Grand Journey Across Turkey – 15 Days

Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST or SAW) and meet-and-greet with our representative. After a short welcome briefing, you are transferred by private vehicle to your hotel for check-in. Depending on your flight schedule, you will have free time to rest, take an orientation walk in the surroundings or enjoy a first taste of Turkish cuisine nearby.

After breakfast we start exploring the historic peninsula of Istanbul: the Hippodrome square with its obelisks, the Blue Mosque (interior/exterior visit depending on current regulations), Hagia Sophia and the outer courtyards of Topkapi Palace. If time permits, we also visit the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Bazaar for a first encounter with Istanbul’s markets. There will be free time for lunch during the tour and we return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Cappadocia (Kayseri or Nevşehir). After a short flight of about 1–1.5 hours, arrival and transfer to your hotel in the region. Depending on timings, we may enjoy a brief orientation tour with photo stops overlooking the valleys and fairy chimneys. Evening at leisure to dine in a local restaurant and get your first taste of Central Anatolia.

After breakfast we explore Cappadocia’s main highlights: Göreme Open Air Museum (entrance according to program), panoramic viewpoints around Uçhisar, the pottery town of Avanos and some of the valleys famous for their fairy chimneys. There will be free time for lunch.
In the afternoon we drive to Konya (around 3–4 hours), crossing the plains of Central Anatolia. Arrival in the city of Rumi, check-in at the hotel and evening at leisure.

After breakfast we visit the Mevlana Museum and its surroundings, learning about Rumi’s life, teachings and the whirling dervish tradition. Depending on time, we may also walk around Alaeddin Hill and the historic market area.
Around midday we depart by road to Antalya. Leaving the Konya plain behind, we cross the Taurus Mountains and descend to the Mediterranean coast. Arrival in Antalya in the late afternoon, check-in at the hotel and free time for a first stroll through the old town or harbour area.

After breakfast we explore Antalya, one of the main cities on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The old quarter of Kaleiçi with its restored Ottoman houses, Hadrian’s Gate, the historic harbour and clifftop viewpoints are among today’s highlights. Depending on the program, we may also visit panoramic spots such as Düden Waterfalls or Konyaaltı beach. There will be free time for lunch. Afternoon and evening at leisure to enjoy the city and its seaside atmosphere.

Breakfast at the hotel and drive towards Fethiye. After roughly 2.5–3 hours we arrive and take a short walk around the town and marina. We then continue to the lagoon of Ölüdeniz, one of the most iconic beaches on the Turquoise Coast. Free time to swim, relax or, for the more adventurous, join optional activities such as a boat trip or paragliding. Overnight in the Fethiye area.

After breakfast we drive to Bodrum, one of Turkey’s best-known Aegean resorts. After about 3 hours we arrive and take a walking tour of the centre: the castle (from the outside), the marina and the whitewashed lanes of the old town. If time allows, we may also visit the Museum of Underwater Archaeology or the ancient theatre. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy Bodrum’s atmosphere and perhaps dine by the sea.

After breakfast we leave Bodrum and head inland towards Pamukkale. Around midday we arrive at the white travertine terraces and the ancient city of Hierapolis (entrances according to program). We walk along the terraces, take photos of the natural pools and visit the Roman theatre. In the afternoon we continue to Kuşadası on the Aegean coast. Arrival, check-in at the hotel and free time.

After breakfast we drive to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean. We walk along the Marble Street, visit the Great Theatre, the Library of Celsus and other key monuments while your guide explains the site’s history. Depending on the program, we may also visit the House of the Virgin Mary or the village of Şirince.
In the afternoon we transfer to the airport (usually in the Izmir area) for our domestic flight to Şanlıurfa. On arrival in the so-called City of Prophets, we transfer to the hotel for overnight.

After breakfast we head to Göbeklitepe, considered one of the oldest known temple complexes in the world. Among its T-shaped pillars with animal reliefs and circular enclosures, your guide will explain the site’s significance for human history. We then continue to Harran, famous for its beehive houses and biblical associations, where we see the remains of the ancient madrasa and city walls.
In the afternoon we return to Şanlıurfa to visit Balıklıgöl, the cave associated with the prophet Abraham and the lively local bazaar. In the evening, those who wish may join an optional ‘sıra gecesi’, a traditional Urfa night with music and regional food.

After breakfast we drive towards the Adıyaman/Kahta area. Crossing mountainous landscapes, we reach Mount Nemrut National Park. We ascend to the summit area, famous for its giant Hellenistic statues and the funerary mound of King Antiochus I of Commagene. If conditions allow, we aim to be there around sunset or at the best light for photography (timing adjusted to the program). Overnight in Adıyaman or Kahta.

After breakfast we begin our journey towards the Black Sea. Depending on the season and flight operations, this leg may be done partly by road and partly by domestic flight, or mainly as a panoramic overland route. Along the way we pass rivers, mountain passes and small towns of Eastern Anatolia. We arrive in Trabzon in the late afternoon, check in at the hotel and rest.

After breakfast we explore some of Trabzon’s main sights: Hagia Sophia (Trabzon), viewpoints such as Boztepe and, if conditions permit, a panoramic excursion towards the Sumela Monastery area (subject to season and accessibility). The lush, humid landscapes of the Black Sea contrast sharply with the regions visited earlier.
In the afternoon we transfer to Trabzon Airport for our flight back to Istanbul. On arrival we transfer to the hotel and you have your last night in Turkey at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel (depending on flight time) and final free moments in Istanbul. You may take a short farewell walk or simply relax until your transfer. At the agreed time, transfer to the airport for your international departure flight. End of our services after a 15-day journey that has shown you many faces of Turkey: Mediterranean, Aegean, Anatolian, Mesopotamian and Black Sea.