Classical Türkiye Discovery 12 Days

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure, allowing time to rest or begin exploring the city independently.

*Please advise your flight arrival details, including which airport, at least 14 days prior to your departure.

Overnight: Istanbul
Meals Included: None

Embark on a fully guided walking tour of Istanbul’s historic Old City. Visits include the Blue Mosque, an Ottoman architectural masterpiece, and Hagia Sophia, a monument reflecting centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. The tour goes on at Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, a mesmerising blend of Byzantine grandeur and Ottoman splendour. Exploration continues to the atmospheric Basilica Cistern, an ancient underground reservoir hidden beneath the city streets. The day concludes with free time at the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets.

Overnight: Istanbul

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

The tour reveals Istanbul’s layered cultural and spiritual richness beyond the city’s grand monuments. Visit the remarkable Chora Museum (Kariye), renowned for its breathtaking Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, considered among the finest surviving examples of medieval sacred art.

Continue to Balat, one of Istanbul’s most colourful and authentic neighbourhoods, where cobbled streets, pastel-colored houses, and everyday life reflect centuries of coexistence. Visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the spiritual centre of the Orthodox Christian world, adding profound historical depth to the experience. Later, enjoy a scenic Bosphorus ferry cruise, gliding between Europe and Asia while admiring palaces, wooden mansions, and the city skyline from the water. Conclude the tour at the lively Egyptian Spice Market, where aromas of saffron, spices, and Turkish delights provide a sensory farewell to Istanbul.

Overnight: Istanbul

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

An early departure leads to Çanakkale. Upon arrival, visit the Gallipoli Peninsula, a profoundly significant World War I site. Explore memorials, cemeteries, and viewpoints commemorating the soldiers of the Allied and Ottoman forces, including the ANZACs.

Today's total driving distance is 350 km (approx. 5 hours).

Overnight: Çanakkale

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Travel to the legendary city of Troy, famed for its ancient myths and archaeological remains. Continue onward to Pergamon, where the Acropolis rises dramatically above the landscape. Explore the ancient theatres, temples, and remains of one of antiquity’s great centres of learning. Transfer to Selçuk for the overnight stay.

Today's total driving distance is 420 km (approx. 6 hours).

Overnight: Selçuk

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Discover Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean, featuring the Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, and ancient streets. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a sacred pilgrimage site, before continuing to Şirince, a picturesque village known for its traditional houses, artisan shops, and local wines.

Today's total driving distance is 100 km (approx. 1.5 hours).

Overnight: Selçuk

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Journey to Pamukkale to explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, including its theatre, necropolis, and sacred sites connected to early Christianity. Walk along the famous white travertine terraces formed by mineral-rich thermal waters. Continue onward to Antalya for the overnight stay.

Today's total driving distance is 460 km (approx. 6 hours).

Overnight: Antalya

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Explore Antalya’s historic Kaleiçi district, visiting Tophane Square, the old marina, Hadrian’s Gate, Hıdırlık Tower, and charming Ottoman houses. The tour continues to the refreshing Lower and Upper Düden Waterfalls. In the evening, transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Kayseri and continue to Cappadocia.

Overnight: Cappadocia

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

* Optional hot air balloon ride is available at sunrise. The balloon fee is not included in the tour price.

The fully guided day unfolds with a visit to Dervent Valley, renowned for its otherworldly rock formations sculpted by nature into imaginative shapes, offering a striking introduction to Cappadocia’s surreal landscape.

The journey continues to the Göreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where guests explore a remarkable collection of rock-cut churches and chapels adorned with well-preserved Byzantine frescoes, providing deep insight into early Christian monastic life in the region. From the Göreme Panorama, enjoy sweeping views across the valleys and fairy chimneys that define Cappadocia’s unique topography.

The tour then ascends to Uçhisar Rock Castle, the highest point in the area, where a labyrinth of ancient dwellings and tunnels opens onto breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and Mount Erciyes in the distance. The day concludes with a visit to a local carpet cooperative, where guests are introduced to centuries-old Anatolian weaving traditions, natural dye techniques, and symbolic patterns.

Overnight: Cappadocia

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

The day begins with an exploration of the Özkonak Underground City, one of Cappadocia’s most intriguing subterranean settlements, where a network of tunnels, ventilation shafts, and defensive stone doors reveals how ancient communities once sought refuge beneath the earth.

Emerging into the open landscape, enjoy scenic walks through Rose Valley and Pigeon Valley, two of the region’s most picturesque areas, characterised by softly hued rock formations, centuries-old pigeon houses carved into the cliffs, and tranquil trails offering panoramic views across the valleys.

The journey continues to Ortahisar, a traditional Cappadocian village dominated by its imposing rock citadel, where narrow streets and stone houses reflect the area’s authentic rural character. In Avanos, renowned for its millennia-old ceramic tradition, guests observe master artisans at work, learning about the use of red clay from the Kızılırmak River and time-honoured pottery techniques passed down through generations.

The day concludes with a stop at the iconic Three Beauties fairy chimneys, one of Cappadocia’s most photographed landmarks, before transferring to the airport for an evening flight back to Istanbul, bringing this immersive journey through Cappadocia’s natural and cultural wonders to a graceful close.

Overnight: Istanbul

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

A full day at leisure to explore Istanbul independently, shop, or relax.

Overnight: Istanbul

Meals Included: Breakfast

After check out from the hotel, transfer to airport for your international flight.

Overnight: None

Meals Included: Breakfast