Grand Odyssey of Anatolia: The Ultimate 40-Day Turkey Expedition
Embark on the definitive, all-encompassing 40-day Turkish voyage, expertly curated by The History Travel. This flagship journey seamlessly connects the grand imperial capitals of Istanbul, the World War I battlefield horizons of Gallipoli and Troy, the classical Greco-Roman marvels of Ephesus and Pergamon, idyllic mountain treks along the Lycian Way, a 7-night private luxury Gulet Blue Cruise along the Turquoise Coast, the surreal fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, and the ancient Mesopotamian wonders of Göbeklitepe and Mount Nemrut.
Available as a fully private VIP custom tour or a small group capped at just 10 guests, this is a premium cultural exploration, adventure-hiking and private yacht-charter itinerary built for travelers who want to experience Turkey in genuine depth — not skim its highlights. Every element, from a full-time senior historian guide to a chauffeur-driven Mercedes VIP Sprinter and handpicked 5-star and boutique accommodation, is designed around comfort, historical substance and uncompromising standards.
The itinerary unfolds in five natural phases: imperial Istanbul and the classical Aegean; the inland travertines of Pamukkale and the Lycian Trail trek; a full week aboard a private luxury Gulet along the Turquoise Coast; the Mediterranean riviera and high peaks around Antalya; and finally the cave kingdoms of Cappadocia together with the Mesopotamian origins of Göbeklitepe and Mount Nemrut.
This is a tour for travelers who want to walk through nine layers of Troy, stand beneath the acoustics of the best-preserved Roman theatre in the Mediterranean, sleep in a cave suite carved from volcanic rock, and watch the sun rise over 2,000-year-old stone giants on a remote mountain terrace — all without sacrificing comfort along the way.
Why This Tour Stands Apart
- 40 full days, 39 nights — genuine depth, not a highlights reel
- 7 nights aboard a private, crewed luxury Gulet yacht
- Full-time TURSAB-licensed senior historian guide
- Private chauffeur-driven Mercedes VIP Sprinter
- Lycian Way trekking with a dedicated mountain guide
- Göbeklitepe — the world's oldest known monumental temple
- Private VIP custom tour or small group, max 10 guests
Tour Highlights at a Glance
A fast-read summary of everything packed into this flagship 40-day itinerary.
Istanbul → Şanlıurfa: The Full Journey
The itinerary travels in five natural phases — from Istanbul's imperial heritage, down the Aegean and Lycian coasts by land and by private gulet, and finally inland to Cappadocia and the Mesopotamian frontier.
Forty days, five natural phases, and a private gulet week at the heart of it. Tap any day for the full details, included sightseeing, and meal plan.
Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus and Aphrodisias.
Arrive at Istanbul Airport and transfer by private VIP vehicle to your historical hotel in the heart of the Sultanahmet peninsula. After check-in, join an afternoon welcome briefing with your senior historian tour leader, followed by a relaxed evening orientation stroll through the historic Hippodrome. The day closes with a welcome dinner presenting Ottoman palace cuisine.
- Sultanahmet peninsula orientation
- Hippodrome of Constantinople (evening stroll)
A full day devoted to the primary monuments of Byzantine Constantinople. Step inside Hagia Sophia to marvel at its sixth-century dome and golden mosaics, one of the most influential buildings in the history of architecture. Descend into the atmospheric Basilica Cistern, with its iconic Medusa-head column bases, and finish by admiring the blue Iznik tilework inside the Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque.
- Hagia Sophia
- Basilica Cistern
- Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque
Immerse yourself in four centuries of Ottoman imperial history at Topkapi Palace, touring its sprawling courtyards and the private Harem quarters once reserved for the sultan's household. In the afternoon, board a private sunset yacht charter along the Bosphorus, sailing past grand Ottoman waterside mansions (yalıs) and medieval fortresses, with champagne and canapés served on deck.
- Topkapi Palace
- Private Bosphorus sunset yacht charter
Experience the vibrant scents and flavours of historic Istanbul. Get lost among thousands of artisan shops inside the sixteenth-century Grand Bazaar, then follow a fragrant trail through the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar. Take in the majestic skyline from the hilltop terrace of the Suleymaniye Mosque, and join a guided culinary tasting trail featuring regional cheeses, Turkish delight and artisan coffee.
- Grand Bazaar
- Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar
- Suleymaniye Mosque
- Guided culinary tasting trail
Explore the luxurious European-influenced late Ottoman period alongside hidden Byzantine gems. Visit the opulent 19th-century Dolmabahce Palace along the Bosphorus shore, home to the world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier, then discover the extraordinary Byzantine mosaic and fresco collection at Kariye Mosque (Chora Church). In the evening, enjoy a traditional hammam treatment at a restored 16th-century Ottoman bathhouse.
- Dolmabahce Palace
- Kariye Mosque (Chora Church)
- Evening Ottoman hammam experience
Journey south from Istanbul across the Dardanelles to the solemn WWI battlefield sites of the Gallipoli Peninsula. Walk through ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery, Chunuk Bair and Johnston's Jolly, learning about the historic 1915 campaign that shaped modern Turkish and ANZAC history in equal measure. Overnight at a boutique seafront hotel in Canakkale.
- ANZAC Cove
- Lone Pine Cemetery
- Chunuk Bair
- Johnston's Jolly
Cross the boundary between Homeric myth and archaeological reality. Tour the nine historical layers of ancient Troy (Troia) and view the city's famous replica Trojan Horse, then spend the afternoon inside the award-winning Troy Museum, examining gold jewellery, weapon artefacts and ancient pottery from the site, alongside an interactive lecture on Bronze Age trade routes.
- Ancient Troy (Troia)
- Troy Museum
Travel along the North Aegean coast to the dramatic hilltop kingdom of Pergamon, once one of the great cultural capitals of the Hellenistic world. Ascend by cable car to the Pergamon Acropolis to view one of the steepest theatre structures in antiquity, then visit the nearby ancient healing centre of Asclepion, where the physician Galen once practised early medicine. Overnight at a luxury coastal hotel in Izmir.
- Pergamon Acropolis
- Asclepion healing sanctuary
Spend a full day exploring Ephesus, one of the most complete Greco-Roman cities on Earth. Walk down the marble Curetes Street, view the restored facade of the Library of Celsus, and enter the Great Theatre of Ephesus, which once held 25,000 spectators. Enjoy privileged access to the newly restored Terrace Houses, displaying extraordinary ancient wall frescoes and mosaics from the homes of Ephesus's wealthiest residents.
- Curetes Street
- Library of Celsus
- Great Theatre of Ephesus
- Terrace Houses (privileged access)
Discover spiritual history and picturesque village life in the mountains above Ephesus. Pay your respects at the House of the Virgin Mary, set in the peaceful Solmissos Mountains and revered as a pilgrimage site by Christians and Muslims alike. Continue to the historic Greek village of Sirince for fruit-wine tastings, olive-oil pressing demonstrations and cobblestone-alley strolls, finishing with a farm-to-table Aegean lunch in a mountain orchard.
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Sirince village
Journey through the ancient Ionian League capitals of western Anatolia. Tour the Hellenistic grid city of Priene, dramatically set against the mountains; explore the massive theatre at Miletus, once home to influential thinkers of the ancient Greek world; and stand beneath the giant marble columns of the Temple of Apollo at Didyma, ending with sunset drinks near the temple.
- Priene
- Miletus
- Temple of Apollo at Didyma
Travel inland to Aphrodisias, famous throughout the Roman Empire for its master stone sculptors. Tour the breathtaking Aphrodisias Stadium, one of the best-preserved stadiums anywhere in the ancient world, the monumental Tetrapylon gate, and the on-site sculpture museum, filled with imperial Roman portraits carved by local workshops. Overnight at a spa hotel in Pamukkale.
- Aphrodisias Stadium
- Tetrapylon Gate
- Aphrodisias Sculpture Museum
Pamukkale, Sagalassos, Fethiye, Kayakoy, Oludeniz and Saklikent Gorge.
Discover one of Turkey's most striking natural wonders and its accompanying ancient thermal spa city. Walk along the snow-white travertine terraces formed over millennia by mineral-rich thermal waters, explore the expansive necropolis of Roman Hierapolis, and swim among submerged ancient marble columns in Cleopatra's Antique Pool, followed by a thermal spa bath experience.
- Pamukkale travertine terraces
- Hierapolis ancient city and necropolis
- Cleopatra's Antique Pool
Hike through the high-altitude Pisidian city of Sagalassos, perched some 1,500 metres up in the Taurus Mountains and among the best-preserved Hellenistic-Roman cities in the Mediterranean. Walk through the Antonine Nymphaeum, where fresh spring water still flows from carved marble fountains after nearly two thousand years, and view the ancient agora and council chambers. Overnight at a lakeside resort in Egirdir.
- Sagalassos ancient city
- Antonine Nymphaeum
- Sagalassos Agora
Journey south through pine forests and mountain passes down to the turquoise waters of Fethiye, gateway to the ancient region of Lycia. Visit the cliffside Tomb of Amyntas, a rock-cut Lycian tomb carved directly into the cliff face above the town, before an evening seafood dinner overlooking the marina at a boutique Mediterranean hotel.
- Tomb of Amyntas
Experience poignant modern history alongside spectacular coastal landscapes. Walk through the abandoned stone village of Kayakoy (formerly Levissi), left empty after the 1923 Greek-Turkish population exchange. Then hike a pine-shaded section of the Lycian Way down toward the panoramic viewpoint over the Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz, one of the most photographed coastlines in Turkey, beginning the day with a traditional village breakfast in Kayakoy.
- Kayakoy ghost village
- Lycian Way (Kayakoy–Oludeniz section)
- Oludeniz Blue Lagoon viewpoint
Conquer one of the most iconic coastal cliff sections of the famous Lycian Way. A guided morning hike leads from Ovacik toward Faralya along the dramatic slopes of Mount Babadag, with sweeping views of the turquoise Mediterranean far below, finishing with sunset tea overlooking the dramatic cliffs of Butterfly Valley.
- Lycian Way (Ovacik–Faralya section)
- Butterfly Valley viewpoint
Explore Lycian mountain strongholds and dramatic canyon scenery. Hike through the ancient hilltop city of Tlos, crowned by an Ottoman-era fortress and lined with striking Lycian rock-cut sarcophagi carved into the cliff face. Then wade through cold glacier run-off inside the sheer limestone walls of Saklikent Gorge, Turkey's second-longest canyon, with lunch served on wooden platforms suspended over the river.
- Tlos ancient city and rock tombs
- Saklikent Gorge
Fethiye, Gocek, Kalkan, Kekova, Simena, Demre and Kas, entirely aboard your private gulet.
Welcome aboard your private, handcrafted wooden Turkish gulet, equipped with a full crew and private cabins, for the start of your 7-night Blue Cruise along the Turquoise Coast. After embarkation and a safety briefing, set sail toward the Gocek Gulf islands, with a first swim stop in the crystal-clear waters off Tersane Island. Overnight anchored in a private, secluded bay.
- Fethiye Harbor embarkation
- Gocek Gulf islands
- Tersane Island
Sail through the emerald waters of the Gocek archipelago, one of the most sheltered and scenic cruising grounds on the Turquoise Coast. Enjoy a morning swim and paddleboard session at Manastir Bay, home to the partially submerged remains of a Roman-era bath complex, and dine on freshly caught seafood prepared by your private onboard chef, followed by a sunset cocktail hour on deck.
- Manastir Bay (submerged Roman bath ruins)
Cruise eastward along the Mediterranean coast toward the whitewashed hillside town of Kalkan. Anchor off the famous pebbled cove of Kaputas Beach, wedged dramatically between two cliff faces, for swimming and snorkelling, before an afternoon shore excursion through Kalkan's winding streets and a fresh Mediterranean grill dinner under the stars.
- Kaputas Beach
- Kalkan town
Discover one of the Mediterranean's most picturesque historical coastal areas. Cruise slowly over the underwater ruins of the ancient sunken city off Kekova Island, submerged by earthquakes in antiquity, then hike up to the hilltop Byzantine fortress of Simena (Kalekoy) for sweeping panoramic views over the bay and ancient sarcophagi standing partly in the sea. Enjoy homemade goat's-milk ice cream in Simena village.
- Kekova sunken city
- Simena (Kalekoy) Byzantine fortress
Explore hidden sea caves and calm bays accessible only by boat. Kayak into the hidden caverns around Gokkaya Bay and swim off uninhabited islets, then relax on deck as your crew prepares a spread of traditional Turkish mezes — a full day dedicated to the quiet, undeveloped corners of the Lycian coastline.
- Gokkaya Bay sea caves
- Sea kayaking excursion
A shore excursion into ancient Lycian history and early Christian heritage. Tender ashore to Demre to tour the elaborate cliffside Lycian rock tombs and Roman theatre at Myra, then visit the historic Church of Saint Nicholas — the origin of the Santa Claus legend — with its preserved Byzantine frescoes, on a private historical tour focused on the site's relief carvings.
- Myra rock tombs and Roman theatre
- Church of Saint Nicholas, Demre
A leisurely final day of sailing and water activities as the gulet returns toward the harbour town of Kas. Enjoy open-sea swimming, sunbathing and snorkelling through the morning, before disembarking in Kas harbour in the late afternoon and checking into a boutique cliffside hotel, bringing the 7-night Blue Cruise to a close.
Kas, Patara, Phaselis, Antalya, Perge, Aspendos and Termessos.
Unwind with a relaxing day in one of Anatolia's most charming seaside villages. Explore narrow streets lined with bougainvillea, browse local artisan jewellery shops, or spend a quiet afternoon at a private beach club overlooking the sea, ending with sunset drinks at the ancient Antiphellos Theatre, which faces directly out to the water.
- Kas old town
- Antiphellos Theatre
Visit the ancient capital of the Lycian League and one of Turkey's longest sand beaches. Walk through the restored Bouleuterion (parliament hall), where early democratic voting took place, and the ancient lighthouse built under Emperor Nero — among the oldest surviving lighthouses in the world. Spend the late afternoon walking Patara's 18-kilometre sand-dune beach, with sunset photography over the dunes.
- Patara Bouleuterion
- Lighthouse of Patara
- Patara Beach
Drive along the scenic coastal highway winding between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Stop at Phaselis, where three ancient pine-shaded harbours contain aqueduct and theatre ruins right at the water's edge, with an opportunity to swim off the ancient stone quays. Overnight at a luxury boutique hotel in Antalya's old town (Kaleici).
- Phaselis ancient harbours
Discover the historic walled quarter of Antalya and its Roman foundations. Walk through the monumental Roman Hadrian's Gate, stroll the narrow Ottoman-era lanes of Kaleici, and visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum, home to one of the world's finest collections of imperial Roman marble statuary, with a private curator-led tour.
- Hadrian's Gate
- Kaleici old town
- Antalya Archaeological Museum
Tour two grand Roman monuments on the fertile Pamphylian plain. Explore the colonnaded streets and stadium of Perge, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in Anatolia, then continue to Aspendos to experience the remarkable acoustics inside the best-preserved Roman theatre anywhere in the Mediterranean world, with a live acoustic musical demonstration inside the theatre itself.
- Perge ancient city
- Aspendos Roman Theatre
Trek through the mountain stronghold city that even Alexander the Great declined to besiege. Hike through pine forests up to Termessos, set high in Gulluk Dagi National Park, discovering rock-cut tombs, giant rain cisterns and a mountaintop theatre looking out over sheer cliffs, with a wilderness picnic lunch among the ruins.
- Termessos ancient city and theatre
Cappadocia, Mount Nemrut, Sanliurfa and Gobeklitepe.
Fly or take a scenic mountain drive inland toward the volcanic landscapes of Central Anatolia. Arrive in Cappadocia and check into a private luxury cave suite carved directly into the natural rock, then take an evening sunset orientation drive through Pigeon Valley, named for the hundreds of dovecotes carved into its cliffs.
- Pigeon Valley (sunset orientation drive)
Experience Cappadocia's famous landscapes from both the sky and the ground. Take an early-morning hot-air balloon flight over fairy chimneys and colourful valleys — one of the world's most celebrated ballooning experiences. After breakfast, tour the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum to view rock-cut Byzantine cave churches with preserved 11th-century frescoes.
- Sunrise hot-air balloon flight
- Goreme Open Air Museum
Descend into subterranean history and trek along a river canyon. Go deep beneath the earth inside Derinkuyu Underground City, an eight-level complex built to shelter thousands of residents during invasions in antiquity. Later, hike along the valley floor inside Ihlara Canyon, visiting hidden rock-cut churches along the canyon walls, with a riverside lunch in Belisirma village.
- Derinkuyu Underground City
- Ihlara Canyon
Discover centuries-old local crafts and dramatic rock formations. Try your hand at red-clay pottery throwing on a traditional foot-wheel in Avanos, on the banks of the Kizilirmak (Red River). Explore the multi-capped fairy chimneys of Pasabag (Monks Valley) and the surreal wind-sculpted shapes of Devrent Valley, finishing with a private wine tasting of volcanic Anatolian wines inside a cave cellar.
- Avanos pottery workshop
- Pasabag (Monks Valley)
- Devrent Valley
Travel eastward into the rugged landscapes of Upper Mesopotamia. Drive past ancient Silk Road caravanserais toward Adiyaman and Mount Nemrut, a dramatic shift in scenery from Cappadocia's soft valleys to the high, remote terrain of eastern Turkey. Check into a heritage hotel at the base of the peak.
Ascend the mountain-top tomb sanctuary built by King Antiochus I of Commagene in the 1st century BC. An early-morning or late-afternoon hike leads up Mount Nemrut to view the colossal, nine-metre stone head statues of ancient gods seated on the mountain terraces, overlooking the Euphrates River valley below — one of the most extraordinary and least-visited monuments in the ancient world.
- Mount Nemrut East and West Terraces
Visit the oldest known monumental temple architecture on Earth. Tour Gobeklitepe, dating back roughly 11,500 years — predating Stonehenge by some six thousand years — and view its massive T-shaped limestone pillars carved with animal reliefs, accompanied by a private expert lecture at the excavation site's visitor centre. Later, explore the sacred Pool of Sacred Fish (Balikligol) in historic Sanliurfa.
- Gobeklitepe archaeological site
- Pool of Sacred Fish (Balikligol), Sanliurfa
A morning flight from Sanliurfa or Gaziantep returns you to Istanbul for your final evening in Turkey. Check into your luxury hotel, with the afternoon free for last-minute boutique shopping around Nuruosmaniye. The tour concludes with a multi-course farewell gala dinner at a Michelin-recommended restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus.
Savour a final Turkish breakfast before a private transfer to Istanbul Airport for your outbound international departure flight. Over 40 days you will have travelled the length and breadth of Anatolia — from Istanbul's imperial monuments and the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, through classical Ephesus and Pergamon, the Lycian Way and a private Blue Cruise, to Cappadocia's cave landscapes and the 11,500-year-old temple of Gobeklitepe.
The Regions of the Grand Odyssey
A closer look at the historical, cultural and touristic significance of each region — and what's included versus what's not.
Istanbul
For over 1,600 years Istanbul has stood at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, capital in turn to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar sit within walking distance of one another in the Sultanahmet peninsula, giving the tour five full days to move beyond a checklist and genuinely absorb the layered history of the city.
Gallipoli & Canakkale
The Gallipoli Peninsula holds some of the most significant WWI battlefield sites anywhere in the world, where the 1915 campaign shaped the modern histories of Turkey, Australia and New Zealand alike. Across the Dardanelles, Canakkale is a relaxed seafront town and the gateway to ancient Troy.
Troy (Troia)
Immortalised by Homer's Iliad, Troy is one of archaeology's most storied excavation sites, with nine successive city layers spanning roughly 3,500 years of continuous settlement. The on-site Troy Museum houses gold jewellery, weaponry and pottery recovered from the mound, alongside the city's famous life-size wooden horse replica.
Pergamon
Once a great Hellenistic capital rivalling Alexandria in scholarship and architecture, Pergamon's hilltop acropolis is reached by cable car and rewards the climb with one of antiquity's steepest surviving theatres. The nearby Asclepion was among the most important medical centres of the ancient Mediterranean.
Ephesus & the Aegean
Ephesus is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities on Earth, its marble streets, monumental library facade and 25,000-seat theatre offering an unusually complete picture of Roman urban life. Four days here extend into the wider Ionian region — the House of the Virgin Mary, hillside Sirince village, and the Ionian League capitals of Priene, Miletus and Didyma — before continuing inland to the sculpture city of Aphrodisias.
Pamukkale & Sagalassos
Pamukkale's brilliant white travertine terraces, formed by mineral-rich thermal springs over thousands of years, sit beside the ruins of Roman Hierapolis and Cleopatra's Antique Pool. From here the route climbs into the Taurus Mountains to Sagalassos, a remarkably intact Pisidian city perched some 1,500 metres above sea level.
Fethiye & the Lycian Way
Fethiye anchors the Lycian coast, a region of rock-cut tombs, pine-forested mountains and turquoise bays. From here the tour treks sections of the celebrated Lycian Way, visits the haunting abandoned village of Kayakoy, looks down over the Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz, and wades through Saklikent, Turkey's second-longest canyon.
The 7-Night Gulet Blue Cruise
The heart of the journey: seven nights aboard a private, crewed wooden gulet sailing the Turquoise Coast from Fethiye to Kas. The route threads through the sheltered Gocek archipelago, the sunken ruins of Kekova, the Byzantine fortress of Simena, and the Lycian rock tombs of Demre, with swimming, snorkelling and fresh seafood along the way.
Antalya & the Mediterranean Riviera
Antalya combines a walled Ottoman old town, a major archaeological museum, and easy access to some of Turkey's finest Roman sites. Perge and Aspendos showcase Pamphylian urban planning and the best-preserved Roman theatre in the Mediterranean, while Termessos — a mountain fortress Alexander the Great chose not to besiege — rewards a genuinely rugged hike.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia's volcanic valleys, cave churches and underground cities are unlike anywhere else in Turkey. A sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys is paired with the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum, the eight-level Derinkuyu Underground City, a hike through Ihlara Canyon, and hands-on pottery making in Avanos.
Mount Nemrut
One of the most extraordinary and least-visited monuments in the ancient world, Mount Nemrut's colossal stone heads were built by King Antiochus I of Commagene in the 1st century BC as a mountaintop sanctuary. Reaching the terraces at sunrise or sunset, with the Euphrates valley spread out below, is among the most memorable moments of the entire itinerary.
Gobeklitepe & Sanliurfa
Gobeklitepe rewrote the history of civilisation: dated to roughly 11,500 years ago, its carved T-shaped limestone pillars predate Stonehenge by six millennia and are widely regarded as the world's oldest known monumental religious structure. Nearby Sanliurfa's Pool of Sacred Fish adds a living layer of legend and pilgrimage to the visit.
Services Included & Not Included
Drawn directly from the tour's operational brief — confirm final inclusions against your specific travel dates and hotel category before publishing or booking.
What's Included
- 39 nights of accommodation across the itinerary (32 nights in 5-star luxury & boutique cave hotels, 7 nights aboard the private gulet)
- 7-night private deluxe Turkish Gulet charter with full crew
- All domestic flights (Istanbul–Izmir, Kayseri/Cappadocia–Istanbul, plus the Sanliurfa/Gaziantep–Istanbul return)
- Full-time TURSAB-licensed senior historian guide throughout
- Private chauffeur-driven Mercedes VIP Sprinter for all land transport
- Daily breakfast, 32 curated lunches and 24 dinners as specified in the itinerary
- All fast-track museum tickets and private site entry
- Sunrise hot-air balloon flight over Cappadocia — pre-bookable as noted
- Private Bosphorus sunset yacht charter with champagne and canapés
- Evening hammam treatment at a restored Ottoman bathhouse
- Lycian Way guided trekking sections and mountain guide
What's Not Included
- International long-haul flight tickets to and from Turkey
- Turkish e-Visa fees (where applicable)
- Alcoholic beverages during land-based dinners
- Gratuities for private drivers, guides and gulet crew
- Travel insurance and personal health coverage
- Hot air balloon rides (can be pre-booked as an add-on if not already included in your package tier)
- Personal expenses and optional activities not listed in the itinerary
- Cleopatra's Antique Pool swim at Pamukkale (separate on-site fee)
Please note: international flights, e-Visa fees, gratuities for drivers, guides and gulet crew, alcohol during land-based dinners, and travel insurance are not included and should be budgeted separately.
From $12,500 – $15,200 USD Per Person
In the luxury Turkish travel market, a fully escorted, multi-region 40-day tour with private VIP transport, domestic flight passes, heritage boutique stay allocations, and a luxury wooden gulet charter typically ranges between $12,500 and $15,200 USD per person, double occupancy. Final pricing depends on travel dates, hotel category, group size and any optional upgrades — contact The History Travel for a personalized quotation.
- Shared group departures
- Standard 3–4 star accommodation
- Fixed group itinerary
- 5-star, boutique & cave hotels throughout
- 7-night private gulet charter included
- Full-time senior historian guide & private VIP transport
- Multiple countries in one itinerary
- Ultra-premium lodges & private charters
- Bespoke concierge-level service
What Changes the Final Price
Travel dates and season, hotel category (5-star vs. boutique cave suite mix), private VIP vs. small-group format, group size, gulet cabin configuration, and any additional pre-booked experiences such as extra balloon flights all affect your final quotation.
Why a Price Range and Not One Fixed Number
A 40-day, five-phase itinerary spanning luxury hotels, a private yacht charter and a small-group or fully private format genuinely varies in cost more than a standard weeklong tour. We give you an honest starting range and a personalized quotation rather than a single number that won't hold once your dates and preferences are confirmed.
AI-Powered Smart Travel Recommendations
Practical, itinerary-specific advice for getting the most out of all 40 days — based on how this particular tour is structured, not generic Turkey travel tips.
Travel in Spring or Autumn
April–June and September–October offer the most balanced conditions across Turkey's varied microclimates — cool mountain air for the Lycian Way and Termessos, alongside warm enough water for the 7-night Blue Cruise.
Break In Proper Trail Shoes
This itinerary is more physically active than a typical cultural tour. Pack sturdy, already broken-in hiking shoes for the Lycian Way, Termessos and Ihlara Canyon sections.
Time Your Cappadocia Photography
For the fairy chimneys, golden-hour photography works best from Uçhisar Castle or from inside the sunrise balloon itself. At Mount Nemrut, evening light favours the western terrace, while sunrise lights the eastern terrace heads.
Treat the Gulet Week as a True Reset
Seven nights on board is long enough to actually slow down. Resist the urge to schedule extra shore excursions on the open swimming days — the unstructured time is part of what makes the Blue Cruise section work.
Pace Termessos and Sagalassos Realistically
Both are genuine high-altitude hikes, not paved archaeological parks. Build in an easy day either side if you're not a regular hiker, and carry more water than you think you'll need.
Confirm Domestic Flight Routing Early
Routing for the Cappadocia–Izmir and Sanliurfa/Gaziantep–Istanbul legs can vary by travel date. Confirm this with your travel consultant when booking so connecting logistics are locked in well ahead of departure.