Classic Turkey, Gulet & The East - 20 Days

Welcome to Istanbul. Make your own way to the hotel, and this evening we gather for a welcome meeting with our tour guide.

After breakfast we set out on a fully guided tour of this city that spans two continents, taking in the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, Dolmabahce Palace and the Hippodrome. In the afternoon you can opt for a Bosphorus cruise – a scenic journey between Europe and Asia.

Today we pay our respects at the WW1 battlefields of Gallipoli – Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly, and preserved trenches and tunnels.

We depart Çanakkale for ancient Troy – a UNESCO World Heritage site – and its Troy Museum, then continue to Bergama to explore the Acropolis of Pergamon, once famed for its temples and library, before travelling south to Kuşadası.

We delve into Ephesus, from the site of the Temple of Artemis to the Library of Celsus and the grand theatre, and visit the Ephesus Archaeology Museum. At a carpet village we learn how handwoven carpets are made and valued, then continue to Sirince for a wine tasting.

We view locally crafted leather, then continue to Fethiye to board our gulet around 15:00. We swim and snorkel in Turunc Bay or Tarzan Bay, cruising past the islands towards Tersane Island – once a naval dockyard – where ruins of a former Greek settlement can still be explored.

After breakfast we sail to Hamam Bay to swim among the ruins of Roman baths said to have been built by Mark Antony for Cleopatra. We continue to Sarsala Bay, a pine fringed haven where you can take a 45 minute hike to a Lycian site notable for its inscribed walls, before reaching Bedri Rahmi Bay, named after a celebrated Turkish painter, for swimming or exploration.

We cruise towards Fethiye, passing the Yassica and Gocek islands, pausing at sheltered anchorages and secluded beaches – perfect for swimming, snorkelling or simply soaking up the sun – then enjoy a final swim at Red Island before returning to port.

This morning we head to Pamukkale’s gleaming white travertine terraces and tour the ancient city of Hierapolis. We can take a dip among ancient columns in the thermal pools once enjoyed for their restorative powers.

Today we travel the old Silk Road, visiting the Sultanhani caravanserai and the Mevlana Museum in Konya. Tonight you can choose to join an optional traditional Turkish folklore evening.

We marvel at Cappadocia’s lunar landscapes as we visit the Goreme Open Air Museum and the fairy chimneys, then explore the many levels of an underground city.

We leave Cappadocia for Ankara to board our direct flight to Kars. On arrival we meet our guide and transfer to the city centre to explore Kars Castle and the Church of the Twelve Apostles (Kümbet Mosque), then continue through the old quarters with their Russian era stone architecture and other historic landmarks. You have free time to enjoy the local atmosphere and cuisine.

After breakfast we depart for the Ani Archaeological Site – a UNESCO World Heritage site near the Turkish–Armenian border – to explore its city walls, cathedral, churches and evocative ruins. We continue to the Tuzluca Salt Caves, an extensive underground complex within ancient rock salt, then drive through striking Eastern Anatolian landscapes to Dogubeyazit.

After breakfast we visit the magnificent Ishak Pasha Palace, dramatically set above the Dogubeyazit plain, then continue towards Lake Van along its northern shores. We arrive in Ahlat to see the renowned Selcuk Cemetery with its monumental carved tombstones, then explore the vast Nemrut Crater with its volcanic caldera and crater lakes before continuing to Tatvan.

After breakfast we travel along the southern shores of Lake Van to Gevas and take a boat to Akdamar Island to visit the Church of the Holy Cross, noted for its medieval Armenian architecture and remarkable stone reliefs. We return to the mainland and continue to Van, then in the afternoon visit Van Castle for panoramic views across the lake.

After breakfast we depart for Ayanis Castle, an important Urartian archaeological site from the reign of King Rusa II. We return towards Van to visit the Van Cat House, dedicated to the famous Van cat, then continue to Old Tusba – the ancient capital of Urartu around Van Castle – before returning to our hotel.

After breakfast we leave Van for Cavustepe Castle, an impressive Urartian fortress dating to the 8th century BC, then continue to Hosap Castle, spectacularly poised on a rocky hill above the Hosap River. We proceed towards Baskale to visit the historic Church of St Bartholomew – access dependent on local conditions – then explore Vanadokya’s remarkable fairy chimney landscape before travelling through mountain scenery to Yuksekova for an evening arrival and check in.

After breakfast we set out on a full day excursion to the Sat Lakes in the high mountains of Hakkari, exploring beautiful high altitude lakes, alpine meadows and dramatic peaks with time for sightseeing, walks and photography. The exact route will depend on seasonal, weather and road conditions. We return to Yuksekova in the late afternoon.

After breakfast we check out and transfer to Yuksekova Selahaddin Eyyubi Airport for our flight – on arrival in Istanbul you are met at the airport.

After breakfast our tour concludes and we say goodbye to new friends.