Day 1 : Istanbul
Arrival & transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free to explore. Overnight in hotel in Istanbul.
Overnight in Turkoman Hotel, Istanbul
Meal plan: n/a
"If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul."
- Alphonse de Lamartine
Call it Constantinople, Istanbul or Byzantium. Whatever way, discover the ancient history and traditions of this proud city that for thousands of years has straddled the East-West divide. Marvel at the stunning Blue Mosque and the incredible Hagha Sophia. Take time to learn about life under the Ottoman sultans rule in Topkapi Palace, and join the hustle and bustle in the world`s ultimate market, the Grand Bazaar. Don`t forget to reward your palate with wonderful kebabs, hummus, olives and much more.
Istanbul
Arrival & transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free to explore. Overnight in hotel in Istanbul.
Overnight in Turkoman Hotel, Istanbul
Meal plan: n/a
Full day walking tour of Sultan Ahmet. Return back to the hotel. Evening free. Overnight in hotel in Istanbul.Â
Overnight in Turkoman Hotel, Istanbul
Meal plan: Breakfast
Full day sightseeing tour of Istanbul starting with the Spice Market and Rustem Pasha Mosque, followed by a 90 minute boat ride in the famous Bosphorous river. Have a lunch in Ortakoy Village on the banks of the Bosphorous. After lunch visit the stunning Dolmabahce Palace. Evening is free to explore further or simply relax. Overnight in Istanbul.
Overnight in Turkoman Hotel, Istanbul
Meal plan: Breakfast
Morning free. Transfer back to the airport.
Meal plan: Breakfast
All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking.
Overlooking the ancient Roman Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque and the Sea of Marmara, Turkoman Hotel is situated in an ideal central location with an outdoor terrace to enjoy the views of Istanbul's famous sites. All rooms feature air conditioning, TV, minibar, and a safety boxe (available at reception). Wi-Fi access is available in public areas of the hotel.Â
Discover the best Turkey has to offer
Explore European Turkey in the Thrace region, a fascinating and little seen region
Unique history and fairytale landscapes
Day trip options from Konya
Extend your trip from Istanbul
Discover Turkey's splendid and varied terrain on foot
Explore two sites of enormous historical significance in this short extension
Tickle your taste-buds with a tour of Turkey's cuisine
Relax and unwind on Turkey's Mediterranean beaches
From Bodrum to Istanbul, explore Turkey's historic cities
Set sail aboard a Turkish Gulet and explore Turkey's coast
Uncover historical secrets in the west
Natural wonders, ancient sites & Kurdish culture
Tread on antique footsteps through Central and Eastern Anatolia
Ancient trading routes, historic battles and striking scenery
Journey through Turkey's iconic sites
Stunning eastern peaks including Mount Ararat
Explore the Gulf of Gokova on a classic Turkish sailboat
Turkey's southern frontiers: the cradle of civilisation
Discover the exotic charms of this eternal city
Cynthia Bishop , Eastern Turkey Explorer, TurkeyI went on this trip rather than all the other interesting possibilities in the world because I wanted to go to Gobekli Tepe. Being there was all I could have hoped for. It was a stunning experience and I was moved to tears. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Regarding the food, the olives were the best I`ve ever tasted. And the yoghurt is fabulous. Also the cheese and pistachios and apricots. Oh yes, and the watermelon : ) Thanks to David too for being so patient with my endless questions
Jane Kimberley , The Magic of Cappadocia, TurkeyI had a lovely time in Turkey. Both of the tours that were part of the package were fabulous, both tour guides were very knowledgeable and made the trips very interesting providing plenty of information, and the places where we went for lunches as part of the trip were superb. David McGuinness is a credit to Travel the Unknown, he goes that `extra mile` to keep customer happy. I`d like to say a huge `thank you` for all the help you gave me organising and planning my trip. I certainly will recommend anyone to use you for planning their `unknown` destination holiday. The emails, telephone calls were all spot on, well done :-) :-)
Jim Cleary , Eastern Turkey Explorer, TurkeyWe covered many miles and saw some fantastic sites and sights. The special access that our tour leader provided really enhanced the experience for me - I`ll certainly never forget tracking down an inscription in Van with his help - and to see Gobekli Tepe and Nemrut Dag on the same day was marvelous. At the end of the trip, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum was a wonderful surprise - the best mosaics I`ve ever seen, in a truly world-class setting.
Anthony Twohig , Eastern Turkey Explorer, TurkeyTravel the Unknown provide good friendly advice and information before travel. They are very approachable and helpful. The accommodation is of a high standard as are the meals. Local guides are knowledgeable and anxious to ensure that travellers have a good and rounded experience.
Andrea Selfridge , Tailormade TurkeyI would not hesitate in using Travel the Unknown for any future journeys to off the beaten track destinations.
Peggy Roberts , Tailormade TurkeyArda, our local guide was absolutely the best. Always a smile, always running (literally) to fulfill every request, treating every member as his personal responsibility, and going way way above and beyond to assist and accommodate. He is a so remarkably knowledgeable, and seemingly found no question beyond his ability to answer & explain. And his English is impeccable. KEEP HIM!!! Very special individual. Andrew is an incredible guide, with such a wealth of information and passion for his subjects. He never tired and made the trip fascinating and exciting due to the perspectives and explanations he shared continuously based upon years of research. Felt very fortunate to be in his presence for 2 weeks in such places that we were able to visit. Same for Hugh. And Hugh`s constant humour was delightful. These two balance each other well, and make a great team
Michael Wilson , Archaeology of Western Turkey, TurkeyWe greatly enjoyed visiting the ancient sites of Western Turkey with an experienced guide and seeing the remains of so many different periods and cultures. The scenery was spectacular and we felt that the tour gave us a wonderful introduction to the country.
Jane Neild , Eastern Turkey Explorer, TurkeyThis was a very exciting itinerary including fantastic historic and prehistoric site visits, as well as visits to wonderful towns, restaurants and markets. The attentiveness of the guide ensured that everything went smoothly, even in very out-of-the way places. It was possible to fall in love with the drama of the landscape, the character of the architecture, the colour, sights and sounds of the towns, the friendliness and honesty of the people - and I did!
Caroline & Peter , Eastern Turkey Snapshot, TurkeyCharming people organising the trip and acting as guides. An inspirational visit taking us to out of the way places we would never have had the chance to visit. The personal touch Travel the Unknown brings sets them apart.
Marion McCallum , Eastern Turkey Snapshot, TurkeyA great way to travel to some of the more remote and interesting places in the world. It was a very interesting area and we saw a lot that we would never have managed on our own. I would recommend the holiday to others.
Joy Lawley , Eastern Turkey Snapshot, TurkeyThis trip was an amazing and very exhilarating experience. We had high hopes of Gobekli Tepe, which were totally fulfilled- it is utterly amazing, but we had not anticipated some of the other gems to be so exceptional as well. We were a small group, which made the trip very personal. Altogether it was a marvellous week, helped by having a caring guide and an excellent driver.
John Colligan , Eastern Turkey Snapshot & archaeology extensionTravel the Unknown were very responsive to my personal wishes, and flexible enough to make this a fantastic tour- we covered a lot in a limited time. Guides were pleasant and informative, and the transport was excellent.