Turkey Cultural Journey: An 11-Day Exploration of Historic Cities and Landmarks

Embark on an 11-day cultural journey through Turkey’s historic cities and landmarks. Explore Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamum, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya, and Cappadocia with luxury transportation, personal guides, and 4-star accommodation.

Duration: 11 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Arrival to Istanbul

Istanbul Airport - Upon arriving at Istanbul Airport, you will be greeted by your driver and taken to your hotel for check-in.

Treasures of Istanbul

Hagia Sophia Mosque - Hagia Sophia was the largest building on earth, second only to the Egyptian Pyramids and the Great Wall of China. It served as the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period.

Topkapi Palace - Next, visit Topkapi Palace, which was not only the imperial residence of the Sultan but also the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. It housed the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years.

Hippodrome - The Hippodrome, built by Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203 AD, was the civil center of the city during the Roman period, capable of holding 100,000 spectators.

Blue Mosque - Next, visit the Blue Mosque, built by Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in 1616. Today, it is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city, known for its six minarets and magnificent dome.

Grand Bazaar - Next, explore the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest bazaars in the world with 18 entrances and more than 4,000 shops.

Gallipoli & Troy

Gallipoli - According to your pick-up time from the hotel, drive to Canakkale. Begin a guided tour of the ANZAC Battlefields, visiting Brighton Beach, ANZAC Cove, Beach Cemetery, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Turkish and allied tunnels and trenches at Johnston’s Jolly, 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.

Troy (Truva) - Next, visit the Troy Archaeological Site, where you will see the UNESCO-recognized ruins of the ancient kingdom of Troy. Walk through the site where terms like the Trojan War, Trojan Horse, Helen of Troy, Prince Paris, the battle between Achilles and Hector, Walls of Troy II, Megaron House, The Ramp of Troy II, Roman bath, Odeon, The Temple of Athena, and Ruins of Athena originated. Check-in and overnight in Canakkale.

Pergamum & Asklepion

Pergamon Ancient City - After breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Pergamum. Pergamum was a capital city for almost 400 years and was the scene of several cultures from the Stone and Bronze Ages to the Archaic and Classical Periods. Among the temples, palaces, and agoras, the Asclepion, the big Zeus Altar, and the Parchment Library were constructed over a century.

The Asklepion - The Asklepion was known as “The Pergamum God of Health.” Asclepius, the deity of health and medicine, served the people for several hundred years, making Pergamum a significant medical center. Famous medical scholars like Hippocrates and Galenus were born and worked in Pergamum.

Kusadasi - After the tour, drive to Kusadasi for an overnight stay.

Ancient Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary

Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - The House of Virgin Mary is a church built in the 6th century AD on the foundations of a 1st-century AD house. It is declared by the church to be the final residence where Mary spent her last days.

Ancient City of Ephesus - Continue to the Ancient City of Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ephesus was the second-largest city after Rome, with more than 250,000 citizens. It is also home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis. Walking through the ancient streets among beautiful monuments like the third-largest library of the ancient world and the largest Roman theatre on the Asian continent gives you the feeling of being a time traveler.

The Temple of Artemis - The Temple of Artemis, or Artemision, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its ancient cult dedicated to Artemis made Ephesus a popular pilgrimage site.

Pamukkale Tour

Pamukkale Thermal Pools - Pamukkale, known as the “Pools of Heaven on Earth,” has always been a popular settlement due to its hot springs believed to have healing powers. It is considered the earliest spa on earth, where people traveled long distances to find a cure. The unique terraces were formed by running warm spring water at a temperature of 35°C, containing calcium bicarbonate. Today, Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hierapolis & Pamukkale - Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, which has the largest necropolis with 1,200 gravestones in Anatolia. The Sacred Pool is one of the highlights, with shallow thermal waters rippling over ancient Roman ruins beneath.

Antalya - After the tour, drive to Antalya for an overnight stay.

Antalya City Tour

Tunektepe Teleferik Tesisi - Today, take a cable car ride ‘from sea to sky’ to enjoy amazing views from the top of Tunektepe, which stands 1,365 meters above sea level. You will see the beautiful coastline of the Antalya region, gorgeous mountains, pine forests, and the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Great pictures taken during the trip will remind you of this unforgettable experience.

Lower Duden Waterfalls - Duden Waterfalls are the most beautiful and most visited in the Antalya region. Walk through the beautiful park and listen to the sound of falling water.

Kaleiçi - After lunch at a local restaurant with a beautiful panoramic view, you will have 1-1.5 hours of free time to explore the old town (Kaleici). You will see top attractions of the city: Hadrianus Gate, Clock Tower, Kesik Minare (Truncated Minaret), and city walls dating back to the 2nd century. The old town, with its narrow stone streets, is also a great place to explore numerous boutiques, art galleries, and interesting museums. Don’t forget to buy some memorable souvenirs from the authentic shops before leaving Kaleici.

Konya & Cappadocia

Mevlana Muzesi - After breakfast at the hotel, check out and visit the museum of 13th-century philosopher Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi. Mevlana was a philosopher and mystic of Islam, advocating unlimited tolerance, positive reasoning, goodness, charity, and awareness through love.

Sultanhani Kervansarayi - Then visit the 700-year-old Sultanhani Caravanserai, an ancient stop for traders and travelers on the Silk Road.

Goreme - After lunch, drive to Cappadocia for an overnight stay.

Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia

Goreme Open-Air Museum - According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore the Goreme Museum, which consists of many rock-cut churches from the second half of the 9th century, with beautiful frescoes decorating the walls.

Devrent Valley - Devrent Valley is famous for its quirky animal-shaped rocks, resembling a sculpture zoo made by nature.

Fairy Chimneys - Visit Pasabagi, also known as Monks Valley, where the hermitage of Simeon monks was located.

Avanos Oren Yeri - In Avanos, enjoy a typical Turkish lunch and experience pottery making with local experts.

Goreme Panorama - Continue to Goreme Panorama, which offers one of the best panoramic views of the Fairy Chimneys.

Uchisar Castle - Uchisar Castle, the highest rock formation in the area, provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding region. At the end of the tour, drive back to your hotel.

Underground Cities of Cappadocia / Flight to Istanbul

Rose Valley - After breakfast at the hotel, check out and visit Rose Valley, known for its sharp ridges tinted in pink, especially during sunset. The minerals in the sandstone give it a pink hue.

Cavusin - Cavusin is surrounded by a valley that gradually widens, known as Red Valley. The village is famous for its rock-cut houses and churches.

Pigeon Valley - Pigeon Valley is named for the countless man-made dovecotes carved into the soft volcanic tuff. It is one of the best spots for walking in the marvelous Cappadocia region.

Kaymakli Underground City - The underground cities once served as a refuge for 15,000 Christians. These settlements were crucial for the development of Christianity, providing shelter and places of worship until the end of the 7th century AD. Explore the ancient bedrooms, church, meeting hall, and food storage rooms in this eight-story city connected by 30 km of corridors and passageways.

Ortahisar Kalesi - The tour continues with a visit to Ortahisar, known for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets, lovely churches, and the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named.

Kayseri Erkilet Airport - After the tour, drive to Kayseri Airport for your 1-hour 30-minute domestic flight to Istanbul.

İstanbul Havalimanı - Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your driver, who will drive you safely to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Istanbul.

Departure Day

Istanbul Airport - After breakfast at the hotel, check out and, according to your flight departure time, drive to the airport. End of service.

What's Included
  • 3 nights in Istanbul, exploring the city’s rich history and vibrant culture.
  • 2 nights in Cappadocia, a dreamlike terrain famous for its fairy chimneys and hot air balloon rides.
  • 2 nights in Kusadasi, gateway to the ancient ruins of Ephesus.
  • 2 nights in Antalya, known for its beautiful beaches and historic ruins.
  • 1 night in Canakkale, with its storied past and proximity to the legendary city of Troy.
  • Comfortable land transportation by air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicles.
  • Daily breakfast to start your mornings and selective lunches as per itinerary.
  • Economic class domestic flight tickets to whisk you across Turkey’s diverse landscapes.
What's Not Included
  • Beverage with Meals
  • Personal Expenses
  • Entry tickets to historical sites
Additional Information

Visit > Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamum, Ancient Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia

Luxury transportation, Personal Guide, 4* accommodation, Lunch at tours provided.
Explore magnificent Turkey with 11 Days customized package with a local tour guide in a small group from/to Istanbul. Visit Istanbul; where Asia Meets Europe and was the capital of 3 different empires. Explore Gallipoli, home to one of the most dramatic battles in history and home of the Trojan Horse. Visit Pergamum; Where John wrote his letter. Walk on the ancient roads of the (Ephesus) greko-city with the House of Holy Mary nearby. Swim in Pamukkale’s healing thermal springs. Walk in the cobblestone paved with colorful flowers streets of Antalya (old town) and see the clock tower, Hadrian Gate, and Kesik Minare, Underground cities of Cappadocia, learn history about early Christians and see rock churches, This is a Fully Guided small group tour.

  • Entrance fees are excluded (Your guide will have skıp-the-line tıckets for historical sites, so you will skip long ticket lines)
  • Free entry to hıstorical sites for childrens 8yr and below
  • Domestic flight tickets including 25kg baggage+8kg cabin luggage
  • Hotels Info > Istanbul: Celal SUltan Hotel (4) Canakkale: Buyuk Truva Hotel (4) Kusadasi:Efe Boutique Hotel (special class) Cappadocia: Fresco Cave Suites (4)Antalya: Best Western khan (4)
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(4 Ratings)
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Ronaldandjeans
Nov 25, 2023
Highly recommend! - Great trip. Good companions. Efe is an excellent guide. Wonderful itinerary. Everything was well planned out by the tour company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jassinkessing
Feb 1, 2022
Fabulous private winter tour through Turkey - We had a 7 night/8 day private tour through Turkey in January 2022, starting and ending in Istanbul, and it was absolutely amazing! From the WWI memorials in Gallipoli, to the impressive ancient Roman cities of Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus and Hierapolis, followed by the beautiful pools of Pamukkale, the large tombs of Rumi in Konya and Atatürk in Ankara, and the magical landscape of Cappadocia. All these sights were very impressive, with a lot of variety in setting and background, and some nice surprises. In just one week we traveled back through centuries of history. And Turkey is a beautiful country, perhaps even more when most of it is covered by a thick blanket of snow. The two of us were taken around by guide Metin and driver Emin and both did a fabulous job. Metin was able to tell us many fascinating stories at the various sights, and gave us plenty of time to explore. He also brought us to various local eateries for some delicious and varied Turkish food. Emin was a friendly driver who drove us safely from one place to the other, even when we had to face quite some snow along the road. Also kudos to Kerem through whom we booked our trip, with swift and clear replies to our questions. The hotels we stayed in (ranging between 3 and 5 stars) were good as well. And with the tour being private, we were more flexible than with a standard package, and always felt safe in these times of COVID-19. Do expect to be on the road for quite some hours though, as Turkey is a big country. But don’t let that put you off from visiting, and definitely consider Tour Altinkum because of their professionalism and perfect service!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leman921
Oct 3, 2021
A trip to remember. - Our recent trip to turkey, a most memorable experience. All thanks to our wonderful tour guide Emre and outstanding driver Okan.Emre our tour guide during our stay in turkey was amazing!!! It was our pleasure and priviledge to explore turkey with such a seasoned guide.He was courteous knowledgeable,polite and all the time a perfect gentleman, attentive to all our needs and our safety.He is a first class tour guide.He has a terrific sense of humor and his photography skills were an added bonus.Our tour driver Okan was the master of the turkish roads.Everyday was filled with adventure and laughter. Emre and Okan made our visit to Turkey a memorable experience.I Learned so much about history and culture of your great country. I highly recommend this tour company. My family, friend and i can not wait to visit again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mariasg9188ol
Sep 30, 2021
My unforgettable Turkey escapade - The entire trip was absolutely amazing thanks to our excellent tour guide Emre and driver Okan!!! They were both awesome and made our trip so memorable. Emre with his vast and immeasurable knowledge of Turkey and Okan with his driving expertise going through the narrow, cobble stone streets of Istanbul. They were both so hospitable and warm, treated us like family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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