Original
Explorer
Turkey Highlights
4.9
Excellent
620 reviews
8 days
Start
Istanbul, Turkey
Finish
Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Code
ERSK
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
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 £978(8 days)
Trip Informations
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 are carved into the cliffs and hot air balloons dot the skyline. Finish your adventure back in Istanbul, where East meets West.
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.
Check out how the mouth-watering Gozleme is made in a demonstration and share a home-cooked meal with a local family in Cappadocia.
Explore Kaymakli Underground City and take a scenic walk with your leader through the rugged landscape of Cappadocia. Look out for fairy chimneys, deserted rock-cut homes and cave churches!
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.
Itinerary
Hit the hotspots of Turkey, from Istanbul to Cappadocia
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
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 - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY2750
Istanbul - Galata Tower - EUR30
Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - EUR15
Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - EUR17
Istanbul - Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat) - TRY300
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 - Open Air Museum - EUR20
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
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
















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 (598)
5 stars
537
4 stars
54
3 stars
5
2 stars
2
Neethu
Jun 19, 2026
Highly recommended for single travellers looking for small group trips. Trip Leader was a local travel which helped a lot. You also get to meet with some great people in the trip
Leanne
Jun 19, 2026
This is a great way to see a good amount of Turkey in a shirt period of time. There are some longer travel day but these are really well broken up with lunch stops or points of interest. Really good amount of culture and history
Simon
Jun 19, 2026
Great trip covering some highlights of western Turkiye. Great amounts of history and food, very enjoyable. Loved the sleeper train too
teresa
Jun 11, 2026
This Turkey Highlights tour exceeded my expectations. We were lucky to have a wonderful tour guide Cagatay who looked after every detail for us as we travelled through Turkey and shared his extensive knowledge of Turkish history. It has been a wonderful journey
Jade
Jun 10, 2026
Fast paced trip where you really get to immerse yourself in Turkey. The hot air ballooning in Cappadocia was a highlight
Alexandre
Jun 10, 2026
This tour gives you a taste of Turkey by taking you to several of its iconic landmarks.
Jaspreet
Jun 10, 2026
This Turkey trip was a real eye opener on its culture and grand history. After this trip I am convinced to come back another time as my experience was unbelievable. From the culture, history and food everything has been outstanding. We visited to many sites during this trip that I couldn’t think of myself to travel to
Anahita
Jun 10, 2026
This trip was very fun. Turkey is a very underrated destination and I think a tour like this is a good way to explore the country and cover a lot of bases.
Elena
Jun 09, 2026
A lovely tour which allowed Türkiye to be experienced in a beautiful way, with great food, people, places and activities. Lots of fantastic memories were made.
Lubna
Jun 09, 2026
There’s no perfect way to summarise this trip...it was truly wonderful. This was my first holiday abroad, and I feel so grateful that it was to the beautiful Türkiye, and with such a fantastic company, Intrepid. But the most memorable part of the trip was our guide, and now friend, Taylan 🤍 His patience, wisdom, and genuine passion brought every experience to life. Thanks to his incredible food recommendations, I’ve completely fallen in love with Turkish cuisine! The nine days flew by and Taylan made every second count. Each day was carefully curated, packed with the history and culture of Türkiye. I will especially miss the serene blue waves at the pier in Istanbul, the valleys of Cappadocia, and the peaceful vibes of Çanakkale. What set this trip apart is the real thought and intention behind every visit. From learning the fascinating history of Kaymaklı Underground City and how locals used it, to visiting the carpet cooperative and discovering the intricate Turkish art of carpet makin, every experience had depth and meaning. I highly recommend this visit as part of an Intrepid tour, especially since you even receive benefits like free shipping if you wish to purchase a carpet, delivered directly to your home. Ashley, our host and talented designer behind the carpets, was incredibly knowledgeable, so it’s a must-see for anyone wanting to indulge in the fine arts of Türkiye. The same goes for the pottery workshops, which were equally fascinating. Every aspect of the trip was excellent. All our drivers and hotel staff were welcoming and accommodating. Two places that particularly stood out were the Amazon Petite Palace Hotel in Selçuk and the Asir Cave Hotel in Cappadocia, run by Asir and his family. Both were beautiful and added so much charm to our stay. The Weingart hotel in Istanbul was also lovely, and a great place to start and also conclude our trip ☺️ Taylan was more than a tour guide, he was a true friend, making the whole trip amazing from start to finish. He went out of his way to recommend the best Turkish dishes, explain the culture and history. The trip never felt like a standard tour, it felt like a holiday spent with friends. Kaan, if you’re reading this, thank you so much for everything, you truly made this trip unforgettable! InshAllah until next time !!
Friends and Family Travel is an agent of Intrepid Travel. All Trip content and associated images are copyright of Intrepid Travel.
You are protected
Contact Information
Call us at
0208 058 4003
Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM GMT.
Contact our customer support
contact@friendsandfamily.travel
We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

© 2024 Friends and Family Travel | All rights reserved.