Day 1 | Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul by mid-morning. Transfer to the hotel and begin to acquaint yourself with the city on a relaxed introductory walk through its vibrant streets and neighborhoods.
Day 2–3 | Istanbul
Two full days exploring the imperial treasures of Istanbul. Visit the magnificent Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the Roman Hippodrome, the Underground Cistern, and the incomparable Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), one of the world’s greatest architectural masterpieces.
Explore Dolmabahçe Palace, the lavish Baroque residence of the late Ottoman sultans overlooking the Bosphorus. Continue to Kariye Museum (St. Savior in Chora), celebrated for its extraordinary Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, and the Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent, designed by the master Ottoman architect Sinan.
At Topkapı Palace, once the seat of Ottoman power, discover jeweled imperial treasures, the legendary Harem Quarters, and palace kitchens displaying one of the world’s finest collections of Chinese porcelain.
Day 4 | Gallipoli & Çanakkale
Drive through Thrace to the Gallipoli Peninsula to visit the moving battlefields and memorials of World War I. Ferry across the Hellespont (Dardanelles) to Çanakkale for overnight. Depending on timing, Troy may be visited this afternoon or the following morning.
Day 5 | Troy, Pergamon & İzmir
Visit legendary Troy before continuing south to Pergamon, one of the great cities of the Hellenistic world. Its Acropolis once rivaled the Parthenon in splendor. Explore the dramatic hillside theater, the remains of the famed Library of Pergamon, and the Red Basilica, believed to be connected to one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.
Continue to İzmir and enjoy a late afternoon stroll along the Kordon promenade beside the Aegean Sea.
Day 6 | Ephesus
Spend the day exploring Ephesus, among the finest Greco-Roman archaeological sites in the world. Founded in the 11th century B.C. and flourishing under Roman rule, Ephesus was both a thriving port city and an important spiritual center.
Walk through marble streets lined with temples, baths, gymnasiums, and fountains. Visit the vast amphitheater where St. Paul once preached and admire the beautifully restored Library of Celsus. Even the worn grooves left by ancient chariot wheels bring the city vividly to life.
Nearby is the House of the Virgin Mary, where tradition holds she spent her final years accompanied by St. John, who is also believed to have written his Gospel here.
Day 7 | Priene, Miletos & Didyma
Journey through the intellectual heartland of ancient Anatolia. Miletos, home to great philosophers and scientists such as Thales and Anaximander, was once among the most influential cities of the ancient world.
Priene, dramatically positioned on the slopes of Mt. Mykale, is celebrated for its remarkably preserved grid-plan design by Hippodamos, considered the father of urban planning.
Continue to Didyma, site of the great Temple and Oracle of Apollo, one of antiquity’s most important sacred sanctuaries. Its colossal ruins remain among the most impressive in the ancient world.
Day 8 | Aphrodisias & Göcek/Dalyan
Drive to Aphrodisias, one of Turkey’s most beautiful ancient cities and renowned center of sculpture and the arts. Dedicated to Aphrodite, goddess of love, the city flourished with grand avenues, temples, baths, and a remarkably preserved stadium once holding 30,000 spectators.
The outstanding museum displays exceptional statuary excavated from the site through collaborations involving the National Geographic Society and New York University. Continue toward Göcek or Dalyan for overnight.
Day 9 | Caunos & İztuzu Beach
A relaxing day cruising by small motorboat along the Dalyan River beneath dramatic Lycian tombs carved high into limestone cliffs dating to the 4th century B.C. Visit the ancient site of Caunos before continuing to İztuzu Beach, a protected nesting ground for endangered loggerhead sea turtles. Time to swim or walk along the unspoiled shoreline.
Day 10 | The Turquoise Coast to Antalya
Travel east along the spectacular Turquoise Coast through some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful scenery. Small islands, fishing villages, and seaside towns line this pristine coastline. En route, visit the ancient Lycian cities of Xanthos and Myra before arriving in Antalya.
Days 11–12 | Antalya
Enjoy a more leisurely pace exploring Antalya and its surroundings. Wander the atmospheric old quarter with its Ottoman stone-and-timber houses enclosed within Roman walls, visit the charming yacht harbor, and explore the award-winning Archaeology Museum. Nearby ancient cities such as Perge and Aspendos offer some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Turkey, including Aspendos’ extraordinary theater.
Day 13 | Istanbul
Morning flight back to Istanbul for a final day in the city before your onward journey home.
