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.
Amazing trip with a great bunch of fellow walkers - we all had a great time. Few minor hitches in terms of accommodation - village house needs reviewing as a stop, and final hotel needs refurbishment. Overall a wonderful week in the heat of early September along rocky footpaths in the mountains.
Walking tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lycian Way, Fethiye, Faralya, Ge
Lycian Way, Fethiye, Faralya, Gey, Sidyma, Patara Beach, Kas, Aperlae, Dalaman
11% OFF TODAY
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Following the famed Aegean coastline, we discover Ottoman Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, ancient Ephesus and Pamukkale, finishing in coastal Marmaris - gateway to the Greek Islands. This 7 day holiday from Istanbul to the Mediterranean sea will give you an insight into the fascinating history, culture and landscapes of western Turkey.
This 8-day Turkey tour takes you from bustling Istanbul to the Mediterranean at Kusadasi and then inland to the beautiful scenery of Cappadocia. The itinerary is designed to combine some of Turkey's classic highlights in a week's visit, balancing bustling cities, beautiful scenery, ancient ruins and modern Turkey. You'll stay in a mix of 4-star and boutique style properties along the way.
Starting in Istanbul, the beating heart of Turkey and historically a vitally important connecting point between the continents of Europe and Asia, we visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Spice Bazaar, Hippodrome and take a cruise on the Bosphorus before flying south to the Mediterranean coast at Kusadasi. We have two nights here, and a tour to the nearby ruins at Ephesus. One of the best preserved ancient Greek & Roman sites in the whole of the Mediterranean region, this is a spectacular site with a fascinating history. We'll also visit a village famous for producing local fruit wines, and learn about the importance of carpet making in Turkey. Our next stop is at the stepped calcium travertines and hot pools at Pamukkale, before we continue into the centre of Turkey along the ancient Spice Route, passing old caravanserais and visiting the Mervlana museum at Konya on the way. This brings us to picturesque landscape of Cappadocia where we visit the strange rock formations, cave chuches and 'fairy chimneys' in the Goreme valley and venture down into one of the labarynthine underground cities built by Christians centuries ago to hide from persecution. The tour then finishes with a drive (or optional flight) via Ankara back to Istanbul where extra nights are available to spend more time exploring the city.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
8-95 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Istanbul, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, K
Istanbul, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia, Cape Town
15% OFF TODAY
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The holiday was brilliant from the seamless transfer to the hotel to the amazing experiences we had along the way. Zep our tour guide was wonderful. She organised everything and was such fun to be with. The hotel was clean, quiet, had a good swimming pool and provided a lovely breakfast. There was plenty the kids would eat too like cereal, fruit, bread and jam. If you like being in, on or around the water this holiday is for you. Every day there is the opportunity for swimming in crystal clear waters. This was our first family Explore holiday and we look forward to doing many more.
Active and outdoor
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kas, Taurus Mountains, Patara Be
Kas, Taurus Mountains, Patara Beach, Myra, Kekova
5% OFF TODAY
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See impressive historical highlights in Istanbul, the geological wonderland in Cappadocia and discover the ruins of Ephesus, on this memorable eight-day tour of some of Turkey's most impressive sights. Stroll the beautifully arranged streets of Istanbul and admire the famous Blue Mosque, a unique piece of architecture built for Sultan Ahmet I. Visit the Pools of Heaven on Earth in Pamukkale and continue your adventure in Cappadocia, with the spectacular Goreme open-air museum, the lunar landscape, and the Uchisar rock castle, where you have the chance to enjoy a panoramic view of the valleys below.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
6-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Istanbul, Kusadasi, Cappadocia
Istanbul, Kusadasi, Cappadocia
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
My cousin Andy and I finally made our long-planned trip to Greece a reality, and finding a tour that also included a cruise and Turkey’s top sites was the icing on the cake. We’re so glad we booked this one!
Cruise
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Ship Cabin
Age Range
6-80 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Istanbul, Athens, Mykonos, Patmo
Istanbul, Athens, Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini, Ankara, Cappadocia
7% OFF TODAY
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This tour covers many of the highlights of Turkey and was a wonderful experience. Since there is only one included day in Istanbul I would recommend flying in a few days earlier and exploring Istanbul on your own before the tour begins - the city is twice the size of NYC and has a lot to offer. This is not difficult to do since the city is safe and has an excellent public transit system. This tour is then a fantastic way to see other portions of Turkey.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
We had great time visiting Turkey, everthing was we'll organized, the hotel, food, transportation, tour guides etc. DS Turkey was very helpful and communicative all times. I would definitely take a tour with this company and ask for Şevval to coordinate everything for us.
Spend six days discovering some of the best bits of central Turkey and Cappadocia. From the Mediterranean Sea in the south to the northern capital city of Istanbul, immerse yourself in the culture and history of a truly unique country. Explore Konya and maybe learn about the practices of Sufism and the art and performance of the whirling dervish. Spend three days in Cappadocia among the fairy chimneys and hot air balloons. Hike through the rocky landscape and natural sandstone monoliths, then make your way to Istanbul – the city that melds European and Middle Eastern cultures into one.
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya
18% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
An exquisite cycling holiday which fulfilled all the usual Explore essentials: plenty of variety both in cycling and other activities, beautiful accommodation throughout, rustic village hosts, great food/restaurant selections by the guide Paul, stunning scenery at every turn and plenty of ‘off the beaten track’. Paul has over 2 decades of experience in cycle guiding in Turkey, and it showed in his cycle guiding and knowledge of the language, culture and flora and fauna-I particularly enjoyed his linguistic insights and the visit to the local village mosque. Others in the group who were architecturally inclined enjoyed his love of history too. The bikes couldn’t have been better for the terrain and were very comfortable with plenty of gears. I tend to find Explore holiday bikes are usually not great quality, so this was a pleasant surprise. Turkey has far exceeded our expectations and this has been one of my best ever holidays. If you’re not afraid of a bit of hot weather and undulating terrain and want to get a glimpse into local Turkish life, then I highly recommend you book onto this trip! Thanks again Paul for the fantastic memories you’ve helped us make.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Home-stay
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kas, Dalyan, Köyceğiz, Fethiye
Kas, Dalyan, Köyceğiz, Fethiye, Saklikent Gorge, Sütleğen, Patara Beach