Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive at your Istanbul hotel where you meet your guide and fellow travelers at 7pm in the reception area. Airport transfers can be arranged if you need them. This welcome meeting sets up everything for the days ahead.
- Start point
- İstanbul Airport, İstanbul Airport Turkey, Arnavutköy, Istanbul, Turkey (Arrival Transfer is included.)
Optional Activities
- Arrival airport transfer (can be arranged on request)
- Extra nights in Istanbul before tour starts
- Day 2
Istanbul
After breakfast, you'll take a guided tour through Istanbul hitting the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahçe Palace, and the ancient Hippodrome. Later in the afternoon, there's an option to hop on a Bosphorus cruise for water views of the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Comprehensive guided tour of Istanbul old city
- Visit to Blue Mosque
- Tour of Hagia Sophia (St Sophia Museum)
- Visit to Dolmabahçe Palace
- Tour of ancient Hippodrome
Optional Activities
- Half-day Bosphorus cruise with views of waterfront mansions, historic palaces, and charming villages
Landmarks Blue Mosque Hagia Sophia Dolmabahçe Palace Hippodrome Bosphorus - Day 3
Istanbul to Gallipoli to Canakkale
You head out from Istanbul toward the Gallipoli peninsula to explore World War I battlefield sites. The guided tour covers Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, ANZAC Cove, Johnston Jolly, and The Nek, including original trenches and tunnels. You'll stay overnight in Canakkale.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Fully guided tour of Gallipoli Battlefields & Memorials
- Visit to Lone Pine memorial
- Visit to Chunuk Bair memorial
- Visit to ANZAC Cove
- Visit to Johnston Jolly
- Visit to The Nek
- Exploration of original trenches and tunnels
Landmarks Gallipoli Peninsula Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair ANZAC Cove - Day 4
Canakkale to Troy to Behramkale to Selcuk
Starting in Çanakkale, you drive to Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to walk through the ancient ruins and check out the newly opened Troy Museum. Then you head to Behramkale village with its stone houses and narrow streets for some relaxation. The day ends in Selcuk.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to ancient city of Troy
- Tour of Troy Museum
- Exploration of Troy UNESCO World Heritage Site
Optional Activities
- Leisurely exploration of Behramkale village
- Traditional Turkish tea or coffee at local cafés
Landmarks Troy Troy Museum Behramkale 
- Day 5
Selcuk
You travel to Ephesus to see one of the Mediterranean's best preserved ancient cities, including the Temple of Artemis and marble streets. Next you visit Sirince fruit wine village to learn about carpet weaving. By evening, you're at a local vineyard tasting 3 regional wines before heading back to your Selcuk hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Roman site of Ephesus
- Visit to Temple of Artemis
- Exploration of ancient marble streets of Ephesus
- Visit to fruit wine village of Sirince
- Learn about carpet weaving history in Turkey
- Evening visit to local vineyard
- Wine tasting of 3 local wines in vineyard garden
Landmarks Ephesus Temple of Artemis Sirince - Day 6
Selcuk to Fethiye
You drive south to Fethiye and board a traditional Turkish gulet sailing yacht around 3pm. After introductions, you'll swim or snorkel in Turunc Bay or Tarzan Bay, then sail to Tersane Island to explore ruins of an old Greek town and naval shipyard. The boat stays overnight in a sheltered bay.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Traditional Gulet cruise
- Swimming or snorkeling in Turunc Bay or Tarzan Bay
- Exploration of Tersane Island (Dockyard Island) ruins of old Greek town and naval shipyard
Landmarks Fethiye Harbour Turunc Bay Tarzan Bay Tersane Island Gulf of Fethiye 
- Day 7
Gulet Cruise
There's an optional early swim before breakfast. You sail to Hamam Bay with ruins of Cleopatra's Baths, possibly destroyed by earthquake. A 45 minute hike from Sarsala Bay leads to an ancient Lycian town with 3rd century BC walls. You finish at Bedri Rahmi Bay with Lycian rock tombs. Overnight on the boat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sailing to Hamam Bay
- Visit to ruins of Cleopatra's Baths
- Sailing to Sarsala Bay
- Hike to ancient Lycian town
- Exploration of Lycian rock tombs
- Sailing to Bedri Rahmi Bay
Optional Activities
- Early morning swim before breakfast
Landmarks Hamam Bay Cleopatra's Baths Sarsala Bay Bedri Rahmi Bay Ancient Lycian town of Crya - Day 8
Gulet Cruise
You sail through the gulf passing Gocek and Yassica Islands. The route includes stops at Saytanli Ada and various islands for exploring ruins, swimming, and snorkeling. Red Island offers red colored rocks and good walking. Later you return to Fethiye harbour for your final night on the boat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sailing past Gocek and Yassica Islands
- Visit to Saytanli Ada
- Exploration of island ruins
- Swimming and snorkeling between islands
- Visit to Red Island (Kizilada)
- Sailing back to Fethiye harbour
Landmarks Gocek Islands Yassica Islands Saytanli Ada Red Island (Kizilada) - Day 9
Fethiye to Pamukkale
After viewing handcrafted leather goods, you head inland to Pamukkale to see the famous white calcium terraces that look like cotton castles. You walk through the ancient city of Hierapolis and can swim in a thermal pool surrounded by Roman columns. You stay overnight in Pamukkale.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Display of locally handcrafted leather goods
- Visit to Pamukkale Travertines
- Tour of ancient city of Hierapolis
- Dip in hot thermal pools among ancient Roman columns
Landmarks Pamukkale Travertines Hierapolis 
- Day 10
Pamukkale to Cappadocia
You follow the ancient Silk Road route into central Turkey toward Cappadocia. Along the way you stop at the Sultanhani Caravansary and the Mevlana museum in Konya. There's an optional traditional Turkish folklore evening available. You stay overnight in Cappadocia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Sultanhani Caravansary
Optional Activities
- Visit to Mevlana museum in Konya
- Traditional Turkish folklore evening
Landmarks Sultanhani Caravansary Mevlana Museum 
- Day 11
Cappadocia
You explore Cappadocia's surreal rock formations and underground villages. The tour covers Goreme Valley and the fairy chimneys of Pasbag, then you go underground to see subterranean churches and fortresses used by Christians seeking refuge centuries ago. An optional folklore evening with belly dancers is available.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Full tour of Cappadocia
- Visit to Goreme Valley
- Exploration of 'fairy chimneys' of Pasbag
- Visit to underground cities and churches
- Exploration of underground fortresses used by early Christians
Optional Activities
- Turkish folklore experience with belly dancers
Landmarks Goreme Valley Pasbag Underground Cities of Cappadocia - Day 12
Cappadocia to Ankara to Istanbul
You leave Cappadocia early and drive to Ankara to visit Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey. The structure shows modern Turkish architecture from a hilltop overlooking the city. Then you head back to Istanbul for your final night. An optional morning flight from Kayseri helps avoid the long drive.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Anitkabir mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
Optional Activities
- Morning flight from Kayseri to Istanbul (contact for current flight times and prices)
Landmarks Anitkabir - Day 13
Istanbul
Your tour ends in Istanbul. You have free time for last minute shopping or sightseeing. Optional airport transfers are available for your departure, and additional nights can be arranged if you'd like to stay longer.
- End point
- İstanbul Airport, İstanbul Airport Turkey, Arnavutköy, Istanbul, Turkey (Departure Transfer is included.)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Last-minute shopping or sightseeing in Istanbul
- Departure airport transfer
- Extra nights in Istanbul after tour ends
