Authentic Turkey
Sample Tailor-made tour
Western & Central Anatolia
This tour starts from Izmir on Turkey’s North Aegean coast and takes in the country’s most famous ancient city, Ephesus, before visiting two of her most renowned natural wonders - Pamukkale and Cappadocia - as well as mystic Konya, home of the ‘Whirling Dervishes’.
2 nights in Selçuk (for Ephesus)
2 nights in Pamukkale
1 night in Konya
2 nights in Cappadocia
1. UK to Izmir
Fly to Izmir (via Istanbul) with Turkish Airlines from London, Birmingham or Manchester where you will be collected by one of our drivers or pick up your hire car to drive to Selçuk.
2. Ephesus
Visit this ancient Roman city, one of the best preserved and most visited in the world, with its grand marble streets and imposing library. Once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, ‘the Temple of Artemis’ it was also here that St Paul preached some of his most famous sermons, and where the Virgin Mary spent her last days.
3. Via Aphrodisias to Hierapolis and Pamukkale
Visit the ruins of the ancient city of Aphrodisias with its stunning Temple of Aphrodite, before continuing to the ancient thermal spa town of Hierapolis, with its original Roman baths and graveyard containing over 1200 tombs.
4. Pamukkale
Literally translated as ‘Cotton Castle’ this unique natural wonder appears from a distance as a shimmering white fairytale castle, or snow-covered mountain. Its limestoneladen thermal spring waters have created a magical landscape of white rocks and warm shallow pools. Relax and take the waters, said to cure all types of ailments.
5. Via Lake Egridir to Konya
Enjoy the splendour of the stunning scenery of this beautiful lake before continuing to Konya, home of the ‘Whirling Dervishes’ to visit their Museum.
6. Cappadocia
Drive to Cappadocia to explore the famous landscape of fairy chimneys, taking in the Göreme Open Air Museum and the citadel of Üçhisar.
7. Cappadocia
Another day to explore this surreal landscape. You could choose to visit the underground city of Derinkuyu, carved out of the rock by the early Christians, continuing to the beautiful rock churches of the Ihlara Valley; or perhaps take a hot air balloon flight to see the area from the skies.
8. Kayseri to UK
Continue to Kayseri airport to take a flight back to the UK (via Istanbul).
Sample Tailor Made Tour with Self-drive: from £1069 pp
Sample Tailor Made Tour with basic English Speaking driver: from £1699 pp
Sample Tailor Made Tour with with Professional Guide: from £2049 pp
Prices are per person (minimum 2 people sharing) and include 4* accommodation (3* where 4* is not available) accommodation on either HB or BB basis. Air-conditioned group C or similar car included in price for self-drive. For escorted tours, group G or similar car is provided. Fuel, driver/guide and his/her daily expenses are also included in the escorted tour.
Please note the prices are for guidance only. Please call our Tailor-made team on 0845 365 1011 for price and availability on your chosen date.
Highlights of the tour:
This tour really gives a sense of the unique and diverse wonders which are to be found in Turkey, each a highlight in its own right: from the historic treasures of Ephesus, Aphrodisias and Hierapolis to the stunning natural beauty of Pamukkale and Cappadocia. Not forgetting, of course, the beautiful early Christian rock churches of Cappadocia and Konya, the birthplace of the world-renowned mystic and poet, Celaleddin Rumi, founder of the religious movement known as the Mevlevi or Whirling Dervishes. You could extend your holiday by spending a few days in Istanbul at either the beginning or the end of your trip.