23 Days 22 Nights Private Turkey Grand Master Tour

Welcome to Istanbul, Turkey's extraordinary transcontinental metropolis. Upon arrival, meet your private transfer service and travel to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free, giving you the opportunity to rest after your journey or begin exploring the city independently.

Istanbul is uniquely positioned between Europe and Asia, separated by the Bosphorus yet united by centuries of political, commercial and cultural exchange. It served as the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman worlds and remains one of the world's great historic cities.

After breakfast, begin your guided exploration of historic Istanbul. Hagia Sophia, originally a Byzantine imperial church and later an Ottoman imperial mosque, is one of the world's most remarkable monuments — its monumental dome, galleries and mosaics reflect centuries of layered civilization.

Visit the magnificent Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), famous for its six minarets and exquisite İznik tile decoration, then continue to Topkapı Palace, the great imperial residence of the Ottoman sultans, exploring its courtyards and imperial collections. The tour also visits the historic Hippodrome of Constantinople, once the great ceremonial and sporting center of Byzantine Constantinople.

Travel to the Gallipoli Peninsula, one of Turkey's most powerful historical landscapes. The Gallipoli Campaign of World War I left an enduring legacy for Turkey, Australia and New Zealand, and the battlefield contains memorials, cemeteries, trenches and archaeological remains from one of the defining campaigns of the First World War.

Visit ANZAC Cove, the Lone Pine Memorial, Chunuk Bair Memorial, The Nek, Johnston's Jolly, and original trenches and tunnels. Gallipoli is a place of remembrance, sacrifice and reconciliation, offering deep insight into the human dimension of the First World War.

Today combines mythology, archaeology and classical history. Visit legendary Troy, immortalized in Homer's Iliad and associated with the Trojan War — the site reveals successive settlements built over thousands of years, showing how important Troy was as a crossroads between the Aegean and Anatolian worlds.

Continue to the spectacular Acropolis of Pergamum, one of the most influential cultural and political centers of the Hellenistic world. Its monumental temples, theater, library and elevated setting demonstrate the ambition of the ancient city — particularly rewarding for travelers interested in classical architecture and Hellenistic civilization.

Discover one of Turkey's greatest archaeological treasures. Walk through the remarkably preserved remains of ancient Ephesus, once one of the major cities of the eastern Mediterranean, exploring its monumental streets and theater. Visit the site associated with the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Continue to Şirince, a former Greek village famous for its traditional character and fruit wines, offering a contrasting, intimate side of the Aegean region. The day also includes a visit to a traditional Turkish carpet-weaving center to learn about production, craftsmanship and value.

Travel to the spectacular white landscape of Pamukkale, one of Turkey's most recognizable natural and archaeological destinations. The brilliant white calcium terraces were formed by mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down the hillside over thousands of years, creating a surreal landscape of pools.

Above the travertines lies Hierapolis, a major Greco-Roman spa city that flourished because of its thermal springs. The itinerary also includes an opportunity to experience the thermal waters, subject to local conditions.

Leave the Aegean region and follow the historic routes of the Silk Road toward central Anatolia. Visit Sultanhanı Caravanserai, an impressive monument to the commercial history of medieval Anatolia, which sheltered travelers, merchants and caravans along the great trade routes.

Continue to Konya, one of Turkey's most important spiritual centers, and visit the Mevlana Museum, associated with Jalal al-Din Rumi and the Mevlevi tradition of the Whirling Dervishes. An optional traditional Turkish folklore evening may be available.

Explore the extraordinary landscape of Cappadocia, famous for its volcanic rock formations, fairy chimneys, valleys and underground settlements. The Göreme Valley Open-Air Museum preserves rock-cut churches and monasteries decorated with remarkable Byzantine-era frescoes.

Descend into one of Cappadocia's underground cities and discover the sophisticated subterranean spaces created by communities seeking shelter and protection. A sunrise hot-air balloon flight and a traditional Turkish cooking class can be arranged as optional experiences.

Depart early for Ankara, the capital of modern Turkey, and visit Anıtkabir, the monumental mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey — both a national memorial and an important architectural landmark. Following the visit, return to Istanbul (an optional morning domestic flight from Kayseri to Istanbul may be used instead of the overland journey).

Experience Istanbul from the water on a Bosphorus cruise, with views of historic mansions, palaces, mosques and bridges. Explore the Spice Bazaar, one of Istanbul's most atmospheric historic markets, and continue through the historic Golden Horn.

Cross to the Asian side to visit Çamlıca Hill, one of Istanbul's best-known panoramic viewpoints, and Beylerbeyi Palace, an elegant Ottoman imperial residence on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus.

Enjoy breakfast and free time in Istanbul — a flexible day to explore independently, revisit a favorite area or shop for souvenirs before the next stage of the journey. Later, board your domestic flight to Cappadocia.

Travel onward toward southeastern Turkey and Gaziantep, one of the region's great cultural and culinary centers. En route, visit Yesemek, an extraordinary ancient sculpture workshop associated with the ancient Near East, offering unusual insight into monumental stone-sculpture production.

In Gaziantep, visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, renowned for extraordinary Roman mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma near the Euphrates. Gaziantep is also famous for its rich culinary traditions, particularly pistachios and baklava.

Continue toward Şanlıurfa, one of southeastern Turkey's most culturally and historically distinctive cities, passing remains associated with Zeugma beside the Euphrates River. Şanlıurfa is traditionally associated with the Prophet Abraham and has long been an important center of religious pilgrimage — explore its historic bazaar and distinctive atmosphere.

Begin with Şanlıurfa's religious and cultural landmarks — Abraham's Caves, the Pool of Sacred Carp, and the colorful historic bazaar. Continue to Harran, one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas in the region, famous for its distinctive beehive-shaped houses adapted to the local climate.

Travel onward toward Kahta, stopping at the Atatürk Dam, one of the major infrastructure projects on the Euphrates.

One of the spectacular highlights of the journey. Rise early to experience Mount Nemrut, famous for the monumental sanctuary of King Antiochus I of Commagene — colossal stone heads and statues representing the syncretic religious world of the ancient Kingdom of Commagene, illuminated at sunrise against the surrounding mountains.

Visit Arsemia, an important ceremonial center of Commagene, and the Karakuş Tumulus, before traveling toward Mardin, dramatically positioned above the vast plains of Mesopotamia.

Explore the extraordinary stone architecture of Mardin, renowned for its honey-colored limestone houses, intricate carvings and dramatic position overlooking the Mesopotamian plains. Continue toward Hasankeyf, an ancient settlement on the Tigris River, and Midyat, known for its traditional stone houses and historic streets.

After lunch near the Tigris, continue toward Tatvan on the shores of Lake Van, enjoying the scenery and, weather permitting, the sunset over the lake before continuing to Van.

Explore one of Eastern Anatolia's most beautiful landscapes. Take a ferry across Lake Van to Akdamar Island and visit the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, a remarkable medieval Armenian monument built from carved red volcanic stone, notable for its exterior relief carvings and dramatic lakeside setting — adding an important layer of Armenian architectural heritage to the journey.

Travel along the historic Silk Road toward Doğubayazıt, near the imposing Mount Ararat, Turkey's highest mountain and traditionally associated with the biblical story of Noah's Ark. Visit Ishak Pasha Palace, one of Eastern Anatolia's most spectacular monuments, combining Ottoman, Persian, Seljuk and local architectural influences, plus the remains of Eski Beyazıt. Continue to Kars.

Travel early to the medieval archaeological city of Ani, close to the Turkish-Armenian border — once a major medieval political center, famous for its churches, defensive walls and monumental architecture, its ruins standing in an evocative landscape. Return toward Kars to visit Kars Castle, an important historic fortress overlooking the city.

Travel southwest through spectacular highlands toward Erzurum, long an important crossroads between Anatolia, the Caucasus and Iran. Visit historic religious and educational monuments, including a 12th-century medrese and mosque, and explore an ethnographic museum offering insight into regional traditions, crafts and everyday life.

Continue toward the Black Sea and historic Trabzon, traveling through spectacular northeastern landscapes with a visit to Karaca Cave, known for its impressive underground formations. Continue to the extraordinary Sumela Monastery, dramatically positioned on the cliffs of the Pontic Mountains — one of the most remarkable monuments of the Black Sea region, with a long association with Orthodox Christian heritage.

Explore historic Trabzon, a city with deep Byzantine and Black Sea heritage. Visit Trabzon Hagia Sophia, a historic 13th-century church noted for its architectural details, wall paintings and mosaics. After sightseeing, take your domestic flight back to Istanbul.

After breakfast, your 23-day Turkey Grand Master Tour comes to an end. Enjoy a final farewell before your private transfer to the airport for your outbound flight — with a deeper understanding of the civilizations, landscapes, traditions and people that have shaped this extraordinary country.