Compare Absolute Turkey: Winter by G Adventures vs Anatolian Civilizations | 10 Days Best of Turkey by Tours4Fun

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.

Day 2 Istanbul/Bolu

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

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.

The local dinner may take place on any night in Göreme based on the family's availability.

Day 4 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.

Want to do more with your tour? Book the Cappadocia Balloon Ride or Whirling Dervishes upon arrival by arranging it with your CEO. If you book the Cappadocia hot air balloon ride, you will be flying on Day 4 or 5 (weather permitting).

Day 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.

Want to do more with your tour? Book the Cappadocia Balloon Ride or Whirling Dervishes upon arrival by arranging it with your CEO. If you book the Cappadocia hot air balloon ride, you will be flying on Day 4 or 5 (weather permitting).

Day 6 Göreme/Konya

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

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 catch some sun at a nearby beach.

Day 8 Antalya

Enjoy more time in Antalya to explore.

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.

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.

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 a nearby village 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, drive to a nearby village for a local cooking class. Our host will demonstrate some Turkish dishes for everyone to enjoy at the end of the class.

Day 12 Selçuk/Bergama

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

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.

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.

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.

Day 1 Istanbul Arrival

Arrival to Istanbul . Meet with english speaking assistant at the airport . Transfer to the hotel for check in . Overnight: Istanbul Meals: N/A

Day 2 Istanbul

Breakfast at the hotel . Drive from your hotel to Spice Market for shopping . Free time. Then meet and proceed to take 1,5 hrs Bosphorus Cruise excursion along the bosphorus , that is dividing the 2 continents Asia & Europe . During the excursion you will enjoy the beauty of Istanbul , with its forest , Palaces and wooden old houses built on both continents . Lunch at local restaurant . After lunch visit Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) , Hippodrome and the famous Hagia Sophia . Free time at Grand Bazaar . Overnight: Istanbul Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

Day 3 Istanbul - Ankara

Breakfast at the hotel . Departure from the hotel to visit Topkapi Palace ( harem section entrance free is not included ) the house of the ottoman sultans . Departure from the hotel to Ankara – the capital of Turkey . Arrival to Ankara in early evening Overnight: Ankara Meals: Breakfast - Dinner

Day 4 Ankara - Salt Lake - Cappadocia

Breakfast at the hotel . Visit Anatolian Civilizations Museum where you will see the Neolithic & Paleolithic ruins from Urartu , Hatti, Hittite, Phrygia civilizations, then proceed to Mausoleum of Ataturk , the founder of Turkish Republic. In the afternoon drive to Cappadocia . En route visit the Underground city that is one of the biggest underground city in the region, constructed by the first Christians to protect themselves from the attacks ...We dcontinue to proceed to the Derwish House to attend Whirling Dervishes Ceremony which represents the mystical journey of spiritual ascent of man using love, the search for the truth and get to the "Perfection" Overnight: Ankara Meals: Breakfast - Dinner

Day 5 Cappadocia

Breakfast . Full day visit at Cappadocia . Visit Göreme Open Air Museum - a UNESCO Heritage site , a fantastic region with it’s cave churches located on the valley. Then proceed to Uchisar Village and then the spectacular fairy chimneys. Visit Derbent Valley with and explore the natural rock formations and get a chance to attend the workshops of carpets and onyx-stones . Overnight: Cappadocia Meals: Breakfast - Dinner Optional Tour | HOT AIR BALLOON TOUR In the early morning departure from your hotel . a chance to live this unique experience, an overlooking to Cappadocia from the sky , see the beauty of the region the rock formations, fairy chimneys, natural formations, lunar landscapes ..

Day 6 Cappadocia - Pamukkale

After the breakfast at the hotel , drive to Pamukkale. En route visit Sultanhan Caravansarai that was built during Seljuk Empire and used long years as a stop over for the travellers and merchants. Continue to Pamukkale . Visit Cotton Steps – a UNESCO heritage site that has been believed to have healing thermal water. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Overnight: Pamukkale Meals: Breakfast - Dinner

Day 7 Pamukkale - Ephesus - İzmir

Breakfast . Drive to Selcuk – Ephesus . Visit the Ephesus Ruins – the city that was dedicated to Artemis I the Odeon, Temple of Hadrian, the House of Love, the Library of Celsus, the Agora .Then proceed for Virgin Mary House - has been believed it is the final resting place of the mother of Jesus . Then stop at Leather Production Store . Proceed for Izmir . Overnight: İzmir Meals: Breakfast - Dinner

Day 8 Izmir - Pergamon - Troy - Çanakkale

Breakfast . Drive to Pergamon ( Bergama ) region and visit the ruins of Asclepion which is the first hospital of Asia Minor in human history . Then continue to Troy , visit the famous city that evokes the poetic name of Homer's Iliad. Continue to Canakkale . Overnight:Çanakkale Meals: Breakfast - Dinner.

Day 9 Çanakkale - Gallipoli - Anzac Cove - Istanbul

Breakfast . We will cross Dardanelles Strait by car ferry and continue to Gallipoli Peninsula. We will visit one of the most emotionally touching places in Turkey, the WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli, including Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, ANZAC Commemorative Site, Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston's Jolly, Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels, 57. Regiment Turkish Memorial,The Nek,Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. Overnight:İstanbul Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 Istanbul departure

Breakfast . Transfer to airport and fly home .End of our services . Overnight: N/A Meals: Breakfast ( If the pick up time for departure fligth permits )