13 Days Turkey Tour

Your thirteen-day journey through Turkey begins as you arrive in Istanbul. Our driver will be waiting at the exit with a sign bearing your name and will take you to your hotel. Take your time to check in and rest after the flight. At a convenient time, your travel consultant will meet you at the hotel to welcome you and outline the days ahead.

After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the lobby for a walking tour of the old city. The day takes in the great highlights of historic Istanbul: the soaring dome of Hagia Sophia, the elegant Blue Mosque, and the ancient Hippodrome with its Obelisk of Theodosius brought from Egypt and the Serpentine Column from the Temple of Delphi. You will pause at the German Fountain, explore the grand courtyards of Topkapi Palace — once home to the Ottoman sultans — and finish among the maze of stalls in the Grand Bazaar. The whole route is walkable, and afterwards you will be driven back to your hotel.

Early this morning your driver will collect you from the hotel for the transfer to the airport and your one-hour flight to Cappadocia. On arrival, our representative will meet you at the exit and take you to our office, where you can leave your luggage before setting off on a guided tour of northern Cappadocia. You will take in the sweeping panorama from Esentepe, see the Byzantine-era Uchisar Castle from below, and explore Pasabag, Devrent and the Three Beauties valleys — among the most striking landscapes in the region. The day continues in the old towns of Urgup and Avanos, the latter famous for its red-clay pottery, where you are welcome to try your hand at the wheel. Afterwards you will be transferred to your hotel.

If you would like, start with an optional sunrise balloon flight over Cappadocia — one of the trip's most memorable moments. After breakfast and check-out, your guide will collect you for a tour of southern Cappadocia: Meskendir and Rose Valley with their red rock and walking trails, the cave houses of Cavusin, the well-named Pigeon Valley and the view from Love Valley. You will explore the Kaymakli Underground City and its many levels of rooms, wineries, tombs and stables, with the chance to see a traditional carpet-weaving demonstration. At the end of the tour you will be transferred to your hotel.

After breakfast and check-out, we will collect you from the lobby for the transfer to the airport and the one-hour flight to Antalya. On arrival, our representative will meet you at the exit and take you to your hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast, your guide will collect you for a day out around Antalya. The first stop is the ancient city of Perge, with the ruins of its Roman and Hellenistic gates and the agora — Saint Paul preached here during his first missionary journey. Next is Aspendos, home to one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in all of Anatolia. From there you will visit one of the region's loveliest waterfalls, and see the Temple of Apollo at Side before being transferred back to your hotel.

After breakfast and check-out, we will transfer you to the bus station for the local coach to Fethiye (about three hours), with lovely scenery along the way. On arrival, you will be met at the bus station and taken to your hotel, with time to explore the coves and beaches of Fethiye.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will pick you up around 10:00 am and take you to the boat at Fethiye Marina, the starting point for a full-day cruise around the Twelve Islands. As you sail, there will be plenty of time to swim in the clear waters of the Mediterranean, stop at pretty beaches and discover secluded coves and uninhabited islands along the way. Spend the day swimming, snorkelling and soaking up the scenery. In the late afternoon we will cruise back to Fethiye Marina and transfer you to your hotel.

After breakfast and check-out, we will transfer you to the bus station for the local coach to Denizli (about four hours), with beautiful scenery along the way. On arrival at Denizli, you will be met at the bus station and taken to your hotel in Pamukkale.

After breakfast and check-out, you will be collected from your hotel for a full day at Pamukkale. You will visit the gates of ancient Hierapolis, its necropolis and beautiful ancient theatre, and the famous travertines, whose icy-mountain panorama is one of the trip's most striking sights; there is the chance to swim among the ruins in Cleopatra's pool or visit the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum. At the end of the tour you will be transferred to Kusadasi.

After breakfast, your guide will collect you for a tour of Ephesus. You will visit the Temple of Artemis — one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — the 25,000-seat amphitheatre, the famous Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian and the harbour street of the ancient city, ending at the House of the Virgin Mary, her final home. Afterwards you will be transferred to the airport for the one-hour flight to Istanbul, where our representative will meet you and take you to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, the day is free to explore Istanbul as you please. A half-day Bosphorus cruise is a must on any visit, or you could arrange a day out to the nearby islands for a swim or a bike ride. In the evening, a Bosphorus dinner cruise offers a lovely view of the city by night, with the European and Asian shores lit up on either side — a fine way to round off your tour.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel between 12:00 and 1:00 pm. Depending on your international flight time, your driver will be waiting in the lobby to take you to the airport. This brings your thirteen-day Turkey tour to a close, and we hope to welcome you again.