Grand Tour of Turkey

Board your overnight flight to Istanbul today.

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

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

• Discover the former residence of Ottoman sultans at Topkapi Palace
• Step inside the Hagia Sophia, which held the title of the world’s largest cathedral for nearly 1,000 years
• Explore the Blue Mosque, named for the blue tiles adorning its interior
• Visit the Hippodrome, once considered the social center of ancient Constantinople

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

• Explore the Archaeological Site of Troy with a local guide
• 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.

Head south along the Aegean coast to Pergamon.

• Take a cable car to the top of the Acropolis
• Follow your Tour Director as you explore the ancient ruins
• See the Hellenistic theater, Temple of Trajan, and Temple of Athena

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

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

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.

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

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

• Visit Pamukkale, a popular spa town during the Roman times
• See the town's famous travertines—petrified waterfalls of white stone
• Stop in the nearby city of Hierapolis to see the well-preserved ruins

Enjoy a free afternoon in Pamukkale or add an excursion.

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Travel to Antalya, where your Tour Director will lead you on a tour of the city.

• Uncover the ruins of Hadrian’s Gate, a remarkably well-preserved triumphal arch
• Walk along the city's waterfront
• Explore the Antalya Museum, an enormous complex with nearly 30,000 antiquities from the Stone Age, Roman, Hellenistic, and Byzantine periods

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Spend the day exploring Antalya at your leisure or add an excursion.

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.

Enjoy a free evening in Cappadocia or add an excursion.

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
• Make photo stops throughout the day to soak in the dramatic valleys and otherworldly scenery

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Spend a free morning in Cappadocia or add an excursion.

Then, fly back to Istanbul this afternoon.

Enjoy a free day in Istanbul or add an excursion.

Later, celebrate your trip with your group at a farewell dinner.

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