Welcome to Istanbul! The largest city in Turkiye and born from a blend of European and Asian influences, Istanbul is full of intriguing sights and ancient wonders. From its spellbinding architecture dating back thousands of years to its exceptional cuisine, the city is a spectacular display of the Eastern Roman and Ottoman Empires.
Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel for check-in. At 8pm, meet your tour director and fellow travellers for a suitably splendid welcome dinner.
Greet the day with a hearty breakfast at your hotel, ready to spend a full day discovering Istanbul’s highlights with your guide. Gaze upon the 17th-century Blue Mosque, replete with six soaring minarets and an array of masterful Ottoman architectural features, including approximately 260 windows illuminating its expansive central chamber.
Next, delve beneath Sultanahmet (the Old City, formerly known as Constantinople) to unearth the ethereal beauty of the Basilica Cistern – the largest underground cistern in the city, dating back almost 1,500 years. Don't forget to snap a picture of the Medusa heads carved into the base of its columns, with carp gliding silently through the surrounding waters.
Wander the kaleidoscopic Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, and peruse the handcrafted jewellery, textiles and books of more than 3,000 stallholders. Following your whirlwind bazaar adventure, take a trip to the renowned Spice Market, where quality aromatics fill the air with hypnotic scents.
Sitting proudly on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait, pay visit to Dolmabahce Palace, an architectural marvel which stands as a striking example of the Ottoman Empire's reign. Dripping in 14 tons of gold and decorated with crushed red velvets and intricate carvings, the palace was constructed by a Sultan who wanted to capture the era's Baroque and Neoclassical glamour.
After a whirlwind day, join your fellow travellers for a memorable cruise along the Bosphorus Strait in the late afternoon. Glide along the waters that divide Europe from Asia, admiring the palatial ‘yali’ or wooden mansions that line its banks.
Following breakfast at your hotel, your journey takes you five hours southwest to Canakkale, a crucial gateway to the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli. As you make your way along the west side of the Dardanelles Strait, arrive at the Gallipoli Peninsula, the famed site where ANZAC troops fought for nine months during the Great War. Here, take the time to wander the solemn ANZAC Cove, where soldiers landed on 25 April 1915. Pause for a moment of silence to pay your respects at the Lone Pine Memorial, commemorating the Australians and New Zealanders who lost their lives in battle.
Move on to a nearby local winery to spend the afternoon tasting the nuances of a Turkish wine tasting paired with cheeses. Continue across the Dardanelles Strait to check in at your Canakkale hotel, where you'll enjoy dinner before turning in for the evening.
Set off this morning on a 90-minute drive to the historic city of Troy, immortalised in the tales of the Trojan War. Beside the city's walls stands a replica of the formidable Trojan Horse. Follow your guide as you dive into this astounding archaeological site, one of the most famous in the world for its size and significance. Visit the Troy Museum to learn the tales of the ancient civilisations and the siege of Troy, told of in the Iliad.
Next, pay a visit to Pergamon (an approximately three-hour drive), a once-mighty Greek city boasting the renowned Asklepion hospital. Wander through this sacred site, which once served as a prominent shrine and healing centre for more than 900 years. In ancient times, patients would enter the Asklepion temple via a sacred pathway believed to mark their journey back to good health.
Later, travel 90 minutes further on to Izmir, where you can check in and freshen up at your hotel before sitting down to dinner.
This morning, enjoy a fuelling breakfast at your hotel before departing on a one-hour drive to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Follow your guide through the Greco-Roman ruins of the beautifully preserved Ephesus. A century’s worth of excavation has uncovered Ephesus’ rich architectural history, including the ruins of the imposing Temple of Artemis. Stand in awe of the ancient amphitheatre and gymnasium, gaze upon the baths and explore the restored Library of Celsius.
Move to the nearby village of Sirince, a traditional Greek-Ottoman village known for its olive oil and fruity wine production. Sit down for a delicious lunch, before heading to Pamukkale (approximately three hours), famed for its thermal springs and travertines formed by calcium deposits, creating cascading terraces of white pools, akin to clouds in their appearance. Pay a visit to a local workshop for leather production, a practice with a centuries-old legacy. Turkiye is one of the largest producers of leather products in the world, and each piece is crafted with great care and tireless labour, using methods passed through generations.
This evening, savour dinner at your hotel and free time to explore its health facilities.
Rise and shine for a day exploring Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of mineral-rich hot springs, petrified calcareous waterfalls and spectacular stalactites. Tour the travertine pools, admiring their glacial appearance.
Then, move on to Hierapolis, the ancient city founded by the King of Pergamon atop the terraces around 130BCE. This area's well preserved ruins offer a glimpse into the Greco-Roman influence of the time, with a necropolis, theatre, temple and museum. Make your way to the mineral-rich Cleopatra Antique Pools within its ruins, a famous spa rumoured to have once been visited by the Queen of the Nile herself, and still used for wellness and beauty rituals. Here, you can see the remains of columns and ancient artefacts beneath the surface of the pools.
Spend time soaking in the rejuvenating thermal waters and admiring the unique landscape before travelling onward to Konya across the next five hours. Upon arrival, check-in and sit down for a well-earned dinner at your hotel.
Your day begins with a guided tour of Konya, renowned for the Sufi whirling dervishes. Whirling is an ancient meditation practice which combines movement with worship, an energetic trance-like dance involving special cloaks, high felt hats and a twirling motion. Visit the Mevlana Museum, dedicated to this 13th-century mystic, poet and significant religious figure. Look into the history of the dervishes, stopping to view the intricate details of Mevlana’s tomb and his gold brocade sarcophagus. Visit a dervish hat workshop and learn about the practice and origins of felt making, and the significance of the 'tombstone' hats to Sufism.
Continue to captivating Cappadocia (approximately three hours), an otherworldly landscape of labyrinthine caves and 'fairy chimneys' – unique formations of eroded volcanic rocks. Attend a ritual of the dervish dancers, taking in this sacred dance with each mesmerising turn. Accompanied by the music, robes and tombstone hats, the performance is meant to bring a sense of peace and balance to both the dancers and the audience.
Arrive in Goreme, the enchanting village in the heart of Cappadocia characterised by its spectacular terraces and skies often dotted with hot air balloons. Check in to your spectacular cave lodgings and get settled before heading to dinner and an evening amid scenic surroundings.
Rise early to experience the sunrise of a lifetime, making your way to the rooftop of your spectacular Goreme accommodation as you watch hot air balloons make their ascent over Cappadocia while the sun peeks over the horizon. You may even choose to take a hot-air balloon flight over the magical fairy chimneys themselves (additional cost). Otherwise, gather your energy over breakfast and set your sights on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Goreme Open Air Museum for a glimpse at its astounding houses, churches and monasteries carved straight into the cliff face. These unique Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art, houses of worship and colourful biblical frescoes dating back to the 10th to 12th centuries.
Move on to a Turkish carpet factory to learn about the artistry of traditional carpet-weaving, with its oldest examples of the practice dating back thousands of years. Take in the spectacular collection of flat tapestry-woven rugs in shades of reds and blues, woven from wool, cotton and sometimes silk. Savour a traditional lunch at the charming Old Greek House, located in the village of Mustafapasa, and feast upon dishes like kofte balls, clay pot stews and sweet baklava.
On return to Goreme, you will have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore the town or relax at your hotel.
Optional activities:
- Hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia (from A$499 per person).
Rise early if you wish to once more take in the enchanting display of balloons in flight at sunrise. Following breakfast, depart for an exploration of Cappadocia's wider sprawl. Begin at the Three Beauties, three prominent fairy chimneys with boulders resting at their tops, believed to represent a family immortalised in the stone. Then, explore the Valley of Love's many interesting rock formations sitting on a plateau, and the painterly hills of the Red Valley, formed over thousands of years of erosion.
Descend into the underground avenues of either Ozkonak or Mazi, subterranean cities dating back to the early Roman and Byzantine periods. Marvel at the stone doors and ingenious construction of these labyrinthine tunnels, which once provided its living spaces, wineries and barns protection against invaders.
Underground, join a traditional pottery demonstration to discover the skilled process and local techniques in shaping clay. Then, return to your cave stay for one last evening immersed in tradition while watching a Turkish dance performance over dinner at the hotel, paired with an open bar featuring local drinks.
This morning, head to the airport for your economy class flight to Istanbul Airport (IST), departing at approximately 10am. Once arrived, you'll have time to delve further into the wonders of the bustling capital. You may wish to take the time to explore the Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece of architecture and religious importance. The Byzantine mosque was built in the 6th century, with a towering 32-metre-tall basilica at its centre, held up by large marble columns and decorated in colourful mosaics and intricately carved stone.
You'll also have time if you wish to visit nearby Topkapi Palace, which once served as the home of Ottoman sultans. Take the time to wander its many ornate and colourful exhibition halls for a glimpse into the lavish lives of its former residents.
In the evening, reminisce on your time exploring Turkiye with your fellow travellers during a farewell dinner.
Travel time: Flight – approximately 1.5 hours
After one last breakfast at your hotel, it’s time to bid farewell to your fellow travellers and take your private transfer to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) for your onward journey.