Itinerary
- Day 1
Antalya
You'll arrive in Antalya whenever your flight gets in. If you land early enough, there's time to wander through Kaleici and check out the old quarter with its narrow cobbled streets, Ottoman-era houses, and Hadrian's Gate. Your tour leader meets everyone at 7pm if you want to join an optional welcome dinner, or you can skip it and spend the evening by the private beach or infinity pool at your hotel to relax after traveling.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (La Boutique Hotel & Suites (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Visit Kaleici old quarter and explore narrow cobbled streets
- Explore Ottoman-era houses and courtyards in Kaleici
- Visit Hadrian's Gate, a preserved Roman entrance to the old town
- Dinner with tour leader at 7pm (if arriving in time)
Landmarks Kaleici Hadrian's Gate - Day 2
Antalya
This morning starts with a traditional Turkish breakfast at the hotel. After that, you'll head to Aspendos to see the ancient Roman theatre, one of the best-preserved from the empire. There's also a Roman aqueduct nearby to check out before moving on to Perge, where you can walk through the theatre, baths, and gates. Dinner tonight features traditional Turkish mezze dishes served family-style.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Turkish breakfast with yogurts, cheese, breads, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggs, olives, fruits, and international options), Dinner (Traditional Turkish mezze - hot and cold shared dishes, vegetarian and vegan options available. Drinks not included.)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (La Boutique Hotel & Suites (or similar))
Included Activities
- Traditional Turkish breakfast
- Visit Aspendos Roman theatre
- Visit Roman aqueduct at Aspendos
- Visit ancient city of Perge with theatre, baths, and Roman gates
- Dinner with traditional Turkish mezze
Optional Activities
- Skip Perge visit and relax at hotel
- Visit Turkish baths instead of Perge
Landmarks Aspendos Theatre Aspendos Aqueduct Perge - Day 3
Antalya to Kas
You'll drive along the coastal road where the Taurus mountains meet the Mediterranean. During the morning, you'll walk part of the Lycian Way at Camyuva through pine trees to reach Phaselis (about 3.5 km over 1.5 hours with one steep climb). Later, you'll visit the eternal flame of Chimaera with another uphill walk through the forest, then arrive in the fishing village of Kas where you're staying for two nights.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kayahan Hotel), Hotel (Hotel Kayahan (or similar))
Included Activities
- Walk along Lycian Way from Camyuva to Phaselis
- Visit Phaselis ancient harbour town
- Visit Chimaera eternal flame
Optional Activities
- Swim at Phaselis (bring swimwear and towel)
- Skip Chimaera walk and relax in cafe at bottom of hill
Landmarks Lycian Way Phaselis Chimaera - Day 4
Kas
After a leisurely breakfast, you'll drive to Ucagiz and board a traditional wooden gulet for a relaxed day on the water. You'll visit the deserted island of Kekova with its clear waters, explore submerged streets and Lycian sarcophagi at Simena, and climb up to Simena's medieval castle. The mainland village of Kalekoy is only accessible by boat, so you'll get there by water. A BBQ lunch happens on board along with swimming stops, and you'll return to Kas in the late afternoon with free time to walk around.
- Meals
- Lunch (BBQ lunch on board)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Kayahan Hotel), Hotel (Hotel Kayahan (or similar))
Included Activities
- Gulet sailing cruise around the bay
- BBQ lunch on board
- Visit Kekova island
- View submerged streets and Lycian sarcophagi at Simena
- Explore Simena medieval castle
- Visit Kalekoy village
Optional Activities
- Swimming at various stops
- Visit Crusader fortress at Kalekoy
- Try peach ice cream at Kalekoy
Landmarks Kekova Island Simena Kalekoy - Day 5
Kas to Dalyan
You'll have a scenic three-hour drive along the Turquoise Coast to Dalyan. In the morning, you'll walk near the walls of ancient Caunos and then descend through pine trees to the ruins, continuing downhill to Candir before taking a rowing boat across to Dalyan town (roughly 4 km over about 2 hours with a 590-foot descent). In the afternoon, a small boat takes you downriver to Iztuzu Beach where you can look for loggerhead turtles and kingfishers. You'll return to Dalyan by boat and check into your hotel.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Michelangelo Boutique Hotel), Hotel (Michelangelo Boutique Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Walk to ancient Caunos ruins
- Row boat crossing to Dalyan
- Boat trip downriver to Iztuzu Beach
- Iztuzu Beach visit with opportunity to swim
Optional Activities
- Swimming at Iztuzu Beach
Landmarks Caunos Iztuzu Beach - Day 6
Dalyan to Pamukkale
You'll drive three hours inland to Aphrodisias, an impressive Greco-Roman site known for sculptures and artistic detail. There's the tetrapylon gateway, Temple of Aphrodite, odeon, theatre, Sebasteion with reliefs, and a stadium (270m x 60m that held 30,000 spectators). After exploring, you'll continue on to Pamukkale and arrive at your hotel in the afternoon. The evening is free to relax and enjoy the hotel's hot spring waters.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Doga Thermal Hotel), Hotel (Doga Thermal Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Aphrodisias archaeological site with tetrapylon, Temple of Aphrodite, odeon, theatre, Sebasteion, and stadium
- Dinner at hotel
Optional Activities
- Visit Aphrodisias museum
- Bathe in hot spring waters at hotel
Landmarks Aphrodisias - Day 7
Pamukkale to Selcuk
Today you're exploring Pamukkale's white mineral pools and Hierapolis, an ancient spa town from the 2nd century BC. You'll see the theatre, Temple of Apollo, Frontinus Gate, sarcophagi, and the Archaeology Museum housed in the former Roman baths. The petrified travertine cascades and travertine pools give great views over the Menderes Valley. By late afternoon, you'll drive about three hours to Selcuk where you're staying for two nights.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Celsus Hotel), Hotel (Vinifera Ephesus Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Explore Pamukkale terraced pools
- Visit Hierapolis ancient spa town
- Visit Hierapolis theatre
- Visit Temple of Apollo
- Visit Frontinus Gate
- Visit Archaeology Museum in former Roman baths
- View petrified travertine waterfall
- Visit travertine pools
Optional Activities
- Wade and get feet wet at travertine pools
Landmarks Pamukkale Hierapolis Temple of Apollo - Day 8
Selcuk
You'll head to Ephesus early before the crowds arrive. This great Greco-Roman city once hosted Mark Anthony, Cleopatra, and St. Paul. You can walk through the gymnasia, stadium (70,000 seats), Baths of Constantine, brothel, Temple of Hadrian, theatre (24,000 seats), odeon (2,000 seats), Arcadian Way, and the famous Library of Celsus. Optionally, there's a Roman Houses exhibition. Back in Selcuk, you'll visit the Temple of Artemis ruins, then the afternoon is free to explore the bazaar (or Saturday market if that's when you're there), Turkish baths, the Ephesus Museum, Isa Bey Mosque, or St. John's Basilica.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Celsus Hotel), Hotel (Vinifera Ephesus Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Ephesus archaeological site including gymnasiums, stadium, Baths of Constantine, brothel, Temple of Hadrian, theatre, odeon, Arcadian Way, and Library of Celsus
- Visit Temple of Artemis ruins in Selcuk
Optional Activities
- Visit Roman Houses exhibition at Ephesus
- Visit local bazaar (Saturday market day)
- Visit Turkish Baths
- Visit Ephesus Museum
- Visit Isa Bey Mosque
- Visit St. John's Basilica
Landmarks Ephesus Library of Celsus Temple of Artemis Isa Bey Mosque St. John's Basilica - Day 9
Selcuk to Canakkale
You'll start early around 8am and continue north past olive groves and pomegranate trees to Pergamon, set impressively on a hill above the modern town of Bergama. You can visit the ancient Acropolis, which is where the town got its name from parchment, a material it was famous for throughout the Middle East. You'll arrive in Canakkale on the Dardanelles in the late afternoon.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Cura Hotel), Hotel (Cura Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Pergamon ancient Acropolis
Landmarks Pergamon Acropolis - Day 10
Canakkale to Istanbul
An early start gets you to the ferry for a 30-minute crossing from the Dardanelles Straits to the Gallipoli Peninsula. You'll visit Anzac Cove where the Anzac landing happened in 1916, see the Anzac Commemorative site and Ari Burnu Cemetery. After that, you'll head inland to the Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Cemetery, then follow the Sea of Marmara shoreline all the way to Istanbul, arriving in the late afternoon for a two-night stay. Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia and was once Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Erboy Hotel), Hotel (Grand Sirkeci Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing Dardanelles Straits
- Visit Anzac Cove
- Visit Anzac Commemorative site
- Visit Ari Burnu Cemetery
- Visit Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Cemetery
Landmarks Anzac Cove Ari Burnu Cemetery Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Cemetery - Day 11
Istanbul
The day kicks off with a walking tour around Sultanahmet Square, the former Hippodrome of Constantinople. You'll see Hagia Sophia, the Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius, and the Walled Obelisk. After that, you head into the Basilica Cistern to walk among its impressive marble columns. By late morning you'll reach the Spice Bazaar with its vaulted ceilings and vendors selling spices, dried fruits, and handicrafts. The afternoon is yours to explore other sites or neighborhoods on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Erboy Hotel), Hotel (Grand Sirkeci Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Sultanahmet Square (Hippodrome of Constantinople)
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Visit Basilica Cistern (built by Emperor Justinian I, 527-565 AD)
- Visit Spice Bazaar with traditional restaurants and cafes
Optional Activities
- Visit Topkapi Palace Museum and Gardens
- Walk to Galata Tower in another neighborhood
- Explore additional areas of Istanbul
- Extended stay in Istanbul after tour completion
Landmarks Sultanahmet Square Hagia Sophia Serpentine Column Obelisk of Theodosius Walled Obelisk Sultanahmet Blue Mosque Basilica Cistern Spice Bazaar Topkapi Palace Galata Tower - Day 12
Istanbul
Your tour ends after breakfast at the hotel. You're free to leave at any time, and if your flight is later in the day, the hotel can store your luggage.
