About this trip
An 18-day overland journey across Turkey's major historic and natural sites, from the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia to the white terraces of Pamukkale and the ancient sites around the Dardanelles.
This is a partially guided small-group trip pitched at an easy pace, with private rooms throughout, so it suits families and anyone who wants company on the road without being on the go constantly.
The exact order and timing of visits can shift slightly depending on when you arrive, but the core route through central and western Turkey stays the same.
What you'll do
- Explore the cave dwellings and valleys of Cappadocia
- Soak in the mineral pools and travertines of Pamukkale
- Visit the Convent of Mevlana in Konya, home of the Whirling Dervishes
- See Topkapi Palace in Istanbul
- Visit the Gallipoli battlefields near Çanakkale
- English-guided departures follow a route through Gallipoli, Spanish-guided departures go via Bursa instead, with a few differences in what's visited in Istanbul
- A cave hotel upgrade is available in Cappadocia if you ask when booking
- Groups with fewer than 6 people in one language may be combined onto a single bus, though each language still gets its own guide
Worth it if you love history, guides-as-friends, and don't mind long travel days. Think twice if you need lots of downtime or want deep dives into single cities.
- Guides (Mehmet, Despina, Eleni) consistently praised as knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely friendly rather than just professional.
- Small group size delivers personal experience; Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale hot springs, and Mykonos beaches all standout highlights.
- Expect significant travel fatigue—18 days covers two countries fast, leaving limited time to explore large cities like Istanbul properly.
- Free time on Mykonos and thoughtful tour logistics (comfortable buses, Wi-Fi, water, hairdryers) ease the pace considerably.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Departing in Apr is cheapest — from £2,995, about 8% below the priciest month (Aug).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Istanbul · 1 Apr – 2 Apr
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