Travel Turkey on this 14-night guided tour. See Cappadocia, where golden landscapes give way to caverns below. You’ll descend into a local resident’s cave house for a tour and talk about their way of life. Later, see whirling dervishes — twirling dancers who will entertain you during a special dinner. In Göreme, explore rock-hewn churches decorated with ancient paintings before dining on the unique flavors served at a local restaurant that supports women from the village. Travel to Turkey’s third largest city, Izmir, and explore one of the world’s finest archaeological sites, Ephesus. Here, walk to its gargantuan amphitheater, which could seat as many as 24,000 people. In Istanbul, see the Blue Mosque’s tiled domes and the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held. Try your hand at bargaining in the city’s Grand Bazaar, which includes more than 4,000 shops.

 Your Fly & Tour Package Includes:

• $2100 flight credit per person
• 14-night Treasures of Turkey guided tour, Istanbul return
• Return private transfers

Tour includes:

• Stylish hand-picked hotels
• 14 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 9 Dinners with Wine
• Orientation tours of Bursa, Ankara, Izmir & Troy
• City tours of Göreme, Ephesus & Istanbul
• Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise
• Avanos Pottery Making Lesson
• See the Travertine Pools at Pamukkale
• Korinthia Temple of Aphrodite
• Visit Anzac Cove in Gallipoli

 Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 1-15 September 2024, Alternative dates are available surcharges may apply.

Solo traveller pricing available. Please speak to one of our travel consultants for more details

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1 | Welcome to Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey. You’ll start in vibrant Istanbul located in the heart of the city, you’ll be close to Taksim Square, which is famous for its Republic Monument, dining and shopping options. Join your Travel Director at 18:30 for a dinner with wine at a local restaurant, where you’ll get to know your fellow travellers.

Meals: Dinner with Wine

Day 2 | Bosphorus Cruise and Bursa

In the morning embark on a cruise along Bosphorus Strait, one of the world’s busiest waterways. Leisurely cruise past the quaint shing villages that line its shores. Travel towards the old city and see the beautiful Ottoman palaces and fortresses, on the waterfront. Later, leave Istanbul for Bursa. A large city in northwest Turkey, it was the rst major capital of the Ottoman Empire. Here we visit the Green Mosque, the Grand Mosque and the Mausoleum complex. There will be time in the afternoon to explore the city’s bazaars, silk markets and historic monuments. This evening, venture to a local restaurant for a tasty meal.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 3 | Cumalikizik and Gordion

Begin your day of culture in the charming village of Cumalikizik, with its traditional wooden houses and very narrow cobblestone streets. Later you’ll head to Gordion, which was once the capital city of ancient Phrygia, as you make your way to Turkey’s modern capital, Ankara. Enjoy a relaxed evening at your hotel, the Hilton SA. Perhaps take a dip in its indoor pool or unwind in its jacuzzi or hammam.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 | Sophisticated Ankara

A day for history enthusiasts, explore Turkey’s bustling cultural capital, Ankara. Sightseeing includes a visit to the Hittite Museum and Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Atatürk, Turkey's greatest modern leader and the rst President of the Republic of Turkey. Later, head to Avanos in Cappadocia. Famed for its unique geological formation, Cappadocia is a scenic delight with golden hills and panoramic views.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 5 | The Underground Cities of Cappadocia Experience

With its striking golden, volcanic landscapes, underground city and otherworldly buildings, Cappadocia could never be called ordinary. At every turn you’ll be delighted with yet another geographical or architectural surprise. Today you’ll travel to the striking town of Göreme. Explore its rock-hewn churches decorated with ancient wall paintings. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Uçhisar Kadineli Restaurant and get a taste of Anatolia’s regional avours. This establishment provides employment for the women of the village and supports their nancial freedom. Next, continue on to the Pasabag Valley and visit the underground city of Özkonak where you’ll have time to explore its tunnels and holes with your Travel Director. Later, join a Cappadocian local who has lived in the city for decades and take a tour of their cave house. Explore this unique way of living, learning about local traditions and family life. This evening you’ll witness a performance of Whirling Dervishes before dining at a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with Wine

Day 6 | Konya

Start your day by learning more about traditional pottery making in Avanos. It’s then time to take a journey along the famous Silk Road to visit a 13th century caravanserai, a historic roadside inn where travellers would rest and recover after a day’s journey, most notably along the iconic road itself. Later, you’ll head to Turkey’s most religious city, Konya, the old capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire. Once here, visit the Mevlana Museum, with its beautiful uted turquoise dome, and see the Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 7 | Through the Taurus Mountains

You day begins with a scenic drive down the Taurus Mountains to Aspendos, an ancient city in Antalya. Known for having the bestpreserved Roman theatre anywhere in the world, learn more as you explore it with your fellow travellers. Continue to your hotel for the next two nights and enjoy time to relax.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 8 | Antalya's Old Town

Start your day with a visit to Antalya's pretty Old Town, with its souvenir markets and sweeping sea views. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the leisure facilities at your hotel. Alternatively, explore Antalya at your own pace. Ask your Travel Director for recommendations on places to explore in the city, take a stroll around the harbour or perhaps take a boat trip off the coast.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 | The Pools of Pamukkale

Cross the soaring Taurus Mountains to see the remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis, a Roman spa city founded around 190 B.C. Next to the ruins, you can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale. Famous for its mineral-rich thermal waters and chalk-white limestone terraces, explore the area with your Travel Director. Later, head back to your hotel, the esteemed Doğa Thermal Health & Spa. Take full advantage of its indoor and outdoor thermal pools, steam room and its Turkish bath complex.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 10 | Kusadasi

Start your morning with a trip to the Temple of Aphrodite, dedicated to the goddess of love, beauty and fertility, in Geyre. Based in the ruins of the ancient city of Aphrodisias, it was the focal point of the city in its heyday. You’ll see the towering, fourteen columns of the temple that have been re-erected. Arrive into the coastal resort of Kusadasi for an evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 | Izmir and Ancient Ephesus

This morning you’ll explore pretty Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city. A vibrant destination on Turkey’s Aegean coast, it is was founded by the Greeks and has been an important port since ancient times. Before discovering one of the world's nest archaeological sites, Ephesus. Walk through the colonnaded Arcadian Way, see the Library of Celsus and the huge Amphitheater, before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, situated above the Ephesus ruins and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 12 | Pergamon, Troy and Çanakkale

Begin your day of legends with a trip to Pergamon. Once a powerful ancient Greek city, you’ll nd the Asklepion temple here. A famous shrine and healing centre, it was built in honour of Asklepios, the god of medicine. Next, head to Homer’s city of Troy, the focal point of the Trojan war and the backdrop to one of history’s most famous love stories, that of Paris and Helen of Troy, the face that launched 1000 ships. A replica of the mighty Trojan Horse, which helped the Greeks capture the city in 1200 B.C., can be found beside the city’s walls. After some time exploring, continue your journey to Çanakkale, a gateway to the Gallipoli WWI battleelds.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 | Gallipoli and ANZAC Cove

This morning, cross the Dardanelles Strait by ferry to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Located in the southern part of East Thrace, it was here that, for nine months during the Great War, Anzac troops fought, in an attempt to gain control of the Dardanelles Strait. Learn more about these events as you visit Anzac Cove and pay your respects at the Lone Pine Cemetery. Later, return to Istanbul where you’ll spend the next two nights.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 14 | Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire

Today you’ll take in the sites of Istanbul. In the morning, visit the historic Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome, where Roman chariot races were held, before exploring Hagia Sophia. Built in A.D. 537, it has recently turned from a museum into a mosque and is famous for its domed roof. Visit the Topkapi Palace, perched above the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the primary inlet of the waterway. Enjoy the excitement of bargaining in the bustling Grand Bazaar. In the evening, join your fellow travellers and toast to your trip over a Celebration Dinner at a local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 15 | Farewell Istanbul

It’s time to say goodbye to your new friends, as your trip comes to an end.

Meals: Breakfast