Gentle Journeys Turkey: 12-Day Senior & Alumni Escorted Tour
Overview
The same Turkey, at a pace that lets you enjoy it. We use internal flights instead of long coach days, never move hotels more than five times in twelve days, and hold a minimum two-night stay everywhere. Porters handle your luggage from the airport to your room and back. Every site has a level route agreed with the guide in advance, private vehicles drop as close to entrances as regulations allow, and there is a rest afternoon built into each city. Group size caps at sixteen so nobody is ever waiting on a coach.
At a glance
| Duration | 12 days / 11 nights |
|---|---|
| Start / End | Istanbul → Istanbul |
| Group size | Maximum 16 travellers |
| Activity level | Relaxed - no more than 2 km walking on any day, level alternatives at every site |
| Meals | 11 breakfasts, 9 dinners |
| Guiding | Licensed local guide, English (other languages on request) |
| Departures | April–May and September–October |
Tour highlights
- Two-night minimum in every location; only five hotel changes in twelve days
- Internal flights replace all long coach transfers
- Full porterage - your case is handled airport to room and back
- Three nights in Istanbul with a private Bosphorus cruise
- Ephesus with vehicle access to the upper gate, so the site is walked downhill
- The Pamukkale travertines with a level boardwalk route
- Three nights in Cappadocia, including a valley drive with panoramic viewpoints
- A rest afternoon in every city, not just at the end
- Maximum sixteen travellers, with a tour manager alongside the local guide
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1 - Arrive Istanbul. Wheelchair assistance arranged on request. Private transfer, porterage to your room and a relaxed welcome dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Istanbul -
Day 2 - Istanbul - the Old City. A late start. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, with the Hippodrome walked at an easy pace. Afternoon free.
Overnight: Istanbul -
Day 3 - Istanbul - Bosphorus & Palaces. Private Bosphorus cruise with seating throughout, then Dolmabahce Palace, which is largely step-free.
Overnight: Istanbul -
Day 4 - Istanbul - At Leisure. A free day. Optional guided visit to the Spice Bazaar and the Archaeology Museum for those who want it.
Overnight: Istanbul -
Day 5 - Fly to Izmir → Kusadasi. Morning flight, then a short transfer to your Aegean sea-view hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Kusadasi -
Day 6 - Ephesus. Entry at the upper gate so the site is walked gently downhill, with seating stops. Afternoon rest.
Overnight: Kusadasi -
Day 7 - The House of the Virgin Mary & Sirince. A morning at Meryem Ana, then the hill village of Sirince for lunch and wine tasting.
Overnight: Kusadasi -
Day 8 - Kusadasi → Pamukkale. A short drive to Pamukkale. Hierapolis by vehicle to the upper entrance, and the travertines by level boardwalk.
Overnight: Pamukkale -
Day 9 - Fly to Cappadocia. Morning at the thermal pools, then a flight from Denizli via Istanbul to Cappadocia.
Overnight: Cappadocia -
Day 10 - Cappadocia - Valleys & Viewpoints. A panoramic drive with short walks at Uchisar, Pasabag and Devrent, plus an Avanos pottery workshop.
Overnight: Cappadocia -
Day 11 - Cappadocia - Goreme. The Goreme Open-Air Museum at an easy pace, with a free afternoon and a farewell dinner in a cave restaurant.
Overnight: Cappadocia -
Day 12 - Fly to Istanbul & Depart. Morning flight to Istanbul and connection home, or transfer to a day-use room if your flight is late.
Overnight: -
What's included
- All airport and intercity transfers in modern air-conditioned vehicles
- Accommodation as listed, on a twin-share basis, with daily breakfast
- Professional English-speaking licensed guide throughout
- All entrance fees to the sites named in the itinerary
- Local taxes, service charges and portage at hotels
- 24/7 on-tour support line and a Look Vacations tour manager
- Full porterage at every hotel and airport
- All internal flights (Istanbul–Izmir, Denizli–Cappadocia, Cappadocia–Istanbul)
- A Look Vacations tour manager in addition to the local guide
- Level-access routing agreed at every site in advance
- Airport wheelchair assistance arranged free on request
What's not included
- International flights to and from the start and end cities
- Travel insurance (required - we can recommend providers)
- Visas, passport fees and any border charges
- Lunches and dinners not specified in the itinerary
- Drinks, laundry and items of a personal nature
- Optional excursions and gratuities for guide and driver
Accommodation
Four- and five-star hotels chosen specifically for lifts, step-free entrances, walk-in showers and rooms close to the elevator. In Cappadocia we use a cave hotel with a lift and level access rather than the stepped hillside properties.
Who this tour is for
Travellers in their late sixties and beyond, alumni associations, retirement communities and anyone who wants the classic sites without the forced march. Walkers, sticks and slower paces are entirely normal on this tour and nobody is ever rushed.
Good to know
Can you take a wheelchair user?
In many cases yes, but it depends on the chair and how much assistance you travel with. Call us and we will go through each site honestly - some, like the Pergamon acropolis, we simply leave out.
Is there a single supplement, and can you match roommates?
There is a single supplement, shown as a separate option. We also run a roommate-matching list for solo travellers who would rather share and avoid it.
What if I need to skip a day?
Then you skip it. The tour manager stays contactable, the hotel is comfortable, and there is never any pressure to be on the coach.
Book or ask a question
Prices are per person in twin-share accommodation, land only, and vary by departure date and group size. Tell us your preferred dates and we will confirm availability and a firm quote within one business day.
Call +1 202 770 5061 · email usa@lookvacations.com · or send an enquiry through the tour page.