Compare Absolute Turkey: Winter by G Adventures vs Biblical Ancient Wonders of Turkey by Ada Vegas Travel

Day 1 Istanbul

Arrive at any time.

There are no activities planned until our evening welcome meeting. After the meeting, opt to join your CEO and fellow travellers for dinner. Get the most out of your time in Istanbul by pre-booking the following activity to experience before your tour starts: Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise. If you do, we recommend booking accommodation for an extra night pre-tour. And don’t worry if you can’t decide now. This activity is available for pre-booking any time before your tour starts, while any of the optional activities listed can be booked independently upon arrival in Istanbul.

Day 2 Istanbul/Bolu

Enjoy an orientation walk around Istanbul before moving on to the small, but vibrant city of Bolu.

Day 3 Bolu/Göreme

Visit Anitkabir before driving to the Cappadocia region. Enjoy a home-cooked dinner with a local family.

Transfer to the town of Göreme, the base for exploring Cappadocia. With two and a half days free to explore, there will be plenty of time to tour the area by bike, visit neighbouring villages, trek regional valleys or try a hot air balloon ride. During one of the evenings here, travel to a nearby village and enjoy dinner with a local family.

The local dinner may take place on any night in Göreme based on the family's availability.

Day 4 Göreme

Enjoy an included visit to the Göreme Open Air Museum before free time to explore this unique region. Enjoy a guided walk through the valley with a visit to an underground city.

Outdoor enthusiast? Hire a bike to get around on two wheels or join your CEO on an optional trekking tour through one of the beautiful valleys of the region. If you want to go further afield, take a local bus to explore nearby villages.

Want to do more with your tour? Book the Cappadocia Balloon Ride or Whirling Dervishes upon arrival by arranging it with your CEO. If you book the Cappadocia hot air balloon ride, you will be flying on Day 4 or 5 (weather permitting).

Day 5 Göreme

Enjoy an included visit to the Göreme Open Air Museum before free time to explore this unique region. Enjoy a guided walk through the valley with a visit to an underground city.

Outdoor enthusiast? Hire a bike to get around on two wheels or join your CEO on an optional trekking tour through one of the beautiful valleys of the region. If you want to go further afield, take a local bus to explore nearby villages.

Want to do more with your tour? Book the Cappadocia Balloon Ride or Whirling Dervishes upon arrival by arranging it with your CEO. If you book the Cappadocia hot air balloon ride, you will be flying on Day 4 or 5 (weather permitting).

Day 6 Göreme/Konya

Visit Konya and continue to Beyşehir. Visit the Esrefoglu mosque, one of the unique mosques in the country.

Day 7 Konya/Antalya

Wander the cobbled streets of the old harbour.

Arrive at Antalya around lunchtime. With a free afternoon, wander the charming cobbled hillside streets of the district of Kaleici, a great place to stop and have a drink with amazing views of the marina below. For a break from the hustle and bustle, head for the greenery and teashops at one of Antalya's beautiful parks or catch some sun at a nearby beach.

Day 8 Antalya

Enjoy more time in Antalya to explore.

Day 9 Antalya/Pamukkale

Guided walk of Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis.

Passing through fruit orchards on the way to Pamukkale. In the afternoon, visit the famous white cliffs of Pamukkale and the ancient site of Hierapolis, built on top of the white "castle". This UNESCO World Heritage Site is evidence that the hot springs of Pamukkale were used as a spa since the second century BC.

Day 10 Pamukkale/Selçuk

Visit the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Ephesus.

Travel to the town of Selçuk. In the afternoon, visit the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Ephesus.

Day 11 Selçuk

Free time to walk up to the remains of St John's Basilica, visit the mosque of Isa Bey or just wander the streets and cafés of this vibrant Turkish town. Enjoy a cooking class in a nearby village in the afternoon.

Opt to walk to the remains of St John's Basilica, visit the Mosque of Isa Bey or wander the streets of this vibrant Turkish town. Or catch a local “dolmus” bus to the picturesque village of Şirince (8 km) to sample some local wine or shop for crafts. For dedicated sunseekers, the beach at Pamucaki is also within reach. Late in the afternoon, drive to a nearby village for a local cooking class. Our host will demonstrate some Turkish dishes for everyone to enjoy at the end of the class.

Day 12 Selçuk/Bergama

Travel to the market town of Bergama, and explore the Acropolis of ancient Pergamon.

Day 13 Bergama/Çanakkale

Visit the G-supported handicraft workshop in Ayvalik, before enjoying free time in the surrounding area. Visit the ancient city of Troy en route to Çanakkale.

çöp(m)adam began as an experimental project in Western Turkey, meant to address lack of employment opportunities for women alongside the importance of recycling/re-using. The co-op aims to use waste in a creative, aesthetic, and unique way, all while providing work for women from impoverished communities. When G Adventures travellers visit the workshop, they can purchase souvenirs and handicrafts that directly support the women that made them. After a visit to this project, continue exploring the seaside town of Ayvalık. Afterwards, enjoy a visit to the world-famous city of Troy. Continue to the harbour town of Çanakkale, a busy port with a thriving student population.

Day 14 Çanakkale/Istanbul

Guided tour of Gallipoli, including ANZAC Cove, the war cemeteries, and Lone Pine.

Make an early morning visit to Gallipoli, where thousands gave their lives during WWI in the battle of the same name. Take in the sights and learn the sombre story. Continue on to İstanbul for the opportunity to finish up your sightseeing or get in some last minute shopping.

Day 15 Istanbul

Depart at any time.

Your tour might be finished, but the adventure’s far from over. Pre-book the following activity to experience after your tour ends: Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise. If you do, we recommend booking accommodation for an extra night in Istanbul. And don’t worry if you can’t decide now. This activity is available for pre-booking any time before your tour starts, or it can be booked upon arrival in Istanbul.

Day 1: Istanbul – Ankara

Flight to Ankara via Istanbul. Ankara is the capital of modern Turkey Transfer to hotel by private motor coach. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Ankara – Cappadocia

In the morning, visit the remarkable Anatolian Civilizations Museum, among its treasures are Neolithic frescoes, Bronze Age emblems, the remains of the fabled Phyrigian King Midas, as well as many objects from the Hittites. Stroll in the old Ankara citadel. Tour the Augustus Temple and pay a visit to the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk. After lunch drive to the Cappadocia traveling along the shores of the great Salt Lake. Arrive in Cappadocia late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 3: Cappadocia

Start out early for a full day excursion into the magical lunarscape of Cappadocia’s rocky hills & valleys. Dominated by Erciyes Dagi, Mt. Argaeus, the region was first settled by ancient people then home to Romans, early Christians, Byzantines and Seljuks. Visit Goreme Church Valley, Zelve, Avanos, Ortahisar and Uchisar, and see some of the many churches carved into the rocks. Return to the hotel for night.

Day 4: Cappadocia – Konya

Visit Kaymakli underground city in the morning. Kaymakli with some floors down the underground was home to early Christian refugees. On the way south visit the Sultanhani Caravanserai. Drive to Karaman, Derbe where St. Paul preached, then visit Lystra, where St. Paul stopped on his journey. Arrive Konya , Iconium for the night.

Day 5: Konya – Pamukkale

Morning sightseeing of Konya, visit the Mevlana Mausoleum and Museum, the founder of the whirling dervishes in the Islamic sect. Proceed to Yalvac, Pisidian Antioch where St. Paul said, “We now turn to the gentiles” and opened Christianity to the world. Passing by Egridir Lake arrive at Pamukkale, Hierapolis and overnight.

Day 6: Pamukkale – Izmir

After a visit to Hierapolis ruins and St. Philip martyrdom, drive to Loadicea. The church at Laodicea was an extension church of the church at Ephesus, as were the churches of Hierapolis and Colosea. Continue on to Alasehir, Philadelphia the church of “brotherly love” of the apocalypse. Proceed to Sardes another of the Seven Churches.

Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

Day 7: Ephesus – Izmir

Morning departure to Ephesus. St. Paul stayed in Ephesus for two years. The still standing amphitheatre is the witness of the riots against St. Paul. The very first church dedicated to Virgin Mary was built in Ephesus after visiting Hadrian Temple, Celcus Library, St. John`s Basilica, House of Virgin Mary and Temple of Diana, proceed to Miletos, with one of the largest amphitheatres in Asia Minor. It was in Miletos that Paul stopped at the end of his third journey and predicted his imprisonment. Later in the day visit Apollo Temple at Didyma and return to Izmir.

Day 8: Izmir – Canakkale

Morning drive to Akhisar, Thyatira to see the remains of Basilica church. Proceed to Pergamum to visit the Acropolis of Hellenistic Pergamum. Among its buildings are the Altar of Zeus and the temples of Trajan & Dionysus. After visiting the Asclepion, the earliest health center of Asia Minor. After lunch drive to Assos, where St. Paul rejoined his companions and visit Troas where St. Paul set sail to Greece. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

Day 9: Canakkale – Istanbul

Morning visit the site of Troy, the Homeric city and the local museum. Cross the Dardenelles by ferryboat to the European site. Driving through Galipoli, the battlefields of the First World War. Arrive to Istanbul for overnight.

Day 10: Istanbul

Full day sightseeing in Istanbul in the old quarters of the city; Visit the Church of St. Savior in Chora famed with Byzantine mosaics and frescoes, Hagia Sophia, the oldest Christian basilica for Ecumenical councils. Visit the circus maximus of Constantinople, the Hippodrome where chariot races were held in Roman times. After enjoying the beautiful tile decoration of the Blue Mosque. Visit the Topkapi Palace museum with its priceless jeweled objects and the Porcelain Collection. At the end of the day shopping in the Grand Bazaar. Dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Departure

Transfer to the airport for flight to next destination or transfer to Turkish/Greek border to continue tour in Greece.