Turkey Flexible schedule Tours & Trip Packages

Turkey Flexible schedule Tours & Trips

433 Turkey trips. Tours from 98 tour companies. 722 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

42 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Flexible schedule
Fascinating Turkey
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Wheelchair Accessible
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Blue Mosque, Cappadocia, Topkapi Palace

Highlights

  • 7-night hotel accommodation
  • Daily breakfast
  • Visit the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul
  • Take a cruise on the Bhosphorous
  • Stroll the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar
Show more

Themes

Cultural, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"My friends and I had a wonderful, wonderful Italian vacation this spring. Our Sky Vacations consultant put together an amazing package for Rome, Florence and Venice. This was our first trip so we experienced everything that a first trip should include. Each hotel was perfect! Thank you!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Black Sea Discovery - 7 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Operator does not provide
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Istanbul - Old city, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace
  • Ancient Tombs of Boybat
  • Sinop - Sinop Castle, Fjords and Alaadin Mosque
  • Amasya - on the banks of the Green River and the 15th century Beyazit Mosque Complex
  • Hattusas - Once the capital of the Hittite Empire
Show more

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"First time we (mom and daughter) have done a tour and first time with on the go tours. What a special trip we had doing the 13 day Casablanca to Essaouira Morocco tour (26 Nov - 6 Dec 2023). We started the first 8 days doing the totally Morocco tour and the last few days at our own pace with down time in Essaouira. Jamal our guide led the tour from start to finish and took us safely on a culture filled journey. His knowledge of the country, it’s history and people was informative and inspiring. Every request was “no problem” and delivered with a smile and happy demeanour. Everything in Morrocco was “no problem” and we felt safe and looked after. We were driven in a comfortable coach with enough stops along the way to not feel long by our competent driver Suleman. The hotels, Riad and Dar were extremely comfortable with exceptional service. We would not have had the same experience travelling on our own, we felt as though we truly experienced Morocco. Everything was a highlight for us and we will definitely book another on the go tour in the future. If you wanting to see true Morocco we would strongly recommend doing this tour."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Cruising the Islands of Greece
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
3.5/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Why we love them
Since their founding in 1977 by trekkers exploring Nepal, they’ve maintained a strong connection to local culture and the “traveler spirit”.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Akrotiri, Athens, Delos, Ephesus, Mykonos, Santorini

Highlights

  • Explore the historical city of athens on a walking tour with your local leader and let them take the hassle out of navigating this bustling capital.
  • Witness the spectacular colours of santorini’s famous sunset bathe the caldera.
  • Venture off the tourist trail with a stop in amorgos, where a striking 11th-century monastery built into a cliff offers breathtaking views of the aegean sea.
  • Discover the mythology behind one of the most important archaeological sites in greece, delos, and let a local guide give you a fascinating insight into its history.

Themes

Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My first trip with this agency, and I will not hesitate to recommend it to friends and family. The right mix of planned activities and free time. Good central location of all the hotels. The only fly in the ointment was the last hotel where there were vibration and noise in several rooms and the hotel staff was extremely arrogant and rude. They blatantly asserted looking me right in the eye that they cannot hear any noise, even though more than one person from our group was complaining. However. Tucan's guide Cindy was extremely helpful and did her best to resolve the situation, in spite of the hotel staff's behaviour. On the whole, Cindy was great, very helpful and caring."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Istanbul and 4 Days long Blue Cruise in Bodrum
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
73 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Istanbul

Highlights

  • Istanbul food tour
  • Istanbul old city tour
  • Bodrum to Bodrum Blue Cruise

Themes

Small Ship Cruise, Sailing

What travelers are saying

"Despite the rain, the private and guided Istanbul food tour was terrific, engaging and delicious. The best part of the tour was our guide Furkan, who was so knowledgeable, about food and history and just a nice guy who was fun to be with. It felt like spending a day with a good friend showing us around Istanbul. All the places he took us were great, and the food was the top quality. We sampled cheese, clotted cream, menemen, Turkish pepperoni, kokorec, stuffed mussels, and a huge variety of authentic Turkish cuisines and kunefe dessert. The tour was my highlight of 10 days trip in Turkey. I highly recommend booking this tour early in your stay so you can use your knowledge for the time you are in Istanbul."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Health Safety

More
Istanbul, you’ve Never Seen It before 5 – Day
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
73 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Wheelchair Accessible
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Istanbul

Highlights

  • Istanbul food tour
  • Istanbul Off The Beaten Path
  • Istanbul Bosphorus tour with a private yacht.
  • Istanbul grand bazaar.

Themes

Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"Despite the rain, the private and guided Istanbul food tour was terrific, engaging and delicious. The best part of the tour was our guide Furkan, who was so knowledgeable, about food and history and just a nice guy who was fun to be with. It felt like spending a day with a good friend showing us around Istanbul. All the places he took us were great, and the food was the top quality. We sampled cheese, clotted cream, menemen, Turkish pepperoni, kokorec, stuffed mussels, and a huge variety of authentic Turkish cuisines and kunefe dessert. The tour was my highlight of 10 days trip in Turkey. I highly recommend booking this tour early in your stay so you can use your knowledge for the time you are in Istanbul."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Health Safety

More
Aegean Escape
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.1/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Athens

Highlights

  • Athens Sightseeing Tour (with Acropolis)
  • Ancient Ephesus Through the Ages
  • Medieval Tour - Acropolis of Lindos and the Citadel of the Knights

Themes

Local Immersion & Homestays, Relaxing Retreats, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Great Value did an amazing job with the basic outline for the itinerary and the hotel choices were excellent."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More

Unlock Community Benefits

Travel better together

  • Save favorite trips and itineraries
  • Get insider insights
  • Receive personalized recommendations
  • ... and much more
Join community
Aegean Mosaic Cruise
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Athens, Delos, Istanbul

Highlights

  • Visit the seaport town of Canakkale
  • Visit Mykonos town, reaching one of its famous beaches
  • Visit the old settlements of Alexandria Troa and of Assos
  • Visit the archaeological ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, unearthed here in the 19th century
  • Excursion which will include the Akrotiri excavations, the Museum and the Villages. The tour will end in Oia on time to enjoy Oia's world famous sunset

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We particularly wanted to do this trip because of the abundance of wildlife we expected to encounter and selected this ship because they offered the kayaking experience. Overall, the weather was very good. Most people seemed like minded and were there for the adventurous experience. Accommodations Review They upgraded our cabin and we were very pleased with the amount of space and the amenities in the room. We appreciated the twin windows and being able to see humpbacks diving from our cabin. It was kept very clean and it was a treat to have our bed turned down with chocolates on the pillow each night. Meals Review We liked the variety and the quality of the food. There was always something new to try. The dining room staff was very professional and personable. Crew & Guides Review Solon was our Principal Trip Leader. He was incredibly professional and it seemed like he was constantly working to maximize the encounters with wildlife and scenery, taking advantage of all the weather opportunities and going to places that they don't often go. He worked very closely with the captain who was very accommodating and caring about us having a memorable voyage. Aymie and Andrew were our kayak guides. We went out to kayak 10 different times and were able to get to know both of them well. They worked hard to keep us safe and well informed. They made sure that we didn't miss out on any land excursions. We've had quite a few kayak guides over the years that we've paddled and we loved these two. Marla was the marine biologist aboard the ship. She was very enthusiastic and had a passion for marine mammals that was infectious. We loved listening to her presentations and looked forward to hearing her voice on the PA saying that there was another whale sighting. Colin, the geologist aboard the ship, was very knowledgeable and able to make difficult subjects understandable to the passengers. Itinerary Review The trip far, far, far, far, far, far exceeded our expectations. I had one "far" in the sentence when we left South Georgia Island after seeing 250,000 King Penguins at St. Andrews Point and added the second when we saw blue whales on two different days. The third "far" was added when we saw hundreds of whales for 6 hours along the iceberg, A68a. I added another "far" when we kayaked for over an hour with humpbacks all around and another "far" when minke whales were all around the kayaks the next day. The last "far" was added the day we didn't paddle since a leopard seal was all around the kayaks and then an orca came close. We had so many incredible experiences that we could never experience all of them in the same trip again. The guides told us that the close encounters that we had didn't happen very often and that we were very lucky that they all happened on our trip. The only thing that we didn't like was portions of the Drake Passage when it was a tad rough, but that experience gives us something to talk about. Transportation Review We made our transportation arrangements through another travel agency. Traveler Advice Make sure that you take sea sickness meds. Take advantage of every opportunity to see wildlife."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Turkey Luxury Tour Origins Of Civilization
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Antalya, Blue Mosque, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Istanbul, Taurus Mountain, Topkapi Palace

Highlights

  • Explore the enormous Temple of Apollo at Didyma.
  • Experience hot-air balloon flight
  • Visit Goreme Open Air Museum
  • Discover Ephesus, the largest Greco-Roman site in the world
  • Explore Taurus Mountains
Show more

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise, Sailing

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip
42 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Flexible schedule
...

1

2

3

...

Turkey Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
722  Reviews
See all Turkey tour reviews
Excellent
251
Great
63
Average
3
Disappointing
1
Terrible
0
A

Anonymous

Oct 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Highlights of Turkey

Wonderful introduction to this huge and beautiful country. Ancient history, beautiful coastlines, Turkish Baths, friendly people, gorgeous food The Wow moment was t...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Turkey review

We visited all the places that we booked the trip to see and our excellent guide Ali also took us to a number of smaller less well known places. Although some of t...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

A great trip!

Overall, the trip was wonderful! It was my first time doing a trip where we covered so many kilometres which made it tiring, but I expected that at the outset. Som...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

A varied tour...history,culture,swimming,great food...what more could you want!

This was our ninth Exodus tour and it didn’t disappoint. We saw so much in 2weeks..Gallipoli,Cannukale, Pammukale,Ephesus,Troy,Antalya and Kas, Capadoccia........t...

A

Anonymous

Jan 2018

Provided byExodus Travels

Great mix!

This trip is a great mix of man-made and nature-made. If you like ruins and nature it's an amazing trip! The scenery was great, you can't get bored and the ruins i...

Write a Review

Turkey Tour Selection Trips

  • Consider how much time you have for your vacation to Turkey. Look for tours that focus on the highlights of Turkey in one week. Or, spend a couple weeks or more seeing all the country has to offer. If you have up to a month, combine a Turkey tour with visits to other Eastern European countries.
  • You could easily spend an entire week touring Istanbul, one of the world’s most fascinating cities, so don’t dismiss that option.
  • Consider making Istanbul a starting point for a Black Sea cruise and spending a few extra days there before your voyage; most cruise lines or tour operators can arrange it
  • For the most comfortable temperatures, plan to visit Turkey in the spring. Autumn is also quite comfortable, but summers can be quite hot.
  • Think about what activities you’d like to participate in on your Turkey vacation. Are you hoping to see the natural wonders of the country? Look for a tour that spends a considerable amount of time in Cappadocia. More interested in ancient sites, architecture and culture? Focus on Istanbul.
  • Don’t shy away from solo trips and women-only tours of Turkey. The country is welcoming to all manner of traveler and locals are eager to show off their culture. Pay attention to local customs and traditions and pepper your guide with questions to have the best possible experience.
  • You won’t regret booking a tour that includes Cappadocia, one of Turkey’s most remarkable sites. Plan for three days in order to see the highlights. Hike to your heart’s content, take a hot-air balloon rise at dawn (a must-do in cappadocia) and explore mysterious caves.
  • First time in Turkey? Look for a small-group tour that visits Turkey’s top destinations, including Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Antalya. You may need as few as 8 days to cover these best-of-Turkey attractions, but you may want to consider taking two weeks to slow down the pace a bit.
  • As in much of the Middle East, touts and salesmen can be overly persistent and annoying to people they perceive as tourists. A good local guide should be able to shoo them away -- an excellent reason to take a guided trip to Turkey.

Additional details

Turkish Currency

Here’s the lowdown on the currency in Turkey. 

The currency in Turkey is the Türk Lirası (Turkish lira; ₺). You can expect to pay about ₺7–12 for a beer, ₺50 and up for a flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia, ₺40 for a fish and meze meal and ₺35 for a boating day trip.

A hot-air balloon ride in Cappadocia (a must-do activity in Turkey) runs about €160–175. Many Turkey tour operators will factor these costs into your package rate.

The lira is available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 notes, as well as coins from 1 to 50 kuruş, plus a coin for 1 lira. If you’re planning to visit the markets, keep a stock of coins and smaller notes for low-priced items - the vendors often do not have correct change. 

ATMS are available throughout Turkey and most business in metropolitan and heavily visited areas accept credit and debit cards. 

Hoping to bargain at the bazaar? The vendors are used to haggling, but you may want to ask your Turkey tour guide for local customs. There’s a fine art to bargaining, particularly for higher-priced items in upscale shops. Typically, there is some back and forth and ultimately, a price is agreed upon. It’s not considered good manners to haggle over the price and then change your mind and not purchase anything at the end. 

When you’re bargaining at a Turkish market, take your time, be polite and consider buying several items at once, paying in cash or using a strong currency. 

Best Time to Visit Turkey 

For pleasant weather for your Turkey vacation, the most optimal months to visit are April, May, September and October. You’ll miss the oppressive heat of mid-summer, making sightseeing at ancient ruins more comfortable - although if you’re focusing on a seaside tour of Eastern Europe, you may welcome the high temperatures.

Turkish tour operators often cite May as a particularly good month to visit for its warm, but not overly hot temperatures, making visits to Ephesus and other sites with little shade more pleasant.

After October, the temperature drops and it can be off puttingly cold from about November through March, particularly in the interior of the country. Then again, if you’re hoping to beat the crowds during your Turkey tour, then aim for the winter months. 

Is Turkey Safe to Visit?

There’s no yes or no answer to the question of Turkey’s safety for tourists. The political climate can be unstable and the news has opened the world’s eyes to the Syrian conflict and the ensuing terrorist attacks in Turkey. While the security of the country has been compromised at times, travelers can still tour Turkey comfortably with reputable tour operators, who will always have your safety and wellbeing top of mind. 

When you are considering a tour to Turkey, stay abreast of the latest news and government-issued travel warnings. For example, it is not advised to travel within 10 kilometers of the Syrian border and certain cities and regions are considered off limits, including the city of Diyarbakir, and the provinces of Sirnak, Mardin, Sanliurfa, Gaziantep, Kilis, Hatay, Tunceli and Hakari, where most of the terrorist attacks have occured. 

If you’re keen to visit Turkey, but aren’t sure if it’s worth the cost and effort to tour a country with an unpredictable political climate, consider purchasing travel insurance. That way, you can choose a tour company for your Turkey tour, make the arrangements, figure out what you want to see and do, and then - if disaster strikes - you won’t have lost your entire investment. 

Here are a few ideas for staying safe during your Turkey trip

  • Don’t go near any political gatherings or protests and watch the news before and during your tour to be aware of current or developing situations. 
  • Don’t dress in a particularly flashy way or throw cash around. Keep valuables in a safe in your hotel room and wear a money belt.
  • Learn a few Turkish phrases in case you need to ask for directions or need assistance in some way. 
  • Stay with your group tour as much as possible, whether you’re taking a day trip to Ephesus or a multi-day adventure. 
  • Don’t walk alone at night. 
  • Don’t speak ill of the Turkish government - it’s considered a crime. 
  • Be aware that scammers are out there - do a little advance research to see what travelers to Turkey and other Eastern European countries have been experiencing in the weeks before your tour.

What to Pack for a Trip to Turkey 

So you’re taking a tour in Turkey? Lucky you! This captivating land of eastern and western culture, history, art, geography, nature and cuisine is brimming with memorable moments.

To be the most comfortable, here are the top items to pack while you’re traveling in Turkey:

  • Clothing that covers your shoulders and, in more urban areas, your knees (in more rural areas or when traveling on public transit, wear full-length clothing) 
  • A headscarf for visiting mosques (though not required, you will draw less attention to yourself if one is worn)
  • A packable daypack for day trips
  • Hat
  • Walking shoes and casual sandals or flipflops 
  • Layers - the climate can change quite drastically depending on what region of Turkey you are touring 
  • Swimsuit
  • A reusable water bottle 
  • Hand sanitizer and mediation for indigestion 
  • Lightweight scarf or pashmina 
  • Tour operator information, written out in English and Turkish, if possible
  • A Turkish phrasebook or app for your smartphone
  • Power adaptors for your electronics
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray 
  • Headlamp 

Your Turkey tour operator can offer valuable advice on other essentials to pack depending on the region you’ll be visiting and the activities you’ll be doing. Take the time to pick their brains before departure from home so you can arrive with everything you need to fully enjoy your vacation in Turkey. 

Common Turkish Phrases

It’s such a welcome and polite gesture to learn a few important phrases in the local language of your tour destination. Try these Turkish phrases during your tour:

Günaydın: Good morning

Tünaydin: Good afternoon 

Tanıştığıma memnun oldum: Pleased to meet you 

Hoş geldiniz: welcome 

Buyurun: please 

Teşekkür ederim: thank you 

Afiyet olsun: may it be good for you, or enjoy your meal

Allah Allah: good Lord, oh my goodness, etc. 

Nasılsın?: How are you?

Özür dilerim: I'm sorry

Güle güle: Goodbye

Evet: yes

Hayir: no

Do’s and Don’ts for Traveling to Turkey

Make the most of your guided tour with these top Turkey travel tips: 

  1. Dress appropriately for a Muslim country. This means that when traveling in Turkey, women should keep their shoulders and knees covered and, when visiting a mosque, consider wearing a headscarf. (Friday is a day of prayer, so do not plan to visit a mosque on that day.)

  2. Be respectful of Ramadan. If you’re touring Turkey during the Islmaic month of fasting, avoid public dining out of respect to devout Muslims. 

  3. Don’t trash talk the government. Seriously. It’s considered a crime to speak ill of Atatürk, the founding father of the Turkish Republic, the government, the Turkish flag and the military.  

  4. Bargain away! The vendors of Turkish bazaars love to haggle over prices, so as long as you do so politely and with good humor, you can have fun with it and feel like a Turkish local. 

  5. Don’t photograph people without permission. Ask your Turkey tour operator about where it’s ok to take a photo and what is forbidden, both in terms of local residents and certain historical and religious sights.

  6. Eat all the Turkish food. Come hungry and try everything! Expect large portions and enjoy the indulgence. Try Köfte meatballs, lamb skewers, Manti dumplings and so much more.

  7. Keep the PDAs … well, private. Public displays of affection are frowned upon throughout Turkey. 

  8. Visit a Turkish bath (a hammam).

  9. Don’t refuse a cup of tea or a gift. The Turkish people are incredibly hospitable and will feel slighted, and justly so, if you turn down a gift. 

  10. Speaking of hospitality, you’ll find that the Turks love to socialize with travelers visiting their country, so take this opportunity to experience a real slice of local life. 

  11. Learn a few phrases in the local language.

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 433 trips to Turkey and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!