Premium Turkey in Depth

Intrepid Travel · 15 days
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
Premium Turkey in Depth
15 Days
From AUD $7665
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


 (18 reviews)

Premium Turkey in Depth

Premium Turkey in Depth

Intrepid Travel · 15 days
4.5
18 Reviews
View Map
Duration

15 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Unknown

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Get to right into the heart of Turkish culture on this 15-day Premium adventure. Explore islands and a sunken city on a locally guided boat cruise, get hands-on in a Turkish cooking class using homegrown ingredients and join a local woman in her home for a specially prepared feast.

Highlights

  • Join an experienced local leader as you stroll the ancient streets of Ephesus, uncover the secrets of Sagalassos, explore the legendary ruins of Troy and discover Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and the Million.
  • Cruise around the hidden coves and islets of Turkey’s southern coast during an Exclusive Experience guided by a local couple who’ve been navigating the waters for years.
  • Feast your eyes on the best of Turkey's otherworldly sights, from the Cotton Castle of Pamukkale to the surreal rockscapes of Cappadocia.
  • Step into a fairy tale during your Feature Stay at a unique cave hotel in Cappadocia, which has elegantly decorated rooms carved from stone. Then, if you like, take a hot air balloon over the otherworldly landscape at sunrise.
  • Get to know the real Turkey on Exclusive Experiences, including a cooking class with an expert chef, a visit to an empowering carpet weaving cooperative and a traditional dinner at a local's home in Cappadocia.

Trip Details

Duration

15 days

Transportation

Private vehicle,Boat,Plane

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Istanbul, Turkey

Finishes

Istanbul, Turkey

Accommodations

Unknown

Travel Style

Explorer

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Istanbul
Hoş 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. If arriving today, you’ll have a complimentary transfer to your hotel from the airport. If you arrive early, maybe grab lunch at one of the city’s many eateries. Your adventure then begins with a welcome meeting at 1 pm. After, you’ll head out with your local leader and small group to explore the Old City of Istanbul. Your leader will introduce you to some of the city’s historic treasures, including the dazzling Blue Mosque, the ancient Hippodrome and the Million – a stone road marker in use since the fourth century. This evening, get to know your fellow travellers over dinner at a stylish restaurant.

Included Activities:

  • Istanbul - City Tour
  • Istanbul - Blue Mosque Visit
  • Istanbul - Welcome Dinner
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer

Optional Activities:

  • Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) (2000 TRY)
  • Istanbul - Hagia Sophia (25 EUR)

Accommodation:

  • Fer Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
2
Day 2: Gallipoli - Canakkale
Rise and shine for an early breakfast, then begin the drive to Canakkale – a port city on the shores of the Dardanelles. Arrive in time to buy yourself some lunch, then head to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Thousands from across the world journey here each year to pay respect to those who lost their lives in the battles of 1915. Tour the former battlefields and find remnants of trenches used by the Turkish soldiers. Head up to the memorials of Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair while your leader explains the significance of the events across the landscape. Look down upon the rough hills and gullies that became the graveyard for thousands of young men on both sides. After a day that will no doubt be full of sombre reflection, the evening is free for you to do as you wish in Canakkale.

Included Activities:

  • Gallipoli - Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair

Accommodation:

  • Cura Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
3
Day 3: Troy - Selçuk
Drive to Selçuk and stop along the way in Troy, where history and mythology sit side by side. Your leader will take you around the ancient city walls – there'll be time for a photo op with a replica Trojan horse too. Learn how the site has confounded historians and archaeologists, then continue to Selçuk. Once you’ve checked into your accommodation, join your leader for an orientation walk around this sprawling town at the base of the ancient Ayasoluk Hill fortress. You’ll visit the last remaining column of the Temple of Artemis and the ancient aqueducts.

Included Activities:

  • Troy - Archaeological site visit
  • Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk

Accommodation:

  • Celsus Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
4
Day 4: Ephesus - Sirince - Selçuk
Today, visit one of the best-preserved classical cities in the eastern Mediterranean and arguably the greatest Greco-Roman site in the world – Ephesus. Learn what life here was like as you tour the ancient theatre, gymnasium, baths and restored Library of Celsus, and stroll the marble streets once walked by Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Later, drive past apple and peach orchards to the village of Sirince, where red-roofed houses clamber up the hillside. Drop by a local wine house where you’ll taste locally produced fruit wines. Try a sip of kiwi, pear, peach, quince or all the above. Next, you’ll meet a local chef for a Turkish cooking class, using olive oil grown and made on-site and herbs and vegetables picked fresh from the garden. Learn how to make a range of small Turkish meze dishes using seasonal ingredients. Enjoy the fruits of your labour with an evening dinner of the mouth-watering meze plates you’ve made together.

Included Activities:

  • Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
  • Sirince - Village visit and fruit wine tasting
  • Selcuk - Cooking class

Optional Activities:

  • Selcuk - Ephesus Archaeological Museum (10 EUR)
  • Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry (15 EUR)

Accommodation:

  • Celsus Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
5
Day 5: Pamukkale
After breakfast, travel to the town of Pamukkale. Named after its incredible travertine terraces, Pamukkale means ‘cotton castle.’ This magical and spectacular natural phenomenon was created by deposits from thermal waters that cascaded down the mountainside over hundreds of years, forming a collection of pools and terraces. As the water overflows, dazzling cream-coloured stalactites are formed that, from afar, resemble cotton or snow. The pools are filled with water that many believe has healing properties for circulation and the digestive system. Head up to the ruins of Hierapolis – an important Roman bath centre founded by the King of Pergamon in 190 BC, where your leader will bring history to life and guide you through an ancient temple, holy area, monumental fountain, bath, basilica, necropolis and an impressive theatre. You then have the evening free to spend how you wish.

Included Activities:

  • Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park

Accommodation:

  • Hierapark Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
6
Day 6: Kas
Make the journey to the coastal town of Kas (meaning ‘eyebrow’) and begin exploring on a walking tour. Now primarily a holiday town, Kas is strewn with the remains of Lycian tombs, iconic, whitewashed walls covered with climbing bougainvillea and an ancient theatre where you can watch a spectacular sunset. The walk is sure to inspire your appetite, and your leader will be on hand to show you where to grab a great gozleme (stuffed Turkish flatbread). The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy this easy-going town – maybe sit back with a pomegranate cocktail or check out the local markets.

Included Activities:

  • Kas - Leader-led orientation walk

Optional Activities:

  • Pamukkale - Hot Air Balloon (180 EUR)

Accommodation:

  • Payam Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
7
Day 7: Kas
Set off for a boat cruise around the islands today, with a local family who use their unique knowledge and love of the local waters to share a distinctly traditional way of cruising and eating with travellers. Cruise to their home village of Ucagiz, then to the village of Simena, where its friendly residents sell ice cream in front of bougainvillea-covered houses. On board, you’ll enjoy a range of freshly prepared local greens, zucchini fritters and maybe even some Turkish raki. Sail from large bays to protected inlets where you can cool off with a swim. Kick back with a cold beer or learn how to play backgammon – Turkey’s most beloved game – and look out for the ruins of an ancient city submerged under the water. Return to Kas for an evening at your leisure.

Included Activities:

  • Kas - Sailing trip with seafood lunch

Accommodation:

  • Payam Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
8
Day 8: Phaselis - Antalya
Travel from Kas along a scenic route, stopping at the ancient city of Phaselis. Here you’ll have time to stretch your legs among Roman ruins or cool off with a swim in the sea. Then, continue to Antalya, where your accommodation is tucked away near the beach. Once you’ve settled in, join your leader for an early evening walk around Kaleici (the Old City). See Hadrian's Gate, the Old Roman Harbour and photo-worthy views of the Mediterranean. Tonight, you’ll experience Turkish family-style dining at a traditional meyhane (tavern) with plenty of share plates, local drinks and live music.

Included Activities:

  • Antalya - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Antalya - Phaselis Ancient City

Accommodation:

  • Ruin Adalia Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
9
Day 9: Antalya
Wake up in beautiful Antalya and start your day with a visit to the Necropolis Museum which is centred on an ancient burial ground only discovered in 2008. With open-air and indoor exhibitions, the museum provides a unique glimpse into ancient burial rituals, with tomb artifacts ranging from the 3rd Century BC to the Roman period. The afternoon is then free for you to explore as you wish. If you’d like, your leader can help you to arrange your own trip to the ancient city of Perge. Or maybe wander the narrow cobblestoned streets of Kaleici with an ice cream in hand, beat the heat with a dip in the sea or chill out poolside.

Included Activities:

  • Antalya - Necropolis Museum

Optional Activities:

  • Antalya - Perge Ancient City with Transport (58 EUR)

Accommodation:

  • Ruin Adalia Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
10
Day 10: Konya
Say goodbye to Antalya and hit the road to Konya – an ancient city that played a key role in the Roman era and where the Sufi practice of 'whirling' was born. When you arrive, visit the mystic resting place of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi – the 13th-century mystic, poet and theologian whose teachings continue to inspire and influence Muslims worldwide – and explore the museum dedicated to his life and work. The rest of the day is free to get to know the city. Wander through Konya’s many museums, mosques and monuments, or take a leisurely stroll up Alaeddin Hill, where locals sip coffee and eat pastries. This evening, you’ll tuck into a traditional Konyan meal of hearty okra soup and etliekmek – a long, thin, and crispy flatbread filled with meat, peppers and spices.

Included Activities:

  • Konya - Mevlana Museum

Accommodation:

  • Selcuk Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
11
Day 11: Cappadocia
Depart Konya and travel to Cappadocia, where your leader will take you on an orientation walk to get to know your new surroundings. Check in to your Feature Stay accommodation, where you’ll feel miles away from the modern world in a cave hotel that looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale. These unique rooms are carved into stone, featuring elegant decor and modern conveniences. Your leader can provide tips on exploring nearby villages. Keep an eye out for hot air balloons passing overhead and head out for a drink to watch the sunset over one of the world’s more iconic places. The rest of the evening is free for you to take it all in, or you could opt for a whirling performance by local Dervishes in a restored han (caravansary).

Included Activities:

  • Cappadocia - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Cappadocia - Sunset drinks

Optional Activities:

  • Cappadocia - Turkish Night with Dinner (50 EUR)
  • Cappadocia - Whirling Dervish Performance with transport (40 EUR)

Accommodation:

  • HU of Cappadocia or similar (Feature Stay) (Number of Nights: 1)
12
Day 12: Cappadocia
Early birds have the option of taking a hot air balloon over the Cappadocian landscape. The scene at sunrise is sure to take your breath away. After a relaxing breakfast overlooking the valley, step back in time with a visit to the Goreme Open Air Museum. See the incredible houses, churches and monasteries carved out of the soft cliff face as your leader shares stories of the civilisations who lived here. Next, you’ll visit a carpet weaving cooperative that empowers women by giving them the tools to produce one-of-a-kind traditional rugs. Hear local insight into the history of traditional carpet weaving and see how the intricate pieces are made. Later in the afternoon, go on a short walk through the cheekily named Love Valley, famous for its phallic rock formations. Then, head back to your hotel and perhaps take an optional Turkish bath to unwind at the end of the day.

Included Activities:

  • Cappadocia - Valley walk
  • Cappadocia - Goreme Open Air Museum
  • Cappadocia - Carpet weaving co-op

Optional Activities:

  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight (200 EUR)
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight (230 EUR)
  • Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Sightseeing from the Valley (20 EUR)

Accommodation:

  • HU of Cappadocia or similar (Feature Stay) (Number of Nights: 1)
13
Day 13: Cappadocia
Take a morning walk to see the fascinating rock formations of the Kizilcukur Valley. After lunch, head toward the red river of Avanos and descend to Ozkonak to explore an underground city hollowed out of tufa rock that dates back to 400 BC. Return to the surface and visit the studio of a local ceramic master whose family have been in the pottery business for six generations. Speak with a local artist who’ll explain the history and techniques of traditional Turkish ceramics. Discover the rich clay from the red river and watch how it’s moulded into exquisite pieces. This evening you’ll be warmly welcomed into the home of a local family who'll prepare a special homecooked dinner for your group. Sit down to a feast made with passion, enjoy a friendly chat with your hosts and top off the night with some turkish delight.

Included Activities:

  • Cappadocia - Pottery demonstration
  • Cappadocia - Ozkonak Underground City
  • Cappadocia - Kizilcukur Valley
  • Cappadocia - Home-cooked dinner

Accommodation:

  • HU of Cappadocia or similar (Feature Stay) (Number of Nights: 1)
14
Day 14: Istanbul
Say goodbye to Cappadocia this morning and return to where it all began – Istanbul. When you arrive, you may want to explore the European part of the city or take a trip across the Bosphorus to the Asian side. Either way, you’ll find lively, close-knit communities and jumbles of cute cafes, markets and shops. Your leader will be able to provide advice on things to see and do. This evening, maybe round off your adventure by joining your group for an optional farewell dinner at one of Istanbul’s excellent restaurants.

Optional Activities:

  • Istanbul - Private Bosphorus Cruise Sunset with Soft Drinks (560 EUR)
  • Istanbul - Beyoglu Night Tasting Trail (85 EUR)

Accommodation:

  • Fer Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
15
Day 15: Istanbul
Your trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you want to spend some more time in Istanbul, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
  • 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 willdo 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. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

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 $7,665
(Tour only)
Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 15 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

Get to right into the heart of Turkish culture on this 15-day Premium adventure. Explore islands and a sunken city on a locally guided boat cruise, get hands-on in a Turkish cooking class using homegrown ingredients and join a local woman in her home for a specially prepared feast.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 12 Apr 2026

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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
4.5
Chloe
Traveled, October 2023

10/23/2023

What a great way to spend another Thanksgiving with a different form of Turkey. We had an amazing and friendly guide, Pinar. Who always made sure the group was ok and was super knowledgeable about the history of Turkey and the ruins. Turkey is a huge country and you will be spending a lot of time in the car so be sure to be ready to sit. I left the trip smiling, with new friends and family. Thank you Pinar and Turkey!

4.5
Terry
Traveled, September 2023

10/14/2023

The experiences and adventures in the itinerary were exceptional and significantly enhanced my appreciation, understanding and knowledge of Turkey. It was a special blend of history, geography, art and culture. Our guide, Tarik, was second to none and truly made the trip a standout. The tour was a lot of fun and very interesting.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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