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Highlights of Turkey

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9 days

Discover Turkey's highlights, from Istanbul's historic sites like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia to the World War I landmarks at Gallipoli. Explore ancient Troy and Pergamum, and marvel at the ruins of Ephesus and the natural wonder of Pamukkale. Conclude with a visit to Cappadocia’s unique landscapes and underground cities before returning to Istanbul.

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Free cancellation
Free amends
Available on all departures booked at least 40 days in advance. Cancel or change your booking for FREE for up to 7 days after booking

Tour Overview

Duration

9 days

Starts

Istanbul

Ends

Istanbul

Range

Signature

Tour Guide

Yes - escorted by a tour guide

Group Size

Min 2 / Max 24

Minimum age

15 yrs, accompanied by an adult

Departs

Saturdays

Hotel Rating

4 star

Countries

Turkey

Arrival Transfer

Yes - from IST or SAW

Departure Transfer

Yes - ends at Istanbul Airport (IST)

Meals included

Breakfast: 8, Dinner: 7
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Per Person From
$3,845.00
NZD$3,076.00
Deposit From
Final payment
NZD$1,000.00
$5,152.00

Tour Highlights

Cappadocia – Admire the surreal landscape and explore Goreme Valley, discovering clifftop houses, rock-cut chapels and castles
Istanbul – Visit highlights of the Old City including the beautiful Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and imposing Topkapi Palace
Ephesus – Tour the marble ruins of this Roman city which was once the site of the great Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders
Pamukkale – Stroll around the terraced pools and opt for a relaxing dip in the naturally warm and calcium rich waters
Gallipoli – Pay your respects at the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials and visit ANZAC Cove, a famous WW1 landing site
Troy – Discover the legendary ruins and see a replica of the famous wooden horse which as the story goes, was used to sack the city
Pergamum – Marvel at the Roman amphitheatre which is one of the steepest in the classical world
Hierapolis – See the UNESCO-listed ruins of this ancient spa town, built on the site of natural hot springs

Included

Breakfast daily and 7 dinners
8 nights 4 star and special class hotels
Airport arrival transfer on day 1
Economy class flight from Cappadocia (Keyseri Airport) to Istanbul on day 9
Guided sightseeing - Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum, Pamukkale, Hierapolis and Cappadocia
Escorted by an English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide
All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles

Not Included

International flights and visa
Tip for your tour guide and driver. We recommend you allow EUR €5 - 7 per day, per traveller as a tip for your guide and EUR €2 per day for your driver. Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture
Entrance Fees: EUR€255-275pp, paid in EUR
Tipping Kitty: EUR€45-55pp, paid in EUR
Tipping is not a natural part of many Western cultures and many of us feel uncomfortable, or unsure, about when, or how much, to tip. However, in the places you will visit, tipping makes up a significant part of many people's wages so it's important that we get it right. For this reason we've developed a very simple system to take all the hassle out of tipping. With our 'tipping made easy' policy, a nominal pre-determined amount is collected from all group tour participants to cover tips en route. This then saves you the hassle of when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage handlers, local guides and other support staff through the tour. Our 'tipping made easy' doesn't include a tip to your group tour leader. Naturally, though, the amount is up to you as tipping is an entirely personal gesture.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to Turkey

Saturday. Welcome to Turkey and the start of your holiday. There's an included arrival transfer to our hotel. After check in, relax in the hotel or head out and explore the city. At 8 pm, we'll gather in the hotel to meet our fellow travellers and the guide before our adventure begins.

Overnight: Istanbul

Day 2 - The Old City

This morning we'll embark on a fascinating tour through the Old City of Istanbul, we'll visit stunning examples of architecture that hail from the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires eras. We’ll visit the stunning Blue Mosque, both inside and out. See the six exterior minarets and the famed blue Iznik tiles. Discover the Hippodrome and view the exterior of Hagia Sophia, which was constructed as a Basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. Finally, we explore the impressive interior of Topkapi Palace, which was the main residence of the Ottoman sultans in the 15th century.

Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 - Gallipoli - WW1 Battlefields

Istanbul – Gallipoli. Today we explore ANZAC Cove and the many memorials dotted across the WW1 battlefields. Our guided tour takes in sights including ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Bair Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches still clearly visible amongst the scrub after all these years.

Overnight: Canakkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4 - Troy & Kusadasi

Gallipoli – Kusadasi. This morning we enjoy a short guided tour of Troy. The legend of the lost city of Troy and Homer’s poetry was brought to life by it’s rediscovery in 1863. Subsequent excavations revealed nine ancient cities, one on top of the other, dating back to 3000 BC. We enjoy a tour of the ruins and admire a replica of the Trojan wooden horse that, as legend goes, was filled with Aechaean soldiers who helped to sack Troy.

Driving further south we reach the ancient ruins of Pergamum, home to one of the steepest amphitheatres in the classical world. Pergamum was also famous for its Asclepion (medical centre). We continue to Kusadasi on the Aegean Coast via a leather manufacturing house.

Overnight: Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 - Ancient Ephesus

Today, we explore legendary Ephesus - perhaps the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. Under Roman rule, Ephesus was a vast and prosperous city with a population nearing 250,000. It was an important centre of commerce and a popular destination for pilgrims who came to see the great Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Ancient Wonders.

We have plenty of time to tour the marble ruins of Ephesus. Discover the famous Library of Celsus, the Stadium, the gymnasium of Vedius and the Great Theatre. We’ll see ancient public toilets, a brothel, fountains and various temples. There's also a visit to a carpet manufacturing house.

Overnight: Kusadasi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 - Pamukkale Thermal Pools

Kusadasi – Pamukkale. Driving east, we arrive at Pamukkale - home of the famous gleaming white calcium terraced pools. Known locally as the Cotton Castles, they're a natural phenomena and gift from Mother Nature. Pamukkale was formed when warm, calcium rich mineral water cascaded over the cliff edge, cooling and depositing in the process. The calcium built natural shelves and pools on the cliffs are known as travertines. Take a barefoot walk along the travertines or opt for a dip in the warm waters of the thermal pool, with its submerged fragments of fluted marble columns.

Our last stop of the day is the ruined spa town of Hierapolis, famed for the curative powers of its mineral springs. These were dammed to create communal baths.

Overnight: Pamukkale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 - Fairytale Cappadocia

Pamukkale - Konya - Cappadocia. This morning, we depart from Pamukkale and journey towards Cappadocia, making a notable stop at the Sultanhani Caravanserai, a beautifully preserved example of ancient Silk Road architecture. Continue through the stunning landscapes of Cappadocia, famous for its fairy chimneys and unique geological formations. Arrive in Cappadocia and check into your hotel, where you'll spend the two nights.

Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 - Explore Cappadocia

Today, we enjoy a guided tour of Cappadocia - perhaps the jewel in Turkey’s crown. Cappadocia is one of Turkey’s most extraordinary national treasures. The utter improbability of the surreal landscape has to be seen to be believed with its ‘stuff of fables’ cave dwellings and phallic ‘fairy chimneys’ landscape. Whole troglodyte villages, subterranean churches and fortresses have been hewn from the soft, porous, eerily eroded rock of Cappadocia.

A guided tour of the region takes us to the World Heritage listed Goreme Valley. See stunning examples of rock-cut Byzantine churches, chapels and temples. Marvel at Zelve, with its phallic-like eroded landscape. Stopping on the outskirts of Goreme Village we have the opportunity to see Pigeon Valley, where centuries old pigeon houses are carved into the surrounding cliffs. Our tour also takes in the incredible Uchisar castle-mountain. Enjoy marvelous views of Cappadocia from the summit and explore the underground city of Kaymakli.

You'll also have the opportunity to visit an Onyx shop, which specializes in historic jewellery designs that are unique to Turkey and crafted using local materials. For those not interested in shopping, there's time to relax and grab a drink from the local cafe. This evening, we enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Cappadocia
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 - Goodbye

Sunday. Cappadocia - Istanbul. After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your included flight to Istanbul, arriving at IST airport by 12pm. To account for any potential delays, we recommend booking any onward flights after 3pm. Alternatively, contact us to book a night of post-tour accommodation.

The tour concludes upon arrival in Istanbul. Wishing you safe and pleasant travels!

Meals: Breakfast

Extras and add-ons

If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation

Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.

Pre-Tour Accommodation - Istanbul (From price)

Double

$295per passenger

Twin

$295per passenger

Single

$535per passenger

Post-Tour Accommodation - Istanbul (From price)

Double

$295per passenger

Twin

$295per passenger

Single

$535per passenger

Additional Excursions

Enhance your tour with these optional extras, helping you to get the most from your adventure.

Princes' Island | Istanbul | Russia
Princes Islands

Located in the Sea of Marmara off the coast of Istanbul, the Princes’ Islands are a chain of nine islands offering a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of Turkey’s largest city. Buyukada is the largest island of the nine and one of the most attractive with two peaks and gingerbread-style villas lining the slopes.

$305

per passenger

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.

If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.

Kent Hotel
Istanbul

The charming Kent Hotel is a great example of contemporary design and a friendly atmosphere. Guest rooms are superbly equipped with modern facilities including Wi-Fi connectivity, state of the art technology and bright marbled bathrooms. Enjoying a delicious Turkish meal at the in house Calcedoine Restaurant after a hard days sightseeing is highly recommended. The hotel is also fantastically located within a 10-minute walk of the Grand Bazaar and Old Town in the Bayazit area in the European side of Istanbul.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Remida Hotel
Canakkale

Remida Hotel serves as your gateway to the rich history and breathtaking landscapes of Çanakkale, seamlessly blending modern luxury with historical charm. Enjoy panoramic views from your room, where you can watch the first ships entering the Dardanelles and gaze across the Gulf of Saros to the distant Greek islands of Samothrace and Lemnos. Designed with minimalist glam, the hotel’s lobby features artifacts from ancient Troy and showcases the exquisite handicrafts of Çanakkale. Each room is equipped with modern comforts, including air conditioning, a mini bar, television, hair dryer, and kettle.

Our Rating
Standard
Local Rating
3 Star Hotel
Colossae Thermal Spa Hotel
Pamukkale

Set in landscaped gardens, the Colossae Thermal Spa Hotel has an envious location in Pamukkale. Guest rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated and offer a wonderful level of comfort, ensuring a good night's sleep. The on site thermal spa offers guests the chance to relax, revitalise and enjoy what this region is most famous for. Breakfast can be eaten outside on the terrace while dinner is often taken by the shimmering water of the pool.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Burcu Kaya Hotel
Cappadocia

Burcu Kaya Hotel, nestled in Cappadocia's Ortahisar District, offers an enchanting stay with its outdoor pool overlooking fairy chimneys, charming stone rooms, and a peaceful garden. The air-conditioned rooms combine authentic decor with modern comforts like flat-screen TVs, minibars, and private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries. Guests can enjoy meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients at the on-site restaurant or relax with a drink by the lobby bar's fireplace. The hotel also offers activities such as table tennis, darts, and billiards, along with 24-hour assistance. Conveniently located, the hotel is a 5-minute walk from Ortahisar town center.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel

Prices & Dates

All departure dates are guaranteed to operate when there are 2 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room.

2024
Twin/Double
Single
7 Dec - 15 Dec
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$3,845$3,076
$5,095$4,076
2025
Twin/Double
Single
4 Jan - 12 Jan
Save 20%
$3,845$3,076
$5,095$4,076
15 Feb - 23 Feb
Save 20%
$3,845$3,076
$5,095$4,076
1 Mar - 9 Mar
Save 20%
$3,845$3,076
$5,095$4,076
15 Mar - 23 Mar
Save 20%
$3,845$3,076
$5,095$4,076
22 Mar - 30 Mar
Save 20%
$4,055$3,244
$5,505$4,404
5 Apr - 13 Apr
Save 20%
$4,055$3,244
$5,505$4,404
12 Apr - 20 Apr
Save 20%
$4,055$3,244
$5,505$4,404
19 Apr - 27 Apr
Save 20%
$4,055$3,244
$5,505$4,404

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