Set out on a full-day guided exploration of Istanbul’s most iconic monuments with a journey through layers of Byzantine grandeur and Ottoman splendour. Stand beneath the soaring domes of the Blue Mosque, where sunlight filters through stained glass onto intricate Iznik tiles, creating a mesmerising kaleidoscope effect. Step inside Hagia Sophia, a 6th-century architectural marvel that has witnessed empires rise and fall, then descend into the Basilica Cistern, where hundreds of ancient columns rise from still water in an otherworldly underground chamber.
Wander through the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest covered markets, where more than 4,000 shops spill with carpets, ceramics, spices and jewellery. Continue to the atmospheric Spice Market, alive with the scent of saffron, sumac and dried rose petals.
As afternoon light softens, step aboard a private Bosphorus sunset cruise. Glide along the strait that separates Europe and Asia, passing waterfront palaces, fortresses and mosques silhouetted against the golden hour. Toast to the journey ahead with champagne before returning ashore for your welcome dinner – a fitting end to a day steeped in history, culture and beauty.
Travel time: Driving – approximately 60 minutes
Travel southwest to the Gallipoli Peninsula, a landscape forever marked by the events of 1915. Here, the windswept headlands and quiet cemeteries preserve the memory of one of World War I’s most poignant campaigns.
Join a guided tour through the battlefields and memorials that dot the peninsula. Pay your respects at Anzac Cove, where troops came ashore in the pre-dawn darkness of 25 April, and visit Lone Pine Cemetery, the Nek, and other sites that mark the final resting place of so many. As you walk this hallowed ground, your guide will share stories of courage, sacrifice and mateship that continue to shape national identity and remembrance ceremonies held here each year.
Later, continue to Canakkale on the Dardanelles Strait for your overnight stay. The evening is yours to rest and reflect after a moving day on the road.
Travel time: Driving – approximately five hours
Today brings a journey through some of the region’s most storied ancient sites. Begin with a visit to Troy Ancient City, where layers of myth and archaeology intertwine, creating one of the world’s most famous ruins. As you walk through the site, uncover the legacy of a city immortalised in legend and shaped by the following centuries of settlement.
Continue to Pergamon Ancient City, once a powerful cultural and political centre of the ancient world. Along the way, stop at a local carpet atelier for lunch and a workshop, and gain insight into one of Turkiye’s most enduring traditional crafts.
Travel time: Driving – approximately six hours
This morning, travel to Sirince, a picturesque hillside village known for its characterful stone houses, winding lanes and relaxed village atmosphere. Take time to explore and enjoy lunch before continuing to one of Turkiye’s most impressive archaeological treasures.
Later this afternoon, discover Ephesus Ancient City on a guided visit through its remarkable ruins. Once one of the most important cities of the ancient Mediterranean, Ephesus is home to grand colonnaded streets, monumental facades and the remains of an extraordinary classical world. After your visit, return to Izmir for an evening of relaxation.
Travel time: Driving – approximately two hours
Set out for the Aegean Coast today, where the pace shifts and the landscape opens to vineyard-covered hills and the sea becomes an ever-present companion. En route to Bodrum, pause at Karnas Vineyards for a wine tasting and lunch amid rolling vines, savouring regional wines that capture the character of this sun-drenched terrain.
Afterwards, continue south to Bodrum, one of Turkiye’s most elegant coastal destinations. Whitewashed buildings cascade down to marinas lined with traditional gulets and modern yachts, while the deep blue Aegean stretches to the horizon. This is a place to slow down, to trade ancient stones for sea breezes and to settle into the unhurried rhythm of Mediterranean life for the next three days.
Travel time: Driving – approximately four hours
Get to know Bodrum’s rich heritage on a guided day of exploration. Begin at the Castle of St Peter, a 15th-century fortress built by the Knights Hospitaller that commands the harbour with its imposing stone walls and crenellated towers. Step inside to discover the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, where centuries of maritime history are brought to life through remarkable finds recovered from shipwrecks along the Turkish coast.
Continue to the Ancient Theatre, a beautifully preserved Roman structure that once seated thousands and still holds echoes of performances and gatherings from antiquity. Built into the hillside, it offers sweeping views across the modern town and the glittering Aegean beyond – a reminder of Bodrum’s layered history, where ancient Halicarnassus and contemporary resort culture exist side by side.
The remainder of the day is yours at leisure. You might choose to wander the whitewashed lanes of the old town, browse local boutiques and galleries, relax by the water with a drink in hand, or simply enjoy the easygoing atmosphere of this elegant Aegean escape.
Travel time: Driving – approximately 60 minutes
Today is all about seeing Bodrum from the water. Board a full-day boat cruise and spend time taking in the beauty of the coastline, where coves, headlands and clear Aegean waters reveal a different side to this elegant seaside region.
Lunch is served onboard, making for a leisurely day of sea breezes, sun and uninterrupted views. Return to shore later in the day and enjoy another evening in Bodrum at your own pace.
Travel time: Driving – approximately 60 minutes
Arrive at Pamukkale, where brilliant white travertine terraces cascade down the hillside like frozen waterfalls. This surreal landscape was formed over millennia by calcium-rich thermal waters and has attracted visitors since antiquity. Admire the gleaming terraces and designated thermal bathing areas, and marvel at a natural phenomenon that seems almost too perfect to be real.
Above the terraces lies Hierapolis, an ancient spa city founded by the Attalid kings of Pergamon at the end of the 2nd century BCE. Wander through remarkably preserved ruins – including a vast necropolis, an impressive Roman theatre and the colonnaded main street – and discover a place shaped by bathing, healing and worship. The juxtaposition of natural wonder and human history makes this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site one of Turkiye’s most memorable stops.
After your guided tour, continue on to Antalya, trading the inland plateaus for the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean coast. Check-in to your hotel and indulge in a sumptuous dinner this evening – a welcome end to a full day of travel and one of the journey’s most visually stunning experiences.
Travel time: Driving – approximately seven minutes
Enjoy a slower start this morning with time to relax in Antalya. You might opt to take in the stunning coastal setting, enjoy your hotel’s facilities or simply pause after yesterday’s longer journey before heading out again this afternoon.
Join a guided visit to Duden Falls, where rushing water spills over the cliffs, followed by time in Antalya’s atmospheric Old City, Kaleici. With its narrow lanes, historic architecture and harbour front charm, this quarter offers a glimpse into the city’s past and its enduring Mediterranean appeal.
Travel time: Driving – approximately 1.5 hours
Travel inland today to Konya, a city where spiritual significance runs deep. On arrival, visit the Mevlana Museum and Mausoleum, one of Turkiye’s most revered pilgrimage sites and the resting place of the 13th-century mystic poet Rumi, whose words on love and devotion continue to resonate across centuries and cultures.
The day deepens with a rare and intimate encounter: a private visit to Hichane, led by Sufi master Mr Mustafa. In the quiet of his lodge, away from the public gaze, you’ll gain profound insight into Sufi philosophy and practice – an experience granted to few and one that offers a glimpse into a living spiritual tradition.
This evening, attend an authentic Whirling Dervish ceremony at IRFA. Watch as dervishes spin in flowing white robes, arms outstretched, lost in meditative prayer – a ritual that is both performance and devotion, discipline and transcendence. Dinner follows, allowing time to reflect on a day that has moved from the historical to the deeply personal.
Travel time: Driving – approximately five hours
Depart Konya this morning and make your way towards Cappadocia, a region known for its extraordinary landscapes, cave dwellings and ancient rock formations. Along the route, stop for a quick visit to Sultan Han, a historic caravanserai that recalls the days of Silk Road trade and overland travel across Anatolia.
Later, arrive in Cappadocia and settle into your cave hotel stay, one of the tour’s defining experiences. Carved into the living rock, these rooms blend ancient architecture with contemporary comfort: vaulted stone ceilings, arched doorways, and interiors that remain naturally cool in summer and warm in winter. Step onto your private terrace to take in sweeping views across Cappadocia’s lunar-like valleys, where the soft volcanic tuff glows amber at sunset.
This evening, experience one of the tour’s most memorable moments: a home-hosted dinner with a local family in their cave house. Gathered around a table laden with regional dishes, you’ll share stories, laughter and the kind of warm hospitality that turns strangers into friends – a fitting welcome to Cappadocia and a reminder that the soul of travel lies not just in what you see, but in who you meet along the way.
Travel time: Driving – approximately four hours
Rise before dawn for the chance to experience Cappadocia from above on an optional hot air balloon flight (surcharges apply). As the sun breaks over the horizon, hundreds of balloons lift silently into the sky, drifting over valleys, rock formations and ancient cave dwellings bathed in soft morning light – a bucket-list moment and one of the most beautiful ways to witness this surreal landscape.
Back on the ground, continue with a full-day guided exploration of Cappadocia’s most iconic sites. Visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, where Byzantine monks carved churches, chapels and monasteries directly into the rock, adorning them with frescoes that still glow with colour centuries later. Descend into Ozkonak Underground City, a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers where entire communities once sheltered from invaders, their ingenuity preserved in stone.
Wander through Love Valley’s striking formations, then visit the workshop of UNESCO-recognised ceramicist Mr Galip, whose pottery carries forward techniques refined over generations. Lunch is served at a Michelin Bib-recognised local cooperative, where women from the community prepare dishes rooted in tradition and pride.
Travel time: Driving – approximately 90 minutes
Begin with a guided soft hike through Red Valley, where rose-coloured rock formations glow in the morning light and winding trails reveal hidden cave churches and sweeping vistas.
Later, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class at the Hereni Women’s Cooperative, one of the tour’s standout local experiences. Under the guidance of local women, learn to prepare regional dishes using recipes passed down through families and shaped by the seasons. Sit down together for lunch, savouring the fruits of your labour and the warmth of shared food and conversation.
In the afternoon, visit a local carpet atelier to witness the artistry and patience required to create these intricate works – each knot tied by hand, each pattern carrying cultural meaning. Return to your cave hotel as the day winds down, with one final evening to take in the views, reflect on the journey, and let Cappadocia work its quiet magic.
Travel time: Driving – approximately 90 minutes
After breakfast, travel to Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR) for your included flight back to Istanbul. On arrival, there’s still one more of the city’s great landmarks to discover with a visit to Topkapi Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman sultans and a vast complex of courtyards, chambers and imperial history.
Later, return to your hotel and come together for a farewell dinner, a final chance to reflect on the landscapes, histories and local encounters that have shaped your journey through Turkiye.
Travel time: Driving – approximately two hours / Flying – approximately 75 minutes
After one final breakfast, your journey through Turkiye comes to an end. Bid farewell to your fellow travellers and check out of the hotel, taking memories with you of ancient cities, Aegean coastlines, Cappadocia’s dreamlike landscapes and the many local experiences encountered along the way.
Depending on your onward plans, you may have time for a final coffee or last look at the city before continuing your journey.
Travel time: Driving – approximately 60 minutes