12 Days Ancient Turkey Expedition: Istanbul, Ephesus, Cappadocia & Mesopotamia Private Tour

Upon your arrival at the Istanbul airport, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. You may choose to explore the immediate surroundings of your hotel or relax with a traditional Turkish coffee at a local cafe to begin your cultural immersion.

We begin our exploration at 08:45 am with a visit to the Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece commissioned by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. We continue to the expansive Topkapi Palace, the seat of Ottoman power for over four centuries, followed by the 17th-century Blue Mosque, renowned for its blue tilework and six minarets. Our morning concludes at the Hippodrome, where we view the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column, and the German Fountain.

Departing early, we travel to the Gallipoli Peninsula to visit the significant World War I memorial sites. Our guided tour includes the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Chunuk Bair Atatürk Monument, Anzac Cove, and Johnston's Jolly. You will have the opportunity to walk through the original trenches and tunnels where the Dardanelles campaigns took place. Afterward, we cross to Çanakkale for our overnight stay.

Today we explore the legendary site of Troy, the setting of Homer's Iliad. We proceed to the ancient capital of Pergamon. Here, we visit the Acropolis, the Temple of Athena, and the library that once housed 200,000 scrolls. We also admire the Great Theatre, noted as the steepest of the ancient world. The day concludes with a drive to the coastal town of Kuşadası for dinner and accommodation.

Our day is dedicated to the ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We walk along Curetes Street to view the Celsus Library, the Grand Theater, and the Odeon. We also see the site of the Temple of Artemis followed by the Virgin Mary's House on the wooded slope above, a place of pilgrimage. Later, we visit Şirince Village, known for its traditional Greek-Ottoman architecture and fruit wines, and observe a demonstration of traditional Turkish carpet weaving.

After observing a display of local leather craftsmanship, we drive to Pamukkale. We explore the ruins of Hierapolis, including the Roman Theater, the Temple of Apollo, and the Necropolis. You will have time to walk along the famous white travertine terraces and, if desired, swim in the thermal waters of the Cleopatra Pools. We stay overnight in a thermal hotel in Pamukkale.

Traveling along the ancient Silk Road, we stop in Konya to visit the Mevlana Museum, the final resting place of the poet Rumi and the center of the Whirling Dervishes. We also view the Alaeddin Mosque. Continuing our journey, we stop at the historic Sultanhani Caravanserai, a beautifully preserved Seljuk structure, before reaching the unique rock formations of Cappadocia for dinner and an overnight stay.

Our exploration of Cappadocia includes the Göreme Open Air Museum, where Byzantine-era churches feature remarkably preserved frescoes. We venture into an underground city and visit the Monks Valley (Paşabağı) to see the famous mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. We also explore Devrent Valley, known for its lunar-like landscape and rock formations. The evening is free to relax at your hotel.

We depart for Mount Nemrut, stopping at the 13th-century Karatay Caravanserai. As we approach the summit, we visit the Severus Bridge, the ancient city of Arsemia, and the Karakuş Tumulus. We then climb to the summit of Mount Nemrut to view the colossal sculptures of Zeus, Apollo, and Antiochus on the eastern and western terraces, enjoying a spectacular sunset before returning to Adıyaman.

Today we visit the Atatürk Dam before arriving at Göbeklitepe, the world's oldest known temple complex. We continue to Harran to see the iconic mud-brick beehive houses and the ruins of the 18th-century castle and ancient university. Returning to Şanlıurfa, we visit the Mevlid-i Halil Mosque, the cave associated with Prophet Abraham, and the Pools of the Holy Carp, finishing with a walk through the local covered bazaar.

We travel to Gaziantep to visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, which houses an extensive collection of Roman mosaics, including the famous 'Gypsy Girl.' After enjoying local culinary specialties, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for your final night.

Following breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to the Istanbul airport for your scheduled departure flight. We wish you a safe journey home and look forward to welcoming you back to Turkey in the future.