Captivating Turkey Tour
Explore the captivating beauty of Turkey's natural landscapes and delve into its rich cultural heritage with our expertly crafted tour, showcasing the unique and unforgettable experiences the country has to offer.
Small Group Tours (Usually 8 to 12)
Boutique Hotels
Flights Only (No Long Bus Trips)
Tour Itinerary
Pick up from the airport (or port) 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 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.
Pick up from your hotel & morning tour of the ruins of the ancient cities of Troy. Lunch break. In the afternoon, drive to Kusadasi, stopping at the beautiful ruins of Pergamon 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. 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 (2.5 hours drive), 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 & take a private car transfer for 3.5 hours to the gorgeous little harbour town of Kas. Overnight in Kas.
Explore the local Roman amphitheatre and Lycian tombs. Perhaps even hike a short section of the Lycian Way? Overnight in Kas.
Pick up from your hotel & transfer to Antalya by private car. Overnight in Antalya.
After morning pick-up, begin the day exploring the ancient city of Perge, one of the most important Roman cities of the region. Walk along its colonnaded streets and discover the agora, baths, fountains, theatre, and other well-preserved remains that offer insight into daily life in Roman Anatolia. Continue to Aspendos Ancient Theatre, renowned for its exceptional acoustics and impressive preservation. Built nearly 2,000 years ago, this magnificent structure remains one of the finest examples of Roman engineering. In the afternoon, visit Side Ancient City, where ancient ruins blend seamlessly with a modern seaside town. Explore the remains within the Roman city walls, including the Temple of Apollo, and enjoy views of Side’s beautiful coastline. The day concludes with a visit to Manavgat Waterfall, a relaxing natural setting ideal for cooling off and enjoying the scenery, before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Antalya.
Pick up from your hotel & transfer to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia (maybe via Istanbul) and onward transfer to your cave hotel. Overnight 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 airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Overnight stay 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 Details
Hotels
Departure Date
DAILY GUARANTEED DEPARTURES (GALLIPOLI TOUR DOES NOT OPERATE ON ANZAC DAY)
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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: 10,272 AUDDouble/Twin PP: 8,012 AUDTriple PP: 7,258 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
David Quirk
Australia
We travelled in Türkiye on tour arranged and coordinated by the Turkish Travel Centre. The trip was fantastic and without a single problem. The accommodation was of a very high standard and each hotel well situated for safety and site seeing in the city or town, the food provided was just superb. Each component of the trip was expertly coordinated by Makbule, who made contact every day to update and advise the details of the coming day and travel arrangements, we had complete trust in her to get us around safely. The drivers were excellent hospitable and friendly, vehicles were modern and of high standard. The road, marine and air travel was seamlessly integrated and every transfer was on time and as described and planned. The day tours were managed and led by expert guides who made the experiences so memorable and enjoyable. A wonderful holiday in a land of intrigue and beautiful people. Thoroughly recommend the Turkish Travel Centre to coordinate and arrange your trip to Turkiye and thanks Makbule for our great trip.
Read MoreMiriam Hayter
Western Australia
Thank you to Michael and the team for organising my 19 day Grand Turkiye Tour. This was my first time as a solo traveler and was a little apprehensive at first but Michael’s professionalism put me at ease. This was followed by Makbule (my Turkiye contact). Her caring nature and dedication to ensuring every little detail was looked after contributed to making my Turkiye holiday a dream come true. My guides, transport and accommodation were all faultless and I always felt safe and very welcome. I would recommend Turkiye Travel Centre 100% and look forward to further travel in the future.
Read MoreWayne D.
Australia
19 days tour, May/June 2022. We highly recommend this tour operated by Turkey Travel Centre. The initial contact with Michael continued over 2 years due to Covid 19 delays etc. At every stage our concerns were promptly attended to, and eventually bookings made. The team at TTC are very professional, courteous and show great attention to detail. The team on the ground in Turkey are outstanding, excellent communication right the way through, with passionate and knowledgeable guides for the day trips etc. The accommodation choices made are excellent, always conveniently located in town and comfortable. The transport provided for our group of 6 was more than adequate with large modern, air conditioned vehicles used. Highlights of the trip was the diving experience at Gallipoli and the 4 days Gulet cruise along the Agean Coast. Overall, visiting Turkey was highlight in itself, we always felt safe, the food is terrific, along with the hospitality of the locals where ever we went. Cappadocia is also a must visit area. Thankyou to the team at TTC for giving us such a wonderful, value for money experience in Turkey.
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Rosalie Dolliver
Turkey
We had the privilege and luck to choose Turkey Travel Centre (TTC) to plan and organise our 10 amazing days spent in and around Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia. Not once did we need to confirm the next tour hotel pick up or transfer, instead the hotel or previous tour guide would remind us what was happening next. All hotels were great and indicative of the area ( not a generic building that could be anywhere in the world) andstaff there went out of their way to be helpful. The tour guides were informative, fun, patient and easily understood. TTC understood what we were wanting to see and delivered- and when I emailed a query prior and during the trip they responded the same day - seven days a week, via phone or email. Thanks TTC you made our holiday a delight ! Ron & Rosalie
Read MoreJeff & Teena Pond
Sydney, Australia
We recently travelled to Turkey and spent 2 weeks touring the country. All of our accommodation, transfers and excursions were organised by Michael at Turkey Travel and we were extremely impressed with the service provided. Michael was quick to respond to any query and was professional at all times. The accommodation was excellent quality, in great locations with beautiful amenities. The included food was plentiful and delicious. The service providers in Turkey were wonderful...
Read MoreWillard Family
Australia
Hi Michael Just wanted to send a big THANK YOU for all your help organising our trip. Your quick reply to all my emails made it easy for me to organise our end of the trip. We had a wonderful time and have treasured memories of Turkey. We found the people wonderful and the food yummy and the historic places made for a wow factor everyday of our trip. Mehmet was a wonderful guide, his knowledge and friendly caring personality was very special. It was very hard to say good bye to him in Bodrum. Our coach driver Ramusen (sorry about the spelling) was very dear to us also, he kept us safe and got us everywhere on time. It did not seem to matter that there was a language barrier between us. We were so grateful for Mehmet and Ramusen joining us in our Dawn Service at ANZAC Cove – something we will never forget. I also had to ring Ihsan while in Turkey and he was just as helpful as everyone else has been. Anyway just wanted to say thank you to you and all at Turkey Travel Centre. Kind Regards Fran
Read MoreBlogs
Exploring Kas in Mediterranean Turkey
Kas is one of the smaller holiday resorts of the Mediterranean coastline but many testify it is the most appealing. While touring the southwest coast, I had scheduled to stay two nights in the town. After the first day, I extended my stay by another three nights and only left because of prearranged commitments. If I could have stayed longer, I would have done.
This is not criticism of the surrounding resorts of Kalkan or Patara but I felt a stronger connection with Kaş and was left with some unfailing memories. Despite becoming a popular destination in Turkey, it has not suffered from the trappings and greed of mass tourism. Neither have the local expats inflicted their typical western ways into daily life. Kas has moved with the times but still pays homage to its roots as a traditional Turkish fishing village.
About Kas
I remember exploring the small cobbled streets of the old town. Pink bougainvillea sprawled over the walls of the white washed houses. Before 1923, there was a large Greek population in the town and every so often, I spotted evidence of their presence in the architecture of brown, wooden balconies and window shutters. Houses, buildings, and streets are built around the old Lycian tombs and Hellenistic theatre, preserving them as timely reminders for past civilizations that occupied the area.
Every day, I watched the sunset from the roof terrace of my hotel. It was not vibrant orange like the sunsets on the Aegean coast, yet it was beautiful.A shadow slowly covered the blue skies while allowing white rays of the sun to shine through the clouds and reflect on the water. It was a calming mixture of subtle and mute colours that is now one of my favourite photographs.
The local café near the harbor won my repeat custom by serving the most delicious ice-cold coffee frappes. I read my book while sitting in the shade on Turkish style cushions and ordered one after another, devouring their taste. Since then, no establishment I have visited has ever matched the lingering taste of those ice-cold coffees.
The evening time was a chance to indulge my culinary preferences by ordering a huge plate of juicy fresh shrimp cooked in garlic. I sent my plate back empty and clean because I had wiped up the delicious juices with fresh bread. I had sat in a simple family restaurant facing the sea and it was a great base to people watch and slowly fall in love with Kas.
Things to do in Kas, Turkey
So you might think I spent all my time being lazy and soaking up the rays of the Mediterranean sun but I did get active as well. There is plenty of things to do in the resort and surrounding areas and it would be impossible for any local or expat to complain they are bored.
Visiting Meis from Kas
I booked a day trip across to the Greek island of Meis. Swapping the currency from Turkish lira to euros confused me but it did not stop me from making an on-the-spot decision to jump into a speedboat and head to the Blue cave. We laid down on the boat to get past the entrance but once inside, the scene was of crystal blue water that reflected from the lack of sunshine on the walls of the cave.
Sea Kayaking at Kekova
The lack of strength in my arms was also highlighted when I failed miserably at a sea kayaking trip over the sunken ruins of Kekova. We set off from the small village of Üçağız and ended up in Simena, which is a destination stuck in time and devoid of all modern cons and trends. With aching arms, I grudgingly climbed out of the kayak and followed the group in a safety boat. Would I do it again? Yes, one day I will return and attempt sea kayaking again.
Paragliding in Kas
The next activity, I was to fail at was paragliding. I had seen the paragliders landing every morning and afternoon in the harbour yet when I made it to the takeoff point; my fears got the better of me. Many people who know Turkey in-depth typically associate Olu Deniz with paragliding, but for beginners, the resort of Kaş is a more subtle and easier introduction to the sport.
A Trip to Demre and the ruins of Myra
I also backed up on my travel route to visit Demre and the ruins of Myra. In history, the mayor of Demre was St Nicholas. Thanks to his kindness and love of sharing, he went on to be called Santa Claus. Many nationalities visit the church of St Nicholas to pay their respect to the man that became loved by children all over the world.
After the church, I jumped in a taxi and headed to the ruins of Myra. In its prime, it was an important city of the ancient Lycian league and the tombs facing down from the hillside are an impressive sight.
Read MoreThings to Do Near Canakkale and Troy
The town of Canakkale, being located between the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara, is a seaport that is of great importance to Turkey. Two things that make Canakkale of historical relevance are its early civilization (3000BC to 400AD) and the two most remarkable battles in history – the mythical Trojan War and the Battle of Canakkale during World War I. Because of its colorful past, a visit to the museums, monuments and ancient cities are a must. Another place you should visit in Canakkale is the Temple of Athena in Behramkale. Aside from the magnificence of the 6th century BC temple, the sweeping view of the Gulf as seen from the temple is truly astounding. See our wide range of tours to Gallipoli and Cannakale
Ancient City of Troy
Many people had the perception that the Ancient City of Troy was no more than a fictional place, the setting of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, until it was unearthed in the 19th century. Troy played a vital role in the early Western civilization, having existed for more than 4,000 years, being cradled between the continents of Europe and Asia. Heinrich Schlieman was a treasure hunter to which the discovery of Troy can be credited. If not for him, people wouldn’t have known that the mythical city of Troy actually existed. Having been declared a World Heritage Site is enough reason for you to visit the Ancient City of Troy, much more the thrill of standing on the same spot where the Trojan War was described to have happened. You’ll surely enjoy Troy if you are a fan of ancient literature and history with all its ruins and archaeological sites.
Pergamon
This ancient city belongs to Turkey’s top 100 historical sites of Turkey and the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its most remarkable monuments and buildings date as far back as 197-159 BC and include the Hellenistic theatre, the Trajaneum (Sanctuary of Trajan), and Athenium (the Library).