White cliffs and bright blue travertines (limestone pools) of Pammukkale and the glimmering Blue Mosque, experience the best of Turkey's historical highlights and natural wonders in one incredible tour. Begin your trip roaming the palaces of Istanbul before journeying into the bizarre underground cities and the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Stick to public bus and budget accommodation, which not only keeps costs down but gives you a chance to really meet the locals. From the ancient Roman streets of Ephesus to bustling bazaars, follow your curiosity and spend 15 days discovering the culture and natural beauty of this fascinating region.
Travel Style
18-to-Thirtysomethings
Service Level
Basic
Physical Grading
2 - Light
What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
Your Big Night Out Moment: Antalya
Your Big Night Out Moment: Istanbul. Orientation walk of Istanbul. Afternoon boat trip with dinner (Aegean Sea). Göreme Open Air Museum Visit. Visit to Pamukkale and the ancient site of Hierapolis. Visit to Ephesus. Visit to Troy. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Discover historic cities and extraordinary scenery, Visit the ancient sites of Ephesus and Troy, Relax on an afternoon boat trip in the Mediterranean Sea, explore the bustling streets of Istanbul
How large will the group be?
Max 18, avg 12.
What meals are included in this trip?
14 breakfasts, 1 dinner
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private bus, boat, walking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Simple hotels (14 nts).
Itinerary
Istanbul
Arrive at any time.
Shake off that jet lag and prepare for an evening buzzing with excitement. Head out with your group and CEO for drinks at a favourite local spot. After, feel free to do some exploring in the area on your own or with some fellow travellers. Kick-off your adventure in Istanbul with lively music, and a healthy dose of fun. Get the most out of your time in Istanbul by pre-booking the following activity to experience before your tour starts: Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise. If you do, we recommend booking accommodation for an extra night pre-tour.
And don’t worry if you can’t decide now. This activity is available for pre-booking any time before your tour starts, while any of the optional activities listed can be booked independently upon arrival in Istanbul.
Istanbul/Ankara
View the sights of Istanbul on an orientation walk with the CEO before travelling by bus to Ankara. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure after checking into the hotel.
Ankara/Cappadocia
After breakfast, visit Ataturk’s Mausoleum before setting off for the Cappadocia region. Make a stop on the way at Salt Lake, the second-largest lake in Turkey and enjoy the rest of the day to relax or to choose from some of the many optional activities available.
Cappadocia
Enjoy some free time this morning. Opt to take part in a Hot Air Balloon excursion before touring the region and visiting the Göreme Open Air Museum. Explore the unique Open Air Museum, a site made up of a number of medieval painted cave churches. Carved by Orthodox monks, many of the churches are up to 1,000 years old and still retain their amazing colour and vibrancy. Enjoy the incredible landscapes and photo stop opportunities on the bus ride back to the hotel for the evening. One of the best ways to explore Cappadocia is on foot. Opt to join a trekking tour through one of the beautiful valleys. Ask your CEO about the many other walking and hiking options available in the area.
Göreme/Antalya
Depart for Antalya this morning with a stop in Konya along the way for some time to explore, find some lunch or visit the Mevlana Museum and mausoleum of Mevlana Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic. After settling into the hotel in Antalya, head out with your CEO in the evening to get your bearings on a short orientation walk on the way to an optional dinner out.
Antalya
Head off with your CEO this morning to the impressive ruins of Termessos, one of the best-preserved ancient cities of Turkey perched at the top of a mountain. Explore the site and take in the amazing views before returning to Antalya for a free afternoon to explore, laze on the beach or relax. In the evening, head out with your CEO and fellow travel mates for a night out on the town.
Antalya/Kekova
Travel to the beautiful coastal village of Kekova and spend the afternoon onboard a boat in the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy a freshly prepared dinner before disembarking the boat and driving to our hotel for the evening.
Kekova/Fethiye
Hit the road again today for the drive along the Turquoise Coast to the seaside town of Kaş. Wander the pedestrian streets, browse the colourful shops the and find some lunch before continuing to Fethiye in the afternoon. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax.
Fethiye
Enjoy free time to explore Fethiye. Opt for a boat trip to it's near-shore islands, hike to Oludeniz lagoon or visit Butterfly valley.
Fethiye/Pamukkale
Travel inland today, passing through fruit orchards on the way to Pamukkale. In the afternoon, visit the famous white cliffs of Pamukkale and explore the ancient site of Hierapolis, built on top of the white "castle". This UNESCO World Heritage Site is evidence that the hot springs of Pamukkale were used as a spa since the 2nd century BC. Back in town, join your CEO to find one of their local favourate places to eat on an optional dinner out.
Pamukkale/Selçuk
Head to the coastal town of Selçuk. In the late afternoon visit one of Turkey's best preserved and well-known sites, Ephesus, followed by a photo stop at the Temple of Artemis. Transfer back to the hotel this evening for free time. Visit the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Ephesus. One of the foremost cities of the world in its time, with a strategic location on the trade route, this well-preserved city is one of the best places in the world to get a real feeling of what life must have been like during Roman times.
Selçuk
Take advantage of a full free day in Selçuk. Maybe visit the nearby village of Sirince, hop between some of the great bars and restaurants in town, or join a traditional cooking class. Regroup in the evening to share stories over an optional dinner out with the group.
Selçuk/Çanakkale
Travel north to Canakkale and visit the Legendary Troy en route. This evening, explore on your own with free time. Travel to Çanakkale. On the way, visit the world famous Troy.
Enjoy the harbour town of Çanakkale, a busy port with a thriving student population. Join the crowds as they stroll the waterfront nightly, enjoying the atmosphere of the night.
Çanakkale/Istanbul
In the morning, travel to the battlefield of Gallipoli for the option to visit with a tour or enjoy some free time. Continue travelling to Istanbul in the afternoon, arriving in the evening for one last night out with the group. Opt to visit Gallipoli early in the morning, where thousands gave their lives during WWI in the battle of the same name.
We'll continue our journey to Istanbul where there will be the opportunity to continue your sightseeing or get in some last minute shopping. Why not top off a wonderful adventure with an optional dinner at one of Istanbul's atmospheric restaurants.
Istanbul
Depart at any time. Your tour might be finished, but the adventure’s far from over. Pre-book the following activity to experience after your tour ends: Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise. If you do, we recommend booking accommodation for an extra night in Istanbul.
And don’t worry if you can’t decide now. This activity is available for pre-booking any time before your tour starts, or it can be booked upon arrival in Istanbul.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
