1. Home
  2. Europe
  3. Turkey
  4. Totally Turkey
Days
11
Price from
€550EUR

Travel Turkey's eastern coast, stopping in at Gallipoli

Start with a kebab in Istanbul, leave for Gallipoli then zoom through Eceabat to Ayvalik for a visit to Troy and harbourside bevvies. On to Selcuk to explore Ephesus (where Antony and Cleopatra hung out), then Pamikkale for its healing pools, Fethiye for beach times, and a cruise for sunbaking and sunken ruins.

Leaping into the sparkly waters of the Mediterranean is super fun. Two things: don’t hold your nose or you’ll blow out an eardrum, and make sure your bikini bottoms or speedos are securely fastened before you jump.

Start
Istanbul, Turkey
Finish
Antalya, Turkey
Country
Turkey
Code
GETL
Physical rating
Traveller’s rating
88 reviews
Ages
Min 18 , Max 29
Group size
Min 1, Max 16

Why we love this trip

  • Get to know Istanbul from the inside as you get (deliberately) lost in the maze of bustling backstreets with a local leader

  • We’ve got the cure for whatever ails ya; the hot springs at Pamukkale, pure white calcium travertines that cascade down the cliffs overlooking the town, are said to have magical healing properties

  • Thought all the best Roman ruins were in Italy? Think again! Turkey is home to one of the best preserved classical cities in all of Europe. Discover Ephesus just like Anthony and Cleopatra did 2,000 years ago

  • While paying your respects, you can’t but be moved by the battles fought and lives lost at the now peaceful scene of the Gallipoli coast

Is this trip right for you?

  • You’ll get an extra taste of local life on this trip, with most travel done on public buses. There are loads of reasons why this is great, but here are just a few: it minimises our carbon footprint, gives you a real chance to interact with the local community, and these aren’t your regular buses. Most Turkish buses have Wi-Fi and serve coffee and cake. Yes, you heard right, coffee and cake! Oh and did we mention the in-seat entertainment?

  • Can you feel that tingling in your fingers? That my friend is power! This trip puts it in your hands with the options of free time or taking optional tours. Maybe budget a little extra cash for activities that aren’t included.

  • You’re probably pro at packing light and smart, but just in case your tempted to bring a big, heavy bag, remember you’ll have to carry it to and from hotels, bus stops, train stations etc.

  • The weather can be hot in July and August but this is the best time to enjoy the clear water of the Mediterranean.

  • You’ll need your walking shoes, a hat, some sunscreen, and a daypack to explore some of historical sites. All site tours are guided, but you can wander at your own pace if you prefer.

  • Bring your best sweater along, as temperatures in April and October can be a bit cooler than you might expect, especially in the evenings.

Take_a_bite_out_of_Istanbul.jpg
turkey_two-boys-hug.jpg
turkey_istanbul_mosque-lit-up-dusk.jpg
turkey_anzac_cove_graves-woman-spectator.jpg
turkey_pamukkale_looking-at-pools.jpg
turkey_man-sailing.jpg

Itinerary
Expand All Collapse All

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2018. View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2017 - 31 December 2017

Welcome to Turkey. This adventures kicks off in Istanbul, the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, and now you (for one night at least) have called home. You’ve got the whole day free to explore the capital city (depending on when you get here of course) before you join up with your Geckos crew and leader at a Welcome Meeting at 6pm – make sure you’ve got all your important documents and details for your leader. Double check with the hotel reception or the check out the hotel’s noticeboard for meeting confirmations. Until then, maybe get out into the city streets for the must-sees: the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and stunning Aya Sofya. The must-eats: kebab, balık ekmek (fish sandwich) and steamed corn from a street vendor. Your hotel is right in the thick of the action so you won’t have to walk far for your first kebab. If you can, maybe arrive early and lose yourself and splash some cash in the Grand Bazaar, indulge in a traditional hamam (Turkish bath) or cruise the waters of the Bosphorus. After the meeting, head out on an optional group dinner, a good introduction to some fabulous Turkish cuisine in a street-side cafe.

Notes: If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive at the hotel by early evening, you may wish to arrive a day early, so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please contact the hotel reception.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Istanbul - Turkish Hamam (incl. massage) - TRY120
  • Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - TRY25
  • Istanbul - Blue Mosque - Free
  • Galata Tower - TRY18
  • Bosphorus Boat Cruise (Public Boat) - TRY25
  • Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - TRY20
  • Istanbul - Basilica Cistern - TRY20
  • Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - TRY40
  • Istanbul - Topkapi Palace - TRY65
  • Istanbul - Chora Church - TRY30
  • Istanbul - Whirling Dervish show - TRY60
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Today you’ll take a bus to the shores of Gallipoli (approximately 5.5 hours) to pay your respects at a site of immense significance for Australians and New Zealanders. It is a spot of pilgrimage and reverence and the calm lapping waters belies the murderous campaign that took place here during the First World War. This now-serene site is located at Turkey’s most westerly point and you’ll get a sobering insight into the plight of the ANZAC, Allied and Turkish forces at the site of one of the most significant military battles in Australia’s history. It’s hard to think that this area was once Anzac Cove and the battlefields of Nek and Lone Pine, and saw such brutal scenes of war. It’s possible to look down upon the rough and barren hills and gullies that sadly became the graveyard for so many thousands of young men from both sides. Here you can hear stories of heroism and camaraderie that unfolded among the tragedies, and take the time to read moving inscriptions etched onto a sea of gravestones. Travel on down the coast to Eceabat (approximately 1 hour). If you want to check out the big smoke in Canakkale, cross the Dardanelles this evening and enjoy dinner in this University City.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Drive down the coast to Ayvalik (approximately 3.5 hours), a town where you can fill up on food and drink, and a place that even takes its name from food (ayva is Turkish for quince). The town is famous for olive oil, but we suggest finding the nearest seaside cafe and ordering Ayvalik toast – a toasted sanga stuffed with sausage, pickle, tomatoes, salad and chips, slathered with tomato sauce and mayonnaise. Try not to drool on the screen. Take an orientation tour of Ayvalik and discover a town that’s a fascinating mix of Greek and Turkish cultures (in fact the island actually swapped all its Greek residents for Turks in 1923). Check out the cobblestone backstreets, beautiful houses and lively cafes. There's the option to take an excursion out to the ruins of Troy (sans golden-haired and armoured Brad Pitt), where you can explore the ancient walls, climb around the 4,500 year-old ruins, check out the Trojan horse statue and gaze across the Troad (the Plains of Troy) towards the waters of the Dardanelles and the hills of the Gallipoli Peninsula. You could also hop on a boat from Ayvalık to Cunda Island, filled with Greek Orthodox churches and famous for its dairy farming – a cheese-fest awaits. Back in Ayvalık, the village is set around a harbour and looks out to the Aegean Islands, so a drink at a harbourside bar is a great way to enjoy the sunset.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Ayvalik - Boat From Ayvalık to Cunda Island - TRY10
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Get your entertainment ready this morning as you’re going to be driving approximately 4 hours by local bus to the traditional farming village of Selçuk, where many Turkish traditions live on. When you get here you can head out to the nearby ruins of Ephesus and explore the streets once walked by Marc Anthony and Cleopatra. This is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman classical cities in the world; founded by Ionian Greeks in the 11th century BC, brought to full flower under Roman rule, and always an important religious centre. You will be amazed by the sophistication of this ancient city, which had running water, public toilets, in house heating, a renowned medical institute, a brothel and Roman baths. The theatre is well preserved (be brave and stand in the middle of the stage, and give us your best Idol audition), but it’s the magnificent library that’s going to take your breath away. Nearby are the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the last home of the Virgin Mary who, as legend has it, came here accompanied by St John and lived out her days in this beautiful spot. You can also check out the artefacts of the Archaeological Museum, the ruins of the Basilica of St John and some impressive Roman Terrace houses. Get your local guide to point out secret messages that ancient Christians carved into the rocks to direct worshippers to their next meeting. Chill out tonight in Selçuk, and maybe try manti (Turkish stuffed dumplings) for dinner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Ephesus - guided archaeological site visit - TRY40
  • Selcuk - Archaeological Museum - TRY15
  • Selcuk - Basilica of St John - TRY10
  • Ephesus - Terrace Houses Entry - TRY25
  • Selcuk - Meryemana (Mary's House) entrance fee - TRY20
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Take a morning orientation tour around Selçuk, a town full of history and packed with artefacts and relics that reflect its past as an ancient fortress on Ayasoluk Hill. You’ll discover how the town itself is usually undisturbed, which gives the opportunity to experience the ‘real’ Turkey. Travel east inland to Pamukkale (approximately 6 hours), which literally translates to “cotton castle”. Here spectacular natural hot springs with high calcium bicarbonate content cascade over the edge of the cliffs, leaving bright white deposit terraces (the ‘cotton’). It's been used as a spa since the 2nd century BC. These pools are said to fix up any circulation and digestion problems you might have. If you’ve got Cleopatra on the mind after yesterday’s stories, then maybe choose to head out to the ancient city of Hierapolis and take a dip in what used to be her old pool – the transparent water-filled pool, sculpted as a gift from Marc to Cleo, are jaw dropping (even if you’ll be sharing it with a few more people than she did). You can also check out the other ruins of the city – Hierapolis is known for its abundance of temples and religious structures, and the amphitheatre shouldn’t be missed.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Pamukkale - Hierapolis Museum - TRY5
  • Pamukkale - Hierapolis Cleopatra pool - TRY35
  • Pamukkale - Hierapolis & Travertines National Park - TRY35
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Travel to the seriously picturesque Blue Lagoon by public bus and then jump on a water taxi to Butterfly Valley (approximately 3.5 hours). This place is home to roughly 100 species of butterflies, though we can’t guarantee you'll see them all. The word ‘paradise’ often gets thrown around willy nilly, but in this totally amazing place it’s the only one that suits. Here you’ll swim, hike to waterfalls – you know, the usual paradisy stuff that you probably dream about at home. This 250 metre to 1 kilometre canyon is considered to be one of the most stunning and amazing places in Turkey, and it’s a tip-top example of just what beauty Mother Nature can whip up. What to do…what to do. How about chill out in a hammock and swim in the Mediterranean. Tonight you’ll get into the proper rustic paradise feel when you sleep in a tent (don’t worry you don’t have to pitch it yourself).
Accommodation
  • Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Enjoy as leisurely start to the day as you take this morning to perfect your relaxation technique in this untouched heaven. After lunch you’ll take the boat back to Oludiniz, and can choose to check out the Blue Lagoon before heading to the pretty short distance up to Fethiye. The lagoon is so luminously blue it should def have an Instagram filter named after it. Chill out by the coast for the afternoon and swim the 3 kilometre-long stretch of beach. Tonight you can explore the culturally rich town of Fethiye, located on a bay and surrounded by pine forests and islands. Enjoy a walk by the harbour and look up to see massive rock cut tombs, check out the Lycian sarcophagi scattered around the town, try local seafood and join in with the thriving nightlife.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Fethiye - Oludeniz Blue Lagoon - TRY6
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning you’ll take a local bus to Kas (approximately 3 hours), which is right on one of the southernmost bit of Turkey. With its whitewashed buildings covered in bougainvillea and cobbled streets, Kas is one of the most attractive towns on the Turkish Mediterranean Coast. Spend an hour or two lunching and wandering the pretty streets, before you transfer an hour down the road to Kekova. Here you’ll board your sturdy vessel and make waves on a memorable voyage along the Turquoise Coast. Check out some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the world – it’s just ridiculously good-looking. You’ve got a tough couple of days ahead: swimming, exploring sunken cities, sunbaking and eating fresh seafood. Grin and bear it. This afternoon, cruise to Tersane bay for a swim and then enjoy a home cooked dinner on board, before docking for the night and sleeping under a blanket of Mediterranean stars.
Accommodation
  • Overnight Boat (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

It’s a hard knock life on the Turkish seas – wake up to a spectacular Mediterranean sunrise this morning and enjoy a hearty breakfast on board. Perfect your best boat-life pose as you cruise to a sunken city, from where remains of a mysterious civilisation can be viewed. Earthquakes almost 2,500 years ago sunk this half of the Lycian city of Simena. Here you can walk up to nearby Simena Castle, swim in crystal clear waters, or explore Lycian rock tombs. More swimming, exploring, sunbaking and eating... can you handle that much action. Lucky you will spend another memorable night on the boat, under the stars if you feel like it.
Accommodation
  • Overnight Boat (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Soak up the last of life as a glamorous boat-dweller with breakfast on board. Then transfer by public bus approximately 3.5 hours to Antalya, the capital of the Turkish Mediterranean. It’s hard to get a bad photo of Antalya (unless your finger is over the lens) thanks to cobblestone streets, the old city, the marina and the Taurus Mountains in the distance. You can spend the afternoon exploring the charming back streets of the Kaleiçi (old city), get historical in one of the best museums in the country, get theatrical at Aspendos (a beautiful intact theatre from Roman times), hit the beach once more at Mermerli Beach, or just try not to cry into your börek as your totally terrific Turkey trip terminates tonight.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Antalya - Antalya Museum - TRY20
  • Antalya - Aspendos Ancient City - TRY25
  • Antalya - Mermerli Beach Kaleici - TRY11
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Your Turkey adventures come to an end after breakfast today, so wave goodbye to all your new mates.
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Meals

9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners

Transport

Ferry, Local bus, Private Bus, Train, Boat

Accommodation

Boat (2 nights), Pension (1 nights), Hotel (6 nights), Camping (1 night)

Reviews

Our Totally Turkey trips score an average of 4.91 out of 5 based on 88 reviews in the last year.

Totally Turkey, September 2017

Maggi Heneghan

Review submitted 04 Oct 2017

Totally Turkey, September 2017

Keira Shannon

Review submitted 28 Sep 2017

Dates & availability

Trips were unable to load at this time.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Totally Turkey trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

Jump to a departure month
Book this trip and make a difference to local communities. Along with carbon offsetting your trip, we’ll also contribute funds to our new social enterprise partner, Friends-International, on your behalf. Find out more

Important notes

ANZAC DAY DEPARTURE:
The 23rd April 2018 departure ties in with ANZAC day at Gallipoli. The night of Day 2 will be spent camping in Anzac Cove instead of in Istanbul. Please bring a sleeping bag if you are travelling on this departure.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
An optional single supplement is available on this trip, please refer to your booking agent for further information.
Please note, on the following nights the Single Supplement is not available:
-Day 3: Ayvalik
-Day 6: Butterfly Valley
-Day 8 & 9: Southern Sailing Cruise

Following recent safety incidents we recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Turkey before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. We have links to prominent government travel advisories and regular updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page - www.geckosadventures.com/en-au/travel-alerts

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
View Essential Trip Information
Check Availability