Premium Turkey & the Caucasus

30 Days | Get beneath the surface of Turkey and the Caucasus Mountains

4.8 out of 5 based on 4 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
NZD $18,505
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Immerse yourself in four unforgettable countries wrapped up in stories on a 30-day Premium journey. Go deep into the ancient heart of fascinating Turkey, then continue to the vibrant green hillsides and majestic snow-capped mountains of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Explore lands where the walls hold the weight of centuries of rich history and where ancient traditions mingle with modern influences. Journey through forests and past towering peaks to find medieval mosques and villages. Travel with expert local leaders, make local friends along the way and discover there’s so much more to each destination than what meets the eye.

Trip overview

Map of Premium Turkey & The Caucasus including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey
Start
Istanbul, Turkey
Finish
Yerevan, Armenia
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia
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
Premium
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
ERPCC
This trip generates 69 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.
Premium accommodation

Our best 4-star accommodation and the highest level of service

Premium experiences

All must-see locations plus authentic experiences exclusive to Premium

Premium knowledge

Trips led by our most experienced and highest-rated local leaders


Why you'll love this trip
  • Get to the heart of Turkey and the Caucasus’s with experienced local leaders – enjoy guided city tours, stroll the ancient streets of Ephesus, learn the secrets of Troy, marvel at Baku’s diverse architecture, explore Tbilisi’s winding narrow streets, and uncover the history of ancient Yerevan.
  • Enjoy Feature Stays in Cappadocia, with elegantly decorated rooms carved from stone, and at an historic hotel which was home to the aristocratic Orbeliani family.
  • Uncover the real Turkey during Exclusive Experiences, including a cooking class with a chef, visit to an empowering carpet weaving cooperative, cruise around the southern coast, and traditional dinner at a local’s home in Cappadocia
  • Visit the Tserovani Refugee Settlement in Georgia during an Exclusive Experience, where you will visit a jewellery making workshop aimed at providing employment to displaced women within the camp, create a piece yourself and learn about the issues surrounding long-term displacement.
  • Marvel at ancient wonders and otherworldly sights, from the Cotton Castle of Pamukkale and psychedelic rockscapes of Cappadocia to the open-air archaeological museum of Qobustan in Azerbaijan and the magnificent cave town of Vardzia in Georgia.

Is this trip right for you?
  • There are some long drives on this trip which are necessary to fit in the incredible places these countries have to offer. These journeys are by private vehicle and although they may be a little tiring, they're a great chance to sit back and enjoy the passing scenery and chat to your fellow travellers.
  • Some activities in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, are weather and road condition dependent. For example, the trip to the high Caucasus around Kazbegi. Your leader will keep you up to date on any necessary itinerary changes due to local conditions.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024

Map of Premium Turkey & The Caucasus including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey

Inclusions

Meals

28 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle, Boat, Plane

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel (22 nights), Feature Stay (6 nights)

Premium Inclusions
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support
Activities
  • Istanbul - City Tour
  • Istanbul - Blue Mosque Visit
  • Istanbul - Welcome Dinner
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Gallipoli - Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair
  • Troy - Archaeological site visit
  • Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
  • Sirince - Village visit and fruit wine tasting
  • Selcuk - Cooking class
  • Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park
  • Kas - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Kas - Sailing trip with seafood lunch
  • Antalya - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Antalya - Phaselis Ancient City
  • Antalya - Antalya Museum
  • Konya - Mevlana Museum
  • Cappadocia - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Cappadocia - Sunset drinks
  • Cappadocia - Valley walk
  • Cappadocia - Goreme Open Air Museum
  • Cappadocia - Carpet weaving co-op
  • Cappadocia - Pottery demonstration
  • Cappadocia - Ozkonak Underground City
  • Cappadocia - Kizilcukur Valley
  • Cappadocia - Home-cooked dinner
  • Baku - Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
  • Baku - Palace of the Shirvanshahs
  • Baku - Walking Tour with Local Guide
  • Qobustan - Petroglyphs
  • Qobustan - Half Day Trip
  • Gobustan National Park Visit
  • Sheki - Khan's Palace
  • Sheki - Stained Glass Workshop Visit
  • Shamakhi - Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum & Juma Mosque
  • Kakheti - Lunch and Wine Tasting with a Local Family
  • Kakheti - Georgian Polyphonic Singing
  • Pankisi Valley tour and lunch
  • Gremi Archangels' Complex visit
  • Telavi - Market Tour with Tastings
  • Tbilisi - Market Visit
  • Tbilisi - Narikala Fortress & Cable Car
  • Tserovani - Visit to Ikorta & Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Hub
  • Meskheti - Khertvisi Fortress
  • Vardzia - Cave Town Visit with Local Guide
  • Gori - Stalin Museum
  • Stepantsminda - Gergeti Trinity Church
  • Haghpat - Haghpat Monastery
  • Geghard - Geghard Monastery
  • Lake Sevan - Sevanavank Monastery
  • Garni - Temple Visit & Duduk Performance
  • Yerevan - City Tour with Local Guide
  • Yerevan - Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex
Add on activities
  • Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY1700
  • Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
  • Selcuk - Ephesus Archaeological Museum - EUR10
  • Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry - EUR15
  • Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR30
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR275
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR325
  • Baku - National Museum of History of Azerbaijan - AZN10
  • Baku - National Carpet Museum - AZN10
  • Baku - The Heydar Aliyev Centre - AZN15
  • Tbilisi - Georgian National Museum - GEL30
  • Tbilisi - The National Gallery - GEL25
  • Tbilisi - Open Air Museum of Ethnography - GEL20
  • Tbilisi - Thermal Bath House Visit - from - GEL70

Dates and 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. There are a limited number of single supplements available per trip departure. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 
3. Due to current border crossing restrictions for different Caucasus nationalities, your Trip Leader may be from nearby Ukraine or Russia. Your leader will have in-depth knowledge and extensive travel experience throughout the Caucasus. Local guides from Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia are represented throughout the itinerary to ensure you receive a diverse and uniquely local range of perspectives.
4. Upon arrival in Baku, please meet your driver in the Arrivals Hall. If you are delayed beyond one hour after your scheduled arrival time or can't locate the driver, please call our local office representative in Baku at +994 552 974 020

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.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 based on 4 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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Rosemary · Traveled April 2024
The Premiun Turkey and the Caucasus was a great adventure learning about this part of the world. We had the opportunity on the tour to meet local people, experience wonderful sites and sample so many various local foods.
Review submitted 12 May 2024

Michael · Traveled April 2024
Our expectations for our Premium Turkey and the Caucasus Intrepid Tour were exceeded in the main because of our 2 excellent Tour Leaders, local guides and drivers and the memorable local experiences provided in all 4 countries. Our knowledge of these 4 countries has been significantly enhanced. We also appreciated travelling in small groups, in our case 11 and 9, which melded well and contributed to the fun we had as well. We have no hesitation recommending this trip to anyone who might be considering booking.
Review submitted 12 May 2024

Paul · Traveled May 2023
The Caucasus tour takes you to three striking cities, deserts, fertile river valleys, mosques, and Monasteries situated on lakes and snow covered mountains. But it also offers an intense history lesson of this turbulent region and an insight into geopolitics at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. It is a must do destination.
Review submitted 17 Jun 2023

Ann · Traveled June 2022
This was a very interesting and enjoyable trip, made more so by our tour guide Nilufer Celeb who did an outstanding job on the Turkey portion of the trip. I would have enjoyed more time exploring Armenia (we only had 2.5 days) and a little less in Georgia which was wonderful but 4 days would have been enough. Azerbaijan was beautiful and I'm sure there are more amazing places to visit there. Overall it was a great trip: I learned a lot and saw some wonderful historic places, beautiful scenery; loved the Caucasus landscapes of forested mountains, river valleys and gorges and of course the Turkish coastline. We were greeted everywhere by hospitable people and our tour mates were fun to travel with.
Review submitted 04 Jul 2022
Premium Turkey & the Caucasus
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