Treasures of Turkey Tour
A tour aimed at providing comfortable travel with private transfers, and quality hotels. The itinerary include visits to Turkey’s main attractions including Gallipoli, the old part of Istanbul, and stunning Pamukkale, nicknamed white Cotton Castle and much more!
Small Group Tours (Usually 8 to 12)
Boutique Hotels
Flights Only (No Long Bus Trips)
Highlights
A tour aimed at providing comfortable travel with private transfers, and quality hotels. The itinerary include visits to Turkey’s main attractions including Gallipoli, the old part of Istanbul, and stunning Pamukkale, nicknamed white Cotton Castle and much more!
Tour Itinerary
Pick up from the airport and transfer to your hotel by private car. Overnight stay in Istanbul.
Pick up from your hotel & visit Haghia Sophia*, Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace. We will provide you with tickets to the Whirling Dervish ceremony tonight (the art centre is 5 minutes walking distance to your hotel). Overnight stay in Istanbul. * Hagia Sophia was reconverted to a mosque in 2020 and remains a functioning house of worship. Our commentary will be provided from outside in order to respect its religious status and daily practices.
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning for a full-day guided tour exploring both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. Begin by crossing the Bosphorus Bridge to the Asian side to visit Beylerbeyi Palace, the elegant 19th-century summer residence of the Ottoman sultans. Continue to Camlica Hill for panoramic views over the city, followed by a visit to Camlica Mosque, the largest mosque in modern Turkey. Return to the European side and take a cable car ride to Pierre Loti Hill for scenic views over the Golden Horn. Visit the Eyup Sultan Mosque and Tomb, one of the most important spiritual sites in Istanbul, and learn about the historical significance of the Golden Horn area. In the afternoon, enjoy a Bosphorus cruise with lunch, sailing between Europe and Asia while viewing major landmarks from the water, including the Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Fortress, Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, and Beylerbeyi Palace. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Pick up from your hotel & drive (4.5 hours) south to the Gallipoli Peninsula. Hear expert information from a local guide. Visit the Kabatepe War Museum, the intended landing place at Brighton Beach and Anzac Cove where the Dawn Service is held each year. Also visit the NZ Memorial at Chunuk Bair, the Australian Memorial at Lone Pine, and the Turkish Memorial as well. Overnight in Canakkale. Note: Enough time is spent in Gallipoli to visit all the sites mentioned above.
Pick up from your hotel & morning drive (1 hour) to the ruins of the ancient cities of Troy. Lunch break. In the afternoon, drive to Kusadasi, stopping at the beautiful ruins of Pergamon (2 hours drive) on the way. These stunning ruins, beautifully located on a hill top, demonstrate that the architects and sculptors of Pergamon were among the most talented in the Hellenistic world. Final drive to Kusadasi will be 2.5 hours. Overnight in Kusadasi.
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and begin with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, located on a peaceful mountainside near Ephesus, believed to be where she spent her final years, while Saint John lived and later passed away in Ephesus. Continue to Temple of Artemis & onto the Ancient City of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world. Entering through the Magnesia Gate, you will explore its remarkable monuments including the Commercial Agora, Roman Baths, Basilica, Odeon (Bouleuterion), Domitian Square, Nike Relief, Gate of Heracles, the colonnaded streets including Marble Street, Trajan Fountain, Temple of Hadrian, Latrines, Terrace Houses (from outside), the iconic Library of Celsus, and the impressive Grand Theatre, along with other significant ruins that illustrate the city’s long and layered history. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight stay in Kusadasi.
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and travel to Pamukkale, often referred to as Turkey’s “Cotton Castle,” famous for its striking white travertine terraces formed by mineral-rich thermal waters. Here you will have time to walk along the terraces and enjoy the natural pools, so comfortable footwear and swimwear are recommended. You will also visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, located above the terraces, where you will explore its well-preserved ruins, including streets, ancient baths, and other significant remains from its Roman past. After the tour, you will return to your hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Pick up from your hotel & transfer to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia (maybe via Istanbul.) On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.
05:00 Hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia Hotel pickup, then a quick snack and safety briefing. Watching the balloon inflate, then you're off! Soaring over fairy chimneys, and dipping low to skim cave dwellings. This may be your favourite part of your Turkey trip - it will certainly be unforgettable. Celebrate a soft landing with a quick drink, and return to your hotel for breakfast around 8.30am. Full Day Cappadocia Tour - (North) You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning to begin a full-day exploration of Cappadocia. The tour starts at Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley), known for its surreal and uniquely shaped rock formations. Continue to Pashabagi (Monks Valley), where Christian hermits once lived among the three-headed fairy chimneys, and where you can observe all stages of fairy chimney formation. Next, visit Avanos, the pottery centre of Cappadocia, set along the banks of the Kizilirmak (Red River), where traditional pottery techniques using kick wheels have been passed down through generations. Lunch is included. In the afternoon, explore the Goreme Open Air Museum, home to some of the world’s most important Byzantine cave churches, featuring remarkably preserved frescoes depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Conclude the day at Esentepe Panorama, offering a breathtaking view over Goreme Valley, fairy chimneys, rock formations, and cave houses, before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Full Day Cappadocia Tour - (South) You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and begin the day with a scenic walk through Red Valley, known for its colourful rock formations, local village life, and historic landscapes. Depending on the season, you may encounter locals tending gardens or harvesting crops. The walk takes approximately 2 hours and finishes at Cavusin Village, where you will explore the impressive rock castle that once housed the entire village, along with the ruins of Saint John the Baptist Church, one of the largest Byzantine churches in the region. Lunch follows. In the afternoon, continue to Kaymakli Underground City, one of Cappadocia’s best-preserved underground settlements, descending through its tunnels, chambers, and communal spaces carved deep into the earth. The day concludes with a visit to Pigeon Valley, offering panoramic views of abandoned cave homes and historic Greek houses around Uchisar. After the tour, transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Pick up from your hotel & morning flight back to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Istanbul.
Free day for wandering the streets of the Old City, getting lost in the Grand Bazaar or taking a leisurely Turkish bath in an historic hamam. Play backgammon and drink tea, or travel into the New City around Istiklal Street to experience Istanbul the way the locals do. Overnight in Istanbul.
Pick up from the hotel according to your flight schedule and transfer to the airport.
You can customise this trip with additional days! Slow the pace with rest days in locations of your choice, or add additional sightseeing days along the route.
Tour Map
Tour Details
Hotels
Departure Date
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Start DateFinish DateDay / Days / Every Day
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Start Date: 01.01.2026Finish Date: 31.12.2026Day / Days / Every Day: Every Day
Price List
* Our prices are based on Euros to give you the most competitive, transparent pricing. We avoid hidden mark-ups by calculating the AUD price (separately for deposit and balance payments) weekly based on the live exchange rate.
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StartFinishSingleDouble/Twin PPTriple PP
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Start: 01.01.2026Finish: 31.12.2026Single: 7,937 AUDDouble/Twin PP: 6,511 AUDTriple PP: 6,218 AUD
Book Now / Enquiry
If you are traveling with children, please send us an enquiry through the below form for costing and further information.
Reviews
Zina M.
Australia
Hi Michael, Zina and I have returned from our wonderful trip to Turkey. Many thanks for the excellent tours and guides on our trip. Our guides were all great and we were particularly impressed with TJ around Canakkale, the local guide around Troy, and with the guide around Ephesus.
Read MoreAlan
Sydney
Dear Michael, Our “Treasures of Turkey” tour was a wonderful experience. Every aspect of TTC’s arrangements was excellent: the itinerary, transfers, the standard of hotels and transport, special events, and meals. It’s impossible to select any single highlight because everywhere we went was so interesting, often exceptionally so. Cities, countryside, historic sites – they were all outstanding. I should, however, make special mention of our guides, Mehmet and Murat, whose generous sharing of personal insights added greatly to the context of what we were seeing, and to our understanding of Turkey. I’ve attached two pictures, one of Istanbul at dusk, centred on the Suleymaniye Mosque; the other of a café near the Hagia Sophia Museum. You’re welcome to share any of this. Thank you again for a memorable holiday. Kind regards, Alan
Read MoreMarianne Mahony
Melbourne, Australia
Well we have been back a few weeks now after what a wonderful trip I wanted to thank you for the trip. Mehmet was a terrific guide and we all enjoyed both his driving and his ability to understand and explain both Turkish and Australian culture. We will be recommending your service to our frinds Best Regards,
Read MoreJulie Ann
Perth, Australia
I’m sorry I haven’t contacted you earlier, but I just want to say how much I enjoyed the Treasures of Turkey tour which you offered. I was completely satisfied with all the arrangements which were put in place and not one of those arrangements were not to my satisfaction. I’m so pleased that i went with your group - it was unlike any other tour I’ve done and I have to say before I left for Turkey I was a little apprehensive about going on a tour on my own but I shouldn’t have worried. It was all marvellous. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend your company to anyone wishing to visit Turkey. I would love to go to Eastern Turkey also, but first have to save up again!
Read MoreLaurie B.
Australia
Hi Michael,
Just a quick thank you for a wonderful tour. We really had a great time and everything was well organised and went to plan. Thank you for all your efforts.
Read MoreLindsay
Australia
Hello Michael, We can only give the highest praise to your company, every pick up was punctual, every hotel was located in an excellent position, the hotels had great character and the rooms and staff were excellent. The activities planned were all well organised and and covered everything that we wanted to see. The two guides, Mehmet and Muhammad were excellent. Overall 10 out of 10.
Read MoreBlogs
How to Spend 5 days in Istanbul
5 days in Istanbul is ample time to see the best tourist attractions that make the metropolis, one of the top city break destinations in the world. Despite its enormous size and bustling population, Istanbul has welcoming vibes that leave visitors with lasting memories of their time there. Anyone visiting for 5 days should prepare for an intensely diverse city that wows and amazes at the same time.
Both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires ruled from the city, then known as Constantinople. So, as well as seeing the modern face of Istanbul, tourists will enjoy an exciting journey into the city’s history that also had a dramatic effect on the rest of the world.
A wonderful way to start is by delving into the heart of the old city, known as the Sultan Ahmet district. Major landmarks are all situated close together, so one day is enough or two if you go at a slower pace. Starting at Topkapi Palace, the first home of the Ottoman sultans, follow it up by seeing, the Istanbul Archaeology Museum close by, which has an esteemed reputation for its extensive collection of ancient artefacts.
Just a ten-minute walk away, the Hagia Sophia, a former church, mosque and now busy museum was once the largest domed building in the world. Across the square, the 17th-century Blue Mosque is open to tourists outside of prayer time and is a marvellous introduction to Islam. Having seen the main sights, other delights to visit close by include the Hippodrome, social centre of the Byzantine empire and the Basilica Cistern, the former underground water source to the Imperial Ottoman Palace.
The next day, a good place to start is the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest markets in the world and perfect for souvenir and Turkish carpet shopping. Head towards the Eminonu district, and passing through the Egyptian Spice Market, tourists will arrive at Galata Bridge.
Stop for one of the famous street food fish sandwiches before heading across and walking up to Galata Tower, that has a fantastic panoramic view of the city’s landscape. Tickets are also on sale here for Turkish night shows that include dinner and entertainment, and it is a fun, light-hearted introduction to Turkish culture.
Wake up the next morning to head further afield, with a boat trip of the Bosphorus, a significant stretch of water both in history and modern day because of its strategic location. In history, the banks were home to rich Ottomans who built their Yali houses there. These days, they are multi-million-pound mansions that can be seen from the boat decks.
After lunch, spend the afternoon at Dolmabahce, the last home of the Ottoman sultans before their empire was disbanded in the early 20th century. The extravagant chandeliers and gold leaf ceilings, combined with architecture trends of that time easily outshine royal palaces in other countries.
If three days of sightseeing has left you less energetic, a traditional Turkish bath and scrub down is the perfect way to recharge your batteries on day four. Alternatively, sitting in the tea shops of Camlica Hill with its fantastic view over the Bosphorus and Golden Horn is perfect to be at one with Mother Nature in Turkey’s largest city.
Otherwise, touring Istiklal Avenue and the back streets is an introduction to the new part of the city. Landmarks include the Anthony of Saint Padua church, the Galata Whirling Dervish Museum, Flower Passage and French Street.
If you spent two days wandering the Sultan Ahmet district, by now, your five-day tour of Istanbul has finished, however, if you still have time to squeeze in more delights, the Prince’s Islands are a must visit.
In history, shamed royals were exiled there but these days, Buyukada, the largest of them all is home to magnificent Ottoman mansions lining spacious avenues. Transport is not allowed on the island, so the only way to get about is on foot or via a horse and carriage, but also take the time to sit in the seaside restaurants and take in your last views of Istanbul.
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