Original
Explorer
Best of Turkey
15 days • 4.8
5
Excellent
222 reviews
15 days
Start
Istanbul, Turkey
Finish
Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Code
ERSI
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Private Bus, Public Bus, Train, Dolmus, Gulet (boat)
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Guest house (4 nights)
From £1,747(15 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Discover the ancient and modern lives within Turkey as you explore thousands of years of history in the remarkable ruins of Ephesus, discover a WWI battlefield in Gallipoli and immerse yourself in the vibrant vibe of the university town Eskisehir.
Take in the diversity of this epic landscape with a visit to the natural hot springs of Pamukkale, a cruise along the picture-perfect Turkish coast over Sunken Cities, and an optional hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia.
Get to know the friendly locals over a home-cooked dinner in Cappadocia, then get treated to a Turkish barbecue feast by your local hosts in Kayakoy.
Pull on your walking shoes and set out on a half-day hike along a section of rugged coastline, following part of the ancient walking trail of the Lycian Way and exploring the landscape of Cappadocia.
Get among local life – from taking local buses and a traditional gulet (boat) ride to staying in one of the cave hotels that Cappadocia’s famed for.
Is this trip right for you?
This trip uses a combination of public and private transport, and all vehicles are modern and have air-conditioning and most are fitted with seat belts. Some journeys can be long in order to maximise the areas visited, but this gives you a chance to interact with the local community and see more of the country. You'll also be pleasantly surprised to find most Turkish buses have wi-fi and serve coffee and cake! Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the bus, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the ‘Essential Trip Information’ section.
Itinerary
Get to know a Turkish way of life, from coast to city
Get your Turkish delights on a 15-day adventure from Istanbul. This trip is a mix of ancient ruins and modern cities, Islamic history and Ottoman influence, inland discoveries and coastal cruising – and everything in between! Discover Gallipoli on a guided tour that will teach you about its significance during the First World War, unlock the secrets of the ancient city of Ephesus, admire Oludeniz’s Blue Lagoon from high up on the Lycian Way and swim in the Mediterranean on a traditional gulet cruise from Kas. From the winding laneways of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to the bizarre landscapes of Cappadocia, you'll discover the local’s side to Turkey.
Inclusions
Meals
14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
Private Bus, Public Bus, Train, Dolmus, Gulet (boat)
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Guest house (4 nights)
Included activities
Istanbul - Orientation Walk
Gallipoli - Fully guided Gallipoli tour & visit to the Commonwealth graveyards
Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
Troy - Archaeological site visit
Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park
Kayakoy - Village visit
Lycian Way - Hike from Kayakoy to Oludeniz Beach
Kayakoy - Home-cooked Turkish BBQ dinner
Kas - Leader led orientation walk
Kas - Handicraft market
Kekova - Turkish Coast Cruising & Sunken Cities
Konya - Mevlana Museum
Cappadocia - Leader-led orientation walk
Cappadocia - Dinner at Local Family Home
Goreme - Valley walk
Eskisehir - Odunpazarı Village Visit
Optional activities
Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY2000
Istanbul - Turkish Hamam (inc. massage) - EUR100
Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - EUR15
Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - EUR17
Selcuk - Basilica of St John - EUR6
Selcuk - Ephesus Archaeological Museum - EUR10
Selcuk - Meryemana (Mary's House) - EUR15
Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry - EUR15
Pamukkale - Hierapolis Museum - Free
Pamukkale - Cleopatra Ancient Pool - TRY340
Konya - Karatay Museum - EUR3
Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR30
Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR230
Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR200
Goreme - Open Air Museum - EUR20
Goreme - Underground city - EUR13
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. This trip starts in Istanbul on Day 1 at 1.00 pm. This allows time after the joining meeting to explore Istanbul with your Leader.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Reviews (213)
5 stars
182
4 stars
21
3 stars
5
2 stars
3
1 star
2
Tineke
May 14, 2025
A fantastic trip that covered so much of a beautiful country. We couldn't have seen it all on our own & Intrepid made our 2 week holiday so much easier. Thanks Mete & Intrepid travel.
Yolanda
May 09, 2025
We had an absolutely wonderful time in Turkey! The rich history, stunning landscape, fun and educational experiences make this trip a must. Our guide Mali exceeded expectations. He is knowledgeable, enthusiastic and made sure things ran smoothly.
Kelly
May 08, 2025
This trip was excellent. Our guide Ahmet Berke was a delight and so full of knowledge, humour and thoughtfulness. Culture, history, food, nature, music, tradition; Türkiye has consistently blown us away day by day and was the refreshing adventure our group needed. Highly recommend Türkiye and this trip.
Abigail
May 06, 2025
By far the best way to see Turkey! All the best bits, including Roman cities, swimming in the crystal waters of the Turquoise Coast, and hot air ballooning in Cappadocia. This is not a relaxing holiday, but there is enough free time to recharge your batteries as needed
Pam
May 05, 2025
This is a fabulous way to see the highlights of Turkey with ease in a small group. Comfortable accomodation and transport with a fantastic knowledgeable leader. Thank you for a great time.
DESMOND
May 03, 2025
Just completed a 14 day best of turkey tour. Incredibly well organised and delivered. A wonderful experience and could not recommend it more.
Marcella
Apr 29, 2025
The trip was excellent from start to finish our guide was both professional and informative and very friendly
Grant
Apr 26, 2025
Our Turkey experience was incredibly well-organized and enjoyable. The flexibility to opt out of activities without any pressure made the trip even more comfortable and accommodating. We were blessed with fantastic weather and small crowds, which enhanced the overall experience. The swimming opportunities were refreshing and invigorating, and the mix of the group couldn’t have been better. A big thank you to our travel agent for organizing such a memorable trip—it was truly a great value experience!
Raymond
Apr 26, 2025
Melia
Apr 23, 2025
A fantastic review of the country with a great balance of free time and guided activities. Would absolutely recommend.
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