19-Day Turkiye Tour – Origins of Western Civilization

Visit Türkiye — Immerse Yourself in Ancient & Modern Civilizations 

Discover the origins of Western civilization, tracing a tantalizing path across Anatolia. This immersive tour of Türkiye takes you from the landscape of Cappadocia to a cruise along the Turquoise Coast, a visit to Ephesus, and an exploration of vibrant Istanbul.

Merhaba! Welcome to Türkiye

A trip to Türkiye combines our love of the water with our passion for fascinating places, all set against an extraordinary, multilayered history. Türkiye holds more Greco-Roman ruins than anywhere else, and you’ll visit superb sites including Aspendus, possibly Perge, Termessos high above Antalya, the Temple of Apollo at Didyma, and, of course, Ephesus.

This in-depth tour of Türkiye will have you floating over exotic Cappadocia on a hot air balloon (optional), hiking through fragrant Mediterranean landscapes, sailing the exquisite blue waters of the Turquoise Coast, strolling through Ephesus, and exploring exotic Istanbul. Along the way, you will also have an option to view a Sufi (whirling Dervishes) presentation.  

On this adventure, you’ll learn about Rumi, the Persian mystic and poet who spent much of his life in Konya. You will also hike into cave churches carved beneath Cappadocia’s hills, walk among some of the world’s oldest sites, and spend four nights in the heart of old Istanbul while luxuriating at the spectacular Four Seasons Sultanahmet.

Your Hotels

Accommodations for this exceptional journey have been hand-selected for their comfort and accessibility. A sense of place and tradition are central to every INCA experience; your stay should reflect the character, history, and grandeur of its surroundings. 

Aboard a Turkish Gulet

An unforgettable aspect of your Turkish adventure will be a relaxing sail along the Turquoise Coast aboard a traditional gulet, a Turkish yacht. 

Based on traditional design, these Turkish gulet sailing vessels are pure luxury from stem to stern. Elegantly appointed and professionally crewed, you’ll cruise in the transparent, blue waters of the Turquoise Coast. From the gulet, there will be several challenging hikes to historic sites.

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Your Itinerary

Day 1 | Fly to Nevsehir via Istanbul 
You arrive in Nevsehir via Istanbul, where you will be met for a group transfer to the stunning Avantgarde Hotel in Ürgüp, Cappadocia for 4 nights. 

Days 2-4| Cappadocia  
We love vigorous hikes through Cappadocia’s otherworldly landscape and its famous “fairy chimneys.” If you enjoy wine, we recommend sampling one of Türkiye’s excellent vintages at the welcome dinner.

Each morning offers a hike through orchards and vineyards—one through Pigeon Valley, another through the enchanting Red Valley, named for its rose-colored stone that shifts beautifully with the light. You’ll explore a “secret” stone cathedral and may climb into additional mysterious rock-cut churches. You’ll also visit one of the region’s many-storied underground cities—troglodyte complexes first excavated in Hittite times and later expanded as various armies swept across Anatolia in search of captives and plunder. There are at least 100 underground cities in the area, and only a few are open to the public.  

Those who reserve the optional hot-air balloon excursion will depart, like all balloonists, at dawn when the air is still. Even if you don’t partake, we highly recommend rising early one morning to watch the balloons drift near the hotel.

Day 5 | Crossing the Anatolian Plain, Konya, Çatalhöyük  
You’ll have a Westerly transit across the Anatolian Plain, the breadbasket of Turkiye en route to Konya.  

You will stop at the restored Sultanhani Caravanserai, one of many refuges for camel caravans built about 25 miles apart along the Silk Road. As you continue along this route, you may begin to appreciate the vast difference between your mode of travel today and that of 13th-century Seljuk traders poking warily along by camel.  

Your next stop is Konya to visit the museum tomb of the poet Mevlana Jelal ud-Din Mohammad Rumi—or Rumi, founder of the mystic Sufi order known for Whirling Dervishes.   

Given its importance in early civilization, you’ll visit Çatalhöyük, considered to be the world’s first urban center (circa 7000 BC). This early Neolithic site was first discovered in the late 1950s and became famous internationally due to its size, dense occupation, and remarkable wall paintings. Return to Konya for dinner and overnight. 

Day 6 | Taurus Mountains, the Turquoise Coast, Aspendus, and Antalya 
From Konya, the highway rises into the forested Taurus Mountains before descending to the east-west Turquoise Coast highway. You will visit the well-preserved Greco-Roman theater at Aspendus before continuing to Antalya, where you will spend two nights in a hotel overlooking the Mediterranean. 

Day 7 | Termessos, Antalya Archeological Museum 
In the morning, hike through a steep, forested canyon to reach one of antiquity’s most dramatically situated sites: Termessos. The ancient city is perched high on a mountaintop with sweeping views of the area, much like Machu Picchu (which wasn’t built until at least 2,000 years later). 

After lunch, visit the acclaimed Antalya Archeological Museum. Exhibits include artifacts from local excavations spanning the Lower Paleolithic through the Late Bronze Age. The collection—including classical and ethnographic collections—bring Türkiye’s rich and complex history to life.

Day 8 | Myra, Board the Gulet,  Kekova and Kale 
Travel south along the spectacular Turquoise Coast, stopping to explore the ancient city of Myra to view its remarkable rock tombs and stunning theater. From here, it’s a short transit to the nearby port of Cayagzi, where you’ll board the gulet (yacht) that will be your home for the next five nights. After lunch on board, you’ll sail west to Kekova Roadstead to drop anchor for the night. Ashore, you may climb up through the hillside village of Kale—formerly Simena—to have a splendid view of the historic and beautiful anchorage from the crenelated castle. Each evening, anchor in one of our favorite secluded bays and dining under a canopy of stars.  

Day 9 | Kas, Gemiler Island 
After crossing the channel to have a good look at the submerged ruins of a sunken village, continue westward towards the charming town of Kas for a leisurely shore visit.  Later, cruise to Gemiler Adası (Gemiler Island), where St. Nicholas is believed to have been originally entombed. Explore the remains of several Byzantine churches and a monastery built by the Knights of St. John—connected by a mysterious 1,100-foot covered passageway that runs the length of the island’s ridge.

Day 10 | Kayaköy, Göcek, Cleopatra's Bath 
By skiff, you will cruise to Sok Su (Cold Spring) Harbor before setting out on a vigorous and challenging hike to the abandoned Greek village of Kayaköy. Over a cool beverage, you’ll learn of the post-WWI events that led to Kayaköy's demise, then return to the gulet for lunch. 

If you don’t feel like hiking, you may travel to Kayakoy in a van instead, or you may remain on board to read, swim, or have a luxurious nap.  After lunch, sail along the coast into Gocek Bay to anchor for the night – just offshore of the trailhead at Cleopatra’s Bath.   

Day 11 | Lydae, Ekincik 
This morning, disembark early to hike the scenic (yet challenging) trail through the pine forests to the mausoleum at ancient Lydae. Located in the middle of a peninsula in a basin surrounded by mountains, this site is reachable only by sea and receives few visitors. If you’d rather relax on the water, you may remain on board as the gulet cruises around the peninsula. While awaiting the hikers at the trail’s end at Agalimani, you may swim or simply unwind. In the afternoon, cruise to a peaceful cove on the Bay of Ekincik, where you will anchor for two nights. 

Day 12 | Caunus, Dalyan, Ekincik 
Today, an “African Queen-style” put-put will take you past Iztuzu Beach, a long sandspit now protected as a loggerhead sea turtle nesting site. There, you will meander through the silt marshes and cattails up the Dalyan River to visit the Lycian site of Caunus. On the way you’ll see the substantial rock-cut Lycian tombs carved into the cliffs. In Caunus, you will visit a Roman theater, bath, and agora dating from the 2nd century BC.  

The hikers will head over the peninsula on a three-hour trail back to the gulet in the lovely Bay of Ekincik. Everyone else will visit the charming village of Dalyan for some shopping before rejoining the gulet in Ekincik Bay. 

Day 13 | Didyma, Selçuk  
After an early breakfast, bid farewell to the gulet crew before traveling north through farmlands and pine-forested mountains to the Aegean coast. Visit the remains of the enormous Temple of Apollo at Didyma and learn about ancient fortune-telling and Greek oracles. After lunch, continue north past the Menderes (ancient Meander) River delta, pass Miletus, and stop at a traditional farmer’s market in Selçuk: a historic village near Ephesus, where you will spend two nights. 

Day 14 | Ephesus 
Spend this morning exploring Ephesus, the largest Graeco-Roman site in the world. Highlights include the Library of Celsus, one of antiquity’s largest theaters, and the remarkably preserved terrace houses, which have been excavated and recently opened to the public.Time permitting, visit the Basilica of St. John, the House of the Virgin Mary, and the site of the Temple of Artemis—once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. After lunch, visit the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selçuk before returning to your hotel in the evening.

Day 15| Fly to Istanbul 
After a quick ride to the Izmir airport and a short flight, arrive in Istanbul, a crown jewel among cities, and begin several wonderful days exploring the legacies of Greek, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations. 

Enter the Sultanahmet (historic center of Istanbul) through the massive Byzantine walls that span the peninsula from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn. These walls both defined and protected Constantinople until they were breached by the Turks in 1453. From there, head for the Four Seasons Hotel, where you will luxuriate in the heart of old Istanbul, the Sultanahmet, for four nights.  

Days 16 - 18 | Istanbul 
Your exploration of Istanbul is designed to be flexible, with the order of activities shaped by weather, group interest, and energy all taken into consideration. Here are our best intentions, and we usually do them all—and then some!  

During the next three days, you’ll explore the Sultanahmet, visit the Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. At the site of the ancient Hippodrome, you will see the great obelisk brought from Egypt by the Romans. You’ll find a cacophony of sights and sounds in the Spice Bazaar as you stroll through its passages. Nearby is the marvelous Rustum Pasha Mosque, one of the finest examples of the architecture of Sinan.  The Grand Bazaar is simply overwhelming – anything you want is likely to be there.  You’ll also have a private cruise on the Bosphorus, a narrow strait that divides the city of Istanbul into Europe and Asia.

On the European side, you’ll visit Taksim Square, one of the highest points in the city, then stroll down Istiklal Caddesi, a historic commercial and residential street open only to pedestrians and quaint little red trolleys. For a sweeping 360° view of Istanbul, including the Asian side, you’ll climb the Galata Tower, built by the Genoese in the 14th century. Expect to dine at some of our favorite restaurants (a beverage at the Four Seasons Terrace bar while taking in the view is always a winner!). You’ll also have some personal time to savor the city.   

Day 19 | Depart for home 
Transfer to the airport with check-in to your homeward-bound flight—unless you remain for more adventure. 

Your Guide – Bihter Kuranel

Bihter Kuranel combined her education and passion for hiking and history to pursue a career as a tour guide in Türkiye, obtaining her license in 1977. Her expertise in archaeology, art history, botany, and culinary culture offers travelers an engaging and informative experience. Known for her deep understanding of Turkiye and nuanced communication, she has garnered glowing reviews over the years. 

Beyond her work, Bihter enjoys spending time outdoors, cultivating strawberries, cooking, and reading. Read more here »

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A taste of what to expect

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to go?

Although there isn't a “bad time” to visit Turkey, we think the preferred seasons are late April through mid June, and mid September through late October.  Springtime weather will have wild flowers in the Taurus Mountains and cool, crisp mornings for hiking, while the September and October months will have warm days for perfect swimming along the coast.

What will I see?

The 19 day itinerary will encompass the breadth of Anatolian history- starting in Cappadocia with a landscape seen nowhere else, exploration of Greek, and Roman ruins, picturesque villages, sailing along the Turquoise Coast and cosmopolitan Istanbul.

Is this trip for me?

This cultural program accommodates various levels of activity, from gentle strolls to optional vigorous hikes.

Is a visa required for entry into Turkey?

US, Canadian, and some other passport holders are not required to get a visa to visit Turkey as a tourist for stays less than 90 days. Find more information here »