Original
Explorer
Best of Turkey
4.8
Excellent
256 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 £1,856(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.
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
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) - EUR22
Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry - EUR15
Selcuk - Sirince Village visit & wine tasting - EUR22
Pamukkale - Hierapolis Museum - Free
Pamukkale - Cleopatra Ancient Pool - TRY340
Pamukkale - Hot Air Balloon - EUR180
Konya - Karatay Museum - EUR3
Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR30
Goreme - Turkish Night with Dinner - EUR50
Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR230
Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR200
Goreme - Open Air Museum - EUR20
Goreme - Underground city - EUR13
Goreme - Valley Tour - EUR20
Goreme - Open Air Museum (including entrance & transport) (min. 4 participants) - EUR30
Nevsehir - Whirling Dervish Tour - EUR40
Istanbul - Water Marbling - EUR35
Istanbul - Balat & Fener Walking & Tasting - EUR40
Istanbul - Coffee Workshop - EUR32
Istanbul - Mosaic Lamp Workshop - EUR50
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 (258)
5 stars
222
4 stars
24
3 stars
6
2 stars
3
1 star
3
Anthony
Sep 05, 2025
Best of Turkey is a standout choice for travelers seeking historical depth, natural beauty, authentic cultural encounters, and seamless planning—all wrapped up in a well-paced, scenic journey.
Jacalyn
Sep 03, 2025
Great trip fabulous country.
Sandra
Sep 03, 2025
The Best of Turkey was a great array of sites, sounds, traditional cuisine, history and great late August sunny days to experience it all. The awe-inspiring ruins of Ephesus, the whimsical fairy chimneys in Cappadocia and the glorious waters of the Mediterranean were amazing to name a few. The traditional cuisine i.e. delicious mezze, grilled lamb, grilled fresh fish, and fresh pomegranate juices, Turkish coffee and baklava were plentiful! All these unforgettable experiences were enjoyed by a great group of fellow travel enthusiasts and our hardworking guide, Can. Despite a couple of hotel misses, I highly recommend!
Leonard
Sep 02, 2025
Please use material provided above, and my name if you wish
Lesley
Sep 02, 2025
Absolutely great trip and certainly got so see so many highlights of Turkey. Kubra our guide was brilliant in showcasing this wonderful country to us. Definitely worth putting on your bucket list!
Daniel
Sep 02, 2025
Great trip overall, very educational
Patricia
Aug 29, 2025
I recently did a 2 week tour with Intrepid to Turkey. My tour guide was Baris. Baris is an excellent professional tour guide with much knowledge of Turkish culture and history. We did a hot air balloon in Capadocia that was exhilarating! Baris made the trip extremely informative and fun. I was nervous about traveling alone but I met wonderful people on the tour. I am very grateful I had a wonderful experience!
Janelle
Aug 27, 2025
Turkey very much impressed from the fresh fruit and vegetables to the layers of history. Each place was more impressive than the last, loved Anzac cove, Ephesus, Kas and Cappadocia. And visiting the towns between have great insight to the local culture. Loved it
Nina
Aug 26, 2025
The Intrepid Best of Turkey 15-day tour was incredible. The itinerary covered highlights of the country, accommodations and transport were excellent, and our guide Baris made the journey unforgettable with his knowledge, flexibility, and constant enthusiasm. Highly recommended!
Rachel
Aug 20, 2025
What an incredible trip, got to experience some amazing places & met some beautiful people.
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