Turkey Explored

18 Days | Coastal cruising and chimney viewing, from Istanbul to Cappadocia

4.6 out of 5 based on 35 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
AUD $2,495
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Travel from Istanbul through the very best of Turkey – Gallipoli, Fethiye, Pamukkale, Antalya, Cappadocia and Ankara – and discover the people, cultures, cuisine and landscapes that make this country such a treasure. Historically rich with its medieval Ottoman period and chronicle of Gallipoli, and fashionably chic with the cosmopolitan buzz of Istanbul and celebrity getaway of Antalya, Turkey is an unmissable country that overflows with character. Pay your respects in Gallipoli, hike into the Valley of Love in Cappadocia, cruise the south coast on a traditional gulet and understand why Istanbul is considered the centre of the world. Take 18 days with Intrepid to get the absolute best out of this intriguing nation.

Trip overview

Map of Turkey Explored including Turkey
Start
Istanbul, Turkey
Finish
Istanbul, Turkey
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Turkey
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Basix
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
ERRTC
This trip generates 34 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Explore the continent-straddling metropolis of Istanbul, and step back in time to when it was Constantinople with the backstreets of the Grand Bazaar and at the Hagia Sophia.
  • Reflect on battles fought and lives lost with a moving visit to the Gallipoli Peninsula, a serene stretch of coastline where it's now hard to picture the horrors of war.
  • Spend two days exploring the cliffside waterfalls, cobblestone alleyways and ancient ruins of Antalya, a city on the Mediterranean Coast.
  • You'll dig into local Turkish delicacies like the famous wet burgers, enjoy a local lunch at a traditional Aspava and get your taste buds tingling with a borek tasting.
  • Discover UNESCO world heritage site - Hattusas Ancient Site - known for its well-preserved temples and royal residences.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This is a trip made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has a mix of included activities and free time when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
  • Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be very high in July and August, though the east will be cooler than the city. The weather can be hot in July and August, but this is also the best time to enjoy the clear water of the Mediterranean – don’t forget your swim gear.
  • You’ll need your walking shoes, a hat, some sunscreen, and a daypack to explore the historical sites. All site tours are guided, but you can wander at your own pace if you prefer.

Itinerary

Map of Turkey Explored including Turkey

Inclusions

Meals

16 breakfasts, 3 lunches

Transport

Public Bus, Private Vehicle, Train, Tram, Funicular

Accommodation

Hotel (15 nights), Pension (1 night), Guesthouse (1 night)

Activities
  • Istanbul - Orientation Walk
  • Gallipoli - Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair
  • Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Kekova - Turkish Coast day sailing
  • Konya - Leader led orientation walk
  • Cappadocia - Valley walk
  • Bogazkale - Hattusha UNESCO Archaeological Site
  • Ankara - Orientation Walk
  • Ankara - Mausoleum of Ataturk
  • Ankara - Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
  • Eskisehir - Odunpazarı Village Visit
  • Eskisehir - Ci Borek Cooking Demonstration
  • Istanbul - Taksim District Orientation Walk
  • Istanbul – Street Food Tasting (Wet Burger)
Add on activities
  • Istanbul - Spice Market - Free
  • Istanbul - Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat) - TRY150
  • Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY1500
  • Istanbul - Turkish Hamam (inc. massage) - EUR100
  • Istanbul - Galata Tower - EUR30
  • Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
  • Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - EUR15
  • Ephesus - Archaeological site visit - EUR40
  • Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry - EUR15
  • Selcuk - Basilica of St John - EUR6
  • Selcuk - Meryemana (Mary's House) - EUR15
  • Pamukkale - Cleopatra Ancient Pool - TRY200
  • Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park - EUR30
  • Kayakoy - Village visit - EUR3
  • Antalya - Antalya Museum - EUR15
  • Antalya - Aspendos Ancient City - EUR15
  • Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR30
  • Goreme - Open Air Museum - EUR20
  • Cappadocia - Derinkuyu Underground City - EUR13
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR260
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR330
  • Cappadocia - Kaymakli Underground City - EUR13
  • Ankara - Independence War Museum - EUR6
  • Eskisehir - Gondola Ride - TRY50

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This is a combination trip and the composition of your group may change throughout your trip.
3. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Turkey before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. We have links to prominent government travel advisories and regular updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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Reviews

4.6 out of 5 based on 35 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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James · Traveled October 2023
A dive into the history, culture and beauty of Turkey. Our guide, Melika, was very knowledgeable and the whole group really made the trip special. The group rocking along to Bohemian Rhapsody on the bus to Ankara was also fun and unexpected.
Review submitted 20 Oct 2023

Sisikazi · Traveled September 2023
I had a great experience with lovely travellers . I will definitely recommend Intrepid to my friends. I had FUN
Review submitted 18 Oct 2023

Josh · Traveled September 2023
Loved this tour. Was able to see so much of this incredible culture in so many different formats. Can’t wait to come back to all my favourite places I was introduced to in this tour.
Review submitted 28 Sep 2023

Anna · Traveled September 2023
Turkey is an incredible country and quite diverse. This trip covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time. You will certainly be able to see all the highlights. As expected with a trip like this there is a large chunk of travel and a lot of that will be on public buses. The accommodation is basic and while the location of the accommodation was generally pretty good, our accommodation in Cappadocia was unfortunately not in Goreme (the main town) and it was instead a 15 minute drive away and not connected with public transport. This meant that it was difficult to go and do activities by yourself (which is what a basic trip is meant to allow for). Our tour leader was disorganized and lacked training - he did not give clear information on the itinerary or activities. We were a friendly, competent group that ended up having to self-research and self-managed to ensure we had a group trip. The other people in the group were lovely that made for an enjoyable trip.
Review submitted 07 Oct 2023

Rose · Traveled September 2023
Intrepid needs to provide significant further communication and interpersonal skills training to their guide. Our guide was more of a chaperone getting us from A to B and did not provide any local value add. This led to stress and frustration for the group. I cannot recommend Intrepid after this experience.
Review submitted 06 Oct 2023
Turkey Explored
From
AUD $2,495