Aegean Explorer - 7 Days

Aegean Explorer - 7 Days

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7 Days From

$1985

$1588

Aegean Explorer - 7 Days

7 Days Starting and ending in Istanbul

Visiting: Istanbul, Canakkale, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Pamukkale

Tour operator:

On The Go Tours

Tour code:

2/AEXP

Specialist Group:

Family/Kids

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 24

Age range:

16 years with an accompanying adult

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Please contact On The Go Tours with specific dietary requests

Tour operated in:

English
From: $1985 $1588 Operator discount: -$397 -20%

NB: Prices correct on 22-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Kicking off in the powerhouse of the Ottoman empire - Istanbul, pay your respects at Gallipoli, get lost in the impressive Roman ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum, witness the beautiful Aegean Coast and dip your toes in Pamukkale's beautiful cascading mineral pools.

Highlights

  • Istanbul – Visit highlights of the Old City including the beautiful Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and imposing Topkapi Palace

  • Ephesus – Tour the marble ruins of this Roman city which was once the site of the great Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders

  • Pamukkale – Stroll around the terraced pools and opt for a relaxing dip in the naturally warm and calcium rich waters

  • Gallipoli – Pay your respects at the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials and visit ANZAC Cove, a famous WW1 landing site

  • Troy – Discover the legendary ruins and see a replica of the famous wooden horse which as the story goes, was used to sack the city

  • Pergamum – Marvel at the Roman amphitheatre which is one of the steepest in the classical world

  • Hierapolis – See the UNESCO-listed ruins of this ancient spa town, built on the site of natural hot springs

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Istanbul

Location: Istanbul

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Ramada Old City

Saturday. Welcome to Turkey! Arrive Istanbul and included transfer to our hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure or head out to explore the city. This evening our tip filled welcome meeting takes place.

Day 2: Istanbul

Location: Istanbul

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Ramada Old City

Meals Included: Breakfast

Istanbul. We'll start the day with an exciting tour of Istanbul's old city. We'll make a number of stops on our trip, starting with a visit to the stunning Blue Mosque. We head inside to marvel at its famed blue Iznik tiles, and can see the unique 6 minarets on the outside. We'll continue to the ruinous Hippodrome – now a small park of sorts and once scene of chariot races and political activities in Byzantine times. We'll also discover the exterior of Hagia Sophia - constructed as a Basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian. Visit inside Topkapi Palace and see the Underground Cistern – an ancient underground water tank - replete with carved and fluted Corinthian columns and a puzzling head of Medusa. Visitors walk on walkways suspended above the shallow water.

Day 3: Canakkale

Kemal Özcan

Location: Canakkale

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Iris Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Istanbul – Gallipoli. Early this morning, we travel to the WW1 battlefields of Gallipoli. Here, we’ll embark upon a guided tour of the region, once the site of fierce fighting and today almost hauntingly beautiful, with its wooded landscape dotted with understated memorials to the war dead. Our guided tour of the region will take in sights such as ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian War Memorial and cemetery, Chunuk Blair New Zealand War Memorial and cemetery, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the many fortified trenches still clearly visible amongst the scrub after all these years.

Crossing the Dardenelles by ferry (offering panoramic views of the entire Gallipoli Peninsular) we proceed to our hotel for a little rest and relaxation.

Day 4: Kusadasi

Location: Kusadasi

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Carina Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Gallipoli – Kusadasi. Heading south, we enjoy a guided tour of Homer’s Troy, famed for the Trojan wooden horse and fabled Helen. Continuing to ancient Pergamum - the cultural and political capital of its time, before continuing onto coastal Kusadasi. Make the most of the hotel facilities this evening.

Day 5: Ephesus

Roberto Goldone

Location: Ephesus

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Richmond Ephesus Resort Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, we enjoy a guided tour at the legendary Roman ruins of Ephesus. Positively the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean, and among the best places in the world to get a feel for what Roman life must have been like. Ephesus, under the Romans was a vast city with a population nearing 250,000. It became the Roman capital of Asia Minor. We’ll have plenty of time to tour the marble ruins of Ephesus. Be sure to see the famous Library of Celcus, the gymnasium of Vedius and Stadium, the great theatre and stroll the streets in the ruins of this large Roman ruined city. It’s completely fascinating. We’ll see public toilets, a brothel, fountains and various temples. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and afterward we stop to watch a demonstration of how they are made.

Day 6: Pamukkale

Location: Pamukkale

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Colossae Thermal Spa Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Kusadasi - Pamukkale. Today, after breakfast, we drive to Pamukkale visiting the region’s famed calcium rich terraced pools. Known locally as the Cotton Castles, they are a natural phenomena and gift of Mother Nature.





Pamukkale was formed when warm, calcium rich mineral water cascaded over the cliff edge, cooling and depositing in the process. The calcium built natural shelves and pools on the cliffs, known as travertines. Today, some of the pools are closed. However, areas of the travertines can be walked upon, albeit in bare feet. We can however opt to enjoy a unique and very pleasant dip in the warm waters at the Pamukkale Thermal, with its submerged fragments of fluted marble columns in the centre of the ruined spa town of Hierapolis, which was a was a cure centre founded around 190 BC by the Romans. This evening we have some free time to relax and unwind.





Day 7: Istanbul

Location: Istanbul

Friday. This morning we make our way to Denizli airport for our flight to Istanbul. On arrival to Istanbul Airport we bid farewell to our group and representative and catch our onward flights.





Please Note: If travelling prior to 27 October 2024, your internal flight is currently arriving at the new Istanbul airport at approx. 08:50am. Please ensure you book an international flight departing Istanbul after 1pm, allowing for flight delays. If you are departing via Sabiha airport you will need to make arrangements between airports and we recommend booking flights after 2:30pm





If travelling between 28 October 2024 - 1 April 2025, your internal flight is scheduled to arrive at the new Istanbul Airport at approx. 12:25pm. Please ensure you book an international flight departing Istanbul after 5pm, allowing for flight delays. If you are departing via Sabiha airport you will need to make arrangements between airports and we recommend booking flights after 6:30pm Alternatively, you could choose to extend your stay by purchasing an additional night's hotel accommodation.





Please Note: If travelling after 01 April 2025 , your internal flight is currently arriving at the new Istanbul airport at approx. 08:50am. Please ensure you book an international flight departing Istanbul after 1pm, allowing for flight delays. If you are departing via Sabiha airport you will need to make arrangements between airports, and we recommend booking flights after 2:30pm

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    4 star

  • 5 breakfasts

  • 6 nights 4 star hotels

  • Economy class flight from Denizli (Pamukkale) to Istanbul

  • Guided sightseeing - Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ruins of Ephesus and Pergamum, Pamukkale Terraces and Hierapolis

  • Escorted by an English speaking, degree qualified Turkish tour guide

  • Airport arrival transfer on day 1

  • All relevant transfers and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles

What's Not Included

  • International flights and visa

  • Tip for your tour guide and driver. We recommend you allow EUR €5 - 7 per day, per traveller as a tip for your guide and EUR €2 per day for your driver. Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture

  • Entrance Fees: EUR€200-215pp, paid in EUR

Age Policy

16 years with an accompanying adult

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Airport arrival transfer on day 1

  • What is the maximum group size?

    Maximum 24 age people can go on this tour.

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1998

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

Nicola Hodgkinson (Google Reviewer)  

Recently returned from Greece, a...

07-May-2024

Recently returned from Greece, a 5 day tour with OTG. Unfortunately, I had a negative experience on day 2 where I needed local support to get me out of a tricky situation. Thank you to Alexandra Z from Hetco Tours in Athens for helping me continue on with the trip, to the Hotel Zafolia staffing team and to Danielle and team here in the UK for supporting me with the aftermath. Your kindness will not be forgotten and I will pay it forward. I've now booked 3 trips with yourselves and will continue to go back. Thank you all. Honestly, I am SO grateful. Blessings to you all. Nicola

Calvin  

Wonderful experience

05-Jan-2023

Jamal is our tour guide. Right from the start, he created a group chat in whatsapp and if any issues to make sure we contact him. He was on the ball with every issue thrown at him. Luggage being left behind, stragglers wondered off in a different path, hotel room etc. He explains the various site along our route to give us a better understanding of the local cultures. We had a great time, thanks to Jamal.

Trustpilot
Norma Sullivan  

Land of the Northern Lights 5 day tour of Iceland

10-Sep-2021

The Land of Northern Lights tour was a triumph! My tour of Southern Iceland was absolutely wonderful. The venues chosen, the timing allotted at each venue and the variety of things to experience was nearly perfect. Our guide, "Thor", was smart, amusing, full of history and anecdotal stories as well as being incredibly hospitable and helpful. This small group experience was my first, but not my last thanks to On the Go.

Trawls (Google Reviewer)  

On The Go Tours Sri...

05-Feb-2024

On The Go Tours Sri Lanka was an incredible experience that was made even better by our tour guide Akthar. He was incredibly knowledgeable about his country and he loved sharing it with us. The tour covers a wide range of activities so you can truly experience what Sri Lanka is all about. The beautiful 4-5 star hotels at the end of every day was an absolute bonus. Thanks for a great trip OTGT I’m sure this won’t be my last

Xtreme Floor Care (Google Reviewer)  

Traveled through Egypt with On...

30-Nov-2023

Traveled through Egypt with On the Go Tours, professional service, very informative and helpful tour guides. The choice of hotels was excellent... Definitely recommend this company

Gavin Harrigan  

King Tutankhamun 10 day tour of Egypt

16-Sep-2021

I have just returned from my tour with On The Go and it was an amazing trip! From arriving at the airport and meeting the OTG representative, everything was well organised and hassle free.  Our tour guide was Amir. He is awesome!! From the beginning he was so friendly and enthusiastic about showing us around Egypt, giving us loads of information at each place and time to explore ourselves. Learnt so much from him about this fascinating place, and he was always happy to answer more questions.   The trip itself was amazing. There's lots of travelling on this trip, but it's really not too bad, and the sights you see when you get to where you are going are worth it. I'm not a big fan of boats, but the Felluca ride across the Nile was pretty fun too.  On the first day I also did the optional tour of Cairo with Ahmed Helal - another excellent guide from OTG. It's worth doing this add on as you don't spend much time in Cairo, and you go to three very different places.  I'm so glad that I decided to do this trip. It was just ace.  If you're thinking about it too, you should probably just book it. And hopefully you get Amir as your guide.

Joyce Heitler (Google Reviewer)  

I would give this tour...

09-May-2024

I would give this tour group no stars if possible. The tour was not guaranteed but they did not inform me when I booked and they did not have enough people. Way after I booked they said I needed a doctors letter because I was over 70. Also way after booking I was informed I needed travel insurance. They knew my age when I booked. They would not refund my tour even though it was 4 months away.

Simla Patel (Google Reviewer)  

This company doesn’t deserve even...

26-Nov-2024

This company doesn’t deserve even 1 star. I would not recommend this company. There are hidden fees which means the cost of the holiday ends up being very expensive. We recently came back from our trip to China where it is not customary to tip in restaurants & hotel staff. Yet we had to make a payment upfront in cash to to the guide for more than £100. The hotel service was appalling. Just think £100 from each person. The trip was suppose to be a Tour yet we had to pay for all entrance fees. We complained about the poor condition of the hotels but no one responded to our emails to date. The after sales service is non existent. Do not use this company. Far far too expensive for what you get. Not competitive at all. They messed up our booking; repeatedly asked for the same information. We spent so much time correcting their errors. Very difficult to get hold of anyone because they all work in S Africa or New Zealand. Absolute nightmare

Sarah Paterson (Google Reviewer)  

Terrible tour of India. For...

27-Dec-2023

Terrible tour of India. For some reason On the Go hadn't realised that my room mate had booked her own room for the first night of tour. So the hotel in Delhi had tried to put me in her room after midnight, by wheeling in an extra bed. She went Crazy!! I then had to sit in hotel reception for hours. While the tour guide said he couldn't find me a room. Throughout the tour the guide consistently ask me and my room mate for money for my room, causing more friction between us. Don't book with this company had the worst experience ever. Go with Intrepid or G Adventure

brandy hoffman (Google Reviewer)  

I had used them once...

09-Aug-2023

I had used them once before and loved them. I decided to try them again for a Baltic tour not knowing that they put me on another Tour group- Baltic vision. Loved that tour but was not impressed they marked up the cost for me over 100%. I understand taking some for yourself because of paperwork, but over double the cost everyone else paid on the tour. Just double check before you book with them that you’re not over paying.

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Saturday - Friday

Jan 04, 2025 - Jan 10, 2025
$1985 $1588

Operator discount: -$397

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Feb 15, 2025 - Feb 21, 2025
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Operator discount: -$397

Saturday - Friday

Mar 01, 2025 - Mar 07, 2025
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Operator discount: -$421

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Operator discount: -$421

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Operator discount: -$421

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May 31, 2025 - Jun 06, 2025
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Operator discount: -$421

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Operator discount: -$421

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Operator discount: -$421

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Jul 12, 2025 - Jul 18, 2025
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Operator discount: -$421

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Jul 19, 2025 - Jul 25, 2025
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Operator discount: -$421

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Jul 26, 2025 - Aug 01, 2025
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Operator discount: -$421

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Aug 09, 2025 - Aug 15, 2025
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Operator discount: -$421

Saturday - Friday

Aug 16, 2025 - Aug 22, 2025
$2105 $1684

Operator discount: -$421

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Aug 23, 2025 - Aug 29, 2025
$2105 $1684

Operator discount: -$421

Saturday - Friday

Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 12, 2025
$2105 $1684

Operator discount: -$421

Saturday - Friday

Sep 20, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
$2105 $1684

Operator discount: -$421

Saturday - Friday

Oct 04, 2025 - Oct 10, 2025
$2105 $1684

Operator discount: -$421

Saturday - Friday

Oct 18, 2025 - Oct 24, 2025
$2105 $1684

Operator discount: -$421

Saturday - Friday

Nov 01, 2025 - Nov 07, 2025
$1985 $1588

Operator discount: -$397

Saturday - Friday

Nov 15, 2025 - Nov 21, 2025
$1985 $1588

Operator discount: -$397

Saturday - Friday

Nov 29, 2025 - Dec 05, 2025
$1985 $1588

Operator discount: -$397

Saturday - Friday

Dec 13, 2025 - Dec 19, 2025
$1985 $1588

Operator discount: -$397

Prices last published on 21-Dec-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 600 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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