Day 01: ANTALYA

• Welcome to Antalya with arrival transfer to your hotel and time to settle in.

• In the afternoon, enjoy a brief city tour of Antalya, a major coastal city on the Mediterranean.

• See Hadrian’s Gate, explore the historic Ottoman district and visit the impressive waterfall flowing directly into the sea.

• Enjoy an included dinner before returning to the hotel.

• Highlight: Discover Antalya’s historic centre and Mediterranean coastline on your first day in Turkey.

Day 02: ANTALYA, ASPENDOS, SIDE, KARAMAN, NIGDE

• Depart Antalya for Aspendos, home to a remarkably preserved Roman theatre considered among the finest surviving examples of its kind.

• Continue to Side and admire the Temple of Apollo beside the sea before exploring its lively port and streets.

• Travel through the Taurus Mountains, with dramatic peaks rising above the surrounding landscapes.

• Stop in Karaman to see its historic fortress from the outside before continuing towards Cappadocia.

• Arrive in Nigde, where dinner will be included.

• Highlight: Combine Roman heritage, Mediterranean history and the dramatic landscapes of the Taurus Mountains.

Day 03: NIGDE, CAPPADOCIA

• Spend the day exploring the remarkable Cappadocia region, known for its unusual landscapes, ancient churches and troglodyte settlements.

• Visit Gumusler, a 7th-century underground monastery featuring Byzantine frescoes.

• Explore Kaymakli Underground City, an extensive subterranean settlement that once accommodated thousands of people.

• Continue to Uchisar, a natural fortress offering expansive views across Cappadocia.

• After lunch, visit the Göreme Valley and its open-air museum, home to historic rock-cut churches.

• Accommodation will be in Avanos, with dinner included.

• Highlight: Discover Cappadocia’s underground cities, natural rock formations and centuries-old cave churches.

Day 04: CAPPADOCIA, SAFRANBOLU

• Travel through the heart of Anatolia, heading north towards the historic town of Safranbolu.

• Arrive in Safranbolu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former stop along ancient caravan routes.

• Explore the character of this beautifully preserved historic town and its traditional architecture.

• Enjoy a traditional Turkish tea in the courtyard of a beautifully preserved caravanserai.

• Dinner will be included.

• Highlight: Experience Safranbolu’s preserved Ottoman-era character and its historic caravanserai tradition.

Day 05: SAFRANBOLU, GÖKGÖL MAĞARASI, EREĞLI, ISTANBUL

• Continue towards the Black Sea coast, travelling through the region’s lush landscapes.

• Visit Gökgöl Mağarası, a spectacular cave featuring an underground river and distinctive natural formations, with admission included.

• Continue to Ereğli, a coastal town on the Black Sea, with free time for lunch.

• Visit the Cehennem Ağzı caves and tombs, a fascinating site associated with local mythology.

• Continue onwards to Istanbul, arriving towards the end of the day.

• Highlight: Explore Turkey’s Black Sea coast and its remarkable underground cave formations before reaching Istanbul.

Day 06: ISTANBUL

• Begin a guided sightseeing tour of Istanbul, a city spanning two continents and rich in Ottoman and Byzantine heritage.

• Enter the Süleymaniye Mosque, one of Istanbul’s most important historic mosques.

• Explore the ancient city walls, the Golden Horn and the lively fishing district.

• Admire the exterior of Hagia Sophia before visiting Topkapi Palace, the former administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire.

• Explore Topkapi Palace’s magnificent courtyards and pavilions before enjoying free time in Istanbul.

• Later, transfer to Taksim, one of the city’s most vibrant commercial districts, with time to dine and explore.

• Highlight: Discover Istanbul’s Ottoman heritage and lively modern atmosphere across its historic districts.

Day 07: ISTANBUL

• Enjoy a scenic Bosphorus boat trip, with tickets included, aboard a private boat.

• Cruise along the strait connecting the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara, separating Istanbul’s European and Asian sides.

• Pass beneath the two bridges connecting Europe and Asia while viewing Ottoman palaces and traditional wooden houses along the waterfront.

• Admire the city’s distinctive Ottoman architecture and lively maritime activity from the water.

• Return to central Istanbul and enjoy free time to continue exploring the city.

• Highlight: Experience Istanbul from the Bosphorus while sailing between two continents.

Day 08: ISTANBUL

• Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before your Turkish journey comes to an end.

• Depart with lasting memories of Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, Cappadocia landscapes, historic towns and Istanbul heritage.

• Highlight: Conclude your journey in Istanbul after experiencing some of Turkey’s most distinctive cultural and historical destinations.