Best of Turkey

15 Days | Get to know a Turkish way of life, from coast to city

4.8 out of 5 based on 197 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
USD $2,156

Get your Turkish delights on a 15-day adventure in Istanbul. This trip is a mix of ancient ruins and modern cities, Islamic mysticism and Ottoman influence, inland discoveries and coastal cruising, and everything in between! Discover Gallipoli on a guided tour that will teach you about its significance during the First World War, unlock the secrets of the ancient city of Ephesus, admire Oludeniz’s Blue Lagoon from high up on the ancient Lycian Way and swim in the Mediterranean on a traditional gulet cruise from Kas. From the winding laneways of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to the bizarre landscapes of Cappadocia, take the plunge and discover a new way of experiencing Turkey.

Trip overview

Map of Best Of Turkey 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
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
ERSI
This trip generates 36 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
  • Discover the ancient and modern lives within Turkey as you explore thousands of years of history in the remarkable ruins of Ephesus, discover a WWI battlefield in Gallipoli, and immerse yourself in the vibrant vibe of the university town Eskesihir.
  • Take in the dizzying diversity of this epic landscape with a visit to the stunning natural hot springs of Pamukkale, a cruise along the picture-perfect Turkish coast over Sunken Cities, and an optional hot-air balloon ride over the fairy-tale land of Cappadocia.
  • Get to know the friendly locals with a fruit wine tasting in the serene village of Sirince and a home-cooked dinner at a local cave home in Cappadocia, then get treated to a Turkish BBQ feast by your local hosts in Kayakoy and get your hands dirty making ci borek – a popular local snack.
  • Pull on your walking shoes and set out on a half-day trek along a section of rugged coastline, following part of the ancient walking trail of the Lycian Way and exploring the exotic landscape of Cappadocia on a short hike in the valley.
  • Get among local life, from taking local buses and trains to enjoying a traditional gulet (boat) trip and staying in one of the cave hotels that Cappadocia is famed for.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, CYDD (Çağdaş Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği). Donations help them provide scholarships and educational programs for economically disadvantaged youth in Turkey.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip uses a combination of public and private transport, and all vehicles are modern and have air-conditioning and most are fitted with seat belts. Some journeys can be long in order to maximise the areas visited, but this gives you a chance to interact with the local community and see more of the country. You'll also be pleasantly surprised to find most Turkish buses have wi-fi and serve coffee and cake! Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the bus, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the ‘Essential Trip Information’ section.

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025

Itinerary

Map of Best Of Turkey including Turkey

Inclusions

Meals

14 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private Bus, Public Bus, Train, Dolmus, Gulet (boat)

Accommodation

Hotel (10 nights), Guest house (4 nights)

Activities
  • Istanbul - Orientation Walk
  • Gallipoli - Fully guided Gallipoli tour & visit to the Commonwealth graveyards
  • Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Troy - Archaeological site visit
  • Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
  • Sirince - Village visit and fruit wine tasting
  • Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park
  • Kayakoy - Village visit
  • Lycian Way - Hike from Kayakoy to Oludeniz Beach
  • Kayakoy - Home-cooked Turkish BBQ dinner
  • Kas - Leader led orientation walk
  • Kas - Handicraft market
  • Kekova - Turkish Coast Cruising & Sunken Cities
  • Konya - Mevlana Museum
  • Cappadocia - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Cappadocia - Dinner at Local Family Home
  • Goreme - Valley walk
  • Eskisehir - Odunpazarı Village Visit
  • Eskisehir - Ci Börek making & tasting
Optional activities
  • Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY1700
  • Istanbul - Turkish Hamam (inc. massage) - EUR100
  • Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
  • Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - EUR15
  • Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - EUR17
  • Selcuk - Basilica of St John - EUR6
  • Selcuk - Ephesus Archaeological Museum - EUR10
  • Selcuk - Meryemana (Mary's House) - EUR15
  • Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry - EUR15
  • Pamukkale - Hierapolis Museum - Free
  • Pamukkale - Cleopatra Ancient Pool - TRY340
  • Konya - Karatay Museum - EUR3
  • Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR30
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR325
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR275
  • Goreme - Open Air Museum - EUR20
  • Goreme - Underground city - EUR13

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. This trip starts in Istanbul on Day 1 at 1.00 pm. This allows time after the joining meeting to explore Istanbul with your Leader.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

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 197 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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Margaret · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 15 Nov 2024

Vanie · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 09 Nov 2024

Scott · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 29 Oct 2024

Dawn · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 22 Oct 2024

Laura · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 20 Oct 2024
Best of Turkey
From
USD $2,156