Original
Explorer
Turkey Highlights
4.9
Excellent
457 reviews
8 days
Start
Istanbul, Turkey
Finish
Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Code
ERSK
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Transport
Private Bus, Public Bus, Overnight Train, Plane
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Overnight Train (1 night)
From £1,502(8 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Uncover over 2000 years of history at the ruins of Ephesus. Wander the Library of Celsus, hear your voice echo in the Great Theatre and learn about the wealthy residents who lived in the Terrace Houses.
Taste local fruit wines in one of Turkey’s best-preserved Greek Ottoman villages and share a home-cooked meal with a local family in Cappadocia.
Stay a little differently – spend a night in a traditional cave hotel overlooking a valley in the heart of Cappadocia.
Explore the back streets of Istanbul’s Old City with your leader. Uncover stories of iconic sites like the Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye Cami, find hidden hangouts and get insider tips on what to eat.
Join a guided tour in Gallipoli to listen to tales of bravery and comradeship of the heroic soldiers who fought here in WWI.
Is this trip right for you?
You’ll need to carry your bags on and off local trams and trains. The distances aren't far, and it's possible to do this with a wheelie bag – but be aware of cobblestone streets.
This trip uses a combination of public and private transport. All vehicles are modern and have air-conditioning, and most are fitted with seat belts. Some journeys are long to maximise the areas visited, but this gives you a chance to interact with the locals and see more of the country. Plus, there'll be plenty of stops to stretch your legs.
This is a relatively fast-paced trip that will allow you to see the highlights of Turkey in a short period. Since there's very limited time in Istanbul, we highly recommend spending more time in this incredible city. Please consult with your booking agent if you wish to book extra accommodation before or after the trip in Istanbul.
You’ll need to carry your bags on and off local trams and trains. The distances aren't far, and it's possible to do this with a wheelie bag – but be aware of cobblestone streets.
This trip uses a combination of public and private transport. All vehicles are modern and have air-conditioning, and most are fitted with seat belts. Some journeys are long to maximise the areas visited, but this gives you a chance to interact with the locals and see more of the country. Plus, there'll be plenty of stops to stretch your legs.
This is a relatively fast-paced trip that will allow you to see the highlights of Turkey in a short period. Since there's very limited time in Istanbul, we highly recommend spending more time in this incredible city. Please consult with your booking agent if you wish to book extra accommodation before or after the trip in Istanbul.
Itinerary
Hit the hotspots of Turkey, from Istanbul to Cappadocia
Journey through Turkey on an eight-day adventure from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Begin in Istanbul, where you’ll explore the Blue Mosque, Suleymaniye Cami and the Grand Bazaar. Then, discover Gallipoli’s historic WWI battlefields before travelling to the Aegean Coast to soak up the sun, salt and history of ancient Ephesus. Catch an overnight train to Konya, then continue to the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia, where cave dwellings (including your hotel) are carved into the cliffs and hot air balloons dot the skyline. Finish your adventure back in Istanbul, where East meets West.
Inclusions
Meals
6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Transport
Private Bus, Public Bus, Overnight Train, Plane
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Overnight Train (1 night)
Included activities
Istanbul - Old City Walking Tour (Half Day)
Gallipoli - Fully guided Gallipoli tour & visit to the Commonwealth graveyards
Sirince - Village visit and fruit wine tasting
Troy - Archaeological site visit
Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
Selcuk - Artemis Temple Visit
Selcuk - Gozleme making demonstration and lunch
Cappadocia - Kaymakli Underground City
Konya - Mevlana Museum
Cappadocia - Valley walk
Cappadocia - Dinner at Local Family Home
Optional activities
Istanbul - Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat) - TRY200
Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY2000
Istanbul - Galata Tower - EUR30
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
Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry - EUR15
Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR30
Goreme - Turkish Night with Dinner - EUR50
Nevsehir - Whirling Dervish Tour - EUR40
Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR200
Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR230
Goreme - Valley Tour - EUR20
Goreme - Open Air Museum (including entrance & transport) (min. 4 participants) - EUR30
Istanbul - Water Marbling - EUR35
Istanbul - Private Bosphorus Cruise Sunset with Soft Drinks - EUR560
Istanbul - Beyoglu Night Tasting Trail - EUR85
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 pm. This allows time after the welcome meeting to explore Istanbul.
2. There is an internal flight on this trip and most internal flights in Turkey have a luggage restriction of 15 kg checked and 8 kg cabin.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 5 (Overnight train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Reviews (433)
5 stars
393
4 stars
32
3 stars
5
2 stars
3
Stephen
Aug 15, 2025
The Turkey highlights trip was a fantastic way to see the main sights of Turkey in one trip with Cappadocia as a stand out highlight. Mete was a great guide, explaining all the sites and making the trip smooth for all the guests with his organisation of everything. And all of this with a great sense of humour. Would highly recommend the trip and Mete as the tour leader.
Jonah
Aug 15, 2025
Turkey has always been on my bucket list to see the clashing history of Istanbul, the modern history of Gallipoli, the ancient history of Troy/Ephesus, the Turkish culture, the beauty of Cappadocia and the great Turkish food. This trip showed me all of this and so much more in a little time. I'd highly recommend it
Peter
Aug 15, 2025
The trip to Turkey was a “bucket list” item which exceeded expectations. Intrepid had a good mix of things to do which included historical sites, culture, food and fun activities. 8 days was very much a whirlwind trip but I’ll be be back
Daryl
Aug 15, 2025
Our group saw and learned so much in such a short time, with an amazing trip leader. Turkiye is amazing! Thank you, Mete!
Prudence
Aug 15, 2025
Mete is the best, he made our trip amazing. He is passionate about his country and sharing it's interesting history. The tour was well organized with a great range of activities, never a dull moment! Would highly recommend
Mark
Aug 14, 2025
This trip is amazingly good. You get to see alot in a short space of time. Being small group you never miss out on hearing information or seeing anything.
maria
Aug 13, 2025
Excellent
Nicholle
Aug 06, 2025
Turkey Highlights was an amazing experience. Our guide Yeliz was excellent, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, organised. The tour was a good mix of history, spectacular scenery, great food and good company. We travelled as a family and my 15 and 17 year old loved every moment.
Kerrie
Aug 06, 2025
Fast paced and you see a lot of Turkey, 100% worth it, great value for money. Amazing experience with a great leader and group.
Peter
Aug 06, 2025
I would definitely recommend intrepid for a guided tour
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