20 Days Turkey Tour with Six Free Days

Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia brings a vast dome, stone galleries and centuries of changing use into one building. The visit introduces its Byzantine beginnings and later Ottoman history.

Blue MosqueThe Blue Mosque surrounds its prayer hall with patterned tiles and a cascade of domes. Follow the mosque dress requirements and remove your shoes before entering.

Hippodrome and ObelisksThe former chariot-racing ground now forms an open square. Its surviving obelisks and columns mark the central line of the old arena.

Grand BazaarCovered lanes lead past jewellery, textiles, ceramics and other shops. The tour finishes here, leaving time to browse independently; an alternative shopping stop is used on Sunday.

Golden HornThe sheltered inlet separates the historic peninsula from the opposite city districts. Watch the waterfront and skyline from the boat.

Lunch on boardYour included lunch is served during the afternoon cruise. Drinks are paid for separately.

Bosphorus StraitThe cruise continues on the water between Istanbul’s European and Asian shores. Hillside neighbourhoods and buildings line both sides of the strait.

Devrent ValleyLook for animal-like shapes among the natural rock formations. The camel-shaped formation is one of the valley’s best-known outlines.

Pasabag Open Air MuseumThick rock columns with stone caps rise above the paths. Carved cells show how parts of these formations were used by monks.

Goreme Panoramic ViewThe viewpoint opens across the town and surrounding valleys. It gives a wider perspective on the rock formations visited during the day.

Lunch in CappadociaPause at a local restaurant during the Red Tour. Lunch is included; order and pay for drinks separately.

Avanos Pottery WorkshopWatch clay take shape on a potter’s wheel. The demonstration introduces a craft closely associated with Avanos and the nearby river.

Zelve Open Air MuseumPaths pass through a former settlement cut into several valleys. Rock homes, religious spaces and everyday rooms remain visible in the cliffs.

Uchisar Castle exteriorSee the tall rock citadel from outside and notice the openings cut into its sides. The stop does not include climbing inside the castle.

Rose ValleyPink and pale bands of rock run along the valley slopes. Carved openings and small churches sit among the ridges.

Underground CityDescend through rooms, passages and storage areas cut beneath the surface. Expect low ceilings, narrow passages and stairs between levels.

Lunch during the Yellow TourA restaurant break divides the underground visit and valley stops. Your meal is included, with drinks charged separately.

Pigeon ValleyThe cliff faces contain small pigeon houses cut into the stone. The view introduces the former use of pigeon droppings in local agriculture.

Gulludere ValleyThe optional valley walk takes up to two hours through rock formations and cultivated areas. Guests who do not join the walk can wait in the vehicle.

Cavusin VillageOld cave houses cluster beneath a rocky slope. The village stop shows how homes and religious spaces were built into Cappadocia’s landscape.

Ihlara ValleyA river runs below high canyon walls with rock-cut churches. The walking route involves steps down into the valley and paths beside the water.

Derinkuyu or Kaymakli Underground CityThe selected underground city contains linked rooms, ventilation shafts and storage spaces. Low and narrow passages and stairways connect the different levels.

Belisirma VillageThis village lies along the river in Ihlara Valley. Its waterside setting provides a change from the open plateau above.

Lunch on the Green TourStop for an included meal during the southern circuit, with time to sit down between visits. Drinks are extra.

Esentepe ViewpointLook across the eroded valleys and the settlements among them. The open view helps show the scale of Cappadocia’s volcanic landscape.

YaprakhisarRock towers and carved formations rise around Yaprakhisar. The viewpoint looks across these formations and the surrounding valley.

Pigeon ValleySee the pigeon houses and cultivated ground from the Green Tour’s viewpoint. This landscape also appears on the Yellow Tour.

Konya and the Mevlana MuseumKonya is closely associated with the poet Rumi and the Mevlevi tradition. During the independent stop, you may visit the Mevlana Museum or explore the surrounding centre; visits and any entry charges are your own arrangements.

Duden WaterfallGreen paths lead towards the cascade and its flowing water. Take care on surfaces close to the falls, which can be wet.

Karpuzkaldiran WaterfallThe river drops from Antalya’s cliffs into the sea. View the waterfall from the park above the coastline.

Lunch in AntalyaThe group stops for lunch during the city route. The meal is included, while drinks remain extra.

Kaleici Old TownFollow the lanes between old houses and historic walls. The neighbourhood slopes towards Antalya’s harbour.

Panoramic Boat TourBoard the sightseeing boat for views of the harbour and coastal cliffs. The trip offers a sea-level perspective on the city visited earlier.

Perge Ancient CityWalk among the remains of gates, colonnaded streets and public buildings. The broad site shows the layout of an important ancient city.

Aspendos TheatreThe Roman theatre retains its tiers of seats and imposing stage building. The visit focuses on the structure and its place in the ancient city.

Lunch along the eastern routeTake a restaurant break between the archaeological sites and the later coastal stops. Lunch is included; drinks are paid separately.

Side Ancient CityRoman remains share the peninsula with the present-day town. Explore the ancient setting near the harbour and the seaside Temple of Apollo.

Manavgat WaterfallThe river spreads over a wide, low cascade. The viewing area brings you close to the flowing water.

Pamukkale TravertinesWhite mineral terraces step down the hillside. Walk barefoot through the section open to visitors and view the pools formed by the spring water.

Lunch in PamukkaleAn included restaurant meal fits within the guided visit before the onward drive to Kusadasi. Drinks are extra.

Hierapolis Ancient CityThe ruins of a thermal city stand above the terraces. Its theatre, streets and other public remains show the settlement that developed around the springs.

Cleopatra Antique PoolThe pool is open, and seeing it is free. Swimming among the submerged columns is optional and requires a separate payment.

Ephesus Ancient CityFollow the ancient streets past public monuments, the Celsus Library and the great theatre. Uneven stone surfaces and exposed areas are part of the walking route.

House of the Virgin MaryA small stone shrine stands on a wooded hill near Ephesus. The visit introduces a place of pilgrimage associated with Mary’s later life.

Lunch during the Ephesus tourSit down for an included meal before completing the local visits and leaving for the coach station. Drinks are at your own expense.

Temple of ArtemisThe surviving remains mark the site of a sanctuary once counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Your guide explains the scale of the temple that stood here.

Beach CemeteryThe cemetery lies beside the narrow coastline used during the Gallipoli campaign. Its position gives a close view of the shore below the ridges.

ANZAC CoveThis small stretch of coast was central to the 1915 landings. The steep ground behind the beach helps explain the conditions faced by the troops.

Ari Burnu CemeteryHeadstones stand near the headland at the northern end of the cove. The stop links the burial ground with the nearby landing area.

ANZAC Commemorative SiteThis open memorial area overlooks the coastline. It is used for remembrance of the campaign and those who served there.

Respect to Mehmetcik MonumentThe monument depicts a Turkish soldier carrying a wounded opposing soldier. It presents a story of humanity within the fighting.

Lone Pine Australian MemorialThe memorial and cemetery stand on ground associated with the August fighting. Your guide explains the significance of this position on the ridge.

Johnston’s JollySurviving trenches show how close the opposing positions were. The stop gives a direct sense of the restricted ground between the lines.

Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment CemeteryThe cemetery honours the regiment remembered for its role in the defence of the peninsula. Memorial features mark the Turkish experience of the campaign.

The NekA narrow section of ridge became the setting for a costly attack. Looking across this small area helps explain its place in the campaign.

Chunuk Bair New Zealand MemorialThe memorial stands on high ground fought over during the August offensive. Views across the ridges place the earlier battlefield stops in context.

Lunch between the two areasThe combined tour includes a restaurant lunch during the day. Take a break before the next set of visits; drinks are extra.

Troy Ancient CityExcavated settlement layers reveal a place rebuilt over many centuries. The guided visit separates the visible archaeological remains from the stories associated with Troy.

Trojan Horse movie replicaSee the wooden movie horse on Canakkale’s waterfront. This photo stop is separate from the archaeological site at Troy.

Sacrificial AltarsThe altar remains point to ritual activity at ancient Troy. The guide explains their setting among the surrounding structures.

3,700-Year-Old City WallsSections of substantial stone walls survive around the ancient settlement. Their size helps illustrate the defensive character of the city.

Houses of Troy IThe earliest settlement area preserves traces of homes from Troy’s first major building phase. These remains help distinguish the city’s successive layers.

Agora of TroyThe remains of a public gathering and trading area show another part of urban life. View the space in relation to the city’s other excavated buildings.