Turkey's Magical Hideaways

16 days
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Group Tour
Travel to Turkey with OAT—from the glittering Turquoise Coast to Istanbul’s legendary Bosporus Strait, Turkey is awash in history: home to 10,000 years of culture and prodigious sultans who created glorious empires from volcanic soil. Experience the raw material of legend up close—from the dazzling Blue Mosque of Istanbul to the cave churches of Göreme and th...

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Topkapi Palace
    • Blue Mosque
    • Bosporus cruise
    • Cappadocia—a UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Antalya Muzesi, an archaeological museum
    • Ancient Roman ruins of Myra
    • Hike to Kayakoy

What's this trip about?

    Travel to Turkey with OAT—from the glittering Turquoise Coast to Istanbul’s legendary Bosporus Strait, Turkey is awash in history: home to 10,000 years of culture and prodigious sultans who created glorious empires from volcanic soil. Experience the raw material of legend up close—from the dazzling Blue Mosque of Istanbul to the cave churches of Göreme and the vast Konya Plateau, where Sufi dervishes whirl—and immerse yourself in discovery as we descend into elaborate Cappadocian cave cities

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Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityIstanbul
End CityKusadasi

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • Historic Sightseeing
  • River Cruise
  • Short Cruise

Trip includes

    • All land transportation and internal flights
    • Accommodations for 15 nights, comprising 10 nights in hotels, 1 night in a private village home, and 4 nights aboard an intimate gulet-style yacht
    • 36 meals—daily breakfast, 9 lunches, and 12 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Lunch)
    • 22 small group activities and all admission fees for included sightseeing
    • Services of a resident, English-speaking OAT Trip Leader
    • NEW for 2015: Gratuities for local guides, drivers, ship-crew, and luggage porters

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Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S.
Depart the U.S. today on an overnight flight to Istanbul, Turkey.

Day 2: Arrive in Istanbul, Turkey
Accommodations: Armada Old City Hotel, Sultanahmet Palace Hotel, And Hotel or similar Encounter delicious cuisine in Istanbul Today, we arrive in Istanbul, where an OAT representative will meet us at the airport. We transfer to our hotel downtown, and meet our Trip L...
Day 3: Istanbul • Walking tour • Cruise the Bosporus
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner Accommodations: Armada Old City Hotel, Sultanahmet Palace Hotel, And Hotel or similar After breakfast at our hotel, we set off early on a comprehensive exploration of Istanbul; the historic city formerly called Byzantium and later...
Day 4: Discover Istanbul • Visit Hagia Sophia
Meals included: Breakfast Accommodations: Armada Old City Hotel, Sultanahmet Palace Hotel, And Hotel or similar Explore Istanbul on a guided walking tour After breakfast at our hotel, our day begins with an included tour of Istanbul's Old City, which is full of stu...
Day 5: Istanbul • Fly to Cappadocia • Göreme open-air museum • Hike in Göreme and Üchisar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodations: Ahbap Konagi, Kaya Hotel, Lykia Lodge Kapadokya or similar We rise early this morning for breakfast, and then transfer from our hotel to the airport to fly 450 miles east and south to the city of Kayseri, in...
Day 6: Cappadocia • A Day in the Life of a Cappadocian village • Home-Hosted Lunch
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodations: Ahbap Konagi, Kaya Hotel, Lykia Lodge Kapadokya or similar After breakfast this morning, we travel to the small town of Hacibektas to experience A Day in the Life of a Cappadocian village. We’ll begin our cu...
Day 7: Cappadocia • Optional Ballooning Over Cappadocia tour • Hiking in Üchisar • Discover underground city • Optional Whirling Dervishes tour
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner Accommodations: Ahbap Konagi, Kaya Hotel, Lykia Lodge Kapadokya or similar Explore Turkey's ancient cave dwellings This morning, you can choose to rise very early for an optional hot-air balloon flight over Cappadocia, a chance ...
Day 8: Konya • Whirling Dervish monastery • Overland to Lake Beysehir • Village homestay
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodations: Village Homestay Encounter local culture and traditions during a tour of Turkey This morning following breakfast, we depart our hotel for our overland journey to Lake Beysehir. The first leg takes us south...
Day 9: Konya • Overland to Antalya
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodations: Tuvana Hotel, Marina Puding Suites Hotel or similar After breakfast we'll head south toward the Mediterranean; we'll cross over the Taurus Mountains and enjoy lunch en route. This afternoon, we'll reach Antalya, wh...
Day 10: Antalya • Optional Magic of the Mediterranean tour
Meals included: Breakfast Accommodations: Tuvana Hotel, Marina Puding Suites or similar Explore ancient cities during a tour of Turkey In the morning, we drive to the Antalya Muzesi, an archaeological museum that houses an extensive collection of artifacts from the...
Day 11: Antalya • Travel overland to Fethiye • Visit Myra & Church of St. Nicholas • Embark gulet
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodations: Gulet-style yacht This morning we depart Antalya for a drive to see the ancient Roman ruins of Myra. There, we walk in the large theater, still very much intact with marble seats and mask friezes scattered a...
Day 12: Visit Kayakoy • Hike to Soguk Su • Cruise to Gemiler Island
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodations: Gulet-style yacht This morning we begin our cruise along the craggy Mediterranean coast. We make a landing on a small beach in the Bay of Gemiler, and drive to a spot near Kayakoy, a Greek “ghost town.” Fr...
Day 13: Cruise to Friendship Cove • Hike to Lydea • Visit Cleopatra's Baths
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodations: Gulet-style yacht Discover the Greco Roman site called Lydea In the morning, we cruise to Aga Limani, or "Friendship Cove." There's time for a swim this morning before we begin today's hike through forests...
Day 14: Cruise to Ekincik Cove • Dalyan River boat ride • Explore Lycian ruins
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodations: Gulet-style yacht We cruise to Ekincik Cove this morning, where a small river boat meets us and takes us on a side trip up the Dalyan River. A shimmering blue band, the Dalyan snakes amid bamboo and cattails...
Day 15: Disembark gulet • Visit Basilica of St. John • Overland to Kusadasi
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Accommodations: Charisma Hotel, Kismet Hotel or similar Explore Marmaris In the morning, we have our last breakfast onboard and make a short cruise to the harbor at Marmaris, where we bid a fond farewell to our captain an...
Day 16: Kusadasi • Discover Ephesus
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner Accommodations: Charisma Hotel, Kismet Hotel or similar Disocver the Ruins at Ephesus while touring Turkey After breakfast, we drive for less than an hour to the world-famous ancient Greco-Roman site of Ephesus, one of the large...
Day 17: Kusadasi • Return to the U.S.
Meals included: Breakfast We'll transfer to the Izmir airport early this morning, where we catch our flight to the U.S. Travelers continuing on the Nemrut & the Bible Lands, Turkey trip extension will fly from Izmir to Mardin.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,595
Price per day$162
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours).

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours) Reviews & Ratings

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Overseas Adventure Travel offers unique small group adventures worldwide to Americans over 50. By land and sea, we explore on—and off—the beaten path with a resident OAT Trip Leader, immersing ourselves in local cultures, sampling unique modes of transportation, and staying in authentic lodgings that reflect the essence of your destination. Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises serves both our GCT and OAT brands with an award-winning fleet known for exceptional value and high-quality experiences in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Custom-designed according to our travelers’ specifications, our fleet includes 50+ small river and ocean-going ships that we own or privately charter.

Grand Circle Corporation is a global enterprise—comprised of a family of travel companies—committed to changing people’s lives by offering high-impact experiences to our travelers and building local communities through philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and volunteerism.

Simply by traveling with OAT, you support the work of the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation, which was created with the mission of changing people’s lives through travel—both those of our travelers, and of the people who welcome us so warmly into their homelands.

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Our Value puts your travel dreams within reach: OAT can help you realize your travel dreams for a lot less than you thought possible. Together with our regional offices located throughout the world, we’ve been able to establish long-term relationships with many local vendors and hotels. Buying direct brings down our costs—and allows us to pass the savings on to you. And negotiating directly for hotel space also allows us to secure as many single room allotments as possible for our solo travelers. That way, we can also extend our great value to solo travelers. In fact, we offer the best value for solo travelers, guaranteed.

The Choice is yours: You’ll always have plenty of choices with OAT. We offer you a breadth of awe-inspiring travel destinations—from the peaks of the Andes to the sweeping desert sands of the Sahara to the rugged natural beauty of Iceland. You'll also enjoy more trip extension choices than ever before—like hiking to ancient monasteries in Bhutan or discovering the Moai monolithic rock statues on Easter Island. You have plenty of choices within each adventure, too, including several interesting optional tours. And the free time we’ve woven into our itineraries allows you plenty of opportunities for independent exploration. You can shop, unwind, perhaps linger at a sidewalk café, visit an interesting gallery or museum, or explore a cobbled street that caught your eye earlier in the day. You can do as much or as little as you want on an OAT adventure—the choice is yours.

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Adventure Travel: Adventure travel with OAT is a journey beyond the familiar, one that takes you into the very heart of a destination—to meet people where they work and live.

OAT Advantages: Journey with the leader in adventure travel and watch your dreams take flight, thanks to the principles which ground every OAT adventure: value, choice, discovery, and carefully paced itineraries.

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Personalize your trip: OAT travelers have long expressed the desire to decide exactly where they’re going, how they get there, and when they wish to leave. That’s why we developed a variety of choices that enhance the value of every trip we offer, allowing you to create the adventure that works best for you.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International transportation
    • Passport and visa charges
    • Any kind of insurance
    • Personal expenses

Accommodation

Armada Old City Hotel Istanbul, Turkey The Armada Old City Hotel is located in the historic heart of Istanbul, situated on the site of the quarters that Grand Admiral Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha built for his crew in the 16th century. Decorated in the Ottoman style, this 108-room structure blends features of the past and present. A bar and terrace offer views of the Old City and the Marmara Sea. Its rooms are small and simple. Explore accommodation Sultanahmet Palace Hotel Istanbul, Turkey This 45-room boutique hotel is conveniently located in the historic center of Istanbul, just steps from the Blue Mosque. There is a restaurant on-site and every air-conditioned room contains a mini-bar and television. Explore accommodation Wyndham Istanbul Old City Hotel Istanbul, Turkey Located in Istanbul's historic city center, the Wyndham Istanbul Old City Hotel is close to the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul University, and public transportation. Amenities include a health club, three restaurants, and an indoor pool. Air-conditioned rooms feature cable/satellite TV, telephone, Internet access, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and private bath with hair dryer. Temenni Evi Hotel Urgup, Turkey The Temenni Evi is a boutique style cave hotel about a five-minute walk from the center of Urgup in Cappadocia. The hotel features a restaurant and terrace, along with 32 naturally air-conditioned rooms, each with antique furnishings, fireplace, down duvets, and private bath with Jacuzzi. Explore accommodation Alfina Hotel Cappadocia, Turkey Situated in the heart of Cappadocia, the Alfina Hotel features a large restaurant and bar. The 41 guestrooms are kept pleasantly cool by their rock construction in summer months, and also feature central heating, mini bar, complimentary wireless Internet, satellite TV, safe, and private bath with Jacuzzi and hair dryer. Explore accommodation Hilton Garden Inn   Konya, Turkey The 228-room Hilton Garden Inn is conveniently located within walking distance of several historic landmarks, including the Alaeddin and Aziziye mosques and the Karatay Museum. On-site amenities include a restaurant, lounge, and a fitness center and mini mart (both are open 24 hours a day). Each room is air-conditioned and features a coffeemaker, minibar, and refrigerator. Tuvana Hotel Antalya, Turkey The 46-room Ottoman-style hotel is situated on a quiet street in Antalya's Kaleici district. This historic inn features two restaurants plus a garden café. Rooms include air-conditioning, satellite TV, direct-dial phone, minibar, and private bath with hair dryer. Marina Puding Suites Hotel Antalya, Turkey This 71-room hotel is situated in Antalya’s Kaleici district, overlooking the famous Roman harbor. The hotel is set back on a tiny street, inaccessible to large tour buses. Each small room features simple amenities. An outdoor garden restaurant is located on the grounds. It’s an easy walk from the hotel to the harbor and local shopping areas. Charisma Hotel Kusadasi, Turkey The recently constructed Charisma Hotel is located in the heart of the Aegean resort city of Kusadasi, about five minutes from the yacht marina. Features include an indoor pool, fitness center, Turkish bath and sauna, lounge, and restaurant. There are 133 comfortably air-conditioned rooms, each with satellite television, telephone, safe, minibar, Internet access, and hair dryer. Kismet Hotel Kusadasi, Turkey An excellent base for our explorations in and around Kusadasi, this four-story hotel overlooks a small beach and marina, and includes an on-site restaurant, cocktail bars, a gift shop, and swimming pool. There are 108 rooms, each with air-conditioning, minibar, satellite TV, and private bath with shower and hair dryer. Hotel Dogan Antalya, Turkey This 41-room, Ottoman-style hotel is located in an ideal spot for exploring old Antalya. It features a private beach, garden, and currency exchange. Enjoy authentic Turkish dishes or international fare in the hotel’s two restaurants. Guest rooms include satellite TV, wireless Internet access, and hair dryers. Dere Suites Hotel Erzurum, Turkey The cave rooms of this charming boutique hotel will allow you to immerse yourself in the cavernous environs of Cappadocia. Amenities include an on-site restaurant and free WiFi throughout the building. Every room contains a television and private bath.
Ship & cabin information
Gulet-style yacht
Gulet-style yacht We cruise aboard a privately chartered, traditional Turkish gulet-style yacht. It is about 82 feet long with a 21-foot beam, and is constructed mostly from fine teak and oak. Our yacht has both sails and a motor, and features indoor and outdoor dining verandas and cushions for relaxing on the observation decks, located both fore and aft. We’ll enjoy most meals outdoors on deck. Our gulet-style yacht has small cabins with private bath, limited public space, no air-conditioning, and no overnight electric power in cabins. We also carry a small boat with us equipped with an outboard motor for shore excursions along the coast.
Cancellation policy
Cancellation Charges Generally: Unless otherwise stated next to the program’s rate chart, you will receive a refund equal to your Trip Price less the following per-person charges. Charges shown include the $300 administrative fee. Cancellation Charges for Land Tours: If Prior to departure is 90 days or more, then charge is $300 If Prior to departure is 89-60 days, then charge is 10% of selling price or $300—whichever is greater If Prior to departure is 59-30 days, then charge is 65% of selling price If Prior to departure is 29 days–departure, then charge is 100% of selling price
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Optional Activities
Extensions Pre-trip: Istanbul, Turkey 3 nights from only $795 Expand your understanding of Turkey in its largest, most vibrant city: exotic Istanbul. The only city in the world to straddle both Europe and Asia, it offers a wealth of influences and attractions. Included and optional tours, plus our centrally located accommodations, put the essence of the city easily within reach. Post-trip: Nemrut & the Bible Lands, Turkey 5 nights from only $1295 |  Single Supplement: FREE From the Neolithic period to the present, civilization has thrived in Gaziantep and Urfa. Travel here to explore the legacy of the Romans, walk in the footsteps of St. Peter and Abraham, view the colossal statues of Antiochus I atop Mount Nemrut, and more. Optional Tours Ballooning Over Cappadocia Day 7 $215 per person Cappadocia is one of Turkey’s most fanciful and recognizable landscapes, and during this optional hot-air balloon flight, we’ll soar over its amber terrain and fairy-tale chimneys, savoring a unique panorama in the quiet, rosy light of dawn. Please note: The cost of this tour cannot be refunded to passengers who cancel less than 24 hours prior to the flight. Whirling Dervishes Day 7 $35 per person On this tour, witness the “Ritual of Sema.” The Semazens, the so-called Whirling Dervishes, believe that the fundamental condition of our existence is to revolve. From the smallest cell to the planets and the farthest stars, everything takes part in this revolving. Thus, the ones who whirl participate consciously in the shared revolution of all existence. As the Semazen (with their camel's-felt hats representing tombstones and wide white skirts symbolizing shrouds) whirl, their motions represent a spiritual journey. We cap our experience with a glass of sweet Turkish sherbet. Magic of the Mediterranean Day 10 $70 per person Experience the Magic of the Mediterranean as we tour the historic sites of Perge and Aspendos. Perge is an ancient city where St. Paul preached his first sermon in AD 46. Nearby, we visit Aspendos, a Roman city with an impressive theater and aqueduct. In fact, the Roman theater is one of the best-preserved and perhaps the finest in the world. Built in the second century AD, this 15,000-seat theater is still in use for large concerts and events today.
Additional Information
Trip ID
overse-TurMagOve

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