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Essential Turkey

Activity

Culture

Overview

Discover the rich tapestry of Turkey, from the wonders of Istanbul to ancient empires and natural beauty

Turkey is a feast for mind and soul – and this compact adventure is a meze-like menu of the best bits. Guided by an expert local tour leader, you’ll experience the many wonders of Istanbul, walk in the footsteps of Achilles in Troy, bathe in the thermal waters of the Cotton Castle, and master Turkish cuisine in a family-run cooking class. There’s plenty more to enjoy too – including plenty of natural beauty – providing the perfect introduction to a land of endless adventures.

Key Information

Trip Code: ATS
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Turkey
Carbon Footprint: 65.0kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts, one lunch, one dinner
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Highlights

Capture the essence of Turkey, from the ancient world to natural wonders
Explore the highlights of Istanbul, a city spread over two continents and thousands of years
Time travel at the ancient cities of Troy, Hierapolis and Perge
Master meze and more in a family-led cooking class
Bathe in the thermal waters of a natural wonder: the Pamukkale Cotton Castle
Unwind on the turquoise Mediterranean coast of Antalya

Itinerary

First Destination: Istanbul
Next Destination: Antalya

Meals included:None

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Istanbul
Next Destination: Antalya

Begin your adventure in the transcontinental city of Istanbul, an enthralling cultural powerhouse packed with history, architecture and incredible cuisine.

If you have time after your flight, you may want to explore the city solo before a deeper exploration tomorrow.

Want more time in Istanbul? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Beethoven Premium Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Say merhaba to your tour leader and fellow travellers this morning, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

We then join our tour leader for a walking tour, which takes in two great Istanbul landmarks: the Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet Square.

The former is a masterpiece in Ottoman architecture, with intricate blue iznik tiles, six towering minarets and 13 domes. The latter features three significant structures from the Roman and Byzantine eras: the Theodosius Obelisk, the Serpent Column, and the Walled Obelisk, each of which showcases unique architectural styles and the historic and legendary legacies of the city.

In the afternoon, you have free time to explore solo – your tour leader will happily make suggestions based on your interests.

This evening, we gather together for our welcome dinner – a chance to get to know each other a little better in a relaxed setting.

Accommodation: Beethoven Premium Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Rise early and bid farewell to Istanbul, as we transfer (3hr 30min) to Gallipoli. Here, we gain a deep understanding of the Battle of Gallipoli, which was fought during the First World War. With our tour leader telling us more about the campaign, in which Allied forces aimed to capture the Dardanelles Strait, we visit the commemorative site and the cemeteries.

After, we cross continents, taking the ferry from Europe to Asia on our way to Çanakkale city – our jumping off point to dive even further into history tomorrow.

Accommodation: Cura Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

We dive into legend today with an exploration of Troy. The ancient city is best known as the site of the Trojan War, documented by Greek poet Homer in his epic, The Iliad. Alongside recounting the stories of Achilles, Helen and the wooden horse, your tour leader will show you the ruins of the city and discuss the history of the site, which dates back 5,000 years to the Early Bronze Age.

After, we drive (two hours) to Ayvalık for lunch, a delightful town in the Aegean region. It’s well known for its excellent meze meals, but also for its rich history, lively culture and beautiful landscapes.

We then transfer (three hours) to our winery hotel in the tranquil hills of Selçuk. If you would like to dip into the local wine scene, you can visit the vineyards or head to the restaurant for a wine tasting – an experience led by an expert from the hotel.

Accommodation: Yedi Bilgeler Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

We return to the ancient world this morning, this time visiting Ephesus, a city second only to Rome during the Roman empire and once home to the Temple of Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Here, we visit the vast amphitheatre, stroll marble streets once graced by Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and marvel at the gymnasium, baths and wonderfully restored Library of Celsus.

After, we head to the village of Sirince for an immersive cooking class in a restaurant run exclusively by women from the village. Led by either restaurant owner Mrs Mujde or one of her daughters, we whip up three kinds of Turkish mezes, a main course with seasonal vegetables, a clay pot stew, and a Sirince-style semolina desert with pine nuts and ice cream.

We enjoy our creations as a late lunch; then, filled with delicious food, we head to Pamukkale – home to the Cotton Castle.

Please note: You may wish to create a light lunch from the breakfast spread this morning, as the cooking class is later in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Anya Resort Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

We drive (30 minutes) to the spectacular natural wonder of Pamukkale, nicknamed the Cotton Castle. Here, thermal waters have cascaded down the mountainside over hundreds of years, forming myriad pools and terraces. Dazzling cream-coloured stalactites were formed that, from afar, resemble cotton or snow. The pools are filled with hot spring waters that supposedly have healing properties and are a great place for a relaxing dip.

Feeling rejuvenated, we drive (20 minutes) to Hierapolis, which was founded by the King of Pergamon in 190 BCE; by the second century CE, it had become an important Roman bath centre. Join the tour leader to explore the extensive ruins, including a theatre, temple, holy area, monumental fountain, bath, basilica and necropolis.

After, we transfer (3hr 15min) to Antalya, where we can spend the late afternoon exploring the old town.

Accommodation: Ring Downtown Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

Visit the ancient city of Perge this morning, birthplace of the Greek mathematician Apollonius of Perga.

Then, we explore Aspendos, home to one of the best-preserved theatres from the ancient world. Once named Belkis, the city was founded by the Hittites, but it was Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius who ordered the 15,000-seater theatre to be built.

After exploring the site, which is still used for performances, we have a free afternoon, in which you could visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum or head to the nearest beach for a swim.

Accommodation: Ring Downtown Hotel (or similar)

Meals included:Breakfast

You’ve explored the ancient world, cooked a Turkish feast and soaked in the thermal pools of a cotton castle, but now it’s time to begin your return journey home.

Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 462 4317

Book Your Flights With Us

Window or aisle? Premium seat with extra legroom? Adding a stopover en route? We’ll sort the flights that fit your plans. With access to thousands of routes - major airlines and regional gems alike, we’ll help you fly from your preferred airport, at times that suit you. Secure your flights and trip together and enjoy peace of mind knowing everything's organized with one team here to help if plans change.

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Accommodation

Hotels

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Room upgrades: Upgrade to a suite on Day 1 and Day 4 of this itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Walking profile: Some of the archaeological sites involve walking on rocky and/or steep hillsides, but if you don’t feel up to it on a hot day you can either not take part or wander around at your own pace.

Weather: In July and August, Istanbul and the coastal areas can be humid.

Key information

Start hotel: Beethoven Premium Hotel, Gençtürk Caddesi Ağa Yokuşu Sokak No:6, 34000 Fatih/İstanbul
Phone: +90 212 520 59 90
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today
Airport: Istanbul Airport (IST)

Getting to the start hotel

We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Catching your return flight

There’s one group transfer to Antalya Airport (AYT), which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Turkey

Travellers from the UK, US, Canada and most EU states normally do not need a visa to enter Turkey. Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/turkey
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/turkiye
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Turkey.html

Allow about 8,000 Turkish liras (US$200) for meals, add more if you include alcoholic or expensive fruit juice drinks with each meal.

Lunches and dinners are normally taken in local restaurants, known as lokantas; such eating places are widespread throughout Turkey, and the variety, price range and choice are usually quite extensive. Your tour leader normally assists in organising group meals so you may benefit from better choice and prices.

Temperatures in July and August can reach 40C (104F) during the day. During increased temperatures, activities are scheduled to be more comfortable in the earlier or later part of the day.

Night-times are cooler. In April and October, it may get a little chilly at night. Rain is rare although the occasional storm can happen. There is the occasional cloudy day, but protracted spells of bad weather are unlikely at this time of year.

December will be a lot cooler. In Istanbul, the temperatures reach a high of 11C (52F).

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

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Essential Turkey

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Discover the rich tapestry of Turkey, from the wonders of Istanbul to ancient empires and natural beauty

Key Information

What's Included

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Book Your Flights With Us

Accommodation

Hotels

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Turkey

Reviews

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Highlights of Turkey

Walking in Cappadocia

Highlights of Ancient Greece

Essential Turkey

Activity Level

Comfort Level

Activity

Overview

Discover the rich tapestry of Turkey, from the wonders of Istanbul to ancient empires and natural beauty

Key Information

What's Included

Highlights

Itinerary

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Book Your Flights With Us

Accommodation

Hotels

Essential Information

Key information

Getting to the start hotel

Catching your return flight

Turkey

Reviews

You may also like

Highlights of Turkey

Walking in Cappadocia

Highlights of Ancient Greece

The Adventure Begins Here