UNESCO World Heritage Sites

See the best of the best on our tour of all 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Turkey. From prehistoric settlements to Ottoman excess, from the capital of the Hittite Empire to ancient Roman cities, from masterpieces of the built environment to other worldly landscapes, these 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites have it all. And you get to see parts of the Turkish countryside which are not normally seen by tourists.

Day 1

After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will pick you up for a morning of discovering the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, the German Fountain of Wilhelm II. After lunch, we will tour Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar and the Suleymaniye Mosque, one of Mimar Sinan’s masterpieces. Overnight in Istanbul.

Note: The Hagia Sofia is closed on Mondays and Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. The Basilica Cistern will replace them.

Day 2

After breakfast at your hotel, we will pick you up at your hotel for the three- hour drive to Edirne to visit the Selimiye Mosque, Edirne’s crowning glory. It was built for Selim II (1566-74) by Miramar Sinan. We will also visit the other two mosques for which Edirne is known: Eski Camii built between 1402-14, known for its white marble portal and decorative calligraphy on the interior walls and pillars; and Üç Serefeli Camii whose name comes from the three balconies on its southeast minaret. We will also visit Meric Bridge (New Bridge); Kule Kapisi (12 Tower Gate), which is all that remains of the tower which once protected the principal gate of the citadel; and Beyazit Kulliyesi, a hospital, famous for the skill of its surgeons and where the insane were treated by musical therapy. We will depart from Edirne at 4:30PM for our return to Istanbul, returning you to your hotel between 7 PM and 8PM, depending on traffic. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3

After breakfast at your hotel, we will take the ferry to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. We will visit the Muradiye, the Mausoleums of Osman and Orhan Bey, the Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii), the Green Mosque, Koza Han (the silk bazaar), and the Covered Bazaar. We will have lunch in a traditional restaurant in old town. We will leave Bursa at about 3PM to drive to Canakkale. Overnight in Canakkale.

Day 4

After breakfast at your hotel we will tour the ancient city of Troy, a much excavated site that has yielded pieces of history from 4,000BC to about 300AD. We will see the 3700-year old city walls, the houses from Troy I (3000 BC-2500BC), the Bouleuterium (the Senate Building), the Odeon (Concert Hall), sacrificial altars, the remains of cities from Troy I through Troy IX, current excavation sites, and, of course, the replica of the Trojan Horse. We will depart at about noon for Pergamon. After lunch in Pergamon, we will tour Pergamon’s Acropollis, the Library, the Temple of Athena, the Temple of Trajan, the Gymnasium, the lower Agora, the Theater, and the Temple of Dionysus. Then we are on our way again to Selcuk. Overnight in Selcuk.

Day 5

After breakfast at your hotel, we will tour the ancient city of Ephesus, dating back to 2000BC, one of the most magnificent and best preserved excavations in the world. We will walk along the sacred marble street connecting the Great Theater with the library of Celsus. We will see the Commercial Agora and walk along the marble Curetes Street which has beautiful mosaic-paved sidewalks. We will explore the gymnasium, visit the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Artemis and the Fountain of Trajan. After lunch, we will go to Pamukkale, famous for its healing thermal and mineral baths and snow-white petrified waterfalls. If there is time, we will visit Hierapolis, an ancient city with a magnificently preserved Necropolis, Main Street, the gates and the thermal baths. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 6

After breakfast at your hotel, we will depart from Pamukkale and head to Fethiye. Overnight in Fethiye.

Day 7

After breakfast, we will tour Xanthos, the one-time capital of the Lycian world; and Letoon, the site of temples to Leto, Artemis and Apollo. Xanthos-Letoon reflects the influence of the Hellenistic and Lycian cultures on each other. We will depart from Xantos-Letoon at about 11AM for Konya, arriving at about 7PM. Overnight in Konya.

Day 8

After an early breakfast at your hotel, we will head to to Cappadocia, and its unique geographical landscape. We will visit the Devrent Imagination Valley and its fairy chimneys; the Zelve open air museum; Pasabaglari and its mushroom shaped pinnacles; and Avanos, for a pottery demonstration. After lunch in the Pigeon valley, we will continue to Uchisar and its rock castle, Esentepe and the Goreme Open Air Museum. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 9

After breakfast at your hotel, we will visit the Greek Village of Mustafapasa , the Keslik monastery, Taskinpasa medresesi (Ottoman theological school), the Soganli valley, Cemil (a Greek-orthodox church) and Kaymakli underground city. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 10

After breakfast, we will depart for Adiyaman. After arrival at Adiyaman, the rest of the evening is yours to relax or explore. Overnight in Adiyaman.

Day 11

We will head to Nemrut Dag before sunrise in order watch the sunrise from the top of the mountain. The summit of Nemrut Dag is the location of the 1st century BC tomb of Antiochus. After breakfast, we will depart for Diyarbakir. Overnight in Diyarbakir.

Day 12

We will tour the Diyarbakir Fortress and the Hevsel Gardens before heading for Sivas, We will visit the Great Mosque in Divrigi and its adjoining hospital built in 1299 en route. Overnight in Sivas.

Day 13

After breakfast at our hotel, we will depart from Sivas and head to Hattusa, once the Hittite capital. Hattusa is notable for its preserved temples, royal residences and fortifications. After touring Hatussa, we will head to Yozgat. Overnight in Yozgat.

Day 14

After breakfast at our hotel, we will head to Safranbolu. Safranbolu has 1008 preserved and registered buildings and artifacts. The architecture of Safranbolu influenced urban development during the Ottoman Empire. Overnight in Safranbolu.

Day 15

After breakfast at our hotel, you will have the morning free to explore Safranbolu, its streets, its architecture and its market. After lunch, we will depart from Safranbolu and head back to Istanbul. We will return you to your hotel.

Day 16

After breakfast, your tour ends.