Today marks the first day of this incredible trip through Turkey, with Istanbul as the first stop! Take advantage of the complimentary hotel transfer if you arrive on Day 1 or have booked our pre-accommodation. After settling into the hotel, enjoy the free day to explore this striking city at leisure! Board a tram to the Grand Bazaar and discover this lively local market. Be sure to visit the alleys for gold, leather, bowls and tea. To get away from the crowds, marvel at the fantastic views and savour a drink from a rooftop terrace. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner and get to know your tour leader and travel companions for this trip.

Experiences
Meals Dinner

Following breakfast, discover Istanbul on a guided tour featuring must-see landmarks: the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Hippodrome. Enhance your experience with the Istanbul+ optional tour, which includes entry to Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, a scenic Bosphorus cruise, a visit to the lively spice bazaar, and a traditional Turkish lunch!

Experiences

• Discover Istanbul on an orientation tour

• Marvel at the beautiful Blue Mosque

• See Topkapi Palace and the Hippodrome

Meals Breakfast,

Journey to the historic Gallipoli Battlefields, a solemn site where over 30,000 British and Commonwealth troops fell during WWI. Pay your respects at significant memorials, including Lone Pine and the Chunuk Bair Memorial at ANZAC Cove. Later, continue to Çanakkale for the evening, where an included dinner awaits.

Experiences

• Take a historical tour of the Gallipoli Battlefields

Meals Breakfast, Dinner

Step back in time with a photo opportunity at Troy's iconic Trojan Horse before continuing to the spectacular Acropolis of Pergamum. Discover the remarkable temples and renowned library that established Pergamum as an ancient centre of culture and power. End the day in Kuşadasi with an included dinner.

Experiences

• Capture an iconic photo with the legendary Trojan Horse

• Visit the ancient city of Pergamon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Spend two nights in the resort town of Kuşadasi

Meals Breakfast, Dinner

Spend your free day at leisure or opt for a guided tour to Ephesus, one of the Mediterranean's best-preserved ancient cities. Explore the atmospheric ruins and impressive theatre before enjoying lunch in picturesque Şirince village. Continue to a carpet-making school where local craftspeople showcase their traditional techniques. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening.

Experiences

Meals Breakfast, Dinner

Journey to Pamukkale with a leather shop stop along the way. After hotel check-in, explore the gleaming "Cotton Castle" travertines, ancient Hierapolis, and Cleopatra's Pool on an optional tour. This evening, watch a traditional Whirling Dervish ceremony, a captivating cultural demonstration. End the night with an included dinner at your hotel.

Experiences
Meals Breakfast, Dinner

Travel the historic Silk Road with two fascinating stops. First, visit Konya's Mevlana Museum, home to the tomb of the celebrated poet Rumi. Then explore Sultanhani Caravanserai, a centuries-old inn where merchants once rested during their travels. End your day at the hotel in Cappadocia with an included dinner.

Experiences

• Visit the intriguing Mevlana Museum

• Discover the Sultanhani Caravanserai along the Silk Road

Meals Breakfast, Dinner

Spend your day exploring Cappadocia's dreamlike terrain! The optional Cappadocia+ excursion showcases the best of this unique region. Venture into Kaymakli's underground tunnels, visit the striking Uchisar Castle, and tour the Göreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO site filled with ancient cave churches. Drive through the dramatic Love and Imagination Valleys to witness nature's artistry. This evening, enjoy an included dinner at the hotel before tonight's optional, a Traditional Turkish Folklore Evening with unlimited drinks.

Experiences

• See the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia

Meals Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, depart Cappadocia as the tour continues to Ankara. Upon arrival, visit the famous mausoleum of President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Ankara was declared the capital city of Turkey by Ataturk in 1923. Experience a wide variety of performing arts and cultural attractions in this lively city! This is the last stop on the Highlights of Turkey tour before heading back to Istanbul for the final night of the tour.

Experiences

• Explore Ankara, Turkey’s capital city

Meals Breakfast,

Before the tour concludes this morning, enjoy a final breakfast in Turkey with your tour group. Bid your new global friends farewell after 10 exciting days on tour, and remember to exchange contact details. We hope to see you on another Expat Explore tour soon!

Experiences
Meals Breakfast,