Classic Turkey: An 11-Day Tour of Historic Sights, Insider Experiences and Stunning Aegean Coast Views
Scratch the surface of Turkey’s Byzantine majesty and feel history resonate with every step as you unearth this storied country’s classic sights during an 11-day tour. Immerse yourself in the pulsating energy, culinary heritage and astonishing architecture of Turkey as you feast on traditional delights, craft traditional pottery, gaze in wonder at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pamukkale Cotton Fortress, descend into the underground city of Saratli, sunbathe on the Aegean coast of Kusadasi and take in the historic sights of Gallipoli and Pergamon.
Your tour includes 10 nights in your choice of standard or upgraded accommodation, daily breakfast and selected dining experiences — including a traditional village lunch with locals in Pergamum — air-conditioned transportation throughout, expert local guides, sightseeing, entrance fees, return airport transfers and so much more.
Relive the heyday of the Byzantine Empire over 11 glorious days as you live and breathe Turkey’s exotic culture, fragrant cuisine and ancient cities. This tour will bewitch you with its sun-bleached ruins, blue skies and living history. Plus, suit a travel style that suits you with a choice of standard or upgraded deluxe accommodation available.
What You’ll Love…
Discover Turkey — Unearth Istanbul’s wealth of treasures, taste your way through Turkey and plunge into Pammukale’s Cotton Fortress
Begin the tour by immersing yourself in thousands of years of history in Istanbul. Blessed with rich culinary heritage, the thick aroma of Turkish coffee prepared in a cezve, and ancient architecture — including the Hippodrome, where chariot races were enjoyed by Byzantine Emperors, and the dazzling Blue Mosque — Istanbul is the perfect launchpad for discovering Turkey.
Marvel at the wealth of ancient Hittite artefacts hidden within the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and pay homage to the Father of Modern Turkey at the Mausoleum of Ataturk in the capital of Ankara, before losing yourself in the sprawl of maze-like tunnels carved into the underground city of Saratli.
Admire the landscape of the Cappadocia region, with its tall volcanic spires, high plateaus and deep valleys gloriously bathed in light, as you visit Göreme and partake in a pottery-making class in Avanos, a provincial clay town.
Take in the surreal and beautiful landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pamukkale, with its tiered white lime terraces and thermal pools, and see the ancient spa centre of Hierapolis. Unearth the coastal splendour of Kusadasi, visit the ancient Medical Centre Asclepion at the base of the Pergamon acropolis and feast with locals in a traditional Pergamon village.
Visit ancient Troy, a city of storied proportions and home to a recreation of the fabled Trojan wooden horse, and witness the battlefields and historic World War I memorial sites of Gallipoli. See ANZAC Cove (famous for the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915), Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair, where the battle between the British Empire and the Ottoman defenders took place
The Accommodation — Personalise your tour with a premium hotel upgrade
After busy days exploring, why not upgrade your hotels for extra comfort?
Part of the esteemed Marriott brand, Renaissance Istanbul Polat Bosphorus Hotel is your gateway to five-star opulence and stunning views over the Bosphorous, offering easy panoramas and close access to the Old City’s wealth of treasures, including Saint Sophia Museum, Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.
Experience the capital of Ankara in boutique style at Swissotel Ankara, named among the Top 100 by Condé Nast Traveler readers, and revel in stunning Aegean views at Charisma Hotel on Kusadasi’s coast, a mere 900m from the beachfront.
Your Package Includes:
- 10 nights of your choice of standard or upgraded accommodation in Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Kusadasi and Canakkale
- Daily breakfast and select additional meals, including local dining experiences
- Free time to explore ancient Istanbul’s sites
- Local dining experiences in Ankara, the capital of Turkey
- Descend into the underground city of Saratli
- Partake in a regional pottery workshop in Cappadocia
- Stand in awe of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cotton Fortress Pamukkale
- See ancient Troy and the fabled Trojan wooden horse recreation
- Revel in beachside splendour in Kusadasi on the Aegean coast
- Visit the ancient Medical Centre Asclepion in Pergamon
- Dine with locals in a traditional Pergamon village
- Take in the sites of Gallipoli, including Anzac Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery
- The services of expert local, English-speaking guides
- All sightseeing, local taxes and entrance fees
- Return airport transfers
Your tour begins and ends at Instanbul Airport (ISL). International flights are not included.
Return airport transfers are included on the first and last day of your tour only.
A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website Visas Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist. Click here to visit the website.
Need Flights? We have a dedicated team who are able to assist with all your flight requirements. If you need a stopover or are looking at travelling to more destinations, our team can help. Contact our flights concierge team using the phone number on our website.
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul
Your Turkey adventure kicks off today as you’re transferred to your hotel on arrival at Istanbul Airport (ISL).
Accommodation:
- Standard: Park Dedeman or similar
- Deluxe: Renaissance Bosphorous or similar
Day 2: Istanbul
Enjoy a full day at your leisure today with an optional tour of this storied city’s iconic sites, including a visit to Topkapi Palace Museum, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1453–1852 (excluding harem).
On this tour, you will enter the Hippodrome, a rectangular arena alongside the Sultanahmet Park and scene of many a chariot race enjoyed by the Byzantine Emperors. Inspect the breathtaking curvature of the Blue Mosque, adorned on the inside with dazzling blue İznik tiles, and experience the beautiful chaos of the Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest covered market with over 60 streets.
After a day of exploration, you could tempt the palate and sample some of the city’s signature dishes, capping the evening off with a traditional belly dancing performance.
Accommodation:
- Standard: Park Dedeman or similar
- Deluxe: Renaissance Bosphorous or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Optional Activities:
- Full-day Istanbul Sightseeing Tour (A$85 per adults and A$70 per child).
- Belly Dancing Dinner (A$85 per adults and A$70 per child)
Day 3: Istanbul - Ankara
Blessed with rich culinary heritage, the thick aroma of Turkish coffee prepared in a cezve, and neighbourhoods lined with street art and boutique shops, Istanbul is yours for the taking this morning as you’re left to your leisure before transferring to the capital city of Ankara.
Accommodation:
- Standard: Holiday Inn or similar
- Deluxe: Swissotel Ankara or similar
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Optional Activity:
- St. Sophia and Bosphorus Cruise - experience the beauty of the breathtaking St. Sophia, a sixth-century Byzantine Church that was converted into a mosque by the Ottomans and is now one of the world’s greatest architectural wonders. Later, enjoy a quintessential Bosphorous cruise, offering views of palaces, parks and timber mansions (A$55 per adult and A$40 per child).
Day 4: Ankara - Cappadocia
Immerse yourself in Ankara and Turkey’s fabled past this morning as you’re transferred to the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations to view the wealth of Hittite artefacts, Anatolia’s first policial union formed in the Kızılırmak basin between 1750 and 1200 BC.
Pay homage to the Father of Modern Turkey at the Mausoleum of Ataturk, then, wander through the sprawl of maze-like tunnels and rooms in the underground city of Saratli.
Answer the call of Cappadocia this afternoon, stopping to visit the 13th-century caravan inn en route, before dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation:
- Standard: Cappadocia Lodge Hotel or similar
- Deluxe: Crowne Plaza or similar
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Optional Activity:
- Whirling Dervishes Performance (A$35 per adult and A$25 per child).
Day 5: Cappadocia
Rise and shine early for an unforgettable and optional hot air balloon ride over the other-worldly Cappadocian landscape. Soar high over valleys, orchards and vineyards that act like virtual kaleidoscopes bathed in the changing glow of the sunrise - this is an experience not to be missed!
After breakfast, visit Goreme, a historical region of Turkey first settled during the Roman period and surrounded by epic sweeps of the golden, lunar-esque valley with honey-coloured village carved out of the hills. Continue to the town of Avanos, a provincial, red-clay town renowned for its pottery and Pasabagi in the Red Valley for a brief regional pottery workshop in a cave.
Return to your Cappadocia accommodation for dinner this evening.
Accommodation:
- Standard: Cappadocia Lodge Hotel or similar
- Deluxe: Crowne Plaza or similar
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Optional Activity:
- Sunrise Hot Air Balloon (A$250 per adult and A$215 per child).
Please note: these prices will change from 1 April 2020.
Day 6: Cappadocia - Pamukkale
Bid farewell to the moon-like, cavernous city of Cappadocia today as you transfer to the “Cotton Fortress” city of Pamukkale. Pop in some earphones and watch the dreamy landscape pass by in a trance, before arriving for dinner tonight.
Accommodation:
- Standard: Colossae Hotel or similar
- Deluxe: Colossae Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Pamukkale - Kusadasi
The ethereal “Cotton Fortress” of Pamukkale awaits you today, a surreal calcite city of terraces overflowing with mineral-rich waters. Enjoy some free time here to dip your feet in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed pool’s healing waters and explore Hierapolis, once a Roman and Byzantine spa city.
Then it’s over to Kusadasi, the coastal gateway to Ephesus and the Aegean party scene.
Accommodation:
- Standard: Venti Hotel Kusadasi or similar
- Deluxe: Charisma Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 8: Kusadasi
Today is yours to unearth the coastal splendour of Kusadasi at your leisure. Renowned as a coastal city, you could plunge into the surrounding glistening waters and embark on a snorkelling adventure to nearby cave dives or discover Kuşadası’s small, picturesque Byzantine fortress that stands on the causeway-connected Güvercin Ada.
If you’d prefer something a bit more guided, you could join the optional tour to the famous ruins of Ephesus, an important cultural centre of the ancient world, exploring the 2,000-year-old marble streets, a theatre, the Library of Celsius, a gymnasium and Hadrian’s Temple. Afterwards, take a short drive to see St. Mary’s stone cottage where it is believed Virgin Mary spent her last years accompanied by St. John.
Accommodation:
- Standard: Venti Hotel Kusadasi or similar
- Deluxe: Charisma Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Optional Activity:
- Ephesus Ruins and St. Mary’s Cottage (A$80 per adult and A$65 per child).
Day 9: Kusadasi - Pergamum - Troy - Canakkale
Transfer to Pergamum this morning, a city whose ruins – especially the Asklepion and Acropolis – are so extraordinary that they were inscribed on Unesco’s World Heritage List. On arrival here, visit the ancient Medical Centre Asclepion, located at the base of the Pergamon acropolis, and continue to a traditional local village for lunch with locals.
Then you’re Troy bound, a city of storied proportions and the backdrop for Homer’s Illiad. On arrival, stand in awe of the infamous Trojan wooden horse recreation and continue onwards to Canakkale.
Accommodation:
- Standard: Iris Hotel or similar
- Deluxe: Kolin Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Canakkale - Dardanelles - Istanbul
Witness the battlefields and historic World War I memorial sites of Gallipoli today. Now protected as a Turkish National Park, this historic landscape features memorials, 40 allied war cemeteries and 20 Turkish cemeteries across 335sqkm. Visit Anzac Cove, the initial landing site on the ill-fated morning of 25 April 1915, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair, before returning to Istanbul.
Accommodation:
- Standard: Park Dedeman or similar
- Deluxe: Renaissance Bosphorous or similar
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Depart Istanbul
Your glory of Turkey tour comes to an end after breakfast today as you’re transferred to Istanbul Airport (ISL) for your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast
Valid for the following departure dates:
Low Season:
- 6, 13, 20 March 2020
- 7, 14, 21, 28 November 2020
- 5, 12, 19, 26 December 2020
- 10, 24 January 2021
- 7, 21 February 2021
High Season:
- 28 March 2020
- 4, 11, 18, 25 April 2020
- 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 May 2020
- 6, 13, 20, 27 June 2020
- 4, 11, 18, 25 July 2020
- 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 August 2020
- 5, 12, 19, 26 September 2020
- 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 October 2020
- 6, 13, 20 March 2021
Important: Please allow for travelling time from international countries. International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately. It is your responsibility to make your own travel arrangements and ensure that you arrive in Istanbul on your chosen tour start date.
The ‘7 day change of mind guarantee’ does not apply for Tour bookings. Due to the high demand and limited departures any cancellation / refund requests must be made within 48 hours of purchase. Otherwise, the standard Refund Policy applies.
Booking Conditions: The tour operator will be in touch within 72 hours of purchasing the package. The booking forms must be returned to the tour operator within 7 days of purchasing the package. Reservations cannot be made until the booking form is returned to the tour operator.
Please note: Packages are not transferrable to any other person. The tour order, itinerary, departure dates and airlines cannot be changed after the tour has been confirmed in writing. Any changes to confirmed reservations will incur a A$150 change fee per person.
Twin-Share Package: The package is valid for ONE PERSON (based on twin share). If you are travelling with another person you must purchase TWO PACKAGES, otherwise please purchase a solo traveller package.
Solo Traveller Package: Solo travellers must pay a surcharge as outlined below and are subject to availability. Please contact Luxury Escapes to enquire.
- Low Season - Standard Accommodation: US$300 per person
- Low Season - Deluxe Accommodation: US$350 per person
- High Season - Standard Accommodation: US$350 per person
- High Season - Deluxe Accommodation: US$370 per person
Travel insurance is highly recommended.
A visa may be required. It is the traveller’s responsibility to ensure they’re holding a current visa for the countries they’re visiting. Also, if the traveller is on a non-Australian passport, a valid re-entry visa may be required.
Important: Please start arranging your visa at least 6-8 weeks prior to departure to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours and processing time.
A valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months beyond your return travel date is required for all passengers (including children and infants).
Name corrections may incur a fee. Name changes are not permitted.
Tour includes accommodation at the following hotels:
Standard Package:
- Istanbul - Park Dedeman or similar
- Ankara - Holiday Inn or similar
- Cappadocia -Cappadocia Lodge Hotel or similar
- Pamukkale - Colossae Hotel or similar
- Kusadasi - Venti Hotel Kusadasi or similar
- Canakkale - Iris Hotel or similar
Upgrade Package:
- Istanbul - Renaissance Bosphorous or similar
- Ankara - Swissotel Ankara or similar
- Cappadocia - Crowne Plaza or similar
- Pamukkale - Colossae Hotel or similar
- Kusadasi - Charisma Hotel or similar
- Canakkale: Kolin Hotel or similar
Accommodation is subject to availability and may be substituted for a hotel of a similar standard.
Maximum Room Capacity: The maximum room capacity is two adults.
Maximum tour capacity is 44 people.
Please note, disability access is limited during the tour, please consider this when making your booking.
Travellers should have a good level of physical fitness and mobility and must be able to negotiate uneven surfaces and climb stairs.
Dining inclusions do not include beverages (unless otherwise stated). Menus are subject to change without notice.
Not Included:
- International flights
- Meals/beverages not stated in the itinerary
- Optional activities/tours, personal expenses
- Single supplement surcharge
- Travel insurance (Highly Recommended)
- Tips and gratuities
Please note: tips and gratuities are recommended as follows:
- Guides: US$4 - US$6 per person, per day
- Drivers: US$2 - US$3 per person, per day
Please note: the cost of the optional Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Baloon tour will change from 1 April 2020.
Please note this tour is not operated by Luxury Escapes. You will be contacted post-purchase with further details.
Please note that full terms and conditions apply. Refer to the website’s terms and conditions.