Treasures of Anatolia
Thirteen days with time to breathe: a whirling dervish ceremony, Gallipoli, Ephesus and a sunrise balloon flight over Cappadocia.
- 13 days / 12 nights
- Small group, usually 8–12 (max 16), or private on request
- from US$4,060 per person, room sharing
The room goes silent. A single reed flute begins, and the dervishes, in white, start to turn, one hand to the sky and one to the earth. A week later you rise at dawn with them in your mind, as your balloon lifts over the valleys of Cappadocia.
Highlights
- Whirling dervish ceremony
- Bosphorus cruise
- Gallipoli and Troy
- Ephesus
- Pamukkale
- Balloon flight included
- Free day in Istanbul
Your route
- By road
- Domestic flight
Cultural moments
- A Mevlevi whirling dervish ceremony (Sema)
- Gallipoli told from both sides
- The Terrace Houses of Ephesus, where Roman families lived among frescoes
- A sunrise balloon flight, included
- A free day for your own Istanbul: a hamam, a ferry, a long Turkish breakfast
Day by day
- Day 1
Arrive in Istanbul
Transfer to your boutique hotel. Evening free.
- Day 2
Istanbul Old City and the Sema
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace. In the evening, watch the Mevlevi whirling dervishes turn in silence.
- Day 3
Istanbul: two continents
Spice Bazaar and a cruise on the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia.
- Day 4
Gallipoli
The Anzac battlefields with your guide. Overnight in Çanakkale.
- Day 5
Troy and Pergamon
Troy in the morning, the acropolis of Pergamon in the afternoon. On to Kuşadası.
- Day 6
Ephesus
Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Terrace Houses and the House of the Virgin Mary.
- Day 7
Pamukkale
The travertines and Hierapolis, back to Kuşadası.
- Day 8
Fly to Cappadocia
Check in to your cave hotel. Sunset over Rose Valley.
- Day 9
Balloon flight and Cappadocia North
Lift off at sunrise above the fairy chimneys. Later, Göreme Open-Air Museum and Avanos.
- Day 10
Cappadocia South
An underground city, Pigeon Valley and Uçhisar castle.
- Day 11
Fly to Istanbul
Morning flight back to Istanbul. Afternoon free.
- Day 12
Istanbul at leisure
A free day for the Grand Bazaar, a hamam or a ferry to the Asian side.
- Day 13
Depart
Transfer to the airport.
What's included
- 12 nights in 4-star and special-class boutique hotels, including a cave hotel
- Breakfast daily, plus lunch on touring days
- Hot-air balloon flight in Cappadocia
- Whirling dervish ceremony in Istanbul
- Domestic flights Izmir–Kayseri and Kayseri–Istanbul
- English-speaking licensed guide on every touring day
- Entrance fees for every site in the itinerary
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- Small group, usually 8 to 12 travelers (maximum 16)
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Visa / e-Visa fees if your passport requires one
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities not listed (e.g. a balloon flight where it is not included)
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Single room supplement if you travel alone
Good to know
- Hot-air balloon flights depend on the weather and are confirmed by the authorities on the morning of the flight. If yours is cancelled we will try to rebook on another morning where the itinerary allows.
- Mosques require modest dress: shoulders and knees covered; women bring a scarf for the head.
- Some sites (Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia valleys) involve uneven ground and walking. Tell us about any mobility needs and we'll adapt the plan.
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