Turkey in Depth

Arrive in Istanbul. As Constantinople, the city was the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, so today it is steeped in history and fascinating architecture. Modern day Istanbul has much to offer - not least its mouth-watering cuisine and budding cafe culture. The city straddles between Europe and Asia and because of this, it was an important stop on the old Silk Road. It is a melting pot of different cultures and this is demonstrated in its gastronomy. Turkish food is a hearty mix of Middle Eastern, Asian and Balkan style dishes that range from barbecued meat kebabs to vine leaf wrapped vegetable and rice parcels.



For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Istanbul at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Istanbul Airport (IST), which is about one hour and 30 minutes' drive or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), which is around two hours' drive from the city centre, depending on traffic, which can be heavy at times. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.



Our conveniently located hotel is within walking distance or a short tram ride of many of the cultural and historical sites in the Sultanahmet district. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to explore this area. If your flight is arriving earlier today or if you're extending your stay by a night then we'd recommend visiting Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, as it is closed on a Sunday, so there won't be the opportunity to go tomorrow. Located within the walls of Istanbul, there are around 60 streets and over 3,000 shops selling everything from jewellery to carpets and textiles and furniture to local arts and crafts. It's one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. The labyrinth of streets also house two mosques, two hamams (Turkish baths) and an array of restaurants and cafes, so there is plenty to experience in this historic landmark of Istanbul.

This morning we'll get our first taste of a traditional Turkish breakfast, which usually consists of yogurts, cheese, and breads along with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and fruits.



We'll head out on foot towards the Sultanahmet Square. Also known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the square was used for chariot racing in the Roman era. Today it's much more sedate but houses iconic landmarks such as the Byzantine Hagia Sophia, the Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius and the Walled Obelisk. We'll have a guided tour of the square, ending at its most famous building, the Sultanahmet Blue Mosque. Continuing on foot, we visit Suleymaniye Mosque, an imperial mosque commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in the mid 1550s.



There are several lunch options around the Sultan Ahmet district, alternatively, it's a short walk or tram ride to the Spice Bazaar where there are plenty of traditional restaurants and cafes to try homecooked dishes.



This afternoon, we'll take the public ferry across the Bosphorus to Kadikoy. Taking around thirty minutes, the ferry offers great views of the city skyline from the waterway that separates the continent of Europe and Asia. The Asian side of Istanbul is full of lively cafes, bars, shops and galleries, it is less touristed and more residential and offers a view of another side to the city. After Exploring the neighbourhood on foot, we will return by ferry.



Depending on your interests and time available in Istanbul you may choose to join the leader on an exploration of Kadikoy or instead visit the Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower, Topkapi Palace Museum or Basilica Cistern. With so much to see in Istanbul you may choose to spend additional nights before or after the trip.

We'll depart early this morning (around 7am), leaving Turkey's largest city behind and heading for the capital, Ankara. The drive takes around six hours, but we'll have plenty of comfort breaks along the way. During the summer months, you can spot fields of sunflowers along the roads.



On arrival in Ankara, we'll visit the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Sitting high above the city, this monument honours the highly respected leader of Turkey's fight for independence, widely regarded as the founder of modern Turkey. We'll also visit the superb Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, which gives a fantastic overview of Turkey's complex history.



Tonight, we'll stay at a centrally located hotel, giving good access to the capital's restaurants and bars.

This morning, we set off on our journey to Cappadocia, stopping en route in Hacibektas, which is around three and a half hours' drive. The museum here once housed the famous Bektashi Dervish sect and is now recreated as it would have looked during the 13th century.



An hour's further drive takes us to Urgup - our base for the next two nights from which we will explore the lunar landscape of Cappadocia. This area is famed for its unique geological formations and a history that stretches back to before the Hittites (2000 BC).



This afternoon we visit Kaymakli Underground City. Built by Christians escaping Arab oppression and once home to 3,500 people, this troglodyte cave-city is one of the largest of 34 similar excavations in Cappadocia. Built under the Citadel of Kaymakli, it contains nearly 100 tunnels on eight subterranean floors. We will explore the four that are open to the public, containing stables, a church and storage places.



After a busy day exploring you might like to try a popular local yoghurt drink called, ayran, it has an unusual salty and soured milk flavour.

If you are considering a ballooning optional excursion, we advise you book this yourself for today as we make a very early start tomorrow morning. Please see optional excursions for more details.



Today we'll have a full day to explore Cappadocia. There'll be the option of taking a walk through one of the iconic valleys of Cappadocia such as the Love or Red Valleys, giving us an astounding view of the local landscapes. According to interests, the temperature and Tour Leader suggestions, the walk will vary - lasting approximately 2-3 hours to cover 4 to 5 kilometres or 3 to 4 miles. Formed by volcanic eruptions that covered the valleys with mud, ash, and blocks of hard rock, over the ages this volcanic 'tufa' has been sculpted by erosion into strange shapes. Byzantine hermits settled in this area and carved churches, houses and fortresses into these cone formations known as fairy-tale chimneys as well as complete underground cities.



This afternoon, we'll visit Uchisar Castle, a citadel perched on a rock, giving expansive views over Cappadocia and the surrounding valleys. We'll also spend time at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Goreme Open Air Museum, where we'll explore its many rock-carved churches and monastic buildings.

Leaving Cappadocia at around 7am this morning today is one of our longest days. Our first stop is the 13th century Sultanhani Caravansarai - once the largest roadside inn in Turkey, supporting the flow of commerce between the East and the West. We then drive for a further two hours to Konya - Turkey's holiest city and the home of the Mevlana sect, better known as the Whirling Dervishes. Here, we will visit the Mevlana Museum to learn more about Sufism and the Whirling Dervish tradition.



After lunch we head back onto the open road driving to Antalya, the gateway to Turkey's southern Mediterranean. On arrival we will head into the delightful old town of Antalya much of which dates back to Roman and Byzantine times. Wander around the narrow cobblestones streets and head to the historic harbour which hosts a good selection of restaurants, cafes and bars.



In total today we drive for approximately seven hours, but our journey is broken up by the stops we make along the way.

We'll set off around 9am this morning to drive to Olympos, around 90 minutes away. Although its early history is shrouded in mystery, we do know that Olympos was an important Lycian city by the 2nd century BC and that the Olympians worshipped Hephaestus (Vulcan), the god of fire. Today, only fragmentary ruins remain in a lush, overgrown site overlooking the beautiful coastline.



We'll take a short but steep uphill walk through forest to the 'Chimaera' eternal flame, before having the opportunity to refresh with a dip in the sea - don't forget to bring your swimwear and a towel. If you'd prefer not to join the walk, you can relax in the cafe at the bottom of the hill.



Our journey continues along the Turquoise Coast (so named because of the clear waters of the Aegean Sea) to the pleasant coastal resort town of Kas - our base for the next two nights.

With its old Greek houses and their picturesque balconies, the tiny seaport of Kas is one of the most beautiful on the Turkish Riviera. Today has been left free for you to relax and soak up the town's charming atmosphere or take part in an optional activity. You could take a boat trip to see the sunken ruins at Kekova or try your hand at sea kayaking. Kas is also a great place to pick up souvenirs, but don't forget to haggle!



For a little more culture, it is possible to arrange a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the ancient city of Xanthos.

Today we have an early start to drive to Dalyan, where we'll swap bus for boat and head out onto the gentle waters of the Dalyan River looking out for loggerhead turtles amongst the reeds. After viewing the rock-cut tombs of ancient Caunos from the water, we step onto dry land to explore the ancient settlement itself, which dates back to 400 BC.



We recommend packing your swimming costume and a towel today as there'll be the opportunity to take a dip in the turquoise waters at Iztuzu Beach. There'll also be the chance to visit the Turtle Conservation Centre (DEKAMER) before returning to Dalyan. The conservation centre works to protect the turtle nesting areas on Iztuzu Beach, cares for and rehabilitates injured turtles and attempts to educate the local fisherman on the importance of using propeller guards. Later this afternoon we head to our accommodation on the peaceful outskirts of Dalyan to check in to our hotel for the night.



Today we'll spend around three hours driving and about an hour travelling by boat.

Today we'll take a four-hour drive to Pamukkale to explore one of Turkey's most amazing natural wonders, the 'cotton castle'. The castle takes its name from the white calcareous concretions deposited by mineral springs. Above the terraced pools you'll find the ancient spa town of Hierapolis where the ruins date back to 2nd century BC and the time of Eumenes II. Earthquakes have rocked the area throughout history and the site was finally abandoned in 1334 following a particularly strong quake. As recently as the mid-20th century, hotels were constructed on top of its priceless ruins but luckily, UNESCO World Heritage status has saved it from further damage. You can visit the theatre, Temple of Apollo, Frontinus Gate and see a number of sarcophagi as well as having the chance to go into the Archaeology Museum housed in the former Roman baths.



We'll move on to the 'frozen waterfall'. Situated on a high escarpment, Pamukkale has been an attraction since Roman times. Stalactites of bright white petrified waterfalls cascade from basin to basin. We'll visit the incredible travertine pools, where you can opt to get your feet wet and enjoy the views overlooking the Menderes Valley.



After our visit, we'll check into our hotel and the rest of the afternoon is free. We stay in a large resort style hotel on the outskirts of town that is a convenient location for visiting Pamukkale and Hieropolis. At certain times of the year, we might visit the site later to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Today we'll visit the Greco-Roman site of Aphrodisias, the ancient city of love and sanctuary of Aphrodite. The drive here takes around an hour and a half and this site is in many ways as spectacular as Ephesus, but far quieter by comparison. The tetrapylon is a wonderfully ornate example of a huge gateway which would have once welcomed you into the main street leading to the Temple of Aphrodite. The best of the skillfully sculpted reliefs and stonework for which this site is famous are found in the excellent on-site museum that you may like to visit. The well-preserved odeon and theatre are also well worth seeing, as is the Sebasteion, which is carved with reliefs depicting Aphrodite and her worshippers. The piece de resistance is the stadium which measures 270 metres long by 60 metres wide and would have held 30,000 spectators. On the seats you'll find carvings into the rock, which have been graffitied during the athletic events that took place here.



Later, a three-hour drive takes us to Selcuk, our base for the next two nights.

Today we'll visit Selcuk's historic neighbour, the great Greco-Roman city of Ephesus. We'll aim to get there in time for the site opening before it becomes too crowded.



Once visited by Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, and by St. Paul, inspiring the Epistle to the Ephesians, this seaport reached its zenith in the 2nd century AD, becoming one of the main cultural and economic centres of the ancient world. It boasted a gymnasium and a stadium with seating for 70,000 spectators. Other highlights include the Baths of Constantine, the brothel, the Temple of Hadrian with its beautiful facade, the theatre (a giant with 24,000 seats) and the odeon (a 2000-seat music and poetry centre), the Arcadian Way (where Cleopatra entered from the harbour) and the Marble Avenue featuring the Library of Celsus.



Driving on a short distance, we'll visit the scattered remains of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, before returning to Selcuk for a free afternoon.



This afternoon, you might like to explore St John's Basilica, the Isa Bey Mosque or Selcuk Museum. Alternatively, you might enjoy a spot of shopping or simply soaking up the town's laid-back vibe with a Turkish tea in one of the many open-air cafés.

This morning, we'll leave our hotel around 7am to continue our journey north. We'll travel for two hours past endless olive groves and pomegranate trees to the Greco-Roman remains of Pergamon, set on the hill overlooking the modern-day town of Bergama.



Pergamon gave its name to the word 'parchment', the material the town was well-known for throughout the Middle East. We'll visit the ancient Acropolis and later continue for around three hours to the ancient site of Troy where, according to legend, the artful Ulysses devised the Wooden Horse Strategy, thereby ending the ten-year Trojan War. Here, nine ruined cities, one on top of the other, have been uncovered, going back 5,000 years. Troy VI is the assumed walled city of King Priam (1800-1275 BC), celebrated by the blind Greek poet Homer in the Iliad and all but lost in legend until it was unearthed by amateur archaeologist Schliemann in 1871.



Later this afternoon, we'll drive the short distance to our hotel for the night, in the lively town of Canakkale on the Dardanelles, arriving between 6 and 7pm.



Today is one of our longest driving days and we'll travel for approximately seven hours.

We'll have an early start this morning, leaving our hotel around 6.30am to board the 30-minute ferry crossing from the Dardanelles Straits to the Gallipoli Peninsula on the European side of the waters. It was here in 1916 that, after much bloody hand-to-hand fighting and loss of life, the ill-fated Allied campaign was forced to concede victory to the Turks and withdraw. At Anzac Cove - a 600 metre beach that was the famous site of the Anzac landing - we will visit the Anzac Commemorative site and Ari Burnu Cemetery. We continue inland slightly to visit the Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Cemetery before following the shoreline of the Sea of Marmara back to Istanbul for our final evening.



The drive back to Istanbul will take around five hours, arriving in the early evening.

Our tour ends at our hotel in Istanbul.



There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Istanbul Airport (IST), around a ninety-minute drive from the hotel, or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), around a two-hour drive from the hotel.