13-Day Turkey Highlights Tour from Istanbul with Cappadocia and Bodrum

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Day 01

Arrival in Istanbul and Welcome Dinner

• Welcome to Turkey and meet the guide at the airport for your transfer to the hotel. Kick back and catch up on some sleep when you get there, or explore the neighbourhood until you meet your tour leader at 6 p.m. Get a teaser of the days ahead, then follow it up with a welcome dinner.

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Day 02

Historic Quarters of Istanbul

• Lace up your walking boots after breakfast and lose yourself in Istanbul's oldest quarters, adorned with a cluster of some of the most famous landmarks in the country.
• Walk through the cobblestoned plaza and a maze of history as you piece together the remnants of three distinct eras and see how they form the cohesive city that stands in the present day.
• Meander through Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, among other iconic sites, and balance these visits with observations of daily life in the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. There's still so much to do here, so you may want to linger later in the afternoon and continue exploring on your own.

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Day 03

Fly to Cappadocia and Sunset Quad Biking

• Take a flight out of Istanbul and head for the unusual yet strikingly attractive Cappadocia. While its beauty is immediately apparent, its history is equally captivating and even finds mention in the pages of the Bible.
• Take a crash course in this ancient history as you join your tour leader for an orientation walk, rounding it off with a hike up to a viewpoint where you can gaze out over the magical kingdom below.
• As the day stretches into late afternoon, raise some dust as you rev your quad bikes and head deeper into the valley, culminating in a spectacular sunset that casts a crimson glow across the fairy-tale landscape.

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Day 04

Red Valley Hike and Özkonak Underground City

• Get your walking boots hike-ready in the morning as you make your way to the Red Valley, so called because of the red sandstone rock formations that shift from light brown to pink and crimson as the sun moves across the sky.
• Discover the cave dwellings and churches tucked into this surreal landscape, then end the hike on a positive note by gorging on some Turkish delights at a Women's Cooperative restaurant.
• Continue your journey with a visit to a local potter, who may even give you pointers on how to spin the wheel, and then head to the ancient underground city of Özkonak to witness the ingenuity of the ancients.

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Day 05

Free Day in Cappadocia

• Today is free for you to discover more of what Cappadocia has to offer. The region is vast and remote, with plenty to do, so it is not quite possible to encompass everything in the space of a single day. There is the Red Tour, which covers North Cappadocia and the sights around Goreme, and the Green Tour, which covers South Cappadocia. Ask your tour leader, who will explain the difference between the two so that you can make an informed choice about how best to use your day.

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Day 06

Konya and the Spiritual Heart of Turkey

• Leaving the remote region that has been your base for three nights, drive for approximately 3.5 hours to Konya, the spiritual and religious centre of Turkey.
• Once you've checked in at the hotel and had some rest, step out to explore the city. Head first to the Mevlana Museum, a former school of the whirling dervishes and now the resting place of the 13th-century philosopher, poet and religious teacher Mevlana Rumi.
• Wander around the complex and then make your way to the central square, threading through slender lanes to discover the architectural brilliance of the 13th-century Aziziye Mosque.
• Join the locals as they gather around Aladdin Tepe, a park filled with flower beds and tea cafés, before visiting the nearby Aladdin Mosque.

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Day 07

Pamukkale and the Ruins of Hierapolis

• Travel from the spiritual to the surreal as you drive to Pamukkale and come face to face with one of the most unique land formations in the world - travertine calcite cliffs formed by calcium deposits from hot springs.
• Enter this world of frost-white terraces cradling ponds of soft blue hues, and walk upon this Cotton Castle, as it is whimsically known, to make sure it is not a figment of your imagination.
• Before all this, however, take some time to visit the ancient ruins of Hierapolis and recall stories of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, when its glories had reached their zenith.

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Day 08

Bodrum Castle and Boutique Winery

• Head for the coastal town of Bodrum this morning and, on arrival, take a short walk to get your bearings around the town centre, pausing to contemplate the 4th-century open theatre that feels like something conjured straight out of a period film set.
• Follow this with a visit to Bodrum Castle, built on a promontory during the early 15th century and home, among other things, to the Museum of Underwater Archaeology and a glass-blowing workshop.
• Later in the afternoon, visit one of Turkey's best boutique wineries, wander through the olive groves and vineyard, learn about the traditional production methods, and finally swirl the real thing in your mouth. There's more to wine than red and white, but if wine isn't your thing, the food here is an absolute delight.

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Day 09

Free Day in Bodrum

• Unfurl a map, chalk out a plan and let your feet lead you to some of the most visited spots in Bodrum.
• Go wandering around the Old Town, tucked just around the corner from the Castle of St. Peter, and spend a languid afternoon negotiating the skinny alleys lined with whitewashed houses and quaint stone cottages leading out to the sea.
• Follow the trail of sun worshippers and head for the beaches of the Bodrum Peninsula if you're looking to enjoy some downtime. There's plenty here to keep you engaged, so check with your leader regarding the possibilities.
• You might also want to sail across the blue expanse of the Aegean Sea aboard a gulet boat, stopping at intervals to explore tiny inlets and bays, or perhaps create ripples of your own as you plunge into the waters for a languorous swim.

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Day 10

Selçuk, Temple of Artemis and Ephesus

• Get back on the road and head for Selçuk, the town that acts as a gateway to the ancient city of Ephesus.
• Before touring the sites, however, stop at a local family-run café and dig into some 'Gözleme', or Turkish pancake.
• Then proceed to the ruins of the Temple of Artemis - one of the ancient wonders of the world, built around 550 BC.
• Explore the Isa Bey Mosque, one of the earliest examples of a Turkish mosque adorned with a courtyard.
• Later in the afternoon, tour the other important sites of Ephesus and discover for yourself what all the fuss is about.

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Day 11

Pergamon, Troy and Onward to Çanakkale

• Leaving Selçuk behind, make an approximate 5-hour journey to Troy this morning.
• Break up the journey with a visit to a local atelier at Pergamon, where village women deftly move their fingers around strings to spring knots into place, hammer in the wefts and warps, and give final shape to the famous Turkish carpets.
• Tuck into some lunch afterwards, then trace the threads of Homer's epic tale of love, retribution and heroism as you explore the ancient and multi-layered ruins of Troy before finally arriving in Çanakkale, your halt for the night.

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Day 12

Gallipoli Peninsula and Return to Istanbul

• Start early this morning to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula and pay homage to the soldiers who fell on both sides - the Allies, comprising British, Australian, New Zealand, Indian and French troops, and those of the Ottoman Empire. For many visitors, this is about trying to make sense of history by recounting the sobering tale of a nine-month-long siege, the emergence of Turkey's modern founder Mustafa Kemal, and the inevitable horrors that war inflicts on people and their psyche.
• Listen to the stories from different perspectives. After visiting these sacred grounds strewn with the graves of those who fell during the campaign, complete the full circle of your Turkish adventure by driving back to where you started - Istanbul.
• Upon reaching your destination, come together for a final dinner to close the tour out with a bang.

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Day 13

Departure from Istanbul

• It is now time to bid farewell to your tour leader and new friends, but not without a backpack full of memories.