Turkish Odyssey From Bosphorus to Cappadocia - 13 Days

Arrive in Istanbul, where we’ll transfer you to your hotel. Once you’ve settled in, you’ll have free time to relax or explore nearby at your own pace. In the afternoon, please check the information boards at hotel reception – they will display details about the start of your tour. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We begin with a panoramic tour of Istanbul, entering the Süleymaniye Mosque – the city’s largest – before tracing the ancient walls, taking in the Golden Horn and the lively fishing district, and pausing to admire the exterior of Hagia Sophia. Tickets are included for Topkapi Palace – once the administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire – where we explore its courtyards and pavilions. The afternoon is free for you to discover more of this city that spans two continents at your own pace. As the afternoon draws to a close, we arrange a transfer to Taksim, the city’s most vibrant commercial district, where you’ll have time to choose a restaurant and see the old tram that runs through the area; alternatively, you can visit the nearby Galata Tower.

Today we embark on a two-hour Bosphorus cruise – tickets included – aboard a private boat reserved for our group. This famous strait links the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and divides Istanbul between its European and Asian sides. We’ll watch the busy waterway as we sail beneath the two bridges connecting the continents and admire sultans’ palaces, traditional wooden houses and classic Ottoman architecture. After the cruise, we return to central Istanbul and you’ll have free time to explore at your own pace.

We leave Istanbul early and arrive at Ephesus around lunchtime – the best preserved ancient city of Asia Minor, which two thousand years ago had some 250,000 inhabitants. We visit the Basilica of St John, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Ephesus archaeological site, with entrance included. We then continue to Kusadasi, a coastal town known for its lively atmosphere, commercial life and quaint castle, where we stay overnight – dinner included. From May to October we overnight in Aydin instead of Kusadasi; in this case, after visiting Ephesus we stop in Kusadasi from 16:30 to 19:00 for a panoramic tour before continuing to Aydin.

We leave early for Lake Bafa, one of Turkey’s natural wonders, where we pause to take in its serene scenery. We then continue to Bodrum – a fortified city with ancient Greek roots. In Bodrum, you can explore the impressive castle, wander its lively streets or visit the marina. After lunch, we proceed to Marmaris – a picturesque coastal resort known for its castle, pier and fountains. Dinner is included. Please note that on some dates, especially in summer, we may stay overnight in nearby Mugla instead of Marmaris.

We leave Marmaris for Dalyan, where we include a one hour boat ride to visit the Lycian Rock Tombs. We then continue by boat to a large lake and stop at the hot springs – you can swim in the warm waters or try a mud bath – and you’ll have time to choose a riverside restaurant for lunch. Next, we head to Antalya to get to know this vibrant coastal city, taking in Hadrian’s Gate, the Ottoman district and the waterfall that cascades directly into the sea. Dinner is included.

We leave Antalya for Aspendos to visit its Roman theatre – often regarded as the best preserved in the world. We then continue to Side, where you can admire the seaside Temple of Apollo and use your free time to wander the harbour and lively streets. Our route climbs through the Taurus Mountains – peaks over 3,500 metres and often snow covered for much of the year. We pause in Karaman to view its fortress from the outside before continuing towards the Cappadocia region. Dinner is included in Nigde.

We spend the day exploring Cappadocia’s lunar–like landscapes, ancient churches and troglodyte villages. We begin at Gumusler, a 7th–century underground monastery noted for its Byzantine frescoes, then continue to Kaymacli to explore its extensive underground city – once able to shelter up to 30,000 people. We move on to Uchisar, a natural rock fortress with views over the region. After lunch, we visit the Göreme Valley’s open–air museum to see its rock–cut churches – entrance tickets are included. Our accommodation tonight is in Avanos – dinner is included.

At the far edge of Cappadocia, we visit the Ihlara Valley, known for its cool waters and rock cut churches and villages. We then stop at a caravanserai dating to the 13th century before continuing to Konya to visit the Mevlana Mausoleum, associated with Rumi and the Dervish order. We finish the day in Konya – dinner is included. In the evening, you can choose to attend a dervish dance performance at the cultural centre.

We travel a scenic route between the lakes to Egridir – a lakeside town noted for its historic walls and mosques – arriving around lunchtime, when you’ll have free time to find somewhere to eat. We then continue to Hierapolis–Pamukkale to see the brilliant white Cotton Palace formed by mineral‑rich waters – entry tickets are included. Dinner is included this evening.

We depart Pamukkale for Ephesus, one of the great ancient cities of Asia Minor. On arrival, you’ll have free time to explore at your own pace. We then continue to Kusadasi, a lively coastal town known for its shops and small castle – dinner is included.

Note: From May to October we overnight in Izmir. In this case, after visiting Ephesus we head directly to Izmir on the Aegean coast – we include a brief panoramic tour and do not stop in Kusadasi. The following day, en route to Istanbul, we make an additional stop in the traditional town of Balikesir with time for lunch.

We depart for Izmir, Turkey’s third most populous city, for a brief guided tour of its modern, westernised centre. We then travel inland, pausing for lunch en route, before reaching Bursa, the country’s fourth largest city, whose UNESCO-listed core includes traditional commercial districts, mosques, religious schools, public baths and the celebrated Green Mosque. We continue to Istanbul, arriving by day’s end. During high season – May to October – we also stop in Balikesir for lunch on the way to Istanbul.

After breakfast, we conclude our journey in Istanbul. We hope the experiences you’ve enjoyed on this trip stay with you – safe onward travels.