About this trip
Sixteen days moving through Turkey's big historical set pieces before finishing on the quieter coast of Northern Cyprus. You start in Istanbul, then work down through Gallipoli and Troy to the Aegean coast, inland to Pamukkale and Cappadocia, before crossing to Cyprus.
It's a full itinerary with a lot of ground covered — battlefields, ancient ruins, a gulet cruise through Göcek's bays, and the white terraces of Pamukkale — so expect most days to have a destination or site attached to them.
The Cyprus finish changes the pace, with time in Famagusta, Salamis and Kyrenia giving the trip a more relaxed, coastal close after the history-heavy first half.
What you'll do
- Walk the Gallipoli battlefields and the site of ancient Troy
- Explore the ruins of Ephesus on the Aegean coast
- Cruise the bays of Göcek from Fethiye by gulet
- See the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale
- Explore Cappadocia's landscapes along the old Silk Road
- Visit Famagusta, Salamis and Varosha, finishing in Kyrenia
- A long, itinerary-dense tour covering two countries — better suited to those who like a packed schedule over slow travel
- Includes a mix of history-heavy sightseeing and a more relaxed gulet cruise and coastal finish
Worth it if you prioritise ancient sites and get a skilled guide. Think twice if Istanbul is your main draw or you dislike early starts on coach tours.
- Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia genuinely impressed; Istanbul less remarkable by comparison.
- Guides Ege and Can Kurtulay delivered proper historical depth; driver Sadik dependable. Quality varies by staff.
- Some church frescoes poor condition; reviewers suggest cutting time spent on deteriorated ruins.
- Hotel quality uneven across the tour; smaller properties notably better than larger ones.
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.
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 · 9 Sept – 10 Sept
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