Turkey Active Tour

Arrival in Istanbul - Group Orientation Meeting

Arrive in Istanbul. Please transfer to the hotel. Upon arrival, our staff will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel in Istanbul, marking the beginning of your trip. | OVERNIGHT Istanbul - 4-star hotel

Istanbul Guided Historic Tour

Istanbul. Old City tours. Our trip begins this morning with a full-day tour of Istanbul. Spanning two continents, this historically significant city played a pivotal role in the development of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. We visit the 17th-century Blue Mosque and the Aya Sofya Museum, and explore the former residence of the Ottoman Sultans at Topkapi Palace, before concluding at the famous Hippodrome. | OVERNIGHT Istanbul - 4-star hotel

Travel from Istanbul to Gallipoli

Gallipoli battlefields and memorials tour. We depart Istanbul this morning for the drive to Gallipoli, where we will receive a fully guided tour of this World War I battlefield site. Although home to some of the fiercest fighting during the War, the site is marked by poignant memorials set against a subdued, wooded landscape. Our tour will include the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, Anzac Cove, Johnston's Jolly, as well as The Nek and the Gallipoli Museum. There will also be a chance to see the original trenches and tunnels used during the War before we head to our hotel in Canakkale. | OVERNIGHT Canakkale - 4-star hotel | MEALS Breakfast, Dinner.

Day Excursion to Troy

Tour of Troy and the Acropolis of Pergamum. This morning, we make the short drive to the ancient city of Troy. Lying undiscovered until midway through the 19th Century, the excavations here brought the legend of the Trojan horse and the poems of Homer back to life. We then continue our drive south to the Acropolis of Pergamum. As a former kingdom, we enjoy a full tour of the site, including the Temple of Trajan and the famous library, which is believed to have rivaled the Library of Alexandria and helped shape Pergamum into a renowned cultural and political center. | OVERNIGHT Kusadasi - 4-star hotel.

Travel to Kusadasi and Ephesus

Kusadasi. Ephesus Roman ruins tour after breakfast. We drive to the Roman site of Ephesus. The city once housed 250,000 people and is regarded as one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean. We visit the Temple of Artemis and explore the ancient marble streets of this ruined Roman city. This afternoon, we will see the fruit wine-growing village of Sirince and learn about the history of carpet weaving in Turkey. | OVERNIGHT Kusadasi - 4-star hotel.

Overland to Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Drive to Pamukkale and Hierapolis. We travel east this morning to Pamukkale, the site of the well-known white calcium terraces known as travertines. Pamukkale translates as ‘cotton castles.’ The naturally occurring geology here has created cloud-like formations unlike any other place. We then head to the ancient city of Hierapolis to enjoy a dip in the hot thermal pools nestled among old columns left by the Romans, who used the springs for their therapeutic properties. | OVERNIGHT Pamukkale - 4-star hotel.

Travel to the Spiritual Konya

Drive the Silk Road to Konya. Travel back in time today as we follow the ancient Silk Road towards Konya. We learn more about the history of this vital trade route with a stop at the Sultanhani Caravanserai before arriving in Konya, where we include a visit to the Mevlana museum – the former home of the original Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes. | OVERNIGHT Cappadocia - 4-star hotel.

Excursion to Cappadocia

Cappadocia. Full-day tour. Today, we set out to explore Cappadocia's beautiful and surreal landscape. Unlike anywhere else, this bizarre setting creates a fairytale view full of incredible rock formations and underground villages. Often described as the jewel of Turkey, we have a full tour here to explore the underground churches and fortresses used by Christians to avoid persecution over a thousand years ago. | OVERNIGHT Cappadocia - 4-star hotel

Travel From Cappadocia to Ankara

Cappadocia. Drive to Ankara. Return to Istanbul. We leave early this morning for the drive to Ankara, Turkey's modern-day capital city. We visit Anitkabir – the mausoleum of the famed Mustafa Kemal Atatürk before returning to Istanbul by road. This is a long day's drive, and we can arrange an upgrade to an internal flight from Kayseri in Cappadocia if you prefer (please ask for current times & prices). | OVERNIGHT Istanbul - 4-star hotel

Return to Istanbul Istanbul. Free time. Transfer to the airport. Your time is free in Istanbul today for some last-minute sightseeing and shopping before we transfer you to the airport for departure.