Hygieneprotocol

This tour will be operated in line with our ’Safer Encounters’ scheme which covers a wide range of additional hygiene precautions as well as social distancing rules and other measures to help prevent the transmission of Covid-19.

Accommodation

10 nights accommodation in 4 to 5-star & boutique style hotels.

Meals

10 Breakfasts, 7 Dinners

Transport

All transport and transfers in AC vehicles 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service Our trips feature a mix of different transport options. We want you to feel like you’re really experiencing the country you’re travelling through, but at the same time we want you to finish journeys refreshed enough to enjoy the next stage of the tour. The distances involved in Turkey mean that we use private vehicles and tourist coaches throughout this tour.

Guide

Services of a local tour guide throughout. We are committed to being a small group operator, as we feel this gives everyone in the group the best chance to get to know their fellow travellers and to hear and make the most of their guide. There’s no point in us providing great guides if you’ve got to peer over 30-40 shoulders to see them! So, we won’t ever put you in a 50-seater coach with 49 other people and just one guide. Instead, we set our Turkey small-group departures to have a maximum of 20 travellers (dedicated Anzac Day tour groups may be larger). In Turkey we provide a fully trained, local English-speaking guide for all of the sightseeing tours. Our local reps in some of the towns and cities en-route are also at your service. At Encounters Travel we try to use local Turkish guides and reps as much as possible. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing.

Not included:

Flights

International flights are not included but may be available on request

Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory but not included

Others

Visa fees (e-visa or visa on arrival for most nationalities) Meals not indicated in the itinerary Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry) Tips for guide & driver Single Room Supplement (applicable when a same sex room share cannot be arranged - contact us for details) Any other items not mentioned above

Optional

Other activities and services not included Single room supplement - This tour is based on twin-share accommodation, with single bookers paired up with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If the final group make-up means that no room share is available, you do not need to pay this supplement. However, if you would like to guarantee yourself a single room throughout the tour, then please add this option to your booking.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Tour Starts In Istanbul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Tour Starts In Istanbul

Your 11-day adventure starts off with your arrival in Istanbul. One of the most fascinating and grand cities in the world, Istanbul is rich with culture and history. Uniquely located at the junction of Europe and Asia, it is filled with winding streets, friendly people, and many architectural marvels. You are transferred to your hotel, and have the rest of the day to yourself. | OVERNIGHT: Istanbul 4-star hotel. | MEALS: NULL. | EXTRAS: Single room supplement (TUSGTG), Extra day in Istanbul - pre-tour
Day 2 Day 2: Tour Of Istanbul Old City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Tour Of Istanbul Old City

We start the day exploring the historical part of Istanbul known as the Old City. You visit some of the most iconic landmarks, including the world-famous Blue Mosque, the beautiful Hagia Sophia, the intriguing Topkapi Palace and the historic Hippodrome. You’ll spend the night in Istanbul. | OVERNIGHT: Istanbul 4-star hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast
Day 3 Day 3: Bosphorus River Cruise, Fly To Cappadocia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Bosphorus River Cruise, Fly To Cappadocia

After breakfast, cruise between two continents on the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia in the afternoon with a 1 hour Bosphorus cruise by public ferry where your guide will explain the historical sites along the way. This afternoon there is a flight to Cappadocia, upon arrival you will be transfrred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free time to explore. | OVERNIGHT: Cappadocia boutique hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 Day 4: Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys And Rock Formations
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys And Rock Formations

A day filled with fascinating cultural experiences awaits us. We visit the Goreme Open Air Musuem, one of the most unique places to visit in Turkey. It is comprised of a series of monasteries and churches hewn into the rock formations, many still retaining beautiful colour paintings and frescoes. We also see the fairy chimneys at Pasabag and the grand Uchisar Castle. In the evening, there is an optional folklore evening featuring belly dancers, a memorable way to end off the day. | OVERNIGHT: Cappadocia boutique hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 Day 5: Kaymakli Underground City, Silk Road, Stop At Sultan Hani Caravansary, Mevlana Museum In Konya
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Kaymakli Underground City, Silk Road, Stop At Sultan Hani Caravansary, Mevlana Museum In Konya

Today we visit the mazes and tunnels of Kaymakli Underground City. We then travel along the famous ancient Silk Road towards Konya. We stop at the Sultan Hani Caravansary. In ancient times, a caravansary was a roadside inn where travellers were able to stop to rest and recover from their journeys. The Sultani Hani Caranvansary is one of the biggest in the world and stopping here will give you a sense of what travellers back then might have experienced. When we reach Konya, we visit the Mevlana Museum, the mausoleum of the world-renowned poet and philosopher Jalaluddin Rumi. We also make a trip to the 12th-century Aladdin Mosque. | OVERNIGHT: Konya 4-star hotel
Day 6 Day 6: Pamukkale Hot Springs, Hierapolis
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Pamukkale Hot Springs, Hierapolis

Today we head towards the famous travertines and hot springs of Pamukkale. This magical natural site is a bucket-list destination and is visited by around 2 million people each year. The white limestone cascades and bright blue pools contrast beautifully, and are aptly known as a cotton castle. We’ll also see the ruins of Hierapolis, known as the “Sacred City” due to its temples and religious sites. The theatre here is well-preserved and is wonderful to see. The enormous Necropolis, or cemetery, is also accessible. We also visit the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, an ancient site dedicated to the famous Greek God of healing, medicine, music, and poetry. We also get to see and browse through local handcrafted leather goods. | OVERNIGHT: Pamukkale 4-star hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast
Day 7 Day 7: Laodicea
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Laodicea

Today, we will explore Laodicea ancient city which was the chief city of the Lycus River Valley region. The full name of the city was Laodicea ad Lyceum (Laodicea on the Lycus). The city was originally known as Diospolis ("the City of Zeus"). The Greek deity considered to be the greatest of the Olympian gods. This afternoon we will enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods. | OVERNIGHT: Kusadasi boutique hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 Day 8: City Of Ephesus. Sirince Wine Tasting
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: City Of Ephesus. Sirince Wine Tasting

Absorb yourself in history today with a guided tour of Ephesus a once a bustling trade hub and religious center, Ephesus today whispers of ancient marvels, from site of the Temple of Artemis to the Library of Celsus’s grand facade and the grand amphitheatre. Carpet weaving has long traditions in Turkey and at the carpet village we learn how the carpets are made by hand and what determines their value. We continue on to the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Here we will visit a local vineyard and learn about local production techniques. You will taste 3 local wines from the region at the garden of the vineyard before returning to our hotel. | OVERNIGHT: Kusadasi boutique hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 Day 9: Mediterranean Coast, Pergamum Acropolis, Ancient Troy
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Mediterranean Coast, Pergamum Acropolis, Ancient Troy

We enjoy a scenic drive today heading north up the Mediterranean coast before we visit the magnificent acropolis of Pergamum. The impressive temples and library here made this a renowned cultural and political centre in its time. Our next stop is the ancient site of Troy, famous for Helen of Troy and the wooden Trojan Horse. We spend the night at a hotel overlooking the Dardanelles Strait near Cannakale. | OVERNIGHT: Cannakale 5-star hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 Day 10: Gallipoli Battlefields And Memorials. Return To Istanbul
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Gallipoli Battlefields And Memorials. Return To Istanbul

After crossing the Dardanelles Strait by ferry, we make a tour of the important World War 1 battlefield sites on the Gallipoli Peninsula, including ANZAC Cove, The Nek, Johnston’s Jolly, original tunnels and trenches and the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials. We’ll then drive back to Istanbul to finish the tour. | OVERNIGHT: Istanbul 4-star hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast
Day 11 Day 11: Tour Ends In Istanbul. Departure Airport Transfer
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Tour Ends In Istanbul. Departure Airport Transfer

Our 11-day adventure in Turkey ends today. We enjoy breakfast in Istanbul, after which your time is free until we pick you up to transfer to the airport for your onward journey home. | OVERNIGHT: N/A. | MEALS: Breakfast

11 days tour

Best Of Turkey

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Best Of Turkey

Day 1: Tour Starts In Istanbul

Day 2: Tour Of Istanbul Old City

Day 3: Bosphorus River Cruise, Fly To Cappadocia

Day 4: Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys And Rock Formations

Day 5: Kaymakli Underground City, Silk Road, Stop At Sultan Hani Caravansary, Mevlana Museum In Konya

Day 6: Pamukkale Hot Springs, Hierapolis

Day 7: Laodicea

Day 8: City Of Ephesus. Sirince Wine Tasting

Day 9: Mediterranean Coast, Pergamum Acropolis, Ancient Troy

Day 10: Gallipoli Battlefields And Memorials. Return To Istanbul

Day 11: Tour Ends In Istanbul. Departure Airport Transfer

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