Embark on a captivating 7 or 8-night journey through Turkey, beginning in Istanbul.

Explore the city's rich history, visiting the must-see sites before continuing through Bolu, Ankara, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and İzmir and admiring some iconic cultural wonders such as Topkapi Palace, Love Valley and Ephesus.

Your itinerary:

• Day 1: Istanbul
• Day 2: Istanbul
• Day 3: Istanbul - Bolu
• Day 4: Bolu - Ankara - Cappadocia
• Day 5: Cappadocia
• Day 6: Cappadocia - Pamukkale
• Day 7: Pamukkale - Izmir 
• Day 8: Departure OR extended stay Izmir- Bursa - Istanbul 
• Day 9: Departure

Please note that the order of activities may be changed without affecting the interest of the programme.

DAY 1: ISTANBUL

• Upon arrival in Istanbul, you'll be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight stay at Windsor Bayrampaşa 5* or one of the other carefully selected hotels. 

DAY 2: ISTANBUL

• Enjoy a relaxing breakfast at the hotel.
• Start your discovery of Turkey with a visit to the Imperial Blue Mosque, which is adorned by brilliant blue and turquoise Iznik tiles, and dominates Istanbul’s majestic skyline.
• Stroll through the  Roman Hippodrome which houses the ancient Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column, before moving on to the famous  Grand Bazaar.
• Enjoy lunch in a traditional restaurant and soak up all the atmosphere.
• Explore Balat District, one of Istqnbul's oldest and most spectacular neighbourhoods.
• Wander through Istiklal Street, which is lined with beautiful late Ottoman period buildings, bustling traditional coffee houses, shops, bars and taverns.

Overnight stay at Windsor Bayrampaşa 5* or one of the other carefully selected hotels in Istanbul.

Lunch and dinner included. 

DAY 3: ISTANBUL - BOLU

• After breakfast, stop at a leather shop, where you may find a piece of Turkish-made leather clothing - the perfect auto-gift or surprise for someone back home...
• Visit the main residence of the Ottoman dynasty, the magnificent Topkapi Palace - which was,  once upon a time, home to Ottoman sultans.
• After lunch, drive to the city of Bolu, in time for dinner.

Overnight stay at Hampton By Hilton Bolu 4* or one of the other carefully selected hotels in Bolu.

Lunch and dinner included.

DAY 4: BOLU - ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA

• Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departure for Ankara, the modern-day capital of Turkey.
• Visit the Ataturk Mausoleum, one of Turkey's most notable examples of modern architecture.
• Stop for lunch at a local restaurant, before discovering the unique lunar landscape of Cappadocia where dwellings, monasteries, churches and underground cities have been dug out over the years.

Overnight stay at Mustafa 5* or one of the other carefully selected hotels in Cappadocia.

Lunch and dinner included. 

• Start the day with a delicious breakfast at your hotel.
• Discover Goreme Valley which are renowned for Cappadocia’s best collection of cave churches.
• Visit a traditional rug weaving centre to learn about the three-thousand-year-old tribal art of Turk.
• Lunch at a traditional cave restaurant then explore an underground city.
• Admire the picturesque views of the lunar landscape region, and make a pit-stop stop at the famous Hunters’ Valley and Pigeon Valley.
• Take a break at the natural fort of Uchisar.
• Visit a local pottery workshop in the town of Red River, Avanos.

Overnight stay at Mustafa 5* or one of the other carefully selected hotels in Cappadocia’.

Lunch and dinner included. 

DAY 6: CAPPADOCIA - PAMUKKALE

• Savour a tasty breakfast and enjoy some bracing Turkish coffee at the hotel before your journey to Pamukkale, via the city of Konya.
• Stop en-route at a typical caravanserai constructed in the 13th century.
• Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Konya.
• Hit the road to Pamukkale and visit the unique open-air museum also known as Cotton Castle, with its myriad of pools and terraces.
• Set off on a short drive to your dinner destination.

Overnight stay at Mustafa 5* or one of the other carefully selected hotels in Pamukkale.

Lunch and dinner included. 

DAY 7: PAMUKKALE - IZMIR OR KUSADASI

• After breakfasting at the hotel, set off to visit the sacred city of Artemis, Ephesus, which is considered to be one of the leading Roman sites of the world.
• The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the Celsus Library was the third largest of its time.
• Enjoy an energising lunch at a traditional restaurant.
• En route to İzmir (or Kusadasi) for dinner, stop at a jewellery store to admire pieces made in the traditional Turkish designs.

Overnight stay at Mustafa 5* or one of the other carefully selected hotels in İzmir (or Kusadasi).

Lunch and dinner included. 

DAY 8: DEPARTURE

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Transfer to Izmir Airport in time for your outbound flight home. 

OR

Throughout your 7 or 8-night tour, you'll stay in comfortable rooms in carefully chosen hotels.

Your hotels:

• Istanbul: Windsor Bayrampaşa 5* / Lionel Bayrampaşa 5* / Doubletree by Hilton Topkapi 5* / Wishmore Bayrampaşa 5* / Elite Word Florya 5* / Ibis Styles Merter 5*    
• Bolu: Hampton By Hilton Bolu 4* / Vonresort Abant Hotel 
• Cappadocia: Mustafa 5*/ Ramada Cappadocia 5* / Doubletree by Hilton Avanos 5* / Avrasya 5* 
• Pamukkale: Colossae 5* / Richmond 5* / Adempira 5* / Lycus River 5*
• Izmir or Kusadasi: Karaca 4* / Marina 4* / Anemon 4* / Blanca 4* / Sentinus 4*  

If the hotels listed above are unavailable, you will be provided with comfortable accommodation in similar hotels. Local standards apply.

Enjoy easy access to the internet with a handy 1GB or 3GB eSIM, bookable at the next stage of the booking process. Install your eSIM in just a few clicks before departure, and travel with complete peace of mind.

Discover Istanbul and its must-see sites and attractions. Enjoy 5 public transport journeys, a cruise along the Bosphorus, a guided tour of the Grand Bazaar and the spice market, as well as a digital guide in English so you don't miss anything throughout your stay.

With an incredibly rich history and a reputation as the last remaining outpost of the Roman Empire, Istanbul has a fascinating heritage that draws in travellers all year round.

Situated on the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul has long been a bridge between Asia and Europe, both geographically and culturally. As the final stage on the legendary Silk Road, the cultural diversity of Istanbul is tangible to this day.

For a city with a fascinating history of 2500 years waiting to be explored, Istanbul also boasts cosmopolitan restaurants, bars and shops, cool boutique hotels and live music venues for those looking to be immersed in the fast-paced, modern lifestyle of Istanbul. 

Cappadocia is a stunning area of rock formations, subterranean churches and underground dwellings.

Cappadocia was a refuge for early Christians, who escaped persecution by living and worshipping underground. There are an estimated 3000 rock churches in the region, not all of which are open to the public, the existence of which was discovered by chance in 1907 by a French Jesuit scholar. Some of the most impressive of the churches are located in the Goreme Open Air Museum, which date from the 9th and 11th centuries and have stunning wall paintings. 

The village of Goreme itself is at the heart of the area's tourist industry, and many of its villagers still live in cave dwellings, some of which have been converted into boutique hotels. Surrounding the area are the amazing rock formations known evocatively as Peri Bacalari, or 'Fairy Chimneys'.

There are hundreds of underground cities in the region. Two of the most impressive are Kaymakli, which has 8 levels, and Derinkuyu, which reaches down to 55 metres. To escape the crowds, visit the picturesque Soganli Valley, with its many houses, tombs and churches, displaying excellent examples of Byzantine paintings.