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 enjoy a welcome drink as you meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

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.

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, 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, and cookies
• Meet some of the women, learn about the collective, 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.

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.

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.

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
• Walk to the neighboring UNESCO-listed city of Hierapolis to see the well-preserved Greco-Roman ruins

Enjoy a free afternoon in Pamukkale or add an excursion.

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Travel to Antalya and join your Tour Director on a tour of this 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

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.

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

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.