Intrepid group seated in the ancient Greek theatre of Ephesus in Turkey

Operated by Intrepid Travel

Turkey Experience

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From

CAD 6,585

Duration

19 days

Countries

Georgia, Turkey

Activity

moderate

Group size

Max 16

The adventure

Hit Turkey’s hotspots (and lesser-known secrets) on this epic 19-day adventure. Learn about the country’s ancient history and taste the deliciously hearty local cuisine along the way, from Istanbul to Tbilisi. Begin your journey in the only city to straddle two continents, then travel south to admire Ephesus – the largest Greco-Roman ruins in the Mediterranean world! Explore the surreal terrains of Cappadocia, then trace Turkey’s Black Sea coast from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Safranbolu to the cliffside Sumela Monastery and the highland culture on Ayder Plateau. Tantalise your tastebuds with freshly brewed Turkish tea in the Rize Province and sample local cheese with the family that makes it. Wrap it all up in the cobblestoned Old City of Tbilisi in Georgia.

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

Operated by Intrepid Travel

Turkey Experience

View photos

From

CAD 6,585

Duration

19 days

Countries

Georgia, Turkey

Activity

moderate

Group size

Max 16

The adventure

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

Day by day

Peaceful winter scene of tall bare trees and snow-capped mountains under cloudy skies.

Your journey through

Turkey

Showing Days 1-7

17-day itinerary

Day 1IstanbulHos geldin! Welcome to Turkey. Your adventure begins in Istanbul – the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans have all once called home – with a welcome meeting at 1 pm. After you’ve met your local leader and group, you’ll head out for a guided tour of the Old City. Visit the ancient hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and the Suleymaniye Cami. This evening, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner and dig into an authentic Turkish kebab.

Istanbul

Hos geldin! Welcome to Turkey. Your adventure begins in Istanbul – the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans have all once called home – with a welcome meeting at 1 pm. After you’ve met your local leader and group, you’ll head out for a guided tour of the Old City. Visit the ancient hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and the Suleymaniye Cami. This evening, maybe join your fellow travellers for dinner and dig into an authentic Turkish kebab.

Day 2CanakkaleAfter breakfast, hit the road to Canakkale – a port city on the southern shore of the Dardanelles. On the way, you’ll stop for a guided tour of Gallipoli to learn about the significant events that took place here during WWI. Your guide will take you to ANZAC Cove and major memorial sites like Brighton Beach and the ANZAC Commemorative Site. Make sure your camera is charged – the views of the Dardanelles Strait and the Gallipoli Peninsula here are gorgeous. This evening, you’ll spend the night in Canakkale with free time to grab dinner and recharge for tomorrow’s adventures.

Scenic view of Çanakkale Bridge at sunset reflecting over calm waters.

Canakkale

After breakfast, hit the road to Canakkale – a port city on the southern shore of the Dardanelles. On the way, you’ll stop for a guided tour of Gallipoli to learn about the significant events that took place here during WWI. Your guide will take you to ANZAC Cove and major memorial sites like Brighton Beach and the ANZAC Commemorative Site. Make sure your camera is charged – the views of the Dardanelles Strait and the Gallipoli Peninsula here are gorgeous. This evening, you’ll spend the night in Canakkale with free time to grab dinner and recharge for tomorrow’s adventures.

Day 3Troy - SelcukThis morning, drive to the ancient city of Troy. Explore the ruins with your leader, snap a photo with a replica Trojan Horse and learn about how this place has confounded historians and archaeologists for centuries. Then, continue to Selcuk which sits on the slopes of Ayasoluk Hill. Head out with your leader for an orientation walk, passing Isa Bey Mosque and the imposing Byzantine citadel of the Grand Fortress. Enjoy some free time afterwards.

Troy

This morning, drive to the ancient city of Troy. Explore the ruins with your leader, snap a photo with a replica Trojan Horse and learn about how this place has confounded historians and archaeologists for centuries. Then, continue to Selcuk which sits on the slopes of Ayasoluk Hill. Head out with your leader for an orientation walk, passing Isa Bey Mosque and the imposing Byzantine citadel of the Grand Fortress. Enjoy some free time afterwards.

Day 4Ephesus/Overnight TrainThis morning, take a private minivan to the ancient city of Ephesus – one of the world’s best-preserved Greco-Roman classical cities. Once the capital of Roman Asia Minor, Ephesus has a fascinating history that really comes alive with a local guide to show you around. Considering their age, the ruins are in incredible shape, and it’s not difficult to imagine them in their full glory over 2000 years ago with running water, public toilets, a medical institute and Roman baths. The Great Theatre is well-preserved and regularly hosts concerts, but the Library of Celsus is the most striking. Then, have lunch and maybe watch the local ladies make gozleme. You'll have some free time this evening before transferring to Izmir to board an overnight train to Konya.

Ephesus

This morning, take a private minivan to the ancient city of Ephesus – one of the world’s best-preserved Greco-Roman classical cities. Once the capital of Roman Asia Minor, Ephesus has a fascinating history that really comes alive with a local guide to show you around. Considering their age, the ruins are in incredible shape, and it’s not difficult to imagine them in their full glory over 2000 years ago with running water, public toilets, a medical institute and Roman baths. The Great Theatre is well-preserved and regularly hosts concerts, but the Library of Celsus is the most striking. Then, have lunch and maybe watch the local ladies make gozleme. You'll have some free time this evening before transferring to Izmir to board an overnight train to Konya.

Day 5Konya / CappadociaWake up in Konya, a historic Turkish city closely linked with the whirling dervish sect of Islam developed by Rumi, a famous Sufi mystic in the 13th century. Visit the Mevlana Museum, maybe watching an optional whirling dervish dance, and stretch your legs in town before hitting the road to Cappadocia. Look out for the fairy chimneys, the hallmark of the region's otherworldly landscape, as you drive across the Anatolian plains and stop at an underground city used as a safe haven during wartimes. Arrive in the town of Urgup in the late afternoon in time for a sunset walk in the valley. Your accommodation tonight is a traditional cave style hotel that overlooks the valley.

A beautiful mosque with unique architecture and a spiraled minaret, illuminated at dusk under a cloudy sky.

Konya

Wake up in Konya, a historic Turkish city closely linked with the whirling dervish sect of Islam developed by Rumi, a famous Sufi mystic in the 13th century. Visit the Mevlana Museum, maybe watching an optional whirling dervish dance, and stretch your legs in town before hitting the road to Cappadocia. Look out for the fairy chimneys, the hallmark of the region's otherworldly landscape, as you drive across the Anatolian plains and stop at an underground city used as a safe haven during wartimes. Arrive in the town of Urgup in the late afternoon in time for a sunset walk in the valley. Your accommodation tonight is a traditional cave style hotel that overlooks the valley.

Day 6CappadociaThis morning, take an optional hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia at sunrise. If you don’t fancy it, you’ll still have an amazing view of the skyline dotted with balloons from the ground. Later this morning, enjoy a scenic walk through the valleys with your leader, featuring fairy chimneys, deserted rock-cut homes and cave churches. In your free time today, maybe visit the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum, a monastic complex composed of churches, rectories and dwellings cut into the cliff. This evening, you’ll be warmly welcomed into a local home where you'll share a special home-cooked dinner with the family.

Cappadocia

This morning, take an optional hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia at sunrise. If you don’t fancy it, you’ll still have an amazing view of the skyline dotted with balloons from the ground. Later this morning, enjoy a scenic walk through the valleys with your leader, featuring fairy chimneys, deserted rock-cut homes and cave churches. In your free time today, maybe visit the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum, a monastic complex composed of churches, rectories and dwellings cut into the cliff. This evening, you’ll be warmly welcomed into a local home where you'll share a special home-cooked dinner with the family.

Day 7Cappadocia to IstanbulSay goodbye to Cappadocia and transfer to the airport for a flight back to Istanbul (expect to arrive between 1 pm and 4 pm). After checking in to your hotel, take an evening stroll to one of the city's trendiest neighbourhoods – a place where tool-selling tradesmen share space with cool cafes and galleries. For dinner, perhaps try a local street food favourite, balik ekmek (fish sandwich) and cleanse the palate with a baklava. Maybe check out a few bars with your group to say serefe (cheers) to your time in Turkey, or enjoy a farewell cay (Turkish tea) overlooking the Bosphorus.

Scenic view of colorful hot air balloons flying over Cappadocia's rocky terrain.

Cappadocia to Istanbul

Say goodbye to Cappadocia and transfer to the airport for a flight back to Istanbul (expect to arrive between 1 pm and 4 pm). After checking in to your hotel, take an evening stroll to one of the city's trendiest neighbourhoods – a place where tool-selling tradesmen share space with cool cafes and galleries. For dinner, perhaps try a local street food favourite, balik ekmek (fish sandwich) and cleanse the palate with a baklava. Maybe check out a few bars with your group to say serefe (cheers) to your time in Turkey, or enjoy a farewell cay (Turkish tea) overlooking the Bosphorus.

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Your journey through

Georgia

Day 18TbilisiCross the border into Georgia today, stopping at the Poka St. Nino Nunnery to break up the journey. From here, you’ll take in views of Paravani Lake – the largest lake in Georgia – giving you an impressive first look at Georgia’s natural scenery. You’ll arrive in Tbilisi in the mid-afternoon. Maybe get together with your group this evening to celebrate an incredible journey over plates of tasty Georgian dishes like khinkali (soup dumplings filled with potato and cheese or spiced pork), badrijani nigvzit (fried eggplant stuffed with walnut) and khachapuri (cheese-filled bread).

Tbilisi

Cross the border into Georgia today, stopping at the Poka St. Nino Nunnery to break up the journey. From here, you’ll take in views of Paravani Lake – the largest lake in Georgia – giving you an impressive first look at Georgia’s natural scenery. You’ll arrive in Tbilisi in the mid-afternoon. Maybe get together with your group this evening to celebrate an incredible journey over plates of tasty Georgian dishes like khinkali (soup dumplings filled with potato and cheese or spiced pork), badrijani nigvzit (fried eggplant stuffed with walnut) and khachapuri (cheese-filled bread).

Day 19TbilisiWith no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay in Tbilisi, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

Elegant octagonal building with classical columns under a blue sky.

Tbilisi

With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your stay in Tbilisi, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.