The Flying Carpet Tour is a captivating 15-day journey through Western Turkey, blending history, culture, and natural beauty. From the bustling streets of Istanbul to the ancient ruins of Ephesus, Troy, and Pergamon, this tour takes you on a fascinating exploration of Turkey’s most iconic sites.
Travel through time as you walk among the remnants of powerful empires, from the grandeur of the Ottoman palaces in Istanbul to the well-preserved ruins of Roman cities. Witness the moving landscapes of Gallipoli, where history and heroism are deeply intertwined. Experience the ethereal beauty of Pamukkale’s cascading travertines, the hidden churches of Cappadocia’s cave dwellings, and the pristine shores of Fethiye and Antalya.
Beyond its breathtaking sights, this tour also offers immersive cultural experiences, such as a traditional cooking course in Cappadocia and a wine tasting in Sirince, allowing you to connect with Turkey’s rich traditions and flavours.
It was a great experience with many highlights throughout our tour. We particularly enjoyed the many immersive stops (i.e. wine tasting, weaving, truffle hunting, pasta making, etc.) in addition to our guided tours. Our tour guide, was very well versed, knowledgeable, and helpful and provided good insights and tips throughout our trip. I can't imagine someone else doing a better job than she did! The local experts were also on top of their games.
A very good tour and the Springtime is the best time of year to do it as warm temperatures (early 20s) and all the flowers are out, so making it look more lovely. Somethings need rearranging as the tomb of Ano Anglianos is closed on a Tuesday, so is impossible to do on the tour even though it is in the trip notes. The only other problem is that due to the Greeks closing everything down for May Bank holiday, was unable to see Temple of Apollo or any of the museums when we got back to Athens. Need to make people aware of this first. The app doesn't put the hotel in the right place and can send you seriously off course. The optional tours were very good.
Another spectacular trip with Explore. I highly recommend this company. As a solo female traveller they have never let me down. Explore is 100 % reliable.
Another great trip with Explore. First week of November and great weather for walking - blue skies all week and low to mid 20s. Our guide Alper was brilliant - friendly, knowledgable and helpful. Each day of walking gave a different landscape, views and lovely lunch stops in rural village 'cafés' - pancakes and fresh orange and pomegranate juice (try the mixed juice!).
Boat trip on the last day was great fun too - definitely take your swimming things (sea much warmer than the hotel swimming pools!)
As expected based on the trip notes and previous reviews, some accommodation was a bit run down but it was all clean and the showers were powerful and (nearly always) warm, with good breakfasts.
Would highly recommend
I thoroughly enjoyed my local experience tour. I was able to complete all the hikes offered. A good number of my fellow travelers were not able to do the hikes. It seemed their understanding of the physical requirements was not good. Perhaps more or clearer information on physical fitness requirements would help(?…).
Fabulous trip, tweaked perfectly by Donal, who knows the area like the back of his hand. The accommodation was great, and having the trip be center based in the one convenient hotel was excellent. In early June, the wildflowers were in profusion, an added bonus to incredible mountain scenery. Uphill parts of walk manageable given a lot of tge mileawas contouring. Highly recommended!
This Greece Islands sailing adventure was so memorable! It exceeded all of our expectations, every day sailing to explore a different island and experience local culture and food as well as gain knowledge about the history and culture of the region. Our skipper CEO Mack was highly knowledgeable about the region and very passionate about sailing as well as sharing his knowledge and providing opportunities for each of us to learn and experience it for ourselves. Our only recommendation is for G Adventures to include more information about the need to pay in cash at restaurants and establishments in the Greek islands (Euros). We thought we would be using our credit card for dinners but learned we really needed to have cash instead.
Embark on your own grand tour of discovery on this 10-day journey of Greece, taking us from ancient Athens to Thessaloniki through the sanctuaries, monasteries, monuments, and stunning landscapes at the heart of this cradle of Western civilization.
This action-packed eight-day tour of Turkey offers an ideal overview to this diverse and beautiful country. You do not need to worry about flights, overland transport or hotel bookings, as all logistics are taken care of. Sit back and relax as you visit some of the most impressive sites in the country, including bustling cities, ancient ruins, natural wonders, and more.
Included in this itinerary are historic destinations like Ephesus and Hierapolis as well as famous natural landmarks like Pamukkale and Cappadocia.
The flights from and to Istanbul that we generally use are listed below:
From Istanbul: The flight leaves at around 07:00 to 07:30 am and arrives in Izmir between 08:00 and 08:30 am.
From Cappadocia: The flight leaves between 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm and arrives in Istanbul between 9:30 pm and 11:00 pm.
(Note: The schedule may vary as per flight availability)
The enduring phrase ‘la dolce vita’ (the good life) truly captures the essence of Italy. On this trip, you’ll spend eight days discovering the heart of all things Italian on a culturally rich adventure from the piazzas of Rome to the canals of Venice. Take in the crumbling ruins of Rome, board a scenic train ride to Bologna and discover the maze-like canals of Venice with your local leader. Visit the Leaning Tower in Pisa, learn how to make pasta by hand in Bologna and indulge in delicious local cuisine and a couple (or two) glasses of vino – ah Italia!
Explore a surreal region of Italy that looks straight out of a postcard (only better) with this eight-day multi-active trip. The houses are painted in multi-coloured shades, the sea is brighter than the sky, and the sun beams down brightly – welcome to the Cinque Terre. This jewel of Europe changes with the light of the day and is best explored on foot, on a bike or on a kayak. On this trip, you’ll witness natural beauty on all three! Cycle past olive groves, hike to medieval monuments, kayak to sandy beaches and refuel your energy every afternoon with cocktails and carbs. This is living!