Turkey 13-Day Tour: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ephesus, Gulet & Cappadocia

Land in Istanbul and meet your tour guide at a welcome briefing. You spend the night in Istanbul.

Your guide collects you from the hotel at 09:30 AM for a full day on foot through the core of Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul.

• Topkapi Palace (optional), 09:45 AM - 11:15 AM: Tour the palace where the Ottoman sultans once lived and hear the history behind its architecture.
• Blue Mosque, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM: One of the city's signature landmarks, admired for its blue tiles and its sheer scale.
• Hippodrome, 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM: The old chariot-racing ground still holds three monuments. The Egyptian Obelisk is an ancient artifact shipped from Egypt to Istanbul, the Serpent Column is a relic of the ancient Greek world, and the German Fountain was a gift from the German Emperor Wilhelm II.
• Lunch, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: A break at a local restaurant (lunch not included).
• Hagia Sophia (optional), 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM: Go inside this UNESCO World Heritage Site to see its Byzantine architecture and its vast, richly decorated interior.
• Grand Bazaar, 4:15 PM - 5:30 PM: Finish in the world's oldest covered market, a lively place to shop for souvenirs, spices and textiles.

When the tour ends you are driven back to your Istanbul hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

At 07:30 AM the tour vehicle leaves your Istanbul hotel. The bus ride to Gallipoli takes about 5 hours.

• 12:30 PM: Arrival in Gallipoli and time for lunch (not included).
• 01:30 PM, memorial sites: Lone Pine honours the Australian soldiers who served in the Gallipoli Campaign. Chunuk Bair was a position of great strategic importance during the fighting. ANZAC Cove, where the ANZAC forces came ashore, stands for their courage and sacrifice.
• 03:30 PM, the battlefields: At The Nek you learn about some of the fiercest and most tragic fighting of the campaign. At Johnston's Jolly you walk among trenches and tunnels that show how intense the battles were.
• 05:30 PM: The Gallipoli tour ends and you transfer to Canakkale.

Overnight in Canakkale.

You leave your Canakkale hotel by tour vehicle at 08:00 AM. Troy is only about 30 minutes away by bus.

• 08:30 AM, Troy: Walk the archaeological site of the legendary city of the Trojan War and the Trojan Horse, and hear the history behind its ruins and its myths.
• 10:30 AM: Leave Troy for Pergamum, roughly 2.5 hours by bus.
• 01:00 PM, Acropolis of Pergamum: In Bergama you explore what was once an important cultural and political centre, known for its temples and wide views. Look for the Temple of Trajan, built for the Roman emperor, and the Library of Pergamum, once famous for its huge collection of scrolls.
• 01:30 PM: Lunch in Bergama (not included).
• 02:30 PM: Depart the Acropolis for Kusadasi, a drive of about 2 hours.
• 04:30 PM: Arrival in Kusadasi, where the day's tour ends.

At 10:00 AM the tour vehicle picks you up from your Kusadasi hotel for the 30-minute bus ride to Ephesus.

• 10:30 AM, Ephesus: Stroll the well-preserved streets of the ancient city, study its intricate buildings and listen to the stories its ruins still tell. Key sights are the Library of Celsus, the Great Theater and, for an additional fee, the optional Terrace Houses.
• 01:00 PM: Leave Ephesus for the Temple of Artemis, about 10 minutes by bus.
• 01:10 PM, Temple of Artemis: Among the ruins of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, picture how grand the temple once was.
• 01:40 PM: Set off for Sirince, about 20 minutes' drive.
• 02:00 PM, Sirince: This pretty village is known for its fruit wines. Wander its lanes, chat with the locals, taste the fruit-based wines and take in the quiet countryside.
• 03:30 PM: Leave Sirince for the 30-minute return to Kuşadası.
• 04:00 PM: Back in Kuşadası, the tour ends.

Overnight in Kusadasi.

At 9:00 AM the tour vehicle collects you from your hotel in Fethiye for the drive to Pamukkale, about 3 hours by bus. You arrive at 12:00 PM.

• Hierapolis ruins: The first stop is the ancient city of Hierapolis. Its archaeological site holds the remains of large buildings, streets and everyday objects that show how its people once lived.
• Lunch: Not included.
• Temple of Apollo: This classical temple among the ruins reflects the city's historical importance, and its architecture shows the cultural value of the ancient site.
• Calcium terraces: Walk gently across the white calcium terraces that make Pamukkale a natural treasure. Mineral-rich hot springs shaped this cascade of pools over time.

At 05:00 PM you check in to your accommodation in Pamukkale, where the day's tour ends. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Important note: Gulet cruises depend on the weather and the season. If the cruise cannot go ahead, accommodation on land is arranged instead, and the itinerary may change depending on the gulet's availability. Please contact us before you book.

Your gulet cruise sets sail from Fethiye. Over these days you swim, snorkel and explore islands and bays along the Turkish coast, with stops at historical sites such as Roman Baths and ancient Lycian towns. In between, relax on deck and enjoy the views around you.

Nights are spent on board the gulet. After the cruise you transfer to Antalya for the night.

• 09:00 AM - Perge: Explore the ancient city of Perge, with its grand theater, its colonnaded road and ruins that take you back through the centuries.
• 11:00 AM - Aspendos Theater: Visit Aspendos, celebrated as one of the best-preserved ancient theaters in Turkey and known for its architecture and acoustics.
• 12:30 PM - Lunch break (not included): Try regional dishes at a local restaurant.
• 2:00 PM - Side: Walk the old streets of the ancient city of Side and see its amphitheater and its famous Temple of Apollo.
• 4:00 PM: Flight to Cappadocia.
• 6:00 PM: Arrival at your hotel in Cappadocia.

The tour usually starts around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.

• Goreme Esentepe panorama: The day opens at the Esentepe viewpoint between Uçhisar and Göreme, where the fairy chimneys and the town of Esentepe spread out below you.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum: This former monastic settlement was once a centre of Christian learning. Its monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-preserved frescoes from the region's past.
• Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, also called “Pasha's Vineyard”, is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys, some of the most striking rock shapes in Cappadocia.
• Devrent Valley: A short drive away, Devrent looks almost like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed chimneys invite you to spot animals and mythical creatures in the rock.
• Avanos pottery workshop: Avanos has made pottery since 3000 BC, using clay from the Red River. At a traditional workshop you watch local artisans shape their ceramics by hand.
• Love Valley: The final stop is Love Valley, where millions of years of erosion have carved cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys, some up to 40 meters tall. It is one of the strangest and most photogenic places in the region.
• Turkish Night (optional): An evening of traditional music, folklore and belly dancing, enjoyed over a good meal.

Overnight in Cappadocia.

If you wish, begin with an optional hot air balloon flight at sunrise. You drift over the fairy chimneys and rock formations as the sky changes colour, then toast the landing with champagne before the transfer back to your hotel.

The tour usually starts around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.

• Meskendir Valley (4.4 km trek): The day starts with a 4.4 km walk through Meskendir Valley near Ortahisar. You can go inside Meskendir Church to see its bold red geometric decoration and the large cross carved into the chapel ceiling.
• Rose Valley: Behind Ürgüp, this quiet valley is known for its rock shapes and tucked-away rock-cut churches. Footpaths run through vineyards and gardens between small villages, and locals sometimes offer walkers fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
• Red Valley: Rose Valley's neighbour has similar rock formations and old cave churches. Its trails criss-cross like a spider's web, linking remote villages and farmland.
• Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin is one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia, a maze of cave houses cut into the rock. It is also home to the 5th-century Church of John the Baptist, the largest cave church in Cappadocia.
• Underground City: Early Christians built 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to escape persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them. It has eight levels, and you can explore parts of it, including old wineries, kitchens and living quarters.
• Pigeon Valley: On the edge of Göreme, this valley takes its name from the pigeon houses carved into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once used the droppings as fertiliser for their fields. Today it is a fine spot for wide views and photos.
• Uchisar Castle panorama: The tour ends in Uçhisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its rock castle once served as a fortress, and from the top you look across the whole region to Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.

After the tour you transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast the tour comes to an end. Say goodbye to the friends you have made on the road and depart from Istanbul.

Optional extras

• Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (GOREME): $310
• One extra night at an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
• Upgrade to a private tour: $650