Absolute Turkey: Winter

G Adventures · 15 days

Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply

Absolute Turkey: Winter
Absolute Turkey: Winter
15 Days
From AUD $2699
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


(20 reviews)

Absolute Turkey: Winter

Absolute Turkey: Winter

G Adventures · 15 days

Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply

Duration

15 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Budget

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

On the winter edition of our comprehensive Turkey tour, you'll see the country's incredible sights without battling the crowds.

Includes

Activities

  • Your G for Good Moment: Çöp(m)adam Visit, Ayvalık Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Local Living Moment: Dinner with Local Family, Çavuşin Your Foodie Moment: Cooking Class, Selçuk
  • Istanbul walking tour
  • Visit to the Göreme Open Air Museum
  • Guided walk in a valley with Underground City exploration
  • Traditional dinner with local family (Cappadocia)
  • Ancient Hierapolis and Pamukkale entrance and guided walk
  • Ephesus entrance and visit
  • Cooking class in a nearby village
  • Troy entrance and guided visit
  • Gallipoli battlefields entrance and guided visit

Accommodation

  • Hotels (14 nts).
  • 14 breakfasts, 2 dinners

Transport

  • Private air-conditioned van.

Group Leader

  • CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.

Highlights

  • Discover historic cities and explore the ancient ruins of Ephesus
  • Marvel at the extraordinary scenery of Cappadocia
  • Enjoy dinner in a local family home.
Absolute Turkey: Winter

Trip Details

Duration

15 days

Transportation

Private air-conditioned van.

Guide Language

English

Starts

Istanbul, Turkey

Finishes

Istanbul, Turkey

Accommodations

Budget

Travel Style

Classic, Budget

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

1

Day 1: Istanbul

Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned until our evening welcome meeting. After the meeting, opt to join your CEO and fellow travellers for dinner. Get the most out of your time in Istanbul by pre-booking the following activity to experience before your tour starts: Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise. If you do, we recommend booking accommodation for an extra night pre-tour.

And don't worry if you can't decide now. This activity is available for pre-booking any time before your tour starts, while any of the optional activities listed can be booked independently upon arrival in Istanbul.


Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - Golden Horn Sirkeci Istanbul
2

Day 2: Istanbul/Bolu

Enjoy an orientation walk around Istanbul before moving on to the small, but vibrant city of Bolu.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Enjoy an orientation walk of Istanbul. Each walk varies, allowing your CEO to show off their favourite spots around the city. Pass by city highlights such as the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia (also known as the Aya Sofya), and the Blue Mosque. Walks may also include the atmospheric Spice Bazaar or breathtaking Grand Bazaar.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Soylu Hotel Bolu
3

Day 3: Bolu/Göreme

Visit Anitkabir before driving to the Cappadocia region. Enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local family.
Transfer to the town of Göreme, the base for exploring Cappadocia. With two and a half days free to explore, there will be plenty of time to tour the area by bike, visit neighbouring villages, trek regional valleys or try a hot air balloon ride.

During one of the evenings here, travel to a nearby village and enjoy dinner with a local family.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Visit the monumental tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the republic of Turkey. Learn about his significance to gain more insight into your Turkish exploration.Activity - Enjoy seasonal homemade dishes, and talk with friendly hosts about life in rural Cappadocia.Accommodation - Ciner Hotel Cappadocia
4

Day 4-5: Göreme

Enjoy an included visit to the Göreme Open Air Museum before free time to explore this unique region. Enjoy a guided walk through the valley with a visit to an underground city.
Outdoor enthusiast? Hire a bike to get around on two wheels or join your CEO on an optional trekking tour through one of the beautiful valleys of the region.

If you want to go further afield, take a local bus to explore nearby villages.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Be inspired by the natural beauty of the historic Göreme Open Air Museum, a complex of medieval painted cave churches carved out by Orthodox monks. Tour the more than 10 caves on site, and enjoy the color and vibrancy of many of the churches that are up to 1,000 years old.Free_time - Free time to explore the region any way you like.Activity - Visit one of the underground cities (there are approximately 30 in the region) that were famously used as hiding places for Christians escaping the persecution of the Roman Empire between the fifth and tenth centuries. See how people transferred their surface lives to this underground world – there are cellars, rooms for food storage, kitchens, churches, stables, wine and oil presses, and shafts for ventilation. Accommodation - Ciner Hotel Cappadocia
5

Day 6: Göreme/Konya

Visit Konya and continue to Beyşehir. Visit the Esrefoglu mosque, one of the unique mosques in the country.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Icon Hotel Konya
6

Day 7: Konya/Antalya

Wander the cobbled streets of the old harbour.
Arrive at Antalya around lunchtime.

With a free afternoon, wander the charming cobbled hillside streets of the district of Kaleici, a great place to stop and have a drink with amazing views of the marina below. For a break from the hustle and bustle, head for the greenery and teashops at one of Antalya's beautiful parks or relax with a traditional Turkish hammam scrub.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Spend free time exploring the city of Antalya. Take advantage of its parks and beaches or duck into a museum or two.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Gurtas Hotel Antalya
7

Day 8: Antalya

Enjoy more time in Antalya to explore.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Head out and see the sights.Accommodation - Gurtas Hotel Antalya
8

Day 9: Antalya/Pamukkale

Guided walk of Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis.
Passing through fruit orchards on the way to Pamukkale.

In the afternoon, visit the famous white cliffs of Pamukkale and the ancient site of Hierapolis, built on top of the white "castle".

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is evidence that the hot springs of Pamukkale were used as a spa since the second century BC.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Tour the white cliffs of Pamukkale to learn about this World Heritage-listed site and natural wonder. Made up of 17 hot water springs, the cliffs are formed when the calcium carbonate hardens with time. Explore the ancient site of Hierapolis built on top of the white "castle." See the large, ancient baths within the city (thought to be evidence that the hot springs of Pamukkale were used as a spa since second century BC).Accommodation - Anya Resort Hotel Pamukkale
9

Day 10: Pamukkale/Selçuk

Visit the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Ephesus.
Travel to the town of Selçuk. In the afternoon, visit the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Ephesus.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.Activity - Tour the ruins of ancient Ephesus to get a feeling of what life must have been like during Roman times. Take in its massive, well-preserved theatre, which dominates the view down Harbour Street. See the two-story library, whose façade has been carefully reconstructed from all original pieces. Built in AD 125, it once held nearly 12,000 scrolls.Accommodation - Cenka Hotel Selcuk
10

Day 11: Selçuk

Free time to walk up to the remains of St John's Basilica, visit the mosque of Isa Bey or just wander the streets and cafés of this vibrant Turkish town. Enjoy a cooking class in the afternoon.
Opt to walk to the remains of St John's Basilica, visit the Mosque of Isa Bey or wander the streets of this vibrant Turkish town. Or catch a local “dolmus” bus to the picturesque village of Şirince (8 km) to sample some local wine or shop for crafts. For dedicated sunseekers, the beach at Pamucaki is also within reach.

Late in the afternoon, meet up with the group and walk to a local cooking class. Our host will demonstrate some Turkish dishes for everyone to enjoy at the end of the class.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Get out and explore.Activity - Visit a local restaurant for a cooking class. Watch a demonstration and learn about regional ingredients and dishes. Enjoy the meal at the end of the class!Accommodation - Cenka Hotel Selcuk
11

Day 12: Selçuk/Bergama

Travel to the market town of Bergama, and explore the Acropolis of ancient Pergamon.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Berksoy Hotel Bergama
12

Day 13: Bergama/Çanakkale

Visit the G-supported handicraft workshop in Ayvalik, before enjoying free time in the surrounding area. Visit the ancient city of Troy en route to Çanakkale.
çöp(m)adam began as an experimental project in Western Turkey, meant to address lack of employment opportunities for women alongside the importance of recycling/re-using. The co-op aims to use waste in a creative, aesthetic, and unique way, all while providing work for women from impoverished communities. When G Adventures travellers visit the workshop, they can purchase souvenirs and handicrafts that directly support the women that made them. After a visit to this project, continue exploring the seaside town of Ayvalık.

Afterwards, enjoy a visit to the world-famous city of Troy. Continue to the harbour town of Çanakkale, a busy port with a thriving student population.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Visit the G-supported çöp(m)adam handicraft cooperation. All products are made out of recycled goods and by making a purchase it will directly support the local women who work in the workshop and over time has contributed to over 500 women who have been part of the project. Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - See historic Troy, made famous by Homer’s “Iliad,” (and more recently by Orlando Bloom and Brad Pitt). Tour the city that, for centuries, was regarded as just a myth, until its ruins were found in in the mid-19th century. Imagine what a great city this must have been, while taking a tour of the remains. Don't miss the chance to have a photo taken with the Trojan horse.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Bogaz Hotel Canakkale
13

Day 14: Çanakkale/Istanbul

Guided tour of Gallipoli, including ANZAC Cove, the war cemeteries, and Lone Pine.
Make an early morning visit to Gallipoli, where thousands gave their lives during WWI in the battle of the same name. Take in the sights and learn the sombre story.

Continue on to İstanbul for the opportunity to finish up your sightseeing or get in some last minute shopping.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Once in the Gallipoli peninsula, transfer by bus to the Gallipoli battlefields (20 mins).Activity - Visit this moving and beautiful site, a great complement to any trip to Turkey, even for those not familiar with the Battle of Gallipoli. Tour the grounds to see ANZAC Cove, the war cemeteries, and Lone Pine. Learn how the Turks fought off the numerically superior, but badly commanded, Allied forces who were forced to withdraw nine months later; this battle holds special significance for Australians and New Zealanders, as both nations lost many soldiers.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Golden Horn Sirkeci Istanbul
14

Day 15: Istanbul

Depart at any time.
Your tour might be finished, but the adventure's far from over. Pre-book the following activity to experience after your tour ends: Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise. If you do, we recommend booking accommodation for an extra night in Istanbul.

And don't worry if you can't decide now. This activity is available for pre-booking any time before your tour starts, or it can be booked upon arrival in Istanbul.

Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.
AUD $2,699
(Tour only)
Per Person Standard

Duration: 15 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

On the winter edition of our comprehensive Turkey tour, you'll see the country's incredible sights without battling the crowds.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 05 Dec 2026

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
Excellent
4.5
Guide
Excellent
4.5
Itinerary
Excellent
4.5
Accommodations
Excellent
4.5
Transportation
Excellent
4.5
Tour Operator
Excellent
4.5
Food
Excellent
4.5
4.0
Harry N.
Traveled, December 2023

12/23/2023

Well organised and CEO well trained.

4.5
Briony R.
Traveled, December 2023

12/23/2023

Our guide was amazing & the itinerary was excellent!

Tour Operator

G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.

In Business Since 1990