About this trip
Fifteen days across Turkey, starting in Istanbul and covering a genuine spread of the country's history and landscape, from Ottoman streets to ancient ruins to a stretch of Mediterranean coast by boat.
The pace mixes inland exploring with proper downtime on a gulet cruise, and you'll spend real time on the road between regions, mostly on modern buses rather than flights.
This is a guided, group way to see Turkey's headline sights alongside quieter, more local moments, whether that's a bazaar in Istanbul or a village along the Lycian Way.
What you'll do
- Guided tour of the Gallipoli battlefields and its First World War history
- Explore the ancient city of Ephesus
- Walk a stretch of the Lycian Way above Oludeniz's Blue Lagoon
- Swim in the Mediterranean on a traditional gulet cruise from Kas
- Wander the laneways of Istanbul's Grand Bazaar
- See the rock formations and valleys of Cappadocia
- Uses a mix of public and private transport, and some journeys are long
- You carry your own luggage on and off buses, so check weight and size limits before you go
- Buses are modern, air-conditioned, and most have wi-fi
Worth it if you're fit, flexible with accommodation, and have guides like Uz, Ahmet, Livan or Furkan. Think twice if you need comfort hotels, dislike long travel days, or want all costs locked in upfront.
- Guide quality is genuinely exceptional—Uz, Ahmet, Livan and Furkan consistently went above and beyond with logistics, local knowledge and personal attention.
- Accommodation is the weak link: mostly basic or uncomfortable, with inconsistent standards and no cave hotel option in Cappadocia despite the setting.
- Four to five hours of consecutive travel days felt excessive; some felt rushed itinerary and plan deviations happened, plus entrance fees weren't always included upfront.
- Trip demands fitness: significant walking and two hikes; not suitable for those with mobility issues or older travellers seeking a gentler pace.
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 fill fill in from our own tracking as it builds.
Departing in Jul is cheapest — from £1,605, about 27% below the priciest month (Sep).
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 · 26 Jul – 27 Jul
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