Turkish Odyssey: 15-Day Classical Turkey in Depth

Overview

Fifteen days is what Turkey actually needs. This is our flagship circuit - the one that takes you from the domes and bazaars of Istanbul down the Aegean past Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus, inland across the travertine terraces of Pamukkale, over the Anatolian plateau to the whirling dervish city of Konya, and into the fairy-chimney valleys of Cappadocia, before closing through Ankara and the Ottoman timber town of Safranbolu. Seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, three civilisations deep, and enough unhurried time in each place to actually remember it.

At a glance

Duration	15 days / 14 nights
Start / End	Istanbul → Istanbul
Group size	Maximum 20 travellers, minimum 2
Activity level	Moderate - several sites involve uneven ground and stairs
Meals	14 breakfasts, 7 dinners
Guiding	Licensed local guide, English (other languages on request)
Departures	Guaranteed departures March–November; private dates year-round

Tour highlights

• Three full days in Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and a Bosphorus cruise between two continents
• The Gallipoli peninsula and the excavated citadel of Troy
• Pergamon's vertiginous Hellenistic theatre and the Asklepion healing centre
• A half-day at Ephesus - the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the terrace houses
• The white travertine terraces and Roman pools of Pamukkale-Hierapolis
• Konya's Mevlana Museum, resting place of Rumi
• Three nights in Cappadocia with an optional sunrise balloon flight
• Goreme's rock-cut churches and the underground city of Derinkuyu
• Safranbolu, a perfectly preserved Ottoman caravan town

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1 - Arrive Istanbul. Airport welcome and private transfer to your hotel in Sultanahmet. Evening orientation walk with your guide and a welcome dinner of Ottoman mezze.
   Overnight: Istanbul
2. Day 2 - Istanbul - the Imperial City. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace with the Treasury and Harem. Afternoon at the Grand Bazaar.
   Overnight: Istanbul
3. Day 3 - Istanbul - Two Continents. Spice Bazaar, then a Bosphorus cruise past Ottoman palaces and waterfront mansions. Afternoon free or optional Asian-side food walk.
   Overnight: Istanbul
4. Day 4 - Istanbul → Gallipoli → Canakkale. Drive west along the Sea of Marmara to the Gallipoli battlefields - ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair - with a specialist battlefield briefing.
   Overnight: Canakkale
5. Day 5 - Troy → Pergamon. Morning at Troy, walking nine layers of city built one atop the other. Continue to Bergama for the acropolis and its theatre cut into the hillside.
   Overnight: Izmir
6. Day 6 - Ephesus & the House of the Virgin Mary. A full morning at Ephesus, then the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St John at Selcuk. Afternoon at leisure by the Aegean.
   Overnight: Kusadasi
7. Day 7 - Kusadasi → Pamukkale. Inland to Hierapolis and the calcium terraces of Pamukkale. Free time to bathe in the thermal antique pool among fallen Roman columns.
   Overnight: Pamukkale
8. Day 8 - Pamukkale → Konya. Cross the lake district to Konya. Visit the Mevlana Museum and the 13th-century Karatay Medrese.
   Overnight: Konya
9. Day 9 - Konya → Cappadocia. Stop at the Sultanhani caravanserai on the old Silk Road, then descend into Cappadocia as the light goes gold.
   Overnight: Cappadocia
10. Day 10 - Cappadocia - Goreme & the Valleys. Optional sunrise balloon flight. Goreme Open-Air Museum, Pasabag, Devrent and an Avanos pottery workshop.
    Overnight: Cappadocia
11. Day 11 - Cappadocia - Underground & Ihlara. The multi-level underground city of Derinkuyu, a gentle walk in the Ihlara Valley, and Selime monastery.
    Overnight: Cappadocia
12. Day 12 - Cappadocia → Ankara. Drive to the capital for the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations - the best Hittite collection anywhere - and Anitkabir.
    Overnight: Ankara
13. Day 13 - Ankara → Safranbolu. North into the Black Sea hinterland to Safranbolu, a UNESCO-listed Ottoman town of timber houses and cobbled lanes.
    Overnight: Safranbolu
14. Day 14 - Safranbolu → Istanbul. Morning walking tour and the Kaymakamlar house museum, then return to Istanbul. Farewell dinner overlooking the Bosphorus.
    Overnight: Istanbul
15. Day 15 - Depart Istanbul. Breakfast and private transfer to the airport in line with your flight.
    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

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-star and selected five-star hotels throughout, chosen for location rather than brand: a boutique property inside Istanbul's old city walls, a sea-view hotel in Kusadasi, and a genuine cave hotel in Cappadocia. Full property names are confirmed at booking and are typically within a short walk of each town centre.

Who this tour is for

Travellers who want the definitive first trip to Turkey and would rather do it once, properly, than rush it. It suits culturally curious couples, solo travellers and alumni groups. Expect around 3–5 km of walking on full site days, on uneven ancient paving.

Good to know

Is the Cappadocia balloon flight included?
No - it is weather-dependent and priced separately, so we keep it optional. We book it for you at cost. Budget roughly EUR 220–280 per person.

How much internal travel is there?
Two long driving days (Istanbul to Canakkale, Cappadocia to Ankara). All other transfers are under four hours, always with comfort stops.

Can this run as a private departure?
Yes. Any date, any group size from two. Private departures also let us adjust the pace or swap in a day of your choosing.

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.