
Optional Activities
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise - 15 EUR
Landmarks/POIs Blue Mosque Hippodrome Topkapi Palace Hagia Sophia 
- Day 3
Istanbul to Cappadocia
The coach heads out through the Turkish countryside, passing small towns and villages as you drive toward Cappadocia. You'll go through Ankara, Turkey's capital, then continue on. Once there, the afternoon focuses on Derinkuyu Underground City, a 60-meter-deep ancient settlement carved into the rock with churches, wells, food storage areas, and stables inside. If you're interested, there's an optional Turkish bath experience to wind down the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Avrasya Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Derinkuyu Underground City
Optional Activities
- Turkish Bath Experience - 30 EUR
Landmarks/POIs Derinkuyu Underground City 
- Day 4
Cappadocia
Early morning types can sign up for an optional hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia's fairy chimneys and rock formations. If that's not your thing, you'll have a relaxed morning and breakfast at your own pace. From there, you'll explore the UNESCO-listed Göreme region, checking out the Göreme Museum, Pigeon Valley, Uchisar, and Cavusin. Tonight there's an optional Turkish Night Show if you feel like some music and dancing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Avrasya Hotel)
Included Activities
- Goreme Open Air Museum Visit
- Sightseeing of Cavusin
- Sightseeing of Pigeon Valley
- Sightseeing of Uchisar
Optional Activities
- Hot Air Ballooning - 290 EUR
- Turkish Night Show - 50 EUR
Landmarks/POIs Göreme Open Air Museum Pigeon Valley Uchisar Cavusin 
- Day 5
Cappadocia to Konya
You'll head toward Konya, known as the spiritual center of the whirling dervishes and Sufism. On the way, there's a stop at Devrent Valley to see its unusual honeycombed canyon with Byzantine-period rock-cut dwellings and churches carved into the cliffs. After settling into Konya for the night, you'll have time to reflect on what you've seen so far.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Konya Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Devrent Valley
Landmarks/POIs Devrent Valley - Day 6
Konya to Pamukkale
Today focuses on Turkish culture and history. You'll start at the Karatay Madrasa, an 8th-century building that shows off both architecture and medieval education. Then it's on to the Museum and Mausoleum of Mevlana, where you'll learn about the 13th-century scholar and poet Rumi, whose ideas about understanding and acceptance still resonate today. After that, you'll head toward Pamukkale with dinner waiting at your hotel restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hotel restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hierapark Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Karatay Madrasa - 3 EUR
- Mevlana Museum Visit
Landmarks/POIs Karatay Madrasa Mevlana Museum 
- Day 7
Pamukkale to Kusadasi
Pamukkale's white travertine terraces come into view, formed by mineral-rich hot spring water flowing down the hillside. The ancient city of Hierapolis sits on top, and thermal pools have been used for bathing for centuries. After exploring there, you'll travel to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman sites around. The Temple of Artemis once stood here as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and historians believe the Gospel of John was written in this area. You'll stay overnight in Kusadasi by the sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Signature Blue Resort)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Pamukkale White Terraces
- Sightseeing of Ephesus Ancient City
Landmarks/POIs Pamukkale White Terraces Hierapolis Ephesus Ancient City Temple of Artemis 
- Day 8
Kusadasi to Canakkale
Breakfast happens early, then you're off to Troy, the legendary city from Greek mythology and that movie with Brad Pitt. You'll explore the archaeological ruins and see the famous wooden horse replica. Canakkale is where you'll sleep that night, and your evening is free to walk around town and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kolin Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Troy Ancient City
Landmarks/POIs Troy Ancient City 
- Day 9
Gallipoli to Istanbul
The drive takes you to Gallipoli, a historically significant location for Australians and New Zealanders. You'll visit ANZAC Cove beach and the cemeteries, pay respects at the memorials of Chunuk Bair and Lone Pine, and explore the war trenches. From there, you'll drive back to Istanbul where everything started.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Legacy Ottoman Hotel), Hotel (Legacy Ottoman Hotel or Millennium Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Anzac Cove
- Sightseeing of Beach Cemetery
- Sightseeing of Lone Pine
- Sightseeing of Chunuk Bair
- Sightseeing of War Trenches
Landmarks/POIs ANZAC Cove Beach Cemetery Chunuk Bair Lone Pine 
- Day 10
Istanbul
Your tour concludes in Istanbul. Share a final breakfast with the friends you've made over the past week, then check out of the hotel by 11:00am.
- Meals
- Breakfast
