15-Day Turkey Encounters Tour

Comprehensive tour of Turkey's ancient sites, beautiful Mediterranean coastline, and scenic wonders of Pamukkale and Cappadocia

Experience Turkey's vibrant culture & ancient civilisations on our 17-day Turkey Encounters tour, which will give you comprehensive insight into this Middle-Eastern gem. The Turkey tour starts and finishes in Istanbul, where you’ll learn about about modern history at the war memorials and ANZAC cemeteries at Gallipoli before developing deeper into the past with tours of some of the region's most important historic sites at Troy, Ephesus, Hieropolis and Aspendos. Travellers can also expect plenty of stops to relax and enjoy the seaside at the coastal towns of Kusadasi, Fethiye and Antalya, as well as an included 12-island boat cruise in the Gulf of Fethiye before spending time exploring the amazing scenery at Cappadocia. The tour also visits south eastern Turkey including sunset at the top of Mt. Ararat, beautiful Lake Van. We then finish with a drive or flight back to Istanbul. Accommodation is in a mix of locally rated 4 and 5 star hotels, plus some more boutique style properties. Book this tour privately If our departure dates don't work for you, or you would prefer not to travel with a group, we can also run this tour privately according to your needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information and prices.

DAY 1: Arrive into Istanbul, transfer to hotel Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the centre of Istanbul for the start of your trip. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in and start to look around Istanbul. A welcome meeting will be held in the hotel lobby at 7pm where you can meet your guide and fellow travellers. However, this is not essential and may be missed if you have a late flight arrival. OVERNIGHT: Istanbul 5-star hotel MEALS: None EXTRAS: Single room supplement (TUSGTE) Extra day in Istanbul - pre-tour DAY 2: Istanbul, old city tour. Bosphorous cruise Our trip begins this morning with a tour of the old city of Istanbul. Lying across two continents, this historically important city played an integral role in the development of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. We visit the 17th century Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya museum and explore the former residence of the Ottoman Sultans at Topkapi Palace before ending at the famous Hippodrome. In the afternoon we'll take a 1 hour cruise along the Bosphorous River to take a view of the city from this narrow straight of water which separates Europe from Asia, along the way your guide will give you an overview of the historical sights as you pass by. OVERNIGHT: Istanbul 5-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: None DAY 3: Gallipoli battlefields and memorials tour We depart Istanbul this morning for the drive to Gallopoli where we will receive a fully guided tour of this World War I battlefield site. Although home to some of the fiercest fighting during the War, today the site is full of poignant memorials set against a subdued wooded landscape. Our tour will include the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, ANZAC Cove, Johnston Jolly as well as The Nek and Gallipoli Museum. There will also be chance to see the original trenches and tunnels used during the war before we head to our hotel in Canakkale. OVERNIGHT: Canakkale 5-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner EXTRAS: None DAY 4: Tour of Troy and the Acropolis of Pergamum This morning we make the short drive to the ancient city of Troy. Lying undiscoverd until midway through the 19th Century the excavations here brought the legend of the Trojan horse and the poems of Homer back to life. We then continue our drive south to the acropolis of Pergamum. A former kingdom we enjoy a full tour of the site including the Temple of Trajan and the famous library which is believed to have rivalled the library of Alexandria and helped shape Pergamum into a renowned cultural and political centre. OVERNIGHT: Kusadasi 5-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner EXTRAS: None DAY 5: Kusadasi, Ephesus Roman ruins, wine tasting in the village of Sirince After breakfast we drive to the Roman site of Ephesus. The city at one time housed 250,000 people and is regarded as one of the best preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean. We visit the Temple of Artemis, and explore the ancient marble streets of this ruined Roman city. This afternoon you'll learn a little about carpet weaving and visit a local vineyard in the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for it's fruit wines. Whilst here you'll have an opportunity to learn about the techniques using in producing wine and samples 3 local wines before returning to your hotel. OVERNIGHT: Kusadasi 5-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner EXTRAS: None DAY 6: Aphrodisias and onwards to Pamukkale After a leather shop visit, we will head to Aphrodisias the ancient city dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of Beauty, Love and Fertility, also famous for its school of sculpture, we visit the stadium, which is the best preserved in Anatolia, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Tetrapylon, theatre and the Museum. We then continue onwards to Pamukkale. OVERNIGHT: Pamukkale 5-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner EXTRAS: None DAY 7: Pamukkale Pools, Hierapolis and Salda Lake This morning we explore Pamukkale, the site is well known for the white calcium terraces known as Travertines. Pamukkale translates as 'cotton castles' and the naturally occuring geology here has created cloud like formations unlike anywhere else. We then head to the ancient city of Hierapolis to enjoy a dip in the hot thermal pools lodged amongst ancient columns left by the Romans who used the pools for their therapeutic powers. Then we will head to Salda Lake, is known as Turkish Maldives. It is a mountain lake and located in the mountains before we travel down to South. OVERNIGHT: Fethiye boutique hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: None DAY 8: Fethiye. 12-island boat cruise Today we include a relaxing day cruise around the 12 Islands of the Gulf of Fethiye, during which you can enjoy swims in the clear blue waters and views of many secluded bays, tiny islands and beaches. Lunch is included on board the boat. As part of Turkey's 'Turquoise coast', the Gulf of Fethiye is very popular for Gulet Cruises, and this gives you full day's taste of the scenery and experience on board. If you're lucky you may get to see turtles of dolphins swimming. If you'd prefer to miss the boat trip, you could take an optional day tour to Saklikent Gorge, Turkey's longest and deepest canyon. You could also spend the day relaxing at the famous Oludeniz beach, a short drive away. OVERNIGHT: Fethiye boutique hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch EXTRAS: None DAY 9: Deserted Greek village of Kayakoy, to Antalya We leave Fethiye this morning and start our drive to Antalya. Our first stop of the day is to the deserted Greek village of Kayakoy, where the morning light should help produce some excellent photos. After arriving back at the coast in Antalya in the afternoon we'll have a walking tour of the old town area known as "Kaleici". Whilst on the your we'll visit Hadrian's Gate, the Ancient Harbour and the Suna-Inan Kirac Museum and the Greek Orthodox Church which sits within its gardens.. OVERNIGHT: Antalya 4-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: None DAY 10: Perge & Aspendos We will visit Perge a famous antique site, early in the morning. After Perge we drive to Aspendos which has the best preserved 2nd Century Amphitheatre in Turkey. We return back to Antalya city in the afternoon and the remainder of your day is free. OVERNIGHT: Antalya 4-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: None DAY 11: Exploring Konya and Sille We leave the coast behind today and head inland towards the important city of Konya. Once in Konya we'll visit to the Mausolem of Mevlana Celeleddin Rum and the Mevlana Museum where we learn more about the whirling dervishes. We also make a stop at the greek village of Sille before before spending the night in Konya. OVERNIGHT: Konya 4-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner EXTRAS: None DAY 12: Cappadocia; underground city, local home dinner Today we continue our journey which will end amidst the spectacular landscape of Cappadocia with its fairytale views full of improbable rock formations and fascinating underground cities, along the way making a stop at the Sultanhani Caravansary. Today we'll explore the many levels of one of the several underground cities in the region. These were able to hold up to 20,000 people, and contained miles of tunnels connecting chapels, storage rooms, kitchens and wells, stables for livestock, wine and oil presses, school rooms and living quarters. They may have first been carved out of the soft volcanic rock by the Phrygians in the 8th-7th centuries BCE, and were further expanded in Roman times. They were then used in the Byzantine era as safe refuges for the Christian population from persecution by Muslim Arabs and later from Mongolian incursions of Tamerlane. This evening we'll visit a traditional Turkish home for dinner, where you can also learn a little about Turkish cuisine by assisting with the preparations and cooking of tonights dinner. OVERNIGHT: Cappadocia boutique cave hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner EXTRAS: None DAY 13: Cappadocia Goreme, Pigeon and Red Valley We have another day to explore Cappadocia today where we'll make stops to marvel at the lunar landscape of Cappadocia today as we visit the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys, the Pigeon Valley, known for its many pigeon houses which are carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Later, we'll visit the Red Valley, Cavusin and Avanos Town where we'll learn a little about handmade pottery. OVERNIGHT: Cappadocia boutique cave hotel MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner EXTRAS: None DAY 14: Travel to Ankara and fly to Van After leaving Cappadocia this morning, we'll heard to the capital city of Van, from where we'll take a direct flight to the eastern city of Van. On arrival at Van Airport, your local guide will meet you and travel with you to the Citadel. The Citadel of Van is a huge stone fortress, built during the Kingdom of Urartu between the 9th and 7th centuries BC. Later, you'll be transferred to your hotel where you'll have free time during the evening. OVERNIGHT: Van Boutique Hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: None DAY 15: Van and Akdamar Island After breakfast today, we'll take a ferry to cross Lake Van, making a stop on Akdamar Island, where you'll have a chance to see the amazing 10th century church, built as a palatine church for the kings of Vaspurakan. Time permitting, you may have a chance to take a swim in Lake Van. After time at Lake Van, we'll travel back to the city centre by road, to visit the Uratu Museum, the largest of its type. The museum is laid out in such a way that it will take you on a historical journey, through different time periods from the Paleolithic to the Ottoman era. Leaving the museum behind, we'll make time to visit some Van cats, possibly the best known export of this region of Turkey, often referred to as 'the swimming cats'. OVERNIGHT: Van Boutique Hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: None DAY 16: Dogubayazit, Ararat and return to Istanbul Today is our final day in Eastern Turkey and it'll begin with a drive to Dogubayazit, with stops along the way in Muradiye and the Bendimaahi Falls. Whilst in Dogubayazit, we'll visit the beautiful Ishak Pasha Palace, constructed between 1685 and 1784. The Palace features a unique fushion of architecture from Seljik, Ottoman, Georgian, Armenian and even Persian eras. Later in the day we'll travel around the Western edge of Mount Ararat, known as one of the great natural spectactles of the word, and considered to be one of the resting places of Noahs Ark. The name 'Ararat' comes from the Bible and is a transliteration of 'Uratu' the name foreigners gave to this region during the time of the Bible. We'll end the day with a flight from Igdir Airport to Istanbul where we'll spend our final night. OVERNIGHT: Istanbul 5-star hotel MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: None DAY 17: Istanbul, free time, transfer to airport The tour ends in Istanbul today, and your time is free for some last minute shopping or sightseeing until we transfer you to the airport for your departure. OVERNIGHT: N/A MEALS: Breakfast EXTRAS: Extra day in Istanbul - post-tour