Essential Turkey

Explore some of the best bits of Turkey – a cultural melting pot that straddles Europe and the Middle East – on this 10-day trip with likeminded travellers. Indulge your senses with some incredible, traditional Turkish food (don’t forget to try a coffee and some shisha, too!), explore ancient ruins and walk in the footsteps of Marc Antony, Cleopatra and the Trojan army. Dip your toes in the Dardanelles Strait, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and sail along the south coast, uncovering the mysteries of ancient sunken cities. With so much on offer, what more could you ask for?

Activities

• Gallipoli - Battlefields Tour
• Ayvalik - Copmadam Visit (trashyteyze / Tara Hopkins)
• Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
• Pamukkale - Hierapolis and Travertines National Park
• Kekova - Turkish Coast day sailing
• Antalya - Kaleici Walking Tour

Highlights

• Eat, swim, sunbake, repeat – that’s what will happen when you get cruising along Turkey's Mediterranean coastline. The choice is yours if you’d like to go exploring or just relax on deck.
• Thought all the best Roman ruins were in Italy Think again! Turkey is home to one of the best-preserved classics of Ephesus – so discover it just like Anthony and Cleopatra did 2000 years ago.
• Wade through the scenic hot springs at Pamukkale – pure white calcium deposits that cascade down the cliffs overlooking the town, are said to have magical healing properties.
• The thriving metropolis of Istanbul is where East literally meets West. Explore the city that straddles the continents and discover its incredible and varied history.
• Learn the history of the Gallipoli Peninsula, hearing the harrowing stories of the ANZACs and one of the most infamous battles of World War I.
• By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, CYDD (Çagdas Yasami Destekleme Dernegi). Donations help them provide scholarships and educational programs for economically disadvantaged youth in Turkey.