Will this trip be offered the last week of August or first week of September 2026?

The Essential Turkey itinerary has been revised for departures in 2026, please refer to the link below for available departures next year.

Do you have many people booked on the tour starting on the 25th December, or is this out of season?

There are currently 7 passengers booked on this departure date. While September-October are generally more popular months to visit Turkey, we expect more bookings for this departure as the departure date approeaches.

Does this trip have any visit to the Carpet; Jewellery or Handcrafted factory / shops? Cause I didn't see any mention of stopover along the trip.

Is it possible that certain Hotel that you mentioned in the trip that I may request an upgrade room for that particular hotel?

I am travelling with my 51 year old partner. I am 65. Your age range says 59 is the cut off? I am very fit and active. Are we able to book this trip?

Yes, you are most welcome to join the trip! The age range mentioned is just a general guide, and we often have travellers outside that range who are fit and active. We'd be happy to have both of you on board.

Is it too late for the informal meeting?

What happened if we miss the informal meeting at 7 pm on the first day of the tour?

what is the single supplement for this tour? Also 2 in my group are in their 70s and early 80s. Both are fit and walk well. Can they join this tour?

The single supplement is unfortunately not available on TourRadar for this tour. As for your group members in their 70s and early 80s – if they are traveling together and are fit and able to walk comfortably, they are very welcome to join the tour!

Is this age range strictly enforced? We are both 62 and in excellent shape.

The age range listed in the tour description is more of a guideline than a strict rule. At 62 and in excellent shape, you would be absolutely fine to join. We've had many travellers in their early 60s who fit in perfectly and really enjoy the experience.

What should participants expect regarding the tour's activities?

Participants should expect a blend of cultural, historical, and possibly optional leisure activities.

What are the payment expectations after initial booking?

Any remaining balance must be paid by the specified final payment date after initial booking.

Why is the trip only until 59 years old? Age discrimination?

We would like to clarify that all ages are welcome to join our amazing trips! While we don't have strict age restrictions, we do provide guidelines to ensure everyone's comfort. Passengers that falls out of this age group (18-59) and traveling alone may find it beneficial to consider booking a private room. For this reason we request to add a singe supplement. This enhances comfort throughout the tour, providing a personal space to relax and unwind after exciting adventures. However, for this tour, single rooms are not available anymore, you may bring a companion a share the room with, that way you do not have to add a single supplement. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or friends, our goal is to make your journey memorable and enjoyable. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance in planning your next adventure with us.

Essential Turkey (5 Star Hotels)

10 days

•

Start and end in Istanbul

4.9

698 traveler reviews

View all
Hotels, transport and sights were great. Highlight was the expert guiding by Yavuz who had great stories and info about the sites.
S
S.Thompson, traveled in December
4.8
View all

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Plan your adventure:

Operator: Travel Talk
Explorer: Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 4 - 40
Ages 18-59

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Istanbul
Accommodation
Hotel (Ottoman Legacy Hotel), Hotel (Millennium Golden Horn)
Included Activities
- Group Dinner
Optional Activities
- Climb Galata Tower
- Shop at Grand Bazaar
Landmarks
Galata Tower
Grand Bazaar
Day 2
Istanbul
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Ottoman Legacy Hotel), Hotel (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
Blue Mosque
Hippodrome
Topkapi Palace
Hagia Sophia
Day 3
Istanbul to Cappadocia
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel (Avrasya Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Derinkuyu Underground City
Optional Activities
- Turkish Bath Experience - 30 EUR
Landmarks
Derinkuyu Underground City
Day 4
Cappadocia
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
Göreme Open Air Museum
Pigeon Valley
Uchisar
Cavusin
Day 5
Cappadocia to Konya
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel (Novotel Konya Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Devrent Valley
Landmarks
Devrent Valley
Day 6
Konya to Pamukkale
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner (Hotel restaurant)
Accommodation
Hotel (Hierapark Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Karatay Madrasa - 3 EUR
- Mevlana Museum Visit
Landmarks
Karatay Madrasa
Mevlana Museum
Day 7
Pamukkale to Kusadasi
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel (Signature Blue Resort)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Pamukkale White Terraces
- Sightseeing of Ephesus Ancient City
Landmarks
Pamukkale White Terraces
Hierapolis
Ephesus Ancient City
Temple of Artemis
Day 8
Kusadasi to Canakkale
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Hotel (Kolin Hotel)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing of Troy Ancient City
Landmarks
Troy Ancient City
Day 9
Gallipoli to Istanbul
Meals
Breakfast
Accommodation
Hotel (Legacy Ottoman Hotel), Hotel (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
ANZAC Cove
Beach Cemetery
Chunuk Bair
Lone Pine
Day 10
Istanbul
Meals
Breakfast

Landmarks
Galata Tower
Grand Bazaar

Landmarks
Blue Mosque
Hippodrome
Topkapi Palace
Hagia Sophia

Landmarks
Derinkuyu Underground City

Landmarks
Göreme Open Air Museum
Pigeon Valley
Uchisar
Cavusin

Landmarks
Devrent Valley

Landmarks
Karatay Madrasa
Mevlana Museum

Landmarks
Pamukkale White Terraces
Hierapolis
Ephesus Ancient City
Temple of Artemis

Landmarks
Troy Ancient City

Landmarks
ANZAC Cove
Beach Cemetery
Chunuk Bair
Lone Pine

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

All accommodations are subject to change

Ottoman Legacy Hotel
Hotel
Days 1, 2
Millennium Golden Horn
Hotel
Days 1, 2, 9
Avrasya Hotel
Hotel
Days 3, 4
Novotel Konya Hotel
Hotel
day 5
Hierapark Hotel
Hotel
day 6
Signature Blue Resort
Hotel
day 7
Kolin Hotel
Hotel
day 8
Legacy Ottoman Hotel
Hotel
day 9

Operated by

Travel Talk

4.7

(4,574 reviews)

Number of tours

152

Age Range

18 to 60 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

88%

At Travel Talk, we have one focus and that is simply to make your trip the...

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

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Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Moments

Traveler Reviews

4.9

Overall rating based on 698 Reviews

Itinerary
5.0
Transport
4.9
Guide
4.9
Accommodation
4.9
Food
4.9
Tour Operator
4.7

Wei
January 18th, 2026
4.0
Overall trip is good. But some hotels and breakfast are not good. We also hope the guider could give us more...
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Traveled in December 2025
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Wei, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re pleased to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall. Your comments regarding hotels, breakfasts, and the level of information provided by the guide are noted and appreciated. Feedback like this helps us continue refining the experience and reviewing our accommodation and guiding standards across destinations. We’re glad you joined us on this journey and hope to welcome you on another tour in the future. All the best, Travel Talk Team
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J
Jennifer
January 4th, 2026
5.0
Fantastic experience! Truly the essentials of Turkey’s most historic sites and culture. Tour guide, Aykut was both...
Fantastic experience! Truly the essentials of Turkey’s most historic sites and culture. Tour guide, Aykut was both very knowledgeable and funny! Highly recommended!Show more
Traveled in November 2025
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Jennifer, thank you for the fantastic feedback! We’re so glad you had such a great experience exploring Turkey’s historic sites and culture. Aykut will be delighted to hear your kind words, his knowledge and sense of humour really do make the journey even more memorable. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you on another adventure soon! All the best, Travel Talk Team
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H
Heather
May 22nd, 2025
4.0
Tour was big, bus was full for first few days, difficult to make connections. But as tour went on some people on...
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Traveled in September 2024
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Heather, thank you for sharing your experience. We’re glad to hear the guide provided excellent support and that the smaller group size later in the tour enhanced your journey. We appreciate your honest feedback about the travel pace and group dynamics, as it helps us continue improving. We look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon! All the best, Travel Talk Team
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Kelly
March 19th, 2025
5.0
From Kelly Kennedy Essential Turkey Tour w/ Travel Talk - tour guide Yildiray was superb, he went above and beyond...
From Kelly Kennedy Essential Turkey Tour w/ Travel Talk - tour guide Yildiray was superb, he went above and beyond to make sure everyone's needs and wants were met (7 women from different places, with different likes, different dietary needs...none of us could complain about his genuine care). I'm posting pictures of us bonding and leaving the tour itself for you to experience on your own, you will not be disappointed with booking it. The excursions were great, the drivers great, the food great... The cost of the tour and all that is included you just can not go wrong with. The cost of excursions were very reasonable in comparison to other tours I have been on! I give this tour, guide, experience, drivers, Travel Talk 5 stars. Definitely try to book with using Yildiray. Often times the guide makes all the difference from a good experience to a great experience! Thanks Yildiray!Show more
Traveled in March 2025
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Kelly, thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such an incredible experience on the Essential Turkey tour and that Yildiray made it truly special. He’s an absolute gem, and we’re lucky to have him. Your kind words about the itinerary, excursions, and overall value mean the world to us. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon. All the best, Travel Talk Team
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Vivian
January 4th, 2025
5.0
Travel talks and their tour guide Mustafa done the best job and made the essential Turkey tour a very memorable...
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Traveled in December 2024
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Vivian, thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that our team made your Essential Turkey tour such a memorable experience. From the seamless organisation to the hotels and sightseeing, it's wonderful to know everything exceeded your expectations. We really appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you on another adventure soon! All the best, Travel Talk Team
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M
Marc
October 31st, 2024
5.0
A complete, wide ranging tour of Turkey that covers all the essential elements of its history, cultures, sites, and...
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Traveled in October 2024
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Marc, thank you for your wonderful feedback on the Essential Turkey tour! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the comprehensive experience, from the rich history and diverse cultures to the excellent accommodations and outstanding food. It’s fantastic to know that our guide made your journey efficient and enjoyable. We’d love to welcome you back for another adventure anytime! All the best, Travel Talk Team
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Jonathan
October 26th, 2024
5.0
We went on a tour of Türkiye (Essential Turkey, 10 days) with Travel Talk, October 5-14, 2024. This was our first...
We went on a tour of Türkiye (Essential Turkey, 10 days) with Travel Talk, October 5-14, 2024. This was our first time using Travel Talk, but we will definitely go with them again. I have to start by talking about our guide, Yildiray. He was simply the best guide anyone could ask for. He was extremely well organized, friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and fun. He went above and beyond every day. He gave us good information about the places we visited, but also gave us very good recommendations for local food. When we stopped at restaurants for lunch, he was our waiter by taking our orders, and delivering our food. All of this helped everyone build great relationships throughout the trip. By the end, we were sad it was over. As for the other aspects of the trip, I have only good things to say about it. All the hotels were good, the food at the hotels was good, and the locations of the hotels was good, which allowed us access to stroll around the neighborhoods and sometimes visit local shops. The tour bus was very comfortable, and was driven by two excellent drivers who switched driving throughout. We had frequent stops when there were long distances so that we did not feel too tired. I was impressed with the amount of planning, organization, and information provided to us at every step. This was one of the most enjoyable tours we have been on, and I highly recommend Travel Talk, and especially our guide, Yildiray!Show more
Traveled in October 2024
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Jonathan, thank you for sharing your fantastic experience on the Essential Turkey tour! We’re delighted to hear that Yildiray made such a positive impact on your journey with his organization, knowledge, and friendly nature. It sounds like he truly went above and beyond to create a memorable atmosphere for everyone, from recommending local food to fostering great relationships within the group. We’re also glad to know you enjoyed the accommodations and the comfortable travel arrangements. Your appreciation for the planning and organization means a lot to us! We can’t wait to welcome you back on another adventure with us. All the best, Travel Talk Team
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asma
June 1st, 2024
5.0
10/10 for our guide Erdem. Very impressive hospitality, attention to detail and Itenerary
Traveled in April 2024
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Asma, thank you for your review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your trip with Erdem, and will be sure to pass on your kind feedback. We hope to see you on another adventure with us soon!
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Courtney
April 17th, 2024
5.0
Mustafa was a fantastic tour guide ("Essential Turkey - 10 days"). I think he showed us far more over a week and a...
Mustafa was a fantastic tour guide ("Essential Turkey - 10 days"). I think he showed us far more over a week and a half than we could have ever seen on our own. He explained everything very thoroughly, with humor, and answered any questions we had. He also made sure to help us with any problems that arose throughout the trip. We never had to worry about transportation as we rode in a comfortable, air-conditioned bus the entire time. Hotel selection was top-notch; all hotels included clean rooms, free Wi-Fi and complimentary breakfast/dinner.Show more
Traveled in March 2024
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Courtney, thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had a great time on your Essential Turkey tour and we really appreciate you sharing your experience. We will be sure to pass your kind words onto Mustafa and hope to see you on another adventure with us soon! All the best, Travel Talk Team
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Sarah
April 2nd, 2024
4.0
A good tour with lots of things to see. Mustafa is a fantastic tour guide and really looked out for us all. We got...
A good tour with lots of things to see. Mustafa is a fantastic tour guide and really looked out for us all. We got unlucky with not being able to do the hot air balloons in cappadocia (too windy) but managed to go up in Pamukkale (which was incredible!). Mustafa got this all sorted for us as well as ensuring we had the best experience with visiting the sites. Hotel wise, some good hotels, some a bit rough around the edges! Be mindful a 4/5* in Turkey isn’t the same as other parts of the world!!Show more
Traveled in March 2024
Reply from: Travel Talk
Hi Sarah, thank you for your review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your tour through Turkey with us and will be sure to pass your kind words onto Mustafa. We are always trying to improve our tours for future travellers, so we appreciate your feedback regarding the hotels. We hope to welcome you on another adventure with us soon! All the best, Travel Talk Team
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