Turkey: Istanbul, Edirne & the Aegean Coast
Turkey: Istanbul, Edirne & the Aegean Coast
12 Days Starting in Istanbul, Turkey and ending in Faralya, Turkey
Visiting: Istanbul, Edirne, Çanakkale, Bergama, Salihli, Ephesus, Fethiye, Faralya
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TAM
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 12
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Turkey, exploring the vibrant city of Istanbul, the architectural marvels of Edirne, and the ancient wonders along the Aegean Coast. Discover the iconic Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and marvel at the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne. Walk through history in the ancient cities of Troy, Ephesus, and Pergamon, and wander the charming lanes of Birgi and Karakoy. Reflect at the poignant memorials of Gallipoli and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Lycian Way. With a mix of cultural experiences, delicious Turkish cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes, this tour offers a comprehensive and enriching exploration of Turkey.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Tour Starts In Istanbul
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: Grand Sirkeci Hotel or similar
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: Istanbul: Historic Sights
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: Grand Sirkeci Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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: Istanbul – Edirne: Morning At Leisure & Early Evening Train
Location: Istanbul
Accommodation Name: The Rest Port Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
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: Edirne – Çanakkale: Mosques And Synagogues
Location: Edirne
Accommodation Name: Aspen Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
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: Çanakkale: Gallipoli National Park & Dardanelles
Location: Çanakkale
Accommodation Name: Aspen Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
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: Çanakkale – Troy – Assos – Ayvalık: Temple Of Athena & Olive Groves
Location: Çanakkale
Accommodation Name: Casalyma Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
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: Ayvalik – Bergama – Salihli: Epic Pergamon
Location: Bergama
Accommodation Name: Lidya Sardes Hotel Thermal & Spa or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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: Salihli – Sardes – Bozdaǧ Mountains – Birgi – Çamlık: Historic Sardes & Mountain Walk
Location: Salihli
Accommodation Name: Vinifera Vineyards Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
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: Çamlık – Ephesus – Koyceğiz: Roman Ruins & Craft Beers
Location: Ephesus
Accommodation Name: Panorama Plaza or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
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: Koyceğiz – Iztuzu Beach – Kayakoy – Faralya: Aegean Boat Trip & Abandoned Village
Location: Fethiye
Accommodation Name: Montenegro Motel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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: Faralya: The Lycian Way
Location: Faralya
Accommodation Name: Montenegro Motel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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: Tour Ends In Faralya
Location: Faralya
Meals Included: Breakfast
The tour ends after breakfast. Those on the suggested group flight will be transferred to Dalaman airport for onward flights.
What's Included
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MEALS
11 x Breakfasts, 2 x Lunches, 4 x Dinners
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TRANSPORT
Minibuses, train, ferry & boat
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GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12
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CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions to climate and community projects for all bookings
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EXPERT TEAM
The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate
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ACCOMMODATION
11 nights x Superior
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ENTRANCE FEES
All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
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FITNESS RATING
Low / Moderate
What's Not Included
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Visas & Travel Insurance
Visas will always be tour
ationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory -
Tips
Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
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International Flights
Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
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Airport Transfers
We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
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Beverages & any costs of a personal nature
This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
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ExcludedItem
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras.
As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour
ationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
Mode of Transport
Travel comfortably using a mix of minibuses, trains, ferries, and boats to explore the diverse landscapes and historic sites of Turkey.
Accommodation
Enjoy 11 nights of superior accommodation at various hotels including the Grand Sirkeci Hotel in Istanbul, The Rest Port Hotel in Edirne, and the Montenegro Motel in Faralya, among others.
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Key Aspects to Consider
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, however, please note that the trip visits a number of ancient sites where we will be exploring on foot, often the ground is uneven and there is little shade. We also take a couple of optional longer walks of around 6-8km which may include some steeper sections in the mountains and along the cliffs.
Travelling Solo
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip. On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
Insurance
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 4 dinners.
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What types of transportation will be used during the tour?
The tour will use minibuses, trains, ferries, and boats for transportation.
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What is the maximum group size for this tour?
The maximum group size for this tour is 12 people.
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Are entrance fees to the sights included in the tour price?
Yes, all entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary are included in the tour price.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect on this tour?
The tour includes 11 nights of superior accommodation.
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Is there a fitness requirement for this tour?
The fitness rating for this tour is low to moderate.
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Will there be a tour leader and local guides during the tour?
Yes, the tour includes the full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate.
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What kind of activities are included in the tour?
The tour includes exploring historic sites, visiting ancient cities, walking through pine forests and along clifftops, and enjoying Turkish cuisine and coffee.
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What is the responsible travel policy for this tour?
The tour is designed with responsible travel and sustainable tourism in mind, supporting local communities, social enterprises, and conservation projects.
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What should solo travelers know about this tour?
Approximately 70% of the clients are solo travelers. Single supplements are not compulsory, and if you prefer not to pay for one, you will be paired with someone of the same sex. If you do opt for a single supplement, it will cover all nights of the tour.
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Is travel insurance required for this tour?
Yes, insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
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What is not included in the cost of the tour?
The cost of the tour does not include visas, travel insurance, tips, international flights, airport transfers (unless arriving/departing on the suggested group flights), beverages, and any costs of a personal nature such as laundry and souvenirs.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have a complete Covid-19 hub here: https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/en_GB/covid-hub
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 70% of passengers on our group tours are solo adventurers. Unlike many tour operators, we don’t believe in charging solo travellers a premium, so if you are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same sex, you will pay exactly the same as a couple..Occasionally you may even end up with your own room. You can travel as a single traveller on any of our holidays, from our escorte
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2002
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Do I need to be double-vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel with you?
In most cases, yes. Not only are many destinations making double-vaccination a requirement of entry to the country and/or access to restaurants, museums etc., but additionally on all our group tours for the foreseeable future, for everyone’s peace of mind, we are asking that all clients be double vaccinated.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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Free Date Changes
Wild Frontiers allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 90 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Wild Frontiers requires a minimum deposit of 500 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wild frontiers charges.
Up to 71 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 50 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.