Flying Carpet Journey - 15 Days

Welcome to Istanbul – we arrange your transfer to the hotel, and the rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace.

After breakfast, we set out on a fully guided tour of the only city to span two continents, visiting the Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace – including Hagia Irene and the Harem – and the Hippodrome. In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxing Bosphorus cruise, sailing the strait between Europe and Asia.

Today we visit the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, paying our respects at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek and Johnston’s Jolly, and viewing original trenches and tunnels.

We step back in time at Troy to explore the ancient city and its acclaimed new Troy Museum, then continue to Bergama to ascend to the magnificent acropolis of Pergamon – once a renowned cultural and political centre with impressive temples and a famed library.

We delve into Ephesus, from the site of the Temple of Artemis to the grand Library of Celsus and the vast theatre, and visit the Ephesus Archaeology Museum where the city’s story comes alive. At a carpet village we learn how handmade pieces are created and valued, before heading to Sirince for a wine tasting experience.

After a visit to a leather shop, we travel to Aphrodisias – the ancient city dedicated to Aphrodite and famed for its school of sculpture – to see the stadium, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Tetrapylon, the theatre and the Museum. We then continue to Pamukkale.

This morning we explore Pamukkale’s dazzling white travertine terraces and tour the ancient city of Hierapolis – you can take a dip among Roman columns in the thermal pools. We then continue to Salda Lake, often called the Turkish Maldives, set in the mountains, before travelling south to Fethiye.

Today is free for you to explore Fethiye at your own pace – optional activities include the 12 Islands boat trip and an excursion to Saklikent Gorge.

This morning we call in at Kayakoy, perfect for atmospheric photographs of a hauntingly beautiful deserted Greek village, before continuing to Antalya. On arrival we visit the Antalya Necropol Museum for insights into ancient burial practices and artefacts from across the ages.

We visit Perge early, then drive to Aspendos to admire one of Turkey’s best preserved second century amphitheatres. Returning to Antalya in the afternoon, the remainder of your day is free.

We will visit the mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the great 13th-century Sufi mystic and poet, whose teachings continue to inspire people worldwide. Inside the Mevlana Museum, we will explore his beautifully adorned tomb, ancient manuscripts, and exhibits on the Whirling Dervishes and their spiritual traditions. Continuing our journey along the legendary Silk Road, we will visit the Çatalhöyük Museum, which brings to life the fascinating history of one of the world’s oldest and most advanced Neolithic settlements.

Today we travel to Cappadocia, calling at Sultanhani Caravansary – a historic Silk Road stop for merchants and traders – before exploring the many levels of an underground city. After checking in, we visit a traditional Turkish home for dinner, and you can join a short cooking course to help prepare the meal if you wish.

We marvel at Cappadocia’s lunar landscape as we tour the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and its fairy chimneys, then visit Pigeon and Red Valley, followed by Cavusin village and Avanos to learn about local pottery.

An early start takes us to the nation’s capital, Ankara, to visit Anitkabir – the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk – before returning to Istanbul.

After breakfast our journey concludes – we bid farewell to new friends and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.