Istanbul to Ephesus Express - 3 Days
Trip Snapshot
Age range
8 - 99Physical rating
Group size
1 - 20Meals included
3Highlights
- Gallipoli Peninsula - Pay your respects at some of the memorials, trenches, and battlefields of WW1
- Troy - Discover the legendary ruins and see a replica of the famous wooden horse
- Ephesus - Marvel at the Library of Celsus in Roman Ephesus and explore the Ancient Greek city of Pergamum
- Pergamum - Take a guided tour of these legendary Greek ruins
Everything you need to picture the adventure and pack with confidence — in one free PDF.
What's inside the PDF
Day-by-day itinerary
Every day mapped out, covering activities, travel times, meals and where you'll stay.Packing & kit list
Exactly what to bring, from clothing and essentials to luggage guidelines and what's available to hire locally.What's included
Accommodation, transport, guides and meals, so you can see exactly what your price covers.
Summary
Kick off in Istanbul and wrap up in Kusadasi on a 3–day journey that blends poignant history with classical treasures. You’ll pay your respects on the Gallipoli battlefields – think ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair – before tracing legends at ancient Troy and its award–winning museum. Depending on the season, you’ll explore Pergamon’s hilltop acropolis or the photogenic village of Behramkale, then continue to the Aegean. In and around Ephesus, expect grand marble streets, the theatre and the Temple of Artemis, plus the Ephesus Archaeology Museum and a hands–on look at traditional carpet weaving. A compact, well–paced slice of Turkey.
Itinerary
Day 1
Istanbul to Gallipoli & Canakkale
Meet at Istanbul's Port Bosphorus Hotel between 08:00–08:15 – please arrive on time. We then depart for an afternoon tour of Gallipoli, where the World War I battlefields are now tranquil. We visit the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, ANZAC Cove, Johnston’s Jolly and The Nek, before heading to our hotel in Canakkale.
Day 2
Troy, Pergamun & Kusadasi
2026 itinerary – We depart Çanakkale for Troy to explore the ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the new Troy Museum – an award winner. We continue to the old village of Behramkale, a picturesque place of stone houses and narrow streets that offer a glimpse of traditional Turkish village life. You have time to explore, take in the scenery, and perhaps enjoy Turkish tea or coffee at a local café. We then head south to Kuşadası.
2027 and 2028 itinerary – We depart Çanakkale for Troy to explore the ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the new Troy Museum – an award winner. We continue to Bergama to visit the magnificent Acropolis of Pergamon, whose impressive temples and library made it one of the most important cultural and political centres of the ancient world. We then travel south to Kuşadası.
Day 3
Exploring Ephesus
We immerse ourselves in history with a guided tour of Ephesus and a visit to the site of the Temple of Artemis. We feel the city’s mystical atmosphere and its grand theatre before exploring the Ephesus Archaeology Museum, which houses an impressive collection of artefacts from the region. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey, and at a carpet village we learn how carpets are handmade and what determines their value.
After exploring Ephesus, we return to Kusadasi, where the tour ends.
What's Included
Meals
Breakfasts: 2, Lunches: 0, Dinners: 1
Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.
Vegetarian options availableLocal Guide
GuidedThis adventure is led by a local guide throughout. The main language of this adventure is English. Please contact us for other languages available.
Wifi
Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.
Dates & Prices
Oct 2026
from £916Nov 2026
from £916Dec 2026
from £916Jan 2027
from £954Feb 2027
from £954Mar 2027
from £954Apr 2027
from £954May 2027
from £954Jun 2027
from £954Jul 2027
from £954Aug 2027
from £954Sep 2027
from £954Oct 2027
from £954Nov 2027
from £954Dec 2027
from £954Jan 2028
from £954Feb 2028
from £954Mar 2028
from £954Apr 2028
from £954May 2028
from £954Jun 2028
from £954Jul 2028
from £954Aug 2028
from £954Sep 2028
from £954Oct 2028
from £954Nov 2028
from £954Dec 2028
from £954
- Monday 5 Oct 2026to Wednesday 7 Oct 20264 spaces of 20 left£916Best offer
- Monday 12 Oct 2026to Wednesday 14 Oct 20264 spaces of 20 left£916Best offer
- Monday 19 Oct 2026to Wednesday 21 Oct 20264 spaces of 20 left£916Best offer
- Monday 26 Oct 2026to Wednesday 28 Oct 20264 spaces of 20 left£916Best offer
Make this tour private
Every departure on this trip can be booked just for your own group — your dates, your people, the same expert local guides.
What changes when you go private
Travel with just your own group
No other travellers on the trip — just the people you choose to bringTravel on your schedule
Pick your exact start date—no fixed group departures or rigid timetables.Exclusively for your party
Enjoy this handcrafted itinerary with a dedicated private guide just for you.
Essential trip information
Our Important Notes and Packing List cover all essentials, from necessary equipment to inclusions, ensuring you're fully equipped and informed for this extraordinary adventure and more.
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