This guided circuit links the best-known ancient and Ottoman sites of western Turkey in nine days, starting and ending in Istanbul. You begin in the old city with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Basilica Cistern, then head west to the Gallipoli battlefields and Canakkale before turning south to Troy, the cliff-top Temple of Athena at Assos and the Acropolis of Pergamon.
The Aegean leg takes in Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the wine village of Sirince, and the white terraces of Pamukkale together with the ruins of Hierapolis. On day seven you add two of the Seven Churches of Revelation, Philadelphia and Sardis, plus an evening in Izmir, before a last drive to Bursa, the Ottomansβ first capital, and back to Istanbul.
The tour is fully guided in English, travels in an air-conditioned coach and includes eight nights of hotels, eight breakfasts and eight dinners, together with the entrance fees listed in the itinerary. Lunches and drinks are not included, so you can choose where to eat along the way. It is a good fit for first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to Turkey without changing plans every day.
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for this route. Pack walking shoes, sun protection and a light jacket for the evenings. Days three to seven involve long but scenic drives, so the programme suits travellers who enjoy seeing a lot in a short time, and the hotel changes are kept to a minimum thanks to the overnight stops in Canakkale, Izmir, Kusadasi and Pamukkale.
| Tour type | Private Β· multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 9 Days 8 Nights |
| Price | From β¬2,693 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 14 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours Β· TΓRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day β click a day to see every stop.
Your transfer assistant meets you at Istanbul Airport and takes you to your hotel by private car. Dinner is served at the hotel this evening, and your guide will introduce himself the next morning. If you reach the hotel before 15:00, an optional Bosphorus tour can be arranged.
After breakfast you set out with your guide to the heart of the old city. Hagia Sophia, raised by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, is followed by the Hippodrome where the Serpent Column brought from Delphi stands beside an Egyptian obelisk, and then the six-minaret Blue Mosque with its Iznik tiles. After a lunch break at a local restaurant (own expense) you descend into the Basilica Cistern, an underground reservoir with 336 columns and its famous Medusa heads, and finish with the covered stalls of the Grand Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
A long scenic drive of about 380 km brings you to the Gallipoli Peninsula, the scene of the First World War campaign. Your guide takes you to Anzac Cove, the Lone Pine Memorial, the 57th Regiment Cemetery, Conkbayiri hill and the Canakkale Martyrsβ Monument, telling the story of the fighting from both sides. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.
After breakfast you visit ancient Troy, where a wooden horse replica and the Troy Museum bring the Homeric legend to life. Next comes Assos, a hilltop settlement with the Temple of Athena and wide views over the Edremit Gulf, then a short coffee stop in the seaside town of Ayvalik. In Pergamon you see the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus, the steep Great Theatre, the famous library site and the Red Basilica, one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. In the evening you drive to Izmir for dinner and overnight (about 400 km in total).
Drive to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean world. Walk past the Temple of Hadrian, the Grand Theatre and the Library of Celsus (the Terrace Houses cost extra), then pause at the few columns that remain of the Temple of Artemis. After a lunch break you visit the House of the Virgin Mary, make a souvenir stop, and continue to the hill village of Sirince, known for fruit wines and old wooden houses, where a local wine tasting is included. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
A drive of roughly 220 km across fertile Aegean plains leads to Pamukkale, the cotton-white travertine terraces formed by mineral-rich springs. In Hierapolis you explore the antique theatre, the necropolis, Frontinus Gate and Street, and the Martyrium of St Philip; swimming in the Cleopatra pool is optional and charged separately. Dinner and overnight at a thermal hotel in Pamukkale.
Leaving Pamukkale after breakfast, you pass through Alasehir, ancient Philadelphia, to see the ruins of a Byzantine basilica, and continue to Sardis, capital of the Lydian kingdom where the first coins were minted. Highlights include the Lydian temple of Artemis, the gymnasium and a Byzantine-era synagogue. After a lunch stop you reach Izmir and explore the ancient Agora, Konak Square and Kemeralti Bazaar before coffee on the Kordon seafront at sunset. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.
After breakfast you drive north (about 530 km) to Bursa, the first Ottoman capital, where the Great Mosque and the Green Mosque are your first stops, followed by free time at the Koza Han silk market. Lunch is a stop at a local restaurant famous for Bursa kebab. The journey then continues to Istanbul for dinner and overnight.
Enjoy breakfast and some free time, depending on your flight, before a private transfer takes you to Istanbul Airport.
Istanbul (Arrival) β Istanbul Old City β Gallipoli & Canakkale β Troy, Assos, Pergamon & Izmir β Ephesus, Sirince & Kusadasi β Pamukkale & Hierapolis β Sardis, Philadelphia & Izmir β Bursa & Istanbul β Istanbul (Departure)
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles β the same fleet we use on your tour.
π₯ 54 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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π₯ 46 Seats
π₯ 37+2 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats
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π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 12+1 Seats
π₯ 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route β Istanbul (Arrival), Istanbul Old City, Gallipoli & Canakkale, Troy, Assos, Pergamon & Izmir, Ephesus, Sirince & Kusadasi, Pamukkale & Hierapolis, Sardis, Philadelphia & Izmir, Bursa & Istanbul, Istanbul (Departure).
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized β from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!