Turkey in Depth
Overview
Highlights
- Explore Turkey's highlights on this comprehensive two week trip
- Visit famous Greco-Roman sites, enjoy vibrant cities and relax on the stunning coastline
- Discover Cappadocia's unusual landscape, underground cities and rock-cut churches
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Itinerary
Our tour of Turkey starts in Istanbul. Once known as Constantinople, the city has been the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires and today, its historic riches are evident at every turn. Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul was an important stop on the old...
This morning we'll get our first taste of a traditional Turkish breakfast, which usually consists of yogurts, cheese, and breads along with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and fruits. We'll head out on foot towards the Sultanahmet Square. Also known as the Hippodrome...
We'll depart early this morning (around 7am), leaving Turkey's largest city behind and heading for the capital, Ankara. The drive takes around six hours, but we'll have plenty of comfort breaks along the way. During the summer months, you can spot fields of sunflowers...
This morning, we'll set off to Cappadocia, stopping in Hacibektas (a three-hour drive from Ankara) en route. The museum here once housed the famous Bektashi Dervish sect and is now recreated as it would have looked during the 13th century. After our visit, we'll c...
If you are considering a ballooning optional excursion, we advise you book this yourself for today as we make a very early start tomorrow morning. Please see optional excursions for more details. Today we'll have a full day to explore Cappadocia. There'll be the ...
We've got a long day ahead of us, so we'll leave Cappadocia early this morning, around 7am. Our first stop will be the 13th-century Sultanhani Caravanserai. Once the largest roadside inn in Turkey, it supported the constant flow of commerce between the East and the We...
We'll set off around 9am this morning to drive to Olympos, around 90 minutes away. Although its early history is shrouded in mystery, we do know that Olympos was an important Lycian city by the 2nd century BC and that the Olympians worshipped Hephaestus (Vulcan), the ...
With its old Greek houses and their picturesque balconies, it's clear to see why the seaport of Kas has become one of the more popular resort towns on the Turkish Riviera. Today is free to relax in Kas or take part in an optional activity. You could take a boat t...
Today we have an early start to drive to Dalyan, where we'll swap bus for boat and head out onto the gentle waters of the Dalyan River looking out for loggerhead turtles amongst the reeds. After viewing the rock-cut tombs of ancient Caunos from the water, we step onto...
Today we'll take a four-hour drive to Pamukkale to explore one of Turkey's most amazing natural wonders, the 'cotton castle'. The castle takes its name from the white calcareous concretions deposited by mineral springs. Above the terraced pools you'll find the ancient...
Today we'll visit the Greco-Roman site of Aphrodisias, the ancient city of love and sanctuary of Aphrodite. The drive here takes around an hour and a half and this site is in many ways as spectacular as Ephesus, but far quieter by comparison. The tetrapylon is a wonde...
Today we'll visit Selcuk's historic neighbour, the great Greco-Roman city of Ephesus. We'll aim to get there in time for the site opening before it becomes too crowded. Once visited by Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, and by St. Paul, inspiring the Epistle to the Ephe...
This morning, we'll leave our hotel around 7am to continue our journey north. We'll travel for two hours past endless olive groves and pomegranate trees to the Greco-Roman remains of Pergamon, set on the hill overlooking the modern-day town of Bergama. Pergamon g...
We'll have an early start this morning, leaving our hotel around 6.30am to board the 30-minute ferry crossing from the Dardanelles Straits to the Gallipoli Peninsula on the European side of the waters. It was here in 1916 that, after much bloody hand-to-hand fighting ...
Our tour ends at our hotel in Istanbul. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depar...
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Explore!.
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.
Explore! Reviews & Ratings
Kate and Brian
May 2024
Turkey in Depth
Be aware that this is a very busy trip, as indicated in the trip info. We covered a lot of distance and did a lot of walking, and a lot of driving. If you're OK wi...
Trusted Customer
May 2024
Turkey in Depth
I think the trip was as advertised and its not explores fault that I didn't like Istanbul or that it was too windy for thr balloons in cappadocia. There were some r...
Trusted Customer
Apr 2024
Turkey in Depth
An itinerary that had everything. Turkey is full of pleasant surprises and the trip highlighted them really well. Our guide, Alkan, worked really hard to provide the...
Gina
Apr 2024
Turkey in Depth
Our guide was a wonderful leader and took great care of everyone on the trip and made sure everyone was snd felt included He loved his country and telling us its ...
Olga
Apr 2024
Turkey in Depth
A full-on tour which is great valuer for money visiting all the main sites in ...
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Tour Operator
About Explore
We've been taking small groups on adventure vacations for over 41 years. Our authentic adventure travel experiences explore the sights and culture of a country, with hand-picked accommodation that balances comfort and location. Our average group tour size is just 11; perfect for meeting new people and getting to the heart of our destinations. Explore is one of the world's most trusted adventure travel companies with over 350 trips to more than 100 countries. We are passionate about travel and have developed a wide range of unique activities and adventures which give our customers an unforgettable experience with a team of award-winning Explore leaders. With Explore, you'll get to see your destination from a whole new perspective that takes you away from the typical well-trodden tourist track. You'll have the chance to meet, dine and stay with local people, rest in authentic accommodation with other like-minded explorers and travel to must-see destinations with a unique Explore twist. From family holidays to trips for solo travelers; cycling tours to wildlife safaris; trekking on mountains or exploring miles of scenic coastline, there is something for every kind of traveler with Explore. We will provide our expert knowledge, exciting itineraries and outstanding service as part of our sustainable travel experiences which take you under the skin of the country you're visiting for the adventure of a lifetime.
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