- Exotic Istanbul, including Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia
- Private Bosphorus cruise
- WWI battlefield of Gallipoli
- Ruins at ancient Troy, Pergamum, Ephesus
- Rustic village of Sirince
- Three-night “Blue Voyage” aboard privately chartered gulet yacht
- Cruising to secluded coves and hidden sites
- Opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, hiking
- Sunken Baths of Cleopatra
- Ancient site of Perge
- Antalya’s acclaimed Archaeological Museum
The small group
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The small group
Just 12-24 Guests, Guaranteed
travel experience- Information & Reservations
1-888-370-6765
Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST
A MESSAGE FROM BRUCE EPSTEIN
When the time is right for travel, we’ll be here
Six-time honoree Travel + Leisure's World's Best Tour Operators awards
Ranked #2
Best Group Tour
Company
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Choice poll
Legendary Turkey
From Istanbul to the Turquoise CoastTour membership limited to 12-24 guests
15 days from $3,892 total price from Boston, New York, Wash, DC
($3,495 air, land & cruise inclusive plus $397 airline taxes and fees)
Optional Post-tour Extension: Cappadocia & Konya
Exotic sights, scents, and sounds reign in this fascinating land where Europe and Asia meet. From Istanbul, magnificent “Empress of the World,” to ancient ruins, stunning landscapes, and the dramatic Turquoise Coast where we board privately chartered “gulet” yachts for a distinctive three-day voyage, Turkey engages and beguiles, offering us an unparalleled small group experience.
Small Group Tour Highlights
Day-by-Day Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Depart U.S. for Istanbul, Turkey
Day 2: Arrive Istanbul We arrive in Turkey’s cultural and spiritual heart today and transfer to our hotel located near Taksim Square, the heart of modern Istanbul. As guests’ arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities or meals planned; on our own we can explore the area surrounding our hotel or simply relax. Dinner tonight is on our own.
Day 3: Istanbul We get our first real taste of this city straddling two continents today as we set out on a walking tour along lively pedestrian Istiklal Street, lined with boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and late Ottoman-era buildings. We see the acclaimed mosaics and frescoes at Chora Church (now Kariye Museum) then take a panoramic drive along Istanbul’s Old City walls. Then we visit intimate Rustem Pasha mosque, with its exquisite Iznik tiles, followed by the renowned Spice Market. After lunch on our own here, we take a private cruise on the Bosphorus, the waterway that separates Europe from Asia. This evening we take a short walk to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner of traditional Turkish fare. B,D
Day 4: Istanbul Today we encounter Old Istanbul, beginning with the ancient Roman Hippodrome, the 3,500-year-old obelisk brought from Egypt in 390 CE. Next we visit the Blue Mosque, with its 20,000 blue Iznik tiles and signature six minarets. We then visit the renowned Museum of Turkish & Islamic Art, housing priceless artifacts from the 8th to 20th centuries. After lunch at a local restaurant we continue on to Hagia Sophia, the 6th-century church that was Christendom’s most important before becoming a mosque in the 15th century. B,L
Day 5: Istanbul This morning we tour splendid Topkapi, for 400 years the palace of Ottoman sultans that today ranks among the world’s richest museums. We continue on to the Basilica Cistern, the marble-columned underground chamber that provided water to Istanbul in antiquity. Our next stop is the Grand Bazaar, the covered market housing some 5,000 shops along 60 “streets.” The remainder of the day and evening is free for independent exploration. B
Day 6: Istanbul/Gallipoli/Troy/Assos Leaving Istanbul this morning, we travel to the northern Aegean Coast for a brief visit to Gallipoli, haunting site of 31 Allied cemeteries from World War I. Then we ferry across the Dardanelles to Troy, once believed to exist only in Homer’s epic poem until the present site was discovered in the 1870s. After touring here we continue south to Behramkale, ancient Assos, where we spend the night. B,L,D
Day 7: Assos/Pergamum/Kusadasi Today we explore one of Turkey’s most spectacular ancient sites: windswept Pergamum, a major power in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, with a wealth of Hellenistic ruins. Then we continue on to Kusadasi. B,L,D
Day 8: Kusadasi/Ephesus Few ancient sites compare to Ephesus, the world’s best-preserved classical city which we explore today. Dating to at least 1300 BCE, Ephesus was Asia Minor’s largest metropolis and principal port. Our tour includes the Terrace Houses, the recently restored “houses of the rich,” with their outstanding mosaic floors and frescoed walls. Then we enjoy lunch in the rustic village of Sirince. B,L
Day 9: Kusadasi/Ephesus We return to Ephesus to visit the Basilica of St. John, the 6th-century ruins that stand over what is believed to be the burial site of John the Apostle. Then we learn about Ephesus through the ages, as we tour the Ephesus Muzeum, housing treasures from the archaeological site. After lunch together, we stop at a carpet factory to watch a demonstration of this age-old craft. B,L,D
Day 10: Kusadasi/Göcek En route to Göcek today, we stop in Dalyan, where we board a small skiff for a trip through an intriguing maze of channels. At the Lake of Koycegiz we see our first Lycian rock-cut tombs on the cliffs above. Late this afternoon we board our gulet and tonight enjoy our first meal on board. B,L,D .
Day 11: Cruising – Aga Limani/Cleopatra Baths We begin our “Blue Voyage” this morning along the stunning coastline Antony is said to have given Cleopatra as a wedding gift. We cruise to the hidden cove of Aga Limani, where we have the option of taking a three-hour hike to the Greco-Roman ruins at Lydea, ending at the Sunken Baths of Cleopatra. Set in a breathtaking inlet, the Baths offer crystal-clear waters for swimming and snorkeling. Those who prefer a less strenuous day can stay aboard the gulets as we sail to the Sunken Baths. B,L,D
Day 12: Cruising – Gemiler Island/Kayakoy Today we cruise to Gemiler Island to tour its 6th-century Byzantine monastery. Then we coach to the Greek “ghost town” of Kayakoy, abandoned after World War I and now preserved as a historical monument. B,L,D
Day 13: Fethiye/Antalya We cruise this morning to Fethiye, where we disembark then set out by motorcoach through the Taurus Mountains for Antalya. We reach the seaside city in time for lunch and a visit to the acclaimed Archaeological Museum. B,L
Day 14: Antalya/Perge This morning we tour the ruins at Perge, an ancient Greek city once among the world’s prettiest and most prosperous. Then we return to Antalya for a walking tour of its charming Old Town. This afternoon is at leisure before tonight’s farewell dinner at a local restaurant. B,D
Day 15: Depart for U.S. This morning we board an early flight for our return to the United States. B
Please note: This trip involves considerable walking on uneven or cobblestone streets and at sites of ancient ruins. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.
B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included
Tour Price Includes
- Round-trip air transportation from listed cities
- 13 nights’ accommodations: 9 nights in Deluxe and unrated hotels; 3 nights aboard privately chartered gulet yacht
- 30 meals: 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners
- Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
- Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
- Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
- Luggage handling for one bag per person
- Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
- $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)
2021 Tour Dates & Prices
2021 Tour Dates & Prices
including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees
| Oct 19 | Oct 1 Oct 8 | Sep 7 Sep 21 | |
| Boston, New York, Washington, DC | $3,892 | $4,092 | $4,192 |
| Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco | $4,192 | $4,392 | $4,492 |
Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Dallas, Phil | $4,292 | $4,492 | $4,592 |
| Cinc, Cleve, Denver, Detroit, Minn, Orlando, Phoenix, Port (OR), Seattle, Tampa | $4,392 | $4,592 | $4,692 |
Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $397, which are subject to change until final payment is made.
Single travelers please add $795. Your $475 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days prior to departure. All 2021 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.
Business Class upgrade (subject to availability) on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: $3,995 per person
A visa is required for this tour. Odysseys Unlimited will provide information about visa requirements upon reservation.
2022 Tour Dates & Prices
2022 Tour Dates & Prices
including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees
| Apr 12 Apr 15 Oct 18 Oct 21 | Apr 26 May 3 May 10 Oct 4 Oct 7 | May 20 May 27 Sep 2, 9 Sep 16 Sep 23 | |
| Boston, New York, Washington, DC | $3,992 | $4,192 | $4,392 |
| Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco | $4,292 | $4,492 | $4,692 |
Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Dallas, Phil | $4,392 | $4,592 | $4,792 |
| Cinc, Cleve, Denver, Detroit, Minn, Orlando, Phoenix, Port (OR), Seattle, Tampa | $4,492 | $4,692 | $4,892 |
Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $397, which are subject to change until final payment is made.
Single travelers please add $795. Your $475 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days prior to departure. All 2022 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.
Business Class upgrade (subject to availability) on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: $3,995 per person
A visa is required for this tour. Odysseys Unlimited will provide information about visa requirements upon reservation.
Accommodations
Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, Istanbul / Days 2-5 / Deluxe
Overlooking the River Bosphorus and surrounded by gardens, the Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus is situated in the heart of the city’s European side within easy walking distance from the shops and restaurants of Taksim Square and Nisantasi. The hotel offers seven dining options including a Chinese restaurant, Indian restaurant, and pool bar; fitness center; spa with Turkish bath, two saunas, two steam rooms, and massage treatments; outdoor and indoor pool; tennis court; complimentary Wi-Fi internet access; laundry and dry cleaning services (for a fee). Air-conditioned guest rooms feature a balcony, private bath with hair dryer, minibar, in-room safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.
Assos Eden Gardens, Assos / Day 6 / First Class
The Assos Eden Gardens Hotel owns an idyllic location, settled between the blue Aegean Sea and the pine-covered hillsides of Assos. This family-run hotel offers a variety of dining and drinking options, rooftop terrace with panoramic sea views, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, direct access to a private beach, fitness center, Turkish bathhouse with steam bath and sauna (for a fee), laundry and dry-cleaning services (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private balconies with either sea or garden views, and feature private bath with hair dryer, tea- and coffee-making facilities, in-room safe, minibar, TV, and phone.
Charisma Hotel, Kusadasi / Days 7-9 / Deluxe
Additional information to come.
Gulet Yacht, Gocek / Days 9-12 / Not rated
A beautifully crafted motorized sailing vessel built of teak wood with a pointed fore and round aft, a private gulet yacht is the most authentic and relaxing way to cruise the Turquoise Coast. A large foredeck gives everyone ample space to sit and watch the Mediterranean coastline; in the evening, you may choose to stay up here and sleep under the stars. Dinner each evening is outside on deck under cover, as the ship’s cook prepares meals praised for their quality and freshness. All guests stay in small private cabins, each equipped with a shower and toilet. On board, you’ll also find swimming and snorkeling equipment, perfect for late afternoon dips after you’ve anchored for the day.
| Average Length: | 85 feet |
| Average Width: | 21 feet |
| Sails: | Mainsail, Genoa |
| Motor: | MAN 350HP |
Please note that, while the gulets are built to reflect the design of traditional Turkish fishermen’s sailing vessels, their primary means of movement is by motor. The actual amount of time spent under sail may be very limited and is often based on local weather conditions and the captain’s discretion. Also, electricity on board is provided by a generator and thus the amount of hot water may be limited during busy periods (especially in the morning).
Akra Barut, Antalya / Days 13-14 / Deluxe
Located just outside of Antalya’s city center, the Akra Barut is set on the Mediterranean, overlooking both the sea and the Taurus Mountains in the distance. The hotel is fully equipped with three restaurants and two cocktail lounges; internet access; laundry and dry cleaning services; market; fitness center; spa; outdoor pools; tennis courts; and private platform beach. Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, mini-bar, TV, coffee- and tea-making facilities, balcony, and phone.
Hilton Garden Inn Konya, Konya / Extension / First Class
The Hilton Garden Inn Konya sits in the heart of Konya, a city which has seen continuous human habitation since the 3rd millennium BCE. The hotel sits close to the Mevlana Museum and adjacent to the Mevlana Cultural Centre. The hotel’s amenities include a restaurant and bar, 24-hour fitness center, 24-hour mini-mart, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, and laundry service (for a fee). Air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.
Yunak Evleri Hotel, Cappadocia / Extension / Superior First Class
The Yunak Evleri Hotel perfectly embodies its destination, as it is built into the side of a mountain, with rock-hewn corridors and sleeping quarters that date from the 5th century. In addition to these original living spaces, the hotel also boasts a 19th-century Greek mansion that now houses the main lobby and common areas. Hotel amenities include a restaurant, two outdoor swimming pools, full spa with a range of treatments (for a fee), and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access in public areas. Climate-controlled guest rooms have natural rock walls and ceilings and feature private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities, TV, and phone.
Post-Tour Extension
Cappadocia & Konya
5 days/4 nights for $895 total price
Single Supplement: $175
We visit ancient Konya then explore in depth the bizarre rock formations and underground cities of Cappadocia and the Goreme Valley.
Your Tour Price Includes
- Private motorcoach transportation Antalya/Konya/Cappadocia
- 4 nights’ accommodations: one night in Konya at Hilton Garden Inn (First Class); 3 nights in Cappadocia at Yunak Evleri Hotel (Superior First Class)
- 11 meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
- Extensive included sightseeing: Mevlana (Whirling Dervish) Museum in Konya, rock churches of Goreme Valley (including open-air museum), Kaymakli’s underground city, Zelve Valley, Avanos and Troglodyte villages of Cavusin and Uchisar
- Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
- Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
Please see the Accommodations tab for hotel information.
Tour Directors
Akin Aykurt
”Akin is a true gem! He is knowledgeable, patient, humorous, and very efficient. I learned so much, deepened my understanding of Turkey, and had fun.”
Ruth Clayton
Chula Vista, CA
Ali Dogan
“I can’t imagine a better tour director. Ali combined tremendous knowledge, good humor, flexibility, resourcefulness, and efficiency all together. Most of all he was a pleasure to be with.”
Mark & Pat Allen
Montague, MA
Ahmet Memis
“Ahmet is probably the most knowledgeable tour director we have ever had, including numerous adventure travel guides. He is funny, well organized, and thoughtful.”
Charles & Joanne Young
Brooklyn, NY
Mustafa Ozcan
Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
Ridvan Uyanik
“Ridvan is an exceptional individual. His mastery of English language and customs, as well as his in-depth knowledge of history and anthropology were the highpoints of this tour. He is a tremendous asset for your tours.”
Karen Holmen & Anthony Nardecchia
White Bear Lake, MN
Hasan Yeniocak
“Hasan was one of the best guides we have ever had. He went above and beyond to make the trip memorable for everyone.”
Donald & Marcia Gabriel
Charlotte, NC
Suggested Reading for Your Vacation
Orhan Pamuk
Istanbul, Memories and the City
Nobel Prize-winner Pamuk writes with dazzling grace of the city of his birth, a magical place of crumbling mansions and Ottoman riches.
Richard Stoneman
A Traveller’s History of Turkey
An accessible, well-written overview of Turkish history from the Paleolithic to the present.
Eyewitness Guides
Eyewitness Guide Turkey
Gorgeously illustrated and filled with excellent maps, this compact book provides a thorough overview of history, traditions and sights.
Freytag & Berndt
Turkey Map
This shaded relief map includes a detailed map of Western Turkey (1:800,000) on the reverse.
Fodor’s Istanbul’s 25 Best
This slim guide with a pullout map covers with style what to see, where to go and what to do.
John Freely
The Western Shores of Turkey, Discovering the Aegean and Mediterranean Coasts
An excellent overview of the ancient sites of the Turkish coast from Istanbul to Gallipoli, Antioch, Pergamum, Ephesus and Halicarnassus.
Ayla Esen Algar
Classical Turkish Cooking
Algar’s enchanting cookbook includes easy-to-follow Turkish recipes and delightful vignettes about their traditional origins. Everything we’ve made has been fantastic!
Robyn Eckhardt
Istanbul and Beyond, Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey
The most extensive Turkish cookbook to date. Beginning in Istanbul, journalist Robyn Eckhardt and her husband take a culinary adventure through Turkey’s lesser-known provinces, plus Syria, Iran, Iraq, Armenia and Georgia.
Roger Crowley
1453, The Holy War For Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West
In this well-paced history, Crowley recounts the dramatic events leading up to and surrounding the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks.
John Julius Norwich
A Short History of Byzantium
A richly detailed and evocative history of the span of the great empire from the 4th to the 15th century, brimming with intrigue, palace revolution and treachery.
Seton Lloyd
Ancient Turkey, A Traveller’s History
A lively tale of cultures and conquest, from the Hittites to St. Paul, that illuminates the living past of Turkey’s archaeological treasures. This classic by Professor Lloyd, first director of the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara is now in a 25th anniversary edition.
Stephen Kinzer
Crescent and Star
This insightful, anecdotal report on contemporary life, culture and politics in Turkey comes from a former New York Times Istanbul bureau chief who is especially attuned to the powerful geographic position of Turkey and its multiple identities in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Jason Goodwin
Lords of the Horizons
Goodwin artfully combines his modern travels with scholarship, history and reflection, capturing the outrageous personalities, events and vagaries of the ancient Ottoman Empire.
Lyn Rodley
Cave Monasteries of Byzantine Cappadocia
A professor of Byzantine Studies, Lyn Rodley puts the rock-cut monasteries, hermitages and complexes of Cappadocia into historical context in this scholarly account, first published in 1985.
Freya Stark
The Lycian Shore
The Lycian coast and hinterlands are thoroughly explored in this reprint of a classic account of a 1950s journey by the stalwart Freya Stark, one of our heroines. Heading south from Smyrna, Stark explores rock tombs of Xanthus, shores of the Dalyan River, Hellenic cities of Termessos and Perge and other sites along the Aegean.
Louis De Bernieres
Birds Without Wings
De Bernieres offers sweeping historical scope, memorable characters, drama and many new vocabulary words in this stupendous novel set in Anatolia during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
Angie Brenner, Joy Stocke
Anatolian Days & Nights
When Joy Stocke and Angie Brenner meet on the balcony of a guesthouse in a small resort town on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, they think they have only a mutual friend and a summer dream in common. Soon, they discover a shared love of travel, history, culture, cuisine and literature – and begin a ten-year odyssey through Turkey.
Mary Lee Settle
Turkish Reflections, A Biography of a Place
Settle’s captivating travelogue is a richly detailed portrait of contemporary Turkey, its people, monasteries, myths, archaeological treasures and living traditions. Exemplary.
Jason Goodwin
The Janissary Tree
With beautiful descriptions of Istanbul and its palaces, this engaging and bizarre historical mystery will keep you reading. The Ottoman Empire mysteries continue with The Snake Stone and The Bellini Card, set in 1840s Venice.
Rose MacAulay, Jan Morris (Introduction)
The Towers of Trebizond
Mixing high farce, archaeology, history and lively travel writing, Rose MacAulay’s impossibly witty short novel is back in a new edition. Originally published in 1956, the book follows the adventures of English missionaries traipsing across Turkey from Istanbul to Trebizond.
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