Days
15
Price from
Journey into the historic heart of Turkey
This 15-day tour takes you into the ancient heart of fascinating Turkey. Historic sites and the ruins of empires are the focus of this trip, with locally guided tours of Anzac Cove in Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Antalya and more. The diverse landscapes of Turkey that contain these sites are sure to stun in their own right, from the fair chimneys of Cappadocia to the glittering Mediterranean Coast. Fall in love with the mystery, the legacy and the culture of Turkey on this two-week odyssey.
- Start
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Finish
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Destination
- Turkey
- Style
- Peregrine
- Code
- PETT
- Physical rating
- Trip rating
- 116 reviews
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 12
Why you'll love this trip
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Discover the Istanbul of old on a guided walk with your leader, discovering treasures like the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Million.
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Feast your eyes on the best of Turkey's otherworldly sights, from the Cotton Castle of Pamukkale to the psychedelic rockscapes of Cappadocia.
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Explore the world’s premier Greco-Roman site – Ephesus – strolling streets of marble and marvelling at the still vibrant mosaic murals depicting ancient life.
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Enjoy a cruise around the hidden coves and islets around Kekova, guided by a local couple who have been navigating the waters for years.
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Discover one of Turkey’s best kept secrets – Sagalassos, the ruins of a city conquered by Alexander the Great in 333 BC in the Taurus Mountains.
Is this trip right for you?
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This trip involves a lot of walking, sometimes on rocky or slippery terrain such as the sites in Goreme. Please bring sturdy walking shoes, but also note that you can sit out the walks if you do not feel up to them.
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Temperatures can be quite cool in the evening, particularly in April and October. Not all hotels will have heating so be sure to bring warm layers if you plan to travel in this period.
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Turkey can get hot in the summer months of July and August, but this is normally a dry heat and is easier to cope with than humidity. Where possible, you'll be taken to sites in the early morning before it gets too hot.
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You'll be covering a lot of land during the trip, which means a few long days of driving. Most of these days will be broken up with interesting stops along the way.
Gallery
Itinerary
Welcome to Istanbul, the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans have all called home at various points throughout history. Enjoy a complimentary transfer to the accommodation from the airport. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 1 pm. After the meeting, head out with your Peregrine local leader to explore the Old City of Istanbul. Your leader will introduce you to some of the historical treasures of the city, including the Blue Mosque (so named for its classic tiles), the ancient Hippodrome (once the setting of chariot races) and the Million (a stone road marker in use since the fourth century). This evening choose whether to join your fellow travellers during an optional dinner.
Accommodation
- Legacy Ottoman or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Istanbul - City Tour
- Istanbul - Blue Mosque
Optional Activities
- Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - TRY50
- Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - TRY50
- Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - TRY100
- Istanbul - Great Palace Mosaic Museum - TRY30
- Istanbul - Galata Tower - TRY35
- Istanbul - Topkapi Palace (Excluding Harem) - TRY72
- Istanbul - Basilica Cistern - TRY30
- Istanbul - Chora Church - TRY65
- Istanbul - Dolmabahce Palace (Excluding Harem) - TRY60
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Special Information
Your complimentary airport transfer is valid from both Istanbul New Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gocken Airport (SAW). Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel (please note we may not be able confirm a request made in the 15 days before your trip begins). Once you have provided your flight details a transfer representative will be booked to meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.The prices listed for optional activities below cover entry only. Please note there is an Istanbul Museum Pass available for purchase at most museums. This card is valid for five days use and costs 185 TL (approximately AUD 50).
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take p
Rise and shine for an early breakfast, then begin the drive to Çanakkale. located on the shores of the Dardanelles (the strait that connects Europe and Asia via the Gelibolu Peninsula and the Biga Peninsula). Arrive in time for an included lunch, then head to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Visit the cemeteries of Anzac Cove, then head up the hill toward the poignant memorials of Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. Look down upon the rough hills and gullies that became the graveyard for so many thousands of young men on both sides. Tour the former battlefields and find remnants of trenches used by the Turkish soldiers. After a day that will no doubt be full of sombre reflection, the evening is free for you to do as you wish in Canakkale.
Accommodation
- Grand Anzac Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Gallipoli - guided visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Driving time today: approximately 5 hours
Drive to Selcuk with a stop en route in Troy. Here legend and history fuse together, and you can see both ancient city walls as well as a replica Trojan Horse. Learn how the site has confounded historians and archaeologists, then continue to Selcuk. On arrival, pay a visit to the famously adorable village of Sirince and enjoy a tasting of local fruit wine.
Accommodation
- Kalehan Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Troy - Archeological Guided Site Visit
- Sirince - Wine Tasting
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Driving time today: approximately 6 hours
This morning enjoy an orientation walk around Selcuk, a sprawling town lying at the base of the ancient Aysoluk Hill fortress. Visit the last remaining column of the Temple of Artemis, the ancient aqueducts and the 14th-century Isabey Mosque during this fascinating tour. In the afternoon, visit one of the best-preserved classical cities in the eastern Mediterranean and arguably the greatest Greco-Roman site in the world – Ephesus. Tour the amphitheatre, stroll the marble streets once walked by Cleopatra and Mark Antony and marvel at the gymnasium, baths and restored Library of Celsus. Make a stop at Sultankoy. This small village is dedicated to carpet weaving, and here you can discover all about this traditional art form, from dying the wool to traditional weaving on wooden looms.
Accommodation
- Kalehan Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Selcuk - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Ephesus - Guided Archaeological site visit
- Selcuk - Isa Bey Camii
- Selcuk - Sultankoy Village Carpet Weaving
Optional Activities
- Selcuk - Basilica of St John - TRY25
- Selcuk - Archaeological Museum - TRY25
- Ephesus - Terrace Houses Entry - TRY45
Meals Included
- Breakfast
After breakfast this morning, travel to Pamukkale, also known as 'Cotton Castle' and a truly unique sight. This magical and spectacular natural phenomenon was created by deposits from thermal waters that cascaded down the mountainside over hundreds of years, forming myriad pools and terraces. As the water overflows, dazzling cream-coloured stalactites are formed that – from afar – resemble cotton or snow. The pools are filled with waters that many believe have healing properties for circulation and the digestive system. Close to Pamukkale are the ruins of Hierapolis, an important Roman bath centre founded by the King of Pergamon in 190 BC. Explore the extensive ruins of Hierapolis, which include a theatre, temple, holy area, monumental fountain, bath, basilica and necropolis.
Accommodation
- Melrose View Point Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Pamukkale - Hierapolis & Travertines National Park
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Driving time today: approximately 4 hours
Make the journey to the coast, with a stop en route at the ghost village of Kayakoy. Abandoned after WWI and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, this once-thriving village now lies as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and politics. Spend some time on the eerie streets, then continue to Kas (which means eyebrow in Turkish) and begin exploring on a walking tour. Now primarily a holiday town, Kas is strewn with the remains of Lycian tombs, iconic white-washed walls covered with climbing bougainvillea and an ancient theatre where you can watch a spectacular sunset.
Accommodation
- Linda Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kayakoy - Ghost Village
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Total driving time today: approximately 6 hours
Embark on a boat cruise around the local islands with two local guides, Mehmet and Sebahat. Hailing from the small village of Ucagiz, bought a boat and went fishing after they married and never stopped. While the fishing industry has shifted due to modern catchment methods, Mehmet and Sebahat decided to use their knowledge and love of the local waters to share a distinctly traditional way of cruising and eating with travellers. Cruise to their home village of Ucagiz and also to the village of Simena, sailing from large bays to protected inlets where you can cool off with a swim in turquoise waters. Enjoy lunch cooked on board in Tersane Bay, where the water is so clear you can see the bottom and the shore is lined with the ruins of an ancient city. Look out for ruins submerged under the clear water. After a day on the water, return to Kas for an evening at your leisure.
Accommodation
- Linda Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kas - Boat Cruise and lunch
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Take a scenic drive to the jewel in the Mediterranean crown – Antalya. Your accommodation is located in the Kaleici (Old City), so settle in on arrival and then head out on an afternoon walk to see Hadrians Gate, the Old Roman Harbour and more stunning views of the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Spend the night in the ancient Kaleci. While dinner this evening is not included, it would be a crime not to try some of the fresh, local seafood served in one of the many restaurants.
Accommodation
- Dogan Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Antalya - Kaleici visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Special Information
Total driving time today: approximately 3.5 hours
This morning take a guided visit though the Antalya Museum. The province of Antalya includes dozens of important ancient Hellenistic and Roman cities, and some of the best artefacts are on display in the museum’s 13 exhibition halls and open-air gallery. Your afternoon is free to spend as you wish. Maybe relax in the Kaleici, beat the heat with a swim or take an optional visit to the ancient cities of Side, Perge or Apsendos. Be sure to speak to your leader for details on these optional activities.
Accommodation
- Dogan Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Antalya - Antalya Museum
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Due to limited accommodation in the kaleici (Old Town) of Antalya it can sometimes be difficult to secure our preferred hotel. For this reason we have selected two alternative hotels of equal standard – Pudding Marina Hotel and Aspen Hotel.If you would like to confirm which hotel your group is staying at please contact your booking agent 30 days prior to departure.
Make a 2-hour morning drive in Burdur province to the city of Sagalassos. The ruins of the city are dramatically sited in the Taurus Mountains, offering magnificent views as well as impressive ancient monuments. Continue on to Konya, an ancient city important in the Roman era where the Sufi practice of 'whirling' was born.
Accommodation
- Şemsi Tebrizi or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Antalya - Sagalassos
Meals Included
- Breakfast
This morning discover the mystic resting place of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi, the 13th-century mystic, poet and theologian whose teachings continue to inspire and influence Muslims around the world. Visit the small museum dedicated to his life and work before continuing Cappadocia. Arrive by late afternoon, with time to see the main village and perhaps take a short valley walk with your leader. Your evening is free. One optional activity that may be of interest after what you learned this morning is a performance of whirling by local Dervishes in a restored han (caravansary).
Accommodation
- Heybe Hotel (Feature Stay) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Konya - Mevlana Museum
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Early birds have the option of taking a hot air balloon over the otherworldly Cappadocian landscape. The scene at sunrise is sure to take your breath away. After a relaxing breakfast on a terrace overlooking the valley, visit the Goreme Open Air Museum. See the many incredible houses, churches and monasteries carved out of the soft cliff face. The Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art, cave chapels and colourful biblical frescoes from the 10th–12th centuries. Later in the afternoon, go on a short walk through 'Love Valley' which is famous for its phallic rock formations. Then head back to your hotel in Goreme. Perhaps take an optional Turkish bath to unwind at the end of the day.
Accommodation
- Heybe Hotel (Feature Stay) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Cappadocia - Valley Walk
- Goreme - Open Air Museum
Optional Activities
- Goreme - Hot Air Balloon, Cappadocia Regular Flight - EUR195
- Goreme - Hot Air Balloon, Cappadocia Deluxe Flight - EUR250
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Please note that hot air ballooning can only be booked locally. Please speak to your trip leader at the beginning of the tour to organise this.
Head on a morning walk to what is arguably the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia, Kizilcukur. You'll see fascinating rock formations such as cones, peaks and fairy chimneys, as well as man-made cave chapels. After lunch, head toward the red river of Avanos and descend to Ozkonak, an underground city hollowed out of tufa rock that dates back to 400 BC. Explore this unique city, including the crude communication system that allowed signals to be sent between all ten levels. Return to the surface and visit a local potter. Discover the rich clay from the red river and watch how it is moulded into exquisite pieces, then return to your hotel via Devrent Valley.
Accommodation
- Heybe Hotel (Feature Stay) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Cappadocia - Pottery Demonstration
- Cappadocia - Ozkonak Underground City
Optional Activities
- Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR25
Meals Included
- Breakfast
This morning say goodbye to Cappadocia and return to Istanbul. On arrival in Istanbul, transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is yours to explore some of the charms of Istanbul. This evening consider joining your group and leader for an optional dinner.
Accommodation
- Legacy Ottoman Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Transfer to the airport in Cappadocia will take approximately 1.5 hours. The flight to Istanbul will be booked out of Nevsehir or Kayseria. Flight time is approximately 1.5 hours.
Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning.
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
14 breakfasts, 1 lunchTransport
Boat, Plane, Private aircon busAccommodation
Comfortable hotel (11 nights) Heybe Hotel Cappadocia Feature Stay (3 nights)Included Activities
- Istanbul - City Tour
- Istanbul - Blue Mosque
- Gallipoli - guided visit
- Troy - Archeological Guided Site Visit
- Sirince - Wine Tasting
- Selcuk - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Ephesus - Guided Archaeological site visit
- Selcuk - Isa Bey Camii
- Selcuk - Sultankoy Village Carpet Weaving
- Pamukkale - Hierapolis & Travertines National Park
- Kayakoy - Ghost Village
- Kas - Boat Cruise and lunch
- Antalya - Kaleici visit
- Antalya - Antalya Museum
- Antalya - Sagalassos
- Konya - Mevlana Museum
- Cappadocia - Valley Walk
- Goreme - Open Air Museum
- Cappadocia - Pottery Demonstration
- Cappadocia - Ozkonak Underground City
Dates & availability
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Important notes
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is 15kg for check in luggage and 8kg for carry on. You can store excess luggage at the start point hotel.
4. This trip starts at 1pm on Day 1 in Istanbul. This allows time after the welcome meeting to explore the city with your leader.
Essential trip information
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