Best of Turkey
Witness a fusion of Europe and Asia in Istanbul, then explore fairy-tale Cappadocia, Mediterranean Antalya, plus the ruins at Ephesus, Troy & more
| Style | Small Group Tour Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout | ||
| Departures | July – November 2025 | Group Size | 16 travelers max |
| Themes | History & Culture | ||
| Activity Level | |||
| What to Expect | This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations and may have limited rest stops.Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
| Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. | ||
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Continents collide in Turkey, a country where you can jump start your morning with a Turkish coffee in Europe and by lunchtime snack on a kebab in Asia. Start your adventure in Istanbul, a city reverberating to the rhythm of the country's famous whirling dervishes, flavored as sweet as pomegranate and Baklava, scented by exotic spices wafting from the colorful markets, and with a picture-perfect skyline pierced by the minarets of Blue Mosque. Continue to the 'fairy-tale' landscape of Cappadocia where Bronze Age cave-dwellers carved ancient cities into the region's tall, cone shaped rocks. These 'underground cities' now host homes and businesses and the hotel you'll be staying in. Antalya and its stunning Mediterranean coastline serves as the jumping off point for a trip back in time as you explore Turkey's world class Greco-Roman ruins highlighted by Ephesus, Europe's most complete classical metropolis. Finally, end your adventure with another full day in Istanbul for independent exploration. Our Turkey small group tour will show you the best that this mysterious land has to offer, all for an irresistibly value-packed price that makes it possible for you to discover your own Turkish delights.
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip flights from New York (JFK) to Istanbul including taxes & fees
- Arrival and departures transfers with meeting, assistance and porterage
- All intra-Turkey transportation
- Accommodation in Superior First Class and Deluxe hotels
- 23 Meals: 13 breakfasts and 10 dinners, including welcome and farewell dinners
- Wine included with welcome and farewell dinners
- Comprehensive touring program including entrance fees
- Professional, English-speaking tour manager
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation.
- Discounted optional excursions package
- Optional balloon ride over Cappadocia
- Optional Bosphorus cruise
Why you'll love it
- Immerse yourself in Istanbul’s history and art at the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sofia.
- Discover the magic of Cappadocia at one of its many underground cities.
- Get hands-on during a cooking class with a local family.
- Stop at Sultanhan, a castle-like structure full of impressive geometric and marble details that was once used as a resting place for camel caravans.
- Spend a full day at leisure exploring the coastal cliffs and towering mountains of Antalya.
- Gaze upon the icy white terraces and steaming hot springs in Pamukkale, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hierapolis.
- Admire the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World in Ephesus.
- Explore the ancient city of Troy, best known as the location of the Trojan War, according to Homer's poem, The Iliad.
- Pay your respects at Gallipoli, the site of the fiercest battle of World War I.
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 Depart USA/Overnight Flight
- 2 Istanbul
- 3 Istanbul
- 4 Istanbul & Cappadocia
- 5 Cappadocia
- Optional Excursion: Balloon Ride over Cappadocia (purchased locally) , $400
- 6 Cappadocia & Konya
- Optional Excursion: Whirling Dervishes , $40
- 7 Konya & Antalya
- 8 Antalya
- Optional Excursion: Aspendos and Perge , $60
- Optional Excursion: Düden Waterfalls , $45
- 9 Antalya & Pamukkale
- 10 Pamukkale, Aphrodisias & Kuşadası
- 11 Ephesus
- Optional Excursion: Ephesus Museum & Şirince Village , $65
- 12 Pergamon, Troy & Çanakkale
- 13 Çanakkale, Dardanelles & Istanbul
- 14 Istanbul
- Optional Excursion: Dolmabahçe Palace (purchased locally) , $50
- Optional Excursion: Bosphorus Cruise (purchased locally) , $65
- 15 Istanbul/USA
Videos
Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
To see full details, click the button to the right.
Day 1 Depart USA/Overnight Flight
- Depart the USA on your overnight flight for Istanbul
Day 2 Istanbul
- Meet our representative and transfer to your hotel
- This evening, get to know your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner with wine at a local restaurant and briefing with your guide
Sofitel Istanbul Taksim or similarDinner
Day 3 Istanbul
- Visit the Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
- Marvel at the Hagia Sophia, famous for its massive dome and Byzantine architecture
- Enjoy a guided tour of Topkapı Palace including the Harem
Sofitel Istanbul Taksim or similarBreakfast
Day 4 Istanbul & Cappadocia
- Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia
- Pay a visit to the pottery makers in the city of Avanos
Utopia Cave Cappadocia or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 5 Cappadocia
- Visit the Open Air Museum of Göreme
- View the fairy landscapes and rock castles of Avcilar, Dervent Valley, Pidgeon Valley, and Uçhisar Foldings
- Get hands-on during a cooking class with a local family
Utopia Cave Cappadocia or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 6 Cappadocia & Konya
- Explore one of the famed underground cities of Cappadocia
- Visit Sultanhan, a “caravanserai” (caravan palace)
- Explore the Mevlana Museum in Konya
Novotel Konya or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 7 Konya & Antalya
- Travel through the Taurus Mountains to reach Antalya
Ramada Plaza Antalya or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 8 Antalya
- Enjoy a full day at leisure in Antalya or join one or both optional excursions
Ramada Plaza Antalya or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 9 Antalya & Pamukkale
- Explore the city of Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Laodicea, one of the early Christian communities mentioned in the New Testament
Doğa Thermal Health & Spa or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 10 Pamukkale, Aphrodisias & Kuşadası
- Visit the Roman city of Aphrodisias
Charisma De Luxe Hotel or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 11 Ephesus
- Explore Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Spend the balance of the day at leisure, or join an optional excursion
Charisma De Luxe Hotel or similarBreakfast
Day 12 Pergamon, Troy & Çanakkale
- Discover Pergamon, the capital of a once powerful kingdom
- Continue to Asklepion, a famed ancient medical center
- Visit the ancient city of Troy
Kolin Hotel Çanakkale or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 13 Çanakkale, Dardanelles & Istanbul
- Enjoy a ferry ride across the Dardanelles
- Visit the battle site of Gallipoli and pay your respects
- Spend the balance of the day at leisure in Istanbul
Sofitel Istanbul Taksim Breakfast
Day 14 Istanbul
- Explore Istanbul independently, or take an optional cruise along the Bosphorus
- Join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner with wine
Sofitel Istanbul Taksim Breakfast & dinner
Day 15 Istanbul/USA
- Transfer to the airport and board your return flight to the USA.
Breakfast
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
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Trip Details
- What should I know before I go?We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements?Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip?Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions?To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at the time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance?Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print?Review the terms & conditions for this package.
What should I know about Turkey?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.