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Turkey Encounters

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19 daysDuration
Group TourJoin a group of travelers
20 peopleMaximum group size
8 - 95 yearsAge range for participants
EnglishGuide language
Easy
Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.
Select Date
Best price guaranteedNo credit card or booking fees.Carbon neutral tours.

Highlights

Istanbul old and new; Gallipoli war memorials; ancient sites at Troy, Ephesus, Hieropolis, Sirince, Pamukkale, Fethiye, Kayaköy, Catalhoyuk, Aspendos, Konya, Sultanhani Caravansary, Cappadocia, Lake Van, Dogubayazit, Mount Ararat, Ani, Kars

Itinerary

Turkey is a land of contrasts, with a vibrant modern culture following a long history showing the marks of several different civilisations which have left a wealth of incredible ancient sites to explore. The scenery also varies hugely, from the dramatic Bosphorous strait in Istanbul, to the beautiful Mediterranean coastline, forested hills and mountains further inland and special highlights like the surreal landscapes of Pamukkale and Cappadocia.

This comprehensive 19 day tour takes all this in and more. Starting and finishing in Istanbul, the tour learns about modern history at the war memorials and ANZAC cemeteries at Gallipoli before developing deeper into the past with tours of some of the region's most important historic sites at Troy, Ephesus, Hieropolis, Aphrodisias, Aspendos and Side. There are plenty of stops to relax and enjoy the seaside at the coastal towns of Kusadasi and Fethiye and Antalya, with a 12-island boat cruise also included in the Gulf of Fethiye.

The tour then heads inland, following the ancient Silk Road trading route to see the Sultanhani Caravansary at Konya before heading south east to see Lake Van, Biblical Mount Ararat, Kars and the ruins of ancient Ani.

There are a wealth of opportunities to taste traditional and modern Turkish cuisine and to pick up souvenirs and learn more about this fascinating country along the way. Accommodation is in a mix of 4-5 star and boutique style properties, either on a breakfast only or half-board basis depending on the location and other options available nearby.

Many of our group itineraries can be booked as private departures, offering the flexibility to customise your accommodation or work with our sales team to create a completely tailor-made journey. Contact us for details

day 1Arrive into Istanbul, transfer to hotel

Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the centre of Istanbul for the start of your trip. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in and start to look around Istanbul. A welcome meeting will be held in the hotel lobby at 7pm where you can meet your guide and fellow travellers. However, this is not essential and may be missed if you have a late flight arrival. Extra day in Istanbul - pre-tour

Accommodation
Istanbul hotel
Extras
Single room supplement (TUSGTE)

day 2Istanbul : old city tour. Bosphorous cruise

day 3Gallipoli battlefields and memorials tour

day 4Tour of Troy and the Acropolis of Pergamum

day 5Kusadasi : Ephesus Roman ruins, wine tasting in the village of Sirince

day 6Aphrodisias and onwards to Pamukkale

day 7Pamukkale Pools, Hierapolis and Salda Lake

day 8Free day. Optional 12 island boat trip and Saklikent Gorge tour

day 9Deserted Greek village of Kayakoy, to Antalya

day 10Perge & Aspendos

day 11Exploring Konya and the Çatalhöyük Museum

day 12Sultanhani Caravansary & Cappadocia Underground City

day 13Cappadocia Goreme, Pigeon and Red Valley

day 14Travel to Ankara and fly to Van

day 15Van and Akdamar Island

day 16Dogubayazit : Ararat and drive to Kars

day 17Visit the ruins of Ani, 12 Apostles Church and Kars Castle

day 18Fly from Kars to Istanbul.

day 19Istanbul : free time, transfer to airport

What's Included

Accommodation
All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
Meals
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Transport
All transport and transfersDomestic Flights (Ankara/Van & Kars/Istanbul)24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
Guide
Services of a local tour guide throughout
Others
Entrance fees to sites visitedCooking ClassWine TastingTipping kitty

Customer Reviews

This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a good tour as it is run by a trusted travel specialist who has received 3 reviews for other tours with an average 5.0rating.

Request a Private, Customizable Departure

By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:

Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.

Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.

Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.

Travel within your own bubble.

Request a private and/or personalized departure

To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.

Good to Know

Travel Insurance
Visa

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Our travel experts are ready to help.
Jane Andersen
Sine
Rasmus Juul Olsen

Why Book with Bookmundi

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4.67/5
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Karen

Problem-free booking and service right through the process
1 month ago

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