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

Begin your day at the Hippodrome, once the heart of Byzantine life, where you’ll see the 4th-century Egyptian obelisk.

View the Blue Mosque, with its striking minarets, and the architectural masterpiece of Hagia Sophia. With a Local Specialist, explore Topkapi Palace and learn how Ottoman sultans once ruled an empire. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the museum of Classical Turkish Music. The rest afternoon is free, or you could choose to cruise the Bosphorus on an Optional Experience, taking in the sights. In the evening, another Optional Experience offers a taste of local culture, enjoy a traditional Turkish dinner with drinks as dancers and musicians take the stage in a lively performance.

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

Visit a land of Trojan legends, where the ancient city of Troy has been immortalised by Homer in tales of King Priamus, Hector, Paris and Helen.

Explore the archaeological site revealing nine layers of civilisation and see the replica wooden horse that recalls the Greek strategy used to end the legendary siege. Later, travel to the village of Demircidere for your Be My Guest experience. Meet local women, visit the village bakery and enjoy lunch made with fresh, homegrown produce. Continue to Izmir and settle into your seaside hotel before dining together this evening.

Day 5

Explore the Ruins of Ephesus

Stroll through the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, past the amazingly intact facade 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. Visit 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

Leaving Izmir behind, you'll pause at the Ephesus Archaeological Museum to explore mosaics, statues and everyday artefacts from the ancient city.

Continue inland to Pamukkale, where you’ll check in and ease into the 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 white cascades of water of Pamukkale's Cotton Castle Springs.

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 Ottoman architecture. This evening, join your companions for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8

Antalya Free Time

Enjoy a day at your own pace, taking in the captivating seaside ambiance of the Turkish Riviera.

Stroll through the charming, winding streets of the old city, where you can admire the well-preserved Ottoman architecture. For an Optional Experience, you may choose a yacht cruise and guided tour of Antalya's historic old town.

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. 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. Finish the day with your Travel Director and fellow companions for a memorable dinner.

Day 14

Farewell Istanbul

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

Dining Summary

10 Dinner (D)

13 Breakfast (B)

1 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Demircidere: Meet the women of Demircidere Köyü, a rural village where gender equality has deep roots. Visit the local bakery to see how bread is made, sample it with homemade wine and explore a family garden bursting with seasonal produce. Over a shared lunch in a local home, you’ll hear inspiring stories of how this Turcoman community is empowering its girls to learn, grow and lead while preserving their culture and traditional Alevi beliefs.

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. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 11: Quality Education and Sustainable Cities and Communities. 

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

View the Blue Mosque in Istanbul

Trafalgar Difference

Cappadocia: The Exedra Hotel's rooms, carved from rock, boast unique designs and handcrafted antiques. During construction, a chapel was uncovered, inspiring the name 'Exedra,' a gathering place in ancient Rome.

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