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Grand tour of...
 

Grand Tour of Turkey

15 days |  17 days with Istanbul extension
15 days |  17 days with Istanbul extension
Group size1222 travelers
Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars

279
Physical activity
a street in istanbul with buildings of the city in the background
blue saucer with a cup of turkish coffee on a multicolored tablecloth
man fishing on a bridge in istanbul with the blue mosque in the background
topkapi palace in istanbul
OverviewItineraryDates & pricesReviewsTraveler photosHotels, flights & FAQ
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Uncover a land where the cultures of two continents collide.

In Turkey, Ottoman domes float against modern skylines. Classic scenes from Greek epics come to life, and bustling bazaars and vibrant street vendors prove variety is the spice of life. From Istanbul to Cappadocia and the ruins of Ephesus, take in the living traditions where East meets West on this small group Adventure Tour.

Your tour package includes

  • 13 nights in handpicked hotels
  • 13 breakfasts
  • 2 lunches
  • 6 dinners
  • 1 wine tasting
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Included highlights

  • Hagia Sophia
  • Blue Mosque
  • Topkapi Palace
  • Archaeological Site of Troy
  • Nar Kadin women's collective
Read more
Start planning today

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Talk to a Tour Consultant

Day-by-day itinerary

Print itinerary
Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Overnight flight

Board your overnight flight to Istanbul today.

Istanbul2 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey! Arrive in Istanbul—one of the world’s only cities that spans two continents—and enjoy a welcome drink as you meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Istanbul
Included meals: Breakfast, Welcome lunch

Set off on a tour of Istanbul’s vibrant streets and historic UNESCO World Heritage sites led by your Tour Director.

  • Step inside the Hagia Sophia, which held the title of the world’s largest cathedral for nearly 1,000 years
  • Walk to the Basilica Cistern and explore the 6th-century underground water collection area
  • Visit the Hippodrome, once considered the social center of ancient Constantinople
  • Enjoy an included welcome lunch at a local restaurant
  • Explore the Blue Mosque, named for the blue tiles adorning its interior, and sit down to learn about Ottoman Islamic traditions
  • Discover the former residence of Ottoman sultans at Topkapi Palace during a tour of the museum and palace grounds

Please note: Travelers are required to remove or cover shoes when entering the Blue Mosque. On some departures the visit to Basilica Cistern may take place on day 14.

Canakkale1 night
Day 4: Canakkale via Troy
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Take a short ferry ride across the Dardanelles Strait and join your Tour Director on a guided tour of Troy, the city at the heart of Homer’s “Iliad.”

  • Explore the Archaeological Site of Troy
  • See the ruins of the city walls, temples, and buildings
  • View a replica of the famous Trojan Horse

After, continue on to Canakkale and sit down for an included dinner.

Ephesus Region2 nights
Day 5: Ephesus Region via Adatepe & Edremit
Included meals: Breakfast, Tasting, Dinner

Head south along the Aegean coast, making several stops along the way.

  • Visit Adatepe, a small village in the hills above the Aegean Sea
  • Walk along the cobblestone streets and have a chance to visit the elegant stone mosque
  • Sample olives, olive oil, and Turkish tea at a local eatery
  • Continue on to the city of Edremit to visit Nar Kadin, a collective that provides culinary employment opportunities to marginalized women
  • Learn how the women use locally sourced ingredients to make handmade pies, noodles, baklava, cookies, and sample some of their pastries

Then, travel to the Ephesus region, a historic area on Turkey’s west coast, and sit down for an included dinner.

Please note: On some departures a visit to İzmir at Mt. Pagos will take place when the Nar Kadin collective is closed.

Day 6: Sightseeing tour of Ephesus
Included meal: Breakfast

Join your Tour Director on a guided tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient Greek cities in the Mediterranean region.

  • Discover many UNESCO-listed sites, including the elaborate Library of Celsus and the ruins of the Basilica of St. John
  • View the Great Theatre, which is still in use today
  • Step inside the house where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent her final days

Spend a free evening in the Ephesus region or add an excursion.

Traditional Turkish Meyhane Dinner

From $65 per person

Pamukkale1 night
Day 7: Pamukkale via Sirince
Included meals: Breakfast, Wine tasting, Dinner

Head inland and stop in the quaint town of Sirince, known for its wine and olive oil, to get a firsthand look at rural village life.

  • Learn about the town’s history of Greek and Turkish residents from your Tour Director
  • Hear how the local Turks reconstructed the Ottoman-era houses
  • Enjoy free time to explore the streets and markets
  • Visit a wine store for a tasting of local wines

Later, arrive in Pamukkale and sit down for an included dinner.

Antalya3 nights
Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Hierapolis, Pamukkale & transfer to Antalya
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Discover some of the area's natural wonders and ancient ruins on today's guided tour.

  • Visit the UNESCO-listed city of Hierapolis to see the well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins
  • Walk to neighboring Pamukkale, a popular spa town during the Roman times
  • See the town's famous travertines—petrified waterfalls of white stone

Then, travel to Antalya and sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Antalya
Included meal: Breakfast

Join your Tour Director on a tour of Antalya, a stunning coastal city known for its pristine beaches and beautiful scenery.

  • Explore the Antalya Museum, an enormous complex with nearly 30,000 antiquities from the Stone Age, Roman, Hellenistic, and Byzantine periods
  • Walk through Karaalioglu Park to admire views of Hidirlik Tower, the coastline, and mountains
  • Uncover the ruins of Hadrian’s Gate, a remarkably well-preserved triumphal arch

Enjoy a free afternoon in Antalya or add an excursion.

Aspendos & Perge

From $59 per person

Day 10: Free day in Antalya
Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Antalya or add an excursion.

Mount Tahtali, Phaselis Ruins & Turquoise Coast

From $95 per person

Cappadocia2 nights
Day 11: Cappadocia via Konya
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Cross the Taurus Mountains to visit the mystical center of Konya, the spiritual home of Sufism and the Whirling Dervishes.

  • Step inside the Mevlana Museum with your Tour Director
  • Learn more about the Dervishes as you tour the museum, which was once their monastery

Continue on to Cappadocia, which is known for its unearthly rock formations, and sit down for an included dinner.

Please note: For an additional cost, you can book a Whirling Dervishes cultural performance for this evening through your Tour Director.

Day 12: Sightseeing tour of Cappadocia
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Wander through the Göreme Open-Air Museum, which is comprised of frescoed rock churches dating back to the fourth century.

  • See the area’s signature geological rock formations, known as fairy chimneys
  • Visit a cave village and a rock-carved church
  • Stop in Avanos to discover the town’s distinctive red-clay pottery

This afternoon, join your Tour Director on a hike down through one of Capaddocia’s famous valleys.

  • See the dramatic landscapes and rock formations carved by wind and water
  • Learn about the people who carved their homes out of the rock

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Please note: For an additional cost, you can book a hot air balloon ride for this morning through your Tour Director.

Istanbul2 nights
Day 13: Flight to Istanbul
Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free morning in Cappadocia or add an excursion.

Then, fly back to Istanbul this afternoon.

Underground City

From $55 per person

Day 14: Sightseeing tour of Kadiköy Market & Grand Bazaar
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell lunch

Today, see Istanbul from a different perspective as you take a ferry across the Bosporus Strait to Kadiköy and explore Kadiköy Market with a local guide.

  • Walk through this open-air market, which sits on the Asian side of Istanbul
  • See where locals go to shop for everything from fresh-caught fish to locally grown produce
  • Stop by specialty shops to see what the vendors are selling and learn more about the foods used to create some of the country’s culinary staples
  • Shop for snacks and pick up some sweets to bring back home
  • Head to a nearby restaurant for a farewell lunch featuring food, drinks, and desserts from the Anatolian, or Asia Minor, region of Turkey

This afternoon, take a ferry back up the Golden Horn and head to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar.

  • Step inside the bazaar, which is one of the oldest covered markets in the world
  • Follow along as you Tour Director points you in the direction of the best vendors and enjoy free time to shop

Toast to your trip with a farewell drink this evening.

Flight Home
Day 15: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay in Istanbul.

Extension to Istanbul
Istanbul is magical, to say the least. It's here in Turkey's largest city that you can walk on two continents, see world wonders, and eat some of the best food ever. Extend your stay and look to your expert Tour Director as you fill each moment with wonder.
Istanbul2 nights
Day 15: Free day in Istanbul
Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a full free day in Istanbul or add an excursion.

Hammam Spa Visit

From $115 per person

Turkish Cooking Class & Dinner

From $119 per person

Day 16: Free day in Istanbul
Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Istanbul or add an excursion.

Bosphorus Straits Cruise

From $85 per person

Flight Home
Day 17: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Show full itinerary
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Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars

Overall rating 4.8 out of 5

Based on 279 authentic traveler reviews
Sort by

    5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent trip
    10/20/23 by 2nd-time traveler Padmamukhi

    This is our second trip with Go Ahead, Turkey tour is fantastic and the itinerary was planned well. Our guide Gokhan is very knowledgeable and he has answers for all the questions. He has lots of patience and is a people person. Accommodations were very good except at couple of places. Overall trip...

    Read more +
    EF Go Ahead Tours replied on 12/13/23

    Hi Padmamukhi Thank you so much for taking a mome...

    Read more +

    4 out of 5 stars

    Knowledgeable
    11/17/23 by 2nd-time traveler Anonymous

    There is a lot of history in Turkey. A great place for animal lovers. I always felt safe.

    5 out of 5 stars

    Turkiye, a Unique Adventure
    11/17/23 by 2nd-time traveler Anonymous

    If you are a fan of ancient history, architecture, local cultures, and the tales of the spice routes, then this trip to Turkiye is well worth it! Out tour guide, Mehmet, was excellent and provided a lot of insight into the history and architecture of everything we saw and visited. While on the bus, ...

    Read more +
    Show more reviews

    Traveler photos

    Hotels, flights & FAQ

    Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

    Hotels

    We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
    Kent Hotel
    Kent Hotel

    This modern hotel is located in Istanbul’s Old City. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and a restaurant and bar. Nearby, you’ll find the Blue Mosque, Hagia Soph...

    Read more +
    Kolin Hotel
    Kolin Hotel

    This upscale hotel is located in the city of Çanakkale. Guests enjoy a spa, sand beach, and indoor and outdoor pools. Nearby, you’ll find the Galipoli...

    Read more +
    Signature Blue Resort
    Signature Blue Resort

    This beachfront hotel is located in Kuşadası in the Ephesus region. Guest enjoy a private beach area, fitness center, and sauna. Nearby you’ll find a ...

    Read more +
    Hierapark Thermal & Spa Hotel Deluxe
    Hierapark Thermal & Spa Hotel Deluxe

    This wellness hotel is located in the Karahayıt neighborhood of Pamukkale. Guests enjoy the luxury spa center, terrace with mountain views, and bar. Y...

    Read more +
    Best Western Plus Khan Hotel
    Best Western Plus Khan Hotel

    This contemporary hotel is located in Antalya. Guests enjoy the rooftop pool, fitness center, and on-site restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find Antalya Muse...

    Read more +
    Dinler Hotels - Ürgüp
    Dinler Hotels - Ürgüp

    This contemporary hotel is located in Cappadocia. Guests enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, a Turkish bath, and laundry services. Nearby, you’ll find the...

    Read more +

    Flights

    Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
    Add our airfare package and you'll get:
    • Round-trip flight for your tour
    • Airport transfers at your destination
    • A great price locked in today
    • 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
    • Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
    • Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
    • Find out more about flights

    FAQ

    Print FAQ

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