Loading…
Turkey rolls out a rich carpet of historical treasures, natural wonders, and old-time cultures that work a powerful spell on travelers. This fascinating and evocative 10-night journey is designed to showcase them all: taking you to the marble streets of ancient Ephesus, the surreal rock pinnacles and caves of Cappadocia, and the antiquities of Pergamum, Hierapolis and Troy before immersing you in the magnificent mosques, bazaars, and ancient ruins of incredible Istanbul.
Leave the US today on your overnight flight to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, located in the northwest of the country about 125 miles from the Black Sea.
After arriving at Ankara International Airport on Day 2, enjoy a comfortable transfer to your 5-star hotel located in the city center. Enjoy the remainder of the day to relax after your journey and enjoy the hotel amenities before your sightseeing begins tomorrow. Dinner is served tonight at your hotel.
Included: Dinner at hotel
★★★★★ Ankara Hilton or Similar
After breakfast, enjoy a morning guided tour of lively Ankara. With a history extending to ancient times, the city offers much to see, from Roman remnants and Ottoman buildings to fascinating museums. Delve into the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, a treasure-trove occupying a 15th-century traveler’s inn, whose artifacts span 7,500 years. You’ll also visit the Anıtkabir, the monumental mausoleum complex of Kemal Atatürk, the revered founder of modern Turkey. After lunch, relax as we journey south to Cappadocia, a region of soft volcanic rock landscapes carved by erosion into other-worldly “fairy chimneys,” pinnacles, and caves, many of them hand-carved to create churches, dwellings, and underground cities. En route, pass the stunning Salt Lake (Lake Tuz), a vast saline lake whose waters turn pink and white with salt depending on the season. After arriving in Cappadocia, dine at your hotel as you look forward to your explorations tomorrow.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
A day of awesome sights awaits on a full-day tour of some of Cappadocia’s highlights. Marvel at the wonders of nature and human ingenuity at the Ozkonak underground city, one of the region’s smallest but finest examples of hand-hewn subterranean networks. Carved around the 4th century BC by Christian communities as a way to hide from persecution, Ozkonak comprises mazy tunnels and rooms used for sleeping, schooling, religious services, and storage, all with ventilation systems. Next, head for the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum, a collection of historical cave churches and monasteries dating from the 4th to 12th century AD, which are famous for their ornate frescoes of Biblical scenes. This afternoon, visit Avanos, a village renowned for its old houses and potteries. Admire the pottery made here and join a workshop to watch artisans craft beautiful terracotta utensils, with the chance to try creating an item yourself.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
★★★★ Avantgrade Refined Caves or Similar
Depart Cappadocia for Turkey’s holy city of Konya, home to a shrine to 13th-century Sufi mystic, Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi–the founder of the Mevlevi whirling dervish order. On arrival, visit the Mevlana Museum, a center of pilgrimage for being the former lodge of the whirling dervishes and housing the tomb of Rumi. Admire its beautiful fluted dome of turquoise tiles and see the fascinating displays on dervish life and some of Rumi’s personal belongings. From here, move on to the medieval Mosque of Alaeddin, one of Turkey’s oldest mosques. Built by the Seljuk Sultans, its notable features include its hypostyle hall of giant pillars and the tombs of several sultans.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Today, continue to Pamukkale, one of Turkey’s most remarkable natural treasures. After lunch on the way, arrive in Pamukkale whose name translates as “cotton castle” and which is composed of shining white travertine terraces characterized by flowing calcium-rich, thermal waters and milky turquoise pools. Marvel at this fairy-tale-like wonder, and explore the ruins of the Hellenistic spa town of Hierapolis, which sit above its terraces. Sights here include one of Asia Minor’s biggest-ever classical cemeteries, a well-preserved theater, and an antique pool laden with submerged Roman columns.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Following breakfast, depart for Ephesus, one of the Mediterranean’s greatest Greco-Roman archaeological sites. Wander the marble-paved streets of this once prosperous port city, viewing such treasures as the facade of the Celsus Library, crumbled Gymnasium, Odeon, temples, baths, and shops as your guide brings them to life with illuminating commentary. Visit the nearby House of the Virgin Mary, a single-story stone dwelling believed by some to have been Mary’s last home before continuing to your 5-star hotel in Izmir, one of Turkey’s largest cities, for a night’s stay.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
This morning, we head for the UNESCO-protected site of Pergamum, where the ruins of a 4th-century BC Greco-Roman city lie 16 miles from the Aegean coast. Admire the must-sees of this archaeological reserve, including its temples, theater, and Asclepion–a visionary health center where treatments like restorative mud baths were offered. This afternoon brings a tour of ancient Troy, which featured in Homer’s Iliad and where legend has it that Ulysses concocted the Wooden Horse strategy to end the Trojan War. Inspect the fragments uncovered here before continuing to your Canakkale hotel for dinner and overnight.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
★★★★★ Kolin Hotel or similar
Sit back and absorb the scenery today as we drive to Istanbul, whose location straddling both Europe and Asia make it a melting pot of architectures, cultures, and historical remains. Upon arrival in Istanbul, pay a visit to the ghostly Basilica Cistern, an underground pillared reservoir built in the 6th century to transport water to Constantinople’s citizens. After marveling at this feat of ancient engineering, return to your hotel where you’ll enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers this evening.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
A full day to explore Istanbul awaits. Once Constantinople—the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires—its long history and location straddling Europe and Asia makes it a melting pot of architecture, sights, and cultures. Stroll around the Hippodrome, where the remnants of a Byzantine stadium used for chariot races and other public events lie scattered across a park. View the ethereal Blue Mosque, so named for its shimmering blue Iznik tiles, and take in the mighty Hagia Sophia, built by Emperor Justinian in 537 AD, and boasting some of the world’s finest Byzantine mosaics. After a restaurant lunch, continue to the UNESCO-listed Topkapi Palace, a one-time residence of 25 Ottoman Sultans, to admire its priceless imperial treasures; and visit the Grand Bazaar, scouting for bargains like antiques, leatherware, jewelry, and souvenirs in the world’s biggest and oldest covered bazaar. Tonight, dine at a restaurant in one of Istanbul’s most historical streets.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at hotel
Another whirl of sightseeing begins at the Spice Market, a bustling 17th-century covered market brim with stalls peddling fresh produce and handicrafts. Next, enjoy a Bosphorus cruise, sailing the famous waterway past sights like the Dolmabahce Palace and Rumeli fortress. After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy time at your leisure to relax and do as you wish–perhaps getting your own taste of the city’s buzzing and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Tonight you’ll enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and enjoy a comfortable transfer to Istanbul Airport for your homeward flight.
Included: Breakfast at hotel
Los Angeles
626-289-1010
Toll free:1-800-345-1688
09:00 AM - 05:30 PM (PST), Mon - Fri
Closed on National Holidays
san francisco
650-259-9983
09:00 AM - 05:30 PM (PST), Mon - Fri
Closed on National Holidays
New York
212-973-1998
Toll free:1-800-900-2446
09:30 AM - 06:00 PM (EST), Mon - Fri
Closed on National Holidays
Alternatively contact us using by clicking the button below
Create your ideal getaway with the following upgrade options. Extensions and upgrades can be added during the booking process or speak to one of our travel advisors to tailor your perfect trip.
Treat yourself to the most sought-after seats on our coaches — those in the first few rows. These front-row seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis subject to availability. To pre-book these seats for less than $10 per day, select the front of coach seating option online in your Peony Tours account.
The "Airfare" displayed on our website reflects real-time ticket prices and includes airline fuel surcharges, government taxes, and one checked baggage allowance. Please note that seat selection fees are not covered. For seat selection, you may contact the airline directly after your ticket has been issued to arrange and pay for this service.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
We're in the Çankaya neighborhood south of Ankara's city center, one block from the Karum Mall. Numerous government embassies are a kilometer away and we're within five kilometers of attractons like the Kocatepe Mosque and the Anıtkabir. Relax in our heated pool, sauna, and Turkish hammam.
★ ★ ★ ★
Welcome to the enchanting heart of Anatolia, welcome to Avantgarde Refined Cappadocia. Here, you're not just visiting another hotel in a remarkable location; you've arrived at a hospitality complex, a destination that feels like a mirage rising from the stunning wilderness of Cappadocia.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Bayir Diamond Hotel & Convention Center Konya is located in the city center, 214 modern rooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a friendly team has made it a principle to make your stay perfect.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Doğa Thermal Health & Spa, opened in 2014, is more than just a thermal hotel. The Doga Thermal Health & Spa will be more than just a localized thermal hotel; its focus on congress tourism would make Denizli one of the most visited destination for the international business traveller due to its many amenities for conference tourism. Doğa Thermal Health & Spa, with its therapeutic thermal water that remains at the same temperature year-round, a 693-square-meter spa and wellness centre, four separate conference rooms, a variety of recreational and social spaces, offers much more than a thermal hotel. One of the most extravagant 5-star hotels in the Karahayıt-Pamukkale region, "Doğa Thermal Health & Spa" is located about 3 kilometres away from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pamukkale and roughly 1 hour (60 km/37.28 miles) from Denizli Çardak Airport.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Set in 12.000 m² of landscaped gardens Swissotel Büyük Efes, Izmir is a five-star deluxe hotel located in the heart of the city’s commercial hub and overlooking the spectacular Kordon Promenade, on Turkey’s Aegean Sea. The Hotel is within walking distance from the Archaeological Museum, Commercial Centre and Izmir Cultural Park. Adnan Menderes International Airport is less than 10 miles (15 km) and 20 minutes away. Swissotel Büyük Efes has 402 luxury rooms including 55 elegantly decorated suites.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The Hotel distance to Çanakkale centrum, Terminal and Airport is 3 km, to Gallipoli Martyrs Memorial 20 and Troya 20 km, to Assos/Behramkale/Kestanbol approximately 60 km, to Ida Mountains where the first Beauty Contens was held in history, 45 km and to İstanbul, İzmir, Bursa 320 km.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Surrounded by peaceful gardens, Grand Hyatt Istanbul blends an exciting city life with a relaxing retreat in Istanbul. Explore historic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Embrace the past and discover the future of Istanbul during your stay at Grand Hyatt Istanbul.
