Treasures of Türkiye (Turkey)

Note: Flights may not be available on all departures.

You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.

Welcome to Istanbul! Full of history, this city once served as the capitals of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. This evening, we'll meet our tour director for a welcome dinner an orientation.

Situated at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, Istanbul offers a fascinating blend of East and West. Our guided morning tour includes a visit (exterior) to Hagia Sophia, a once-great Byzantine Basilica built in the 6th century which now serves as a mosque. We'll delight in a visit to the Spice Market, an exotic food market selling dried fruits and spices; and the underground cistern, the water source of the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Our tour ends with a visit to the vast and bustling Grand Bazaar, a world-famous labyrinth of passages housing numerous stores where we'll have shopping opportunities galore. The balance of the day is at leisure and we might consider joining a leisurely cruise on the Bosphorus.

Today we depart for the Turkish capital of Ankara, the country's second-largest city. Upon arrival, we'll visit the Mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk, founder of the first president of the Turkish Republic. Leading up to the Mausoleum is a vast brick courtyard and a monumental avenue lined with Neo Hitite stone statues and cenotaphs beneath its colonnades. We'll also visit the fascinating Anatolian Civilization Museum. The balance of the day is free.

We'll travel by road today through the Turkish countryside to the world-renowned region of Cappadocia, a breathtaking landscape with striking and bizarre rock formations and underground cities. Along the way, we'll enjoy a short stop on the shore of the biggest salt lake in Türkiye where we might spot some flamingos. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, we'll visit a private cave home where we can learn more about traditional Turkish life. Next, we'll enjoy a relaxing wine-tasting experience with wines produced from Cappadocian grapes before we check into our Cappadocian hotel.

Early this morning, we could take an exhilarating optional hot-air balloon ride above Cappadocia's river valleys and cliffs. Later, on today's guided excursion, we'll visit the Open Air Museum in the Goreme Valley to view early Christian churches decorated with beautiful frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. We'll also visit the Kaymakli Underground City, which was hollowed out of volcanic rock and extends seven to nine floors deep into the earth. This city is made up of a maze of corridors, chambers, storehouses, kitchens, and churches. Finally, we'll visit the village of Avanos, famous for its beautiful old houses as well as pottery and onyx workshops.

This morning, we'll visit the 13th-century Sultan Han located at a secluded point on the ancient Silk Road between Aksaray and Konya. It was used as a caravanserai during the Seljuk period when trade flourished, requiring roads for caravan transport and inns for the traveling traders and their camels. Next, we'll stop in Konya for lunch with a visit to the Museum of Mevlana Rumi. Afterward, we'll continue our journey by road and passing through lush forests, orchards, and olive groves on the sloping hills downward to the splendid Mediterranean Sea.

Today is at leisure, so we can enjoy Antalya at our own pace. We can explore Antalya's Old Town independently or join an optional tour of ancient Perge and Aspendos. Considered the most attractive and well-preserved Pamphylian city, Perge reached its apex during the reign of Alexander the Great. Aspendos was founded by the colonists from Argos and is best known for its huge theater. On this optional tour, we'll also visit Antalya's Archaeological Museum, which houses artifacts and antiques from 2,500 years of Anatolian culture.

Today we journey to Pamukkale and visit the Necropolis and the ancient city of Hieropolis ("Holy City"), situated atop the Pamukkale hot springs. These hot springs have served as thermal baths since the 2nd century B.C. Later, we'll drive further west to the Aegean Coastal city of Kuşadası, which is not only one of Türkiye's most popular holiday destinations but also convenient for visiting the ancient city of Ephesus. Kuşadası was a popular port during the middle ages for exporting the figs and cotton of the Meander Valley to Europe and was the very last stop for the caravans.

Today, we venture to Ephesus—considered the world's best-preserved classical city and famous for its Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus was one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world and among its impressive structures are the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theater, and the Odeon. Next, we'll visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a shrine said to be the final home of the Virgin Mary. We'll also visit a Women's Weaving Co-Op for a Turkish BBQ lunch, a wine tasting, and lastly, Turkish coffee, which plays a central role in the culture of Turkish hospitality and friendship. After a short drive, we'll visit the village of Sirince, one of the few historical villages kept as a national monument with some of the best examples of Greco-Ottoman architecture. As a popular wine-producing center, we'll also have a chance to taste some of the locally produced wines.

We'll drive to Pergamum, a powerful kingdom during the ancient Hellenistic period, and visit the Acropolis, an impressive structure that houses the Temple of Trajan; the Heroon Shrine; the Sanctuary of Athena, and the Altar of Zeus. We'll also view the Theater and the Library of Pergamum, whose collection came second only to that of Egypt's Alexandria. After our independent lunch, we'll stop at an olive oil museum en route. We'll marvel at the classical city of Troy as you tour this 4,000-year-old city and legendary center of the Trojan War, made immortal by Homer's epic poem the Iliad. Later, we'll arrive in Canakkale and check into our hotel with the balance of the day free to relax or explore.

This morning, we'll depart for Istanbul, crossing the Dardanelles, a narrow strait connecting the Aegean and the Black Sea by ferry. Upon arrival, a local expert will introduce us to some of the highlights of the city, previously known as Constantinople, and the seat of the Eastern Roman Empire. We'll visit the splendid Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans for almost 600 years and now a fascinating museum. Here, we'll see the crown jewels and the unique collection of Chinese porcelains in the Treasury Section. We'll continue to the ancient Hippodrome, where the chariot races and competitive athletic events took place during the Roman period, and finally, explore the elegant Blue Mosque, a 17th-century Ottoman Mosque famous for its six minarets and magnificent interior with blue tiles. This evening, we'll savor a festive farewell dinner.

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today.