Best of Turkey

Visit Turkey

Day 1

Welcome to Istanbul

Stand at the ancient crossroads between Europe and Asia, embarking on a journey of discovery through ancient lands and the marauding empires who fought to rule it.

Arriving in vibrant Istanbul, you will be transferred to your hotel before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a memorable dinner to kick off your epic adventure.

Day 2

Discover Colourful Istanbul Dive Into Culture

Spend your day delving into a city where modern and ancient coexist effortlessly.

Gain insights into the Ottoman Empire's power during your guided tour of the Topkapi Palace and see the 4th-century Egyptian obelisk. Visit Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome. See the exquisite Blue Mosque, said to rival even the Great Mosque in Mecca. Consider an optional cruise navigating the waters of the Bosphorus. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the museum of Classical Turkish Music.

Day 3

Journey to Gallipoli and Çanakkale

Pay tribute to the brave souls who lost their lives at Gallipoli – the national pride of two nations, the Turkish and Australians, were awakened at the site of the bloody WWI battlefields and are commemorated to this day.

See Anzac Cove and the Dardanelles, and visit the cemeteries of Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair, the final resting place of many Allied soldiers. We continue to Çanakkale where we dine at our hotel tonight.

Day 4

Off to Troy and Izmir

Explore the legends of Troy and see the symbolic replica of the famous Wooden Horse the Greeks used to break their siege of this ancient city.

Visit the ancient Asclepion Medical Centre in the city of Pergamon before retiring in Izmir this evening where we'll dine at our hotel.

Day 5

Explore the Ruins of Ephesus

Stroll through the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, past the amazingly intact façade of the Library of Celcus and down to what was once its thriving port.

During your visit to a Turkish carpet emporium, learn about the rich heritage and intricate artistry of carpet weaving. See the House of Virgin Mary at Mt. Koressos, then spend the rest of the day at leisure. This evening you may consider joining an optional dinner at a local restaurant in Izmir and indulge in some of the local raki.

Day 6

Onwards to Pamukkale

Leave the coastal city of Izmir behind as you journey inland to Pamukkale.

Relax and enjoy the blissful thermal pools at your hotel before dinner.

Day 7

Venture to Hierapolis and Antalya Connect with Locals

Tread in the footsteps of the ancients who sought relief and relaxation at the Roman health spa at Hierapolis, then admire the bubbling pools and delicate white cascades of water of Pamukkale's Cotton Castle Springs.

Later, we travel through scenic countryside and join the Yazir community in the Taurus Mountains, where we’ll Connect With Locals and gain insights into their traditions at our Be My Guest lunch. Our stop for the next two nights is the Mediterranean retreat of Antalya. Enjoy some time on your own ambling through the winding lanes of its old city and admiring beautifully preserved Ottoman architecture. This evening, join your companions for a Regional Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8

Antalya Free Time

Enjoy a day on your terms to soak up the enchanting seaside atmosphere of the Turkish Riviera, enjoy some time on your own ambling through the winding lanes of its old city and admiring beautifully preserved Ottoman architecture.

You may choose to embark on an optional yacht cruise and tour of Antalya's old Town as an optional experience.

Day 9

On the Road to Aspendos and Konya

Witness the world's best-preserved theatre of antiquity during your first stop in Aspendos this morning, before continuing to Konya, where we will gain insights into the mystical Whirling Dervish sect whose remains lie in the Mevlana Museum and Mausoleum.

We continue to the Karatay Tile Museum, spellbound by its exquisitely Seljuk-tiled dome, before returning to our hotel where we'll dine tonight.

Day 10

Continue to Cappadocia Stays With Stories

See a well-preserved 13th-century caravanserai, at which weary travellers used to rest.

We journey to Cappadocia with its honey-coloured rocky spires providing an enchanting backdrop for our visit to the underground city of Saratli on the ancient Silk Road. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at King’s Valley eco farm. Local host Ali shares how he created an eco farm on the very spot where his grandfather’s garden once stood, in an effort to preserve traditional farming and revive the local economy. Tonight we stay in one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories located with views of the valley and ancient Ortahisar rock castle.

Day 11

A Day to Explore Spectacular Göreme Dive Into Culture

The other-worldly landscapes of Cappadocia take centre stage today as we explore its volcanic landscape dotted with caves and troglodyte dwellings.

We visit the Göreme Open-Air Museum to admire the extraordinary rock-hewn churches and the fairy chimneys of Paşabağ. Dive Into Culture to learn about the art of pottery making in Avanos. This evening, indulge in the flavours of traditional pottery kebabs during a Regional Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 12

Onwards to Ankara

Arriving in the youthful capital of Turkey today, we visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and the final resting place of the country's beloved Atatürk, the first president of the modern Turkish nation.

This evening we dine at our hotel in Ankara.

Day 13

Return to Istanbul

Returning to Istanbul, Dive Into Culture with a visit to the Grand Bazaar.

Discover the hidden lanes and watch artisans at work while you wander the main thoroughfares. Spend some time haggling with passionate market vendors lining its labyrinthine lanes. Enjoy the rest of the day on your own. Delve into the depths of the Basilica Cistern, savour the intoxicating smells of the Spice Market or ascend Galata Tower for exquisite views of east and west. Finish the day with your Travel Director and fellow companions for a memorable Farewell Dinner.

Day 14

Farewell Istanbul

Our epic journey into antiquity has come to an end as we bid Istanbul and newfound friends a fond farewell.

Dining Summary

10 Dinner (D)

13 Breakfast (B)

1 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Izmir: Meet the most liberated women in Turkey in the village of Demircidere, where you’ll learn how to bake traditional bread and taste the local wine at our Be My Guest lunch.

Dive Into Culture

: Learn about the art of pottery making in Avanos.

Istanbul: Haggle for souvenirs at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and over 5,000 shops.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Istanbul: Visit the house of Turkey’s greatest classical composer, Dede Efendi. Recently brought back to its former architectural glory, this unique museum holds a rare collection of traditional instruments, which we experience first hand during a private concert by Music Conservancy students.   This experience advances United Nations’ Global Sustainable Goal 4: Quality Education. Our visits provide opportunities for the students to perform.   This experience also advances United Nations’ Global Sustainable Goal 11: Resilient Cities and Communities. Our visits contribute to Turkey’s cultural vibrancy in safeguarding traditional forms of music which was fast disappearing. Our visits also support the important work of TURKEV association, who researches and safeguards Turkish traditional architectures and houses. 

Nevsehir: Meet Ali, our local host and Cappadocian local, for a tour of his family-run farm. See the sport where his grandfather’s garden once stood, taste freshly baked bread and fresh and dried fruits grown on pigeon natural fertilizer, the traditional farming method for producing a rich and nutritious harvest.  This experience advances United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11: Resilient Cities and Communities. Thanks to Ali’s work to revive the traditional farming practices unique to this region of Cappadocia, the region has regained pride in their local traditions.  It also advances United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal SDG 12: Sustainable Production and Consumption. Using exclusively traditional farming practices, the farm is one of the few to be producing traditional and rare fruits, herbs and old grains, typical of the region. 

Must-see Highlights

: Explore Istanbul

: Visit the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Anzac Cove and the War Cemeteries at Gallipoli, the ancient ruins of Troy, the Asclepion Medical Centre at Pergamon, the ancient city at Ephesus, the Cotton Castle Springs in Pamukkale, the Archaeological Museum in Antalya, the home of the Whirling Dervishes at Konya, the underground city of Saratli and Göreme Open Air Museum.

Trafalgar Difference

Cappadocia: During construction, a chapel was discovered, inspiring the name 'Exedra,' meaning a meeting place in ancient Rome. Exedra Hotel's rooms, carved from rock, feature unique designs and display handcrafted antiques.

Whats Included

: An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

: Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

: All porterage and restaurant gratuities

: All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

: Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

: Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

: Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

: Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

: Ferry across the Dardanelles from Eceabat to Canakkale

: Optional Experiences and free time

: On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.

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