Turkey Highlights

8 days
From $235/day
$1,880
From: 
$2,538
4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
93%
Trip last updated: 1/1/2020
Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
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Overview

Highlights

    • This short but sweet trip packs a punch with visits to Istanbul, Canakkale, Cappadocia and Ephesus while still leaving plenty of time to relax.
    • Discover the incredible ancient and modern history of Turkey as you explore thousands of years of history hidden within the remarkable ruins of Ephesus and discover Gallipoli on a guided tour that will teach you about the significant events that took place in this area.
    • Taste local fruit wines in one of the best-preserved Greek Ottoman villages in the country. Get to know the friendly locals with a home-made lunch at a local family in Cappadocia.
    • Travel and stay a little differently – and come home with memories to last a lifetime – from taking local buses and trains, to staying in one of the cave hotels that Cappadocia is famed for.
    • Discover the back streets and vibrant local markets of Istanbul with your expert guide, find hidden hotspots and local hangouts that you won’t find in the guidebooks.
    • 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.

What's this trip about?

    This journey packs a mighty punch in just eight days. Start in Istanbul and marvel at the Blue Mosque before navigating the warrens of the Grand Bazaar. Then, discover Gallipoli on a guided tour that will teach you about the significant events that took place in this area. Travel to the Aegean Sea to soak up sun, salt and history in Kusadasi with a visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. Catch the overnight train to Central Anatolia and the fairytale landscape of Cappadocia, where hot air balloons dot the skyline and dwellings are cut into the cliffs, then finish back in Istanbul, the long-lived metropolis where East meets West.
Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age range65+, 50 - 64, 36 - 49, 18 - 35, 12 - 17, 6 - 11
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityIstanbul
End CityIstanbul

Travel Themes

Activities

Trip includes

    • Istanbul - Old City Walking Tour (Half Day)
    • Gallipoli - Fully guided Gallipoli tour & visit to the Commonwealth graveyards
    • Sirince - Village visit and fruit wine tasting
    • Troy - Archaeological site visit
    • Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
    • Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
    • Selcuk - Artemis Temple Visit
    • Selcuk - Gozleme making demonstration and lunch
    • Cappadocia - Kaymakli Underground City
    • Konya - Mevlana Museum
    • Cappadocia - Valley walk
    • Cappadocia - Dinner at Local Family Home

Travelers also viewed

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul, the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans have all once called home. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 1 pm, followed by a guided tour of the Old City with your expert leader. Visit the sce...

Day 2 Canakkale

After breakfast this morning, hit the road enroute to Canakkale – a port city on the southern shore of the Dardanelles. You’ll stop along the way to explore Gallipoli on a guided tour that will teach you about the significant events and history embedded in this area. ...

Day 3 Selcuk

This morning, we’ll drive to Selcuk with a stop in Troy – where history and mythology sit side-by-side – along the way. You’ll wander the ancient city walls with your group leader and even get a chance to enjoy a photo op with a replica Trojan Horse. You’ll learn more...

Day 4 Ephesus/Overnight Train

This morning, take a private minivan to visit the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus – one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman classical cities in the world. Once the capital city of Roman Asia Minor, the city has a fascinating history, which really comes alive with a...

Day 5 Konya / Cappadocia

Wake up in Konya, a traditional Turkish city that's closely linked with the whirling dervish sect of Islam developed in the 13th century by Celaleddin Rumi, considered one of Islam's greatest Sufi mystics. Visit the Mevlana Museum and stretch your legs in town before ...

Day 6 Cappadocia

This morning you have the option to take a hot air balloon flight, a once-in-a-lifetime experience during which the sun illuminates a skyline dotted with balloons. Later this morning, enjoy a guided walk through one of the nearby valleys, possibly the Valley of Love, ...

Day 7 Cappadocia to Istanbul

Wave goodbye to Cappadocia and transfer to the airport for a flight back to Istanbul (expect to arrive between 1 pm and 4 pm), and get transferred to your hotel. Meet up with your travel buds in the evening and take a stroll to one of the city's trendiest neighbourhoo...

Day 8 Istanbul

Your Turkey adventure comes to an end after breakfast today, and there are no activities planned. However, if you'd like to spend more time in Istanbul, we’re happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Dates & Availability

Price from
$1,880
Price per day
$235

Turkey Highlights Reviews & Ratings

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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Associations

United States Tour Operators Association

Details

Accommodation:

Hotel (6 nights),Overnight Train (1 night)

Flights & transport:

Private Bus,Public Bus,Overnight Train,Plane

Group size:

Small Group - 24 max

Maximum number of people in group:

12

Trip Excludes:

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