Turkey: Istanbul, Edirne & the Aegean Coast

TOUR IN

21 Sep
-
02 Oct 2025
|
12 days

$3374

per person

Availability: 12 places

Turkey’s stunning Aegean Coast together with its Asia Minor hinterland is an area literally strewn with some of antiquity’s most famous and beguiling sites such as Troy, Pergamon and Ephesus.

However amongst the region’s famed turquoise waters, olives groves and pine-forested hills lies some lesser known gems which we’ll also visit such as the village of Birgi with its traditional Ottoman architecture, the Lydian capital of Sardes and the rarely visited north-western city of Edirne with its 16th century UNESCO Selimiye Mosque, considered a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.

Starting in the culturally unrivalled city of Istanbul and travelling by train, bus, ferry and boat via the battlefields of Gallipoli to the southern shores around Fethiye we’ll spend our time not only exploring incredible ancient sites but also sampling provincial specialities, visiting local breweries, meeting villagers and taking in spectacular views along the Lycian Way, all the while allowing us the chance to delve just a little bit deeper into this fascinating and understandably highly acclaimed region.

Day 1

DAY 1: Tour starts in Istanbul

The tour starts this evening and due to the arrival time of the suggested group flights there are no activities or meals included today. Our hotel is in the bustling heart of Istanbul.

Day 2

DAY 2: Istanbul: Historic Sights

We explore Sultanhamet this morning, the historic centre of Istanbul. Starting with the iconic Hagia Sophia Cathedral, built by Justinian and a legacy of the Byzantine Empire and then moving on to the Blue Mosque where the six minarets shape the old Istanbul skyline. Below it we find what was once the ancient hippodrome, marked with an Egyptian obelisk and now a pleasant park. We will end the day at the Basilica Cistern, once one of the vast water cisterns supplying the city and fed by aqueducts. Deep underground, suspended above the water, a series of walkways take us through this cavern, the roof of which is supported by a forest of columns.

Day 3

DAY 3: Istanbul – Edirne: Morning at Leisure & Early Evening train

A free morning allows you to pursue your own interests in Istanbul this morning, be it wandering the Great Bazaar, taking in the Topkapi Palace or perhaps visiting a museum or gallery. After lunch we head to Chora Church to enjoy the Byzantine frescoes and then visit the land walls - huge structures which surrounded and protected Constantinople for 1000 years. We then join with local travellers to take an early evening 4hr train journey to Edirne, an early Ottoman capital, close to the borders of Greece and Bulgaria.

Day 4

DAY 4: Edirne – Çanakkale: Mosques and Synagogues

We will spend the morning in Edirne, a well-preserved Ottoman town with bazaars and graceful architecture, some designed by the architect Mimar Sinan, including the Selimiye Mosque, one of Turkey’s finest, which we will visit this morning. After, we head to the newly restored Grand Synagogue before enjoying lunch in a traditional restaurant trying some of the local delicacies. We’ll head south in the afternoon crossing over the enormous Dardanelles Bridge to Çanakkale.

Day 5

DAY 5: Çanakkale: Gallipoli National Park & Dardanelles

We will take the ferry over the water to the Gallipoli Peninsula this morning and spend some time exploring the national park. This beautiful peninsula was the stage for a massive struggle during the first world war between primarily ANZAC troops and the Ottoman armies under the leadership of young officer Mustafa Kemal (who went on to become the father of modern Turkey, known as Ataturk). There are many affecting graveyards and memorials scattered across this picturesque but tragic area. Starting at Anzac Cove we will walk up the steep escarpment passing Turkish memorials to the view point at Lone Pine. We then continue to the southern point of the peninsula, Cape Helles, to visit the British memorial. After lunch, we tour the mighty sea defences of the Dardanelles and you will have time to visit some of the local museums and emotive war graves that lie scattered across this now peaceful area. At the end of the day, time-permitting. you may wish to visit the Naval Museum at Çanakkale.
Approx. 1.5hrs walking (200m ascent, 100m descent. Total distance 4km)

Day 6

DAY 6: Çanakkale – Troy – Assos – Ayvalık: Temple of Athena & Olive Groves

This morning we head to the legendary city of Troy to explore the archaeological remains and the museum housing many exhibits recently recovered from museums abroad. Arriving in Assos, we explore the Doric Temple of Athena in the acropolis above the small town, before walking approximately 2km down to the ancient harbour from where there are views out to Lesbos which we can enjoy over lunch. From here we continue past Mt Ida to the olive groves of Adatepe, visiting the Olive Oil Museum to hear about the history of this vital product, then to the pretty seaside town of Ayvalık for the night.

Day 7

DAY 7: Ayvalik – Bergama – Salihli: Epic Pergamon

We will drive the short distance to Bergama, the site of fabled Pergamon. Once one of the largest cities in Asia Minor with 3 theatres, an amphitheatre and also a stadium, its splendid acropolis a rival to Athens, with a library emulating that of Alexandria, and huge health centre known as the Asclepion. We take a cable car to the acropolis and visit the Temple of Trajan and the impressively steep theatre before descending to the 'Red Basilica' an Egyptian Temple of Isis. Finally, we visit the Asclepion, where a fascinating underground tunnel takes us to the healing rooms in which the demi-god Asclepius was believed to heal the sick. Our journey on to Salihli takes us via the many tumuli of Bintepe (thousand hills), burial place of generations of Lydian Kings.

Day 8

DAY 8: Salihli – Sardes – Bozdaǧ Mountains – Birgi – Çamlık: Historic Sardes & Mountain Walk

Sardes, capital of the Lydian Kingom, is the city where King Midas washed his hands to relieve him of his curse in which everything he touched turned to gold, and, where money as we know it was invented. We visit the site with its synagogue, Temple of Artemis and gymnasium before we head into the nearby mountains. A picnic lunch and a short walk await us in the Bozdağ Mountains before we descend to Birgi where we visit the exquisitely painted Çakırağa Mansiyon and Aydınoğulları Mosque. We spend tonight in Çamlık.
Approx. 1.5hrs walking (270m ascent, 270m descent. Total distance 4km)

Day 9

DAY 9: Çamlık – Ephesus – Koyceğiz: Roman Ruins & Craft Beers

The Greco-Roman city of Ephesus is Turkey’s best preserved ancient site, we will visit the vast site including the agora, Temple of Hadrian, baths and theatre as well as visiting the museum with its well-presented depiction of the city. After lunch in Selcuk we continue on the way south stopping at the Gara Guzu Brewery to taste some of Turkey's finest craft ales before descending to the stunningly beautiful freshwater lake of Koyceğiz, where we stay the night.

Day 10

DAY 10: Koyceğiz – Iztuzu Beach – Kayakoy – Faralya: Aegean Boat Trip & Abandoned Village

We spend much of today on the coast taking in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. Our first stop is the Turtle Sanctuary on Iztuzu Beach, here the beach is protected from development, closed at night and marked off where eggs are laid as part of a conservation effort. The sanctuary itself takes care of injured turtles. We will move on to a pretty bay from where we will take a private wooden boat across the Göcek Bay to Fethiye, making a stop for swimming along the way. Back on land we will visit Kayakoy, a ghost town that was home to thousands of Greek Orthodox Christians until after WWI when they were forced to migrate to Greece, as an 'exchange' for the Muslim population in Greece. The ancient town is now a museum and monument with around 500 houses and two large churches remaining. Our final destination for the day is further south along the coast, the cliff top village of Faralya.

Day 11

DAY 11: Faralya: The Lycian Way

You have the option to head out on foot today and take on a section of the Lycian Way, a long-distance hiking trail designed as a sustainable tourism project for Turkey's future, to protect Turkey’s ancient roads. The trail uses a network of roads, trails and footpaths between the coast and the mountains. Today our sector will take us along the pristine coast, by cliffs and coves from Butterfly Valley to Kabak Beach, the trail takes us through red pine forests giving plenty of shade and we will stop for a swim in Aktas Cove. Back in Faralya we will enjoy a final dinner together.
Approx. 4hrs walking (500m ascent, 650m descent. Total distance 10km)

Day 12

DAY 12: Tour ends in Faralya

The tour ends after breakfast. Those on the suggested group flight will be transferred to Dalaman airport for onward flights.