From Legends to History: Turkey's Legacy of Civilizations and Culture

17 days
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4.3/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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Small Group Tour
The story of Turkey is a blend of cultures and people as beautifully complex as the mosaics left by the Byzantine. Join us and see for yourself what makes this country so unique.
From$4,849
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • I like to spend much of the day exploring
    • Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full
    • Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the group

What's this trip about?

    The story of Turkey is a blend of cultures and people as beautifully complex as the mosaics left by the Byzantine. Join us and see for yourself what makes this country so unique.

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 24 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transport
Start CityAnkara
End CityIstanbul

Travel Themes

  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Culinary & Wine
  • Photography
  • National Parks
  • Yoga, Meditation & Wellness
  • Relaxing Retreats
  • Holy Land

Destinations

Activities

  • Nature
  • Photography
  • Relaxing Retreat
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Yoga & Meditation

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 10

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 24

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrival, Registration & Welcome Meeting, Welcome Dinner Ankara

Upon arrival in Ankara Airport, clear passport control, claim your bags, go through customs and the sliding doors and look for the Road Scholar sign.

We will gather in our private meeting room at the hotel at 6:00PM where your group leader will greet you with a ...

Day 3 Anatolian Civilizations Museum, Mausoleum of Ataturk Ankara

Walking up to 1 mile during excursions and at the Mausoleum of Ataturk

We will start our day with a visit to the award winning Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, located steps away from the hotel. The tour of the museum will be led by Prof Thomas Zimmerman, head...

Day 4 Hattusas, Anatolian Steppes to Cappadocia Cappadocia

Walking up to 1 mile on occasionally uneven terrain during the visit to Hattusas. Climbing a flight of stairs might be required at the cave hotel in Cappadocia, depending on the location of room.

We depart from Ankara and head east to Hattusas. Hattusas is the c...

Day 5 Goreme Open Air Museum, Fantastic Formations of Cappadocia Cappadocia

Walking in uneven terrain, for up to 1 mile. Sturdy walking shoes highly recommended. Some caves/churches require crouching to enter.

There will be an optional hot air balloon flight this morning for those interested in discovering this unique geography from the...

Day 6 Visit Love Valley & Village of Sinasos Cappadocia

An optional hike through the formations of Cappadocia will be offered to those interested. Good walking shoes are a must.

We will visit and explore the village of Sinasos. This village had a largely Greek population in Ottoman times. Today it is a thriving town ...

Day 7 Silk Road From Cappadocia to Konya, Sultanhani Caravanserai Konya

Leisurely day spent on the bus.

Drive west to Konya, on the central plateau of Turkey, following the ancient Silk Road. We will visit Sultanhani, a 13th century Seljuk caravanserai, an ancient "camel motel" built on the Silk Road to accommodate the caravans of t...

Day 8 The Magnificent Roman Theater of Aspendos, City of Perge Antalya

Walking at ancient Greek/Roman sites up to ½ mile. Occasional uneven pavement at ancient sites.

We will depart Konya after breakfast and head south towards the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey by crossing the impressive Taurus Mountains.

This afternoon, you w...

Day 9 Lecture & Field Trip to Antalya Archeological Museum Antalya

Standing for varying periods during the tour of the Museum. Streets of the old town can be steep towards the harbor.

This morning you will visit the award winning Antalya Archeological Museum. An archeologist from the local Akdeniz University will give a lecture...

Day 10 Hierapolis, Natural Calcium Pools, Travertines of Pamukkale Pamukkale

Walking on uneven terrain at the ancient site of Hierapolis. Extreme caution should be shown while walking on the cascades and travertines of Pamukkale. (Slippery!)

Depart Antalya and head inland driving north through lush countryside towards Pamukkale.

Ar...

Day 11 Aphrodisias, City of Aphrodite Kusadasi

Uneven terrain at the ancient site of Aphrodisias. Walking up to 1 mile.

Depart Pamukkale after breakfast and drive along the Meander River. This morning you will visit the splendid Aphrodisias, the Greek Roman city dedicated to Greek goddess of Love, Aphrodite....

Day 12 The Amazing City of Ephesus Kusadasi

Walking up to 2 miles on the ancient streets of Ephesus. Visiting the Terrace Houses section of Ephesus requires climbing several sets of stairs through different sections of the museum.

Start your day by exploring the mesmerizing ancient site of Ephesus. Your e...

Day 13 Troy, the Fabled City of Homer Canakkale

Walking ½ mile on uneven terrain during visit of Troy

We will depart early from Kusadasi and drive north along the Aegean Sea. We will drive through Izmir (ancient Smyrna), the third largest city of Turkey, also known as the Pearl of the Aegean.

We will dr...

Day 14 Gallipoli National Park & the Anzac Cove Istanbul

Leisurely day spent on the coach.

We will depart early from Canakkale and take the ferry across the Dardanelles, from Asia to Europe. We will stop at the Gallipoli National Park and see the Anzac Cove to remember the tragic campaign launched by the Allied Forces...

Day 15 Topkapi Palace, The Harem, Underground Cisterns. Istanbul

Walking up to 3 miles in the old city of Istanbul, occasionally on cobblestone streets. Good walking shoes are recommended. The whole day will be spent on foot due to the traffic restrictions in the old city.

Start your day with a visit to the Topkapi Palace, on...

Day 16 Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, Bosphorus Cruise Istanbul

Walking up to 2 miles on the streets and bazaars of Istanbul.

This morning you will start your day with a field trip to the breathtaking Church of Hagia Sophia. You will learn about the architecture of this unique 1,500 year old building and awe at its size and ...

Day 17 Program Concludes In Flight

There will be group transfers from the hotel to Istanbul Airport, depending on the departure times of flights. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please be ...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,849
Price per day$285
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
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Meals Included
  • Number of Breakfast: 15
  • Number of Lunch: 14
  • Number of Dinner: 14
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
roadscholar-18696

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