Tours to Turkey

Turkey’s such a diverse country we’re confident there’ll be a tour to suit you no matter what your requirements. Whether you’re looking for a few days in Istanbul, a longer tour combining history and nature or a trip that will help you relax and re-energise, we can help find you a holiday that will delight everyone in your group.

Location

Trans-continental Turkey is located where the Balkans meet the Caucasus and the Middle East. Three bodies of water surround the country: the eastern Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea. Its neighbours include Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Bulgaria and of course Greece. The country is over twice as long west to east as it measures north to south. The majority of the country occupies a rectangular peninsula in western Asia, which we refer to as Anatolia. A small proportion of Turkey can be found across the Bosphorus in Europe. The largest city is Istanbul, though the capital is in fact Ankara.

Places to visit

Ankara
In 1923, Ankara took the reins from Istanbul as the Turkish capital after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. This cosmopolitan commercial and industrial centre makes an interesting diversion for travellers en route from Istanbul to Cappadocia, but Ankara has much to recommend it to visitors in its own right. 

It can trace its history back over 2000 years and archaeological sites from Hittite, Roman, Greek, Byzantine and Ottoman times litter the city. Its old core perches on a rocky hill beside the Ankara River; on it you’ll find a ruined citadel. A wealth of museums, galleries and other landmarks make this green city a rewarding stop on any Turkey tour.

Istanbul
Only a few of the world’s cities have that special something that captivates tourists no matter how many times they visit. Istanbul is one of those cities. Awash with palaces, mosques and bazaars, there’s no shortage of sightseeing opportunities. The Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar are all must-sees and won’t disappoint.

But Istanbul is far more than a collection of landmarks. There’s a great deal of pleasure to be found in simply wandering the streets of this fascinating city, watching the fishermen land their catch from the Galata Bridge, hopping on a ferry across the Bosphorus or shopping for the makings of a picnic lunch to enjoy in the sunshine at Gülhane Park. After dark, catch a mesmerising performance by the Whirling Dervishes, don your glad rags for a night out at the opera or sip cocktails in a rooftop bar as you enjoy the glittering panorama that unfolds before you.

Cappadocia
Cappadocia’s charm is in its juxtaposition of its natural and cultural heritage. This volcanic landscape has been sculpted over millions of years to create unique and often quirky scenery. Wind and rain have worn pinnacles of rock into the region’s famous fairy chimneys, found scattered throughout its pretty valleys. Winding streams and orchards create a countryside idyll that quickly works its magic on stressed travellers.

Look carefully at this landscape and you’ll see how people have adapted it over the centuries, from the frescoed churches hewn out of rocky cliffs to vast underground cities that created the ideal hiding place when marauding invaders came from distant lands. Today, this troglodyte past manifests itself in the array of hotels offering luxurious and atmospheric cave accommodation.

The Aegean and Mediterranean coastal resorts
Beachgoers flock to Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coastal resorts in search of sun, sand and sea. Lively marinas, bustling harbours and attractive promenades make such places a delight for those wishing to unwind. Many boast ancient ruins, either within the modern day resort or nearby - Bodrum Castle incorporates stones from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, for instance, while Ephesus is a stone’s throw from Kusadasi. 

The stretch from Fethiye to Antalya, known as the Turquoise Coast, is especially lovely. Hikers can walk the path which follows it, known as the Lycian Way. The combination of a mountainous backdrop, hillside olive groves and vertiginous cliffs makes for an intoxicating mix.

Our tours to Turkey

Our website shows our group tours to Turkey. You can use the filters to help you search for the things that matter to you. If there’s something missing, we can tailor-make a trip to Turkey or add on to an existing tour. All you need to do is contact us and we’ll do the rest. We’d also like to add that our group tours are small, but we can still arrange tour on a private basis if you prefer.