Civilisations of Turkiye — 8 Days
Your Journey
Istanbul — Arrival
Your guide meets you at Istanbul Airport and transfers you to your hotel. The rest of the evening is at your own pace to settle in and explore the immediate surroundings of this ancient crossroads city.
Istanbul — Sultanahmet & Bosphorus
A guided day covers the Hippodrome, Sultanahmet Square, Hagia Sophia (a masterpiece of world architecture completed in 537 AD), Topkapi Palace — once home to Ottoman sultans — and the Egyptian Market with its colours, aromas, and traditional crafts. A Bosphorus Cruise reveals waterfront palaces and the panoramic skyline where two continents meet.
Istanbul — Galata & Taksim — Transfer to Bursa
The morning explores the modern European face of Istanbul: Galata Tower, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street with its vintage red tram, and the riverside district of Ortakoy at sunset. The coach transfers to Bursa — the first Ottoman capital — for the overnight.
Bursa — Ulu Mosque, Koza Han & Eskişehir
Bursa's finest landmarks are visited: the Ulu Mosque (1396–1399, 20 domes), Koza Han silk market (1491), the Bursa Panorama Museum, and a cable car ascent to Uludağ Mountain. The afternoon transfers to Eskişehir — the Odunpazarı historic district of colourful Ottoman-era houses and cobblestone lanes, a city tour along the Porsuk riverfront, and an optional gondola ride through the city's waterways.
Eskişehir — Sazova Park — Tuz Golu — Cappadocia
The morning visits Sazova Science, Culture and Art Park — featuring a planetarium, zoo, and the Fairy Tale Castle inspired by European storybook architecture — and the Turkic World Science and Arts Centre. A stop at Tuz Golu (Salt Lake), Turkey's second-largest lake and a flamingo sanctuary, precedes the coach transfer to Cappadocia for the overnight.
Cappadocia — Uchisar, Love Valley & Kaymakli
An optional sunrise hot air balloon flight (additional cost) opens the day over Cappadocia's fairy chimneys. Uchisar Fort — the highest point in the region — Love Valley's photogenic rock pillars, an Avanos pottery workshop using red clay from the Kızılırmak River, and Kaymaklı Underground City (8 storeys deep into the volcanic plateau) fill the programme. An evening cultural show closes the day.
Ankara — Capital City Tour
Drive to Ankara. Anitkabir — the monumental mausoleum of Atatürk, completed in 1953 — sets the tone for a day in the Turkish capital. The Presidential Palace (Beştepe Complex) and Hamamonu historic street, with its restored Ottoman-era timber houses now housing traditional crafts and artisan workshops, complete the visit.
Ankara — Transfer to Istanbul Airport — Departure
After breakfast, your coach transfers you to Istanbul Airport via the highway for your departure flight.