Turkey Uncovered

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Take a step back in time with a visit to the Topkapi Palace. Once home to the Ottoman sultans and their harems, it's now a museum hosting a number of collections, ranging from porcelains found in Europe, Asia and China to Ottoman-era weaponry.

Begin the day in Istanbul with a walking tour in the old city, including a visit to the historic Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and the magnificent Hagia Sophia (or Aya Sofya). When you step inside, you'll see why the Hagia Sophia is one of the great churches of the Byzantine Empire; it was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest. Be awed by the Blue Mosque's symmetry and internal tile work, and take the chance to learn more about the ceremony behind Islam, as it is a working mosque.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit this moving and beautiful site, a great complement to any trip to Turkey, even for those not familiar with the Battle of Gallipoli. Tour the grounds to see ANZAC Cove, the war cemeteries, and Lone Pine. Learn how the Turks fought off the numerically superior, but badly commanded, Allied forces who were forced to withdraw nine months later; this battle holds special significance for Australians and New Zealanders, as both nations lost many soldiers.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit the acropolis of Pergamon, once the capital of the Hellenistic Attalid dynasty, a major centre of learning in the ancient world. See ancient monumental temples, theatres, and a library set into the sloping terrain.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

See historic Troy, made famous by Homer's "Iliad," (and more recently by Orlando Bloom and Brad Pitt). Tour the city that, for centuries, was regarded as just a myth, until its ruins were found in in the mid-19th century. Imagine what a great city this must have been, while taking a tour of the remains. Don't miss the chance to have a photo taken with the Trojan horse.

After visiting Troy, sit down with the author of the book "Troja" and listen as details are given on the creation of this story. Learn more as the author explains the reasons for the war, what happened during the war, how it ended, and the effects of the war on past civilizations. Discuss how the Trojan War and ancient legends influenced the direction of the manuscript, and ask yourself how often history fades into story. At the end of the talk, the group will participate in a question-and-answer session with the author.

Tour the ruins of ancient Ephesus to get a feeling of what life must have been like during Roman times. Take in its massive, well-preserved theatre, which dominates the view down Harbour Street. See the two-story library, whose facade has been carefully reconstructed from all original pieces. Built in AD 125, it once held nearly 12,000 scrolls.

This museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts discovered in the excavation of the ancient Greek city of Ephesus.

Enjoy free time in Selcuk to walk through the quaint streets and visit some of the sites on your own.

Aegean cuisine is the shared Turkish and Greek culture of the region's past. The climate is suitable for growing a wide range of vegetables and contains an abundance of olive trees for olive-oil production. During your visit to Sirince the group will join a cooking class and learn all about the traditional dishes in the region. Prepare a range of village-style vegetable dishes using seasonal fresh ingredients from the local market. Begin the class with a walking tour of the market where your guide will provide plenty of tips for picking the best, local, seasonal products. Then, return to the open garden kitchen where you will learn how to cook Aegean dishes with your fresh produce. Toast your new knowledge over lunch and try your delicious dishes.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Enjoy the remainder of your day here on your own with free time to take a mineral bath or to keep wandering around Pamukkale.

Tour the white cliffs of Pamukkale to learn about this World Heritage-listed site and natural wonder. Made up of 17 hot water springs, the cliffs are formed when the calcium carbonate hardens with time. Explore the ancient site of Hierapolis built on top of the white "castle." See the large, ancient baths within the city (thought to be evidence that the hot springs of Pamukkale were used as a spa since second century BC).

Visit Laodikeia with your Expedition Leader. A place that is one of the important archaeological remains for the region, possessing biblical importance as one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor that St. John addresses in the Bible.

Enjoy an orientation walk around Antalya to get your bearings and see more of the city.

Take in the splendour of the ancient city of Thermessos. Found by the Solims who lived in the Psidia Region and born from the legend of Bellerophon. This mountaintop city is one of the best preserved sites in Turkey. It sits over 1,000 metres above sea level and the amphitheatre has stunning panoramic views of the Pamphylia region and the Taurus Mountains.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Take advantage of a full free day to enjoy the optional activities available in Antalya.

Your CEO will lead the group on a visit to Aspendo Theater, a monument among the biggest of its kind. The theater's capacity was between 7,300 and 7,600 people. Both the archaeological remains and historical sources confirm that Aspendos was standing by the 5th century BC with the arrival of the Persians to Pamphylia. The site continued to retain importance until Alexander's control of Asia Minor. .

Esrefoglu Mosque was built in the 13th century and named after the rulers of the area called Eshrefids. It includes all the main elements of early Anatolian Turkish architecture and is the biggest, most well-preserved, wooden-columned mosque in the Islamic World.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Mevlana Museum and Garden has been operating since 1926 in Konya. Enjoy a visit here with your group and learn about the complex's history in this area of the world.

Visit the largest and best preserved Seljuk caravanserai in Turkey. It was built in 1229 and became a very important stopover along the Silk Road crossing through Anatolia. The caravanserai lost its importance during the Ottoman era, but its more recent restorations have opened it to visitors and created a resurgence of interest in the structure.

Visit one of the underground cities (there are approximately 30 in the region) that were famously used as hiding places for Christians escaping the persecution of the Roman Empire between the fifth and tenth centuries. See how people transferred their surface lives to this underground world - there are cellars, rooms for food storage, kitchens, churches, stables, wine and oil presses, and shafts for ventilation.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Witness this spellbinding dance-like worship, practiced by followers of the Mevlevilik Sufi order and clap along to the beat of dance, steps, and merriment.

Be inspired by the natural beauty of the historic Goreme Open Air Museum, a complex of medieval painted cave churches carved out by Orthodox monks. Tour the more than 10 caves on site, and enjoy the color and vibrancy of many of the churches that are up to 1,000 years old.

Lace up those hiking boots and wander through the fairy chimneys with your CEO as you begin the walk down to Goreme Valley. This surreal moonscape was created by a series of volcanic eruptions and over the years, wind and rain have sculpted the area into thin valleys with curvy cliff faces and pointy rock formations.

Free time to settle in and enjoy the optional activities available in Cappadocia.

Set off for free time in Istanbul. You may opt to visit Dolamabahce Palace, Galata Tower, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts or the Basilica Cistern.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Set out on a private evening cruise on the Bosphorus Straight. Enjoy stunning views of Ottoman palaces and the city's skyline while on board.

Walk to and explore the iconic Grand Bazaar in Istanbul with a specialist guide. Enjoy a lecture on the historical, cultural, and modern importance of the Grand Bazaar as you wander through one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Stop by some of the 4,000 shops along the 61 covered streets and marvel at the first shopping mall of the world. Finish the walk at an old Ottoman Inn where coffee and tea will be served. Enjoy the refreshments and have a conversation with your expert guide about the Grand Bazaar.

Opt to visit the Spice Bazaar, or stroll down one of the most popular streets in Istanbul and visit shops, cafes, and historic sites as you go. You can also opt to see Galata Tower or other museums, the choice is all yours. Ask your CEO for recommendations.

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.