Grand Tour of Türkiye with Cappadocia & Luxury Mediterranean Voyage

Your holiday begins as you fly from Australia to your destination.

İstanbul promises a living mosaic of cultures, evident in its diverse neighbourhoods and culinary delights. With its rich cultural heritage, architectural marvels and vibrant markets, you’ll experience a captivating fusion of old-world charm and contemporary allure.

Today, your guide will whisk you on a fascinating city tour. Visit the iconic Blue Mosque, wander Hippodrome Square, enjoy a photo stop at the magnificent Hagia Sophia, and lose yourself in the colourful Grand Bazaar.

Following a photo stop at Tuz Gölü, Türkiye’s second-largest lake, known for its stunning salt flats, you’ll visit a Wine House for a sophisticated wine tasting before arriving in Cappadocia for a two-night hotel stay.

Join an optional early morning tour to witness Cappadocia’s iconic sunrise punctuated with vibrant hot air balloons. Explore the Three Beauties, Pigeon Valley, Uçhisar Valley and Paşabağ Valley before encountering the Avanos Valley’s Red River, Türkiye’s longest river.

Today, you’ll visit Sultan Han Caravanserai, a well-preserved example of Seljuk architecture and head to Konya, a city rich in cultural heritage. Here, you’ll explore the Mevlana Museum, the final resting place of Rumi, a renowned Sufi mystic.

Next, you’ll transfer to Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle” in Turkish. Enjoy a day at leisure ahead of tomorrow’s tour of the region’s stunning white terraces filled with mineral-rich water.

Visit the UNESCO Ancient City of Hierapolis to explore “Cotton Castle”, a geological marvel where thermal springs create a terrace of white baths. Enjoy a tour of a local textile outlet before transferring to Ephesus, one of the world’s best-preserved ancient cities.

Relax on the beaches of Kuşadası or opt for an optional tour of the House of Virgin Mary, believed to be the final residence of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Dine on delicious Mediterranean cuisine as you admire the panoramic vistas of the beckoning horizon and surrounding coastline.

Leaving Kuşadası behind, soar through the skies on a cable car to the Acropolis of Pergamon before reaching Çanakkale. Nestled on the Dardanelles Strait, it promises one of the highlights of your trip. Here, you’ll uncover the history of Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Your day begins with a photo stop at the Trojan Horse before you explore the Gallipoli region. Visit the serene Lone Pine Memorial with views of the 1915 front line and the historic Anzac Cove landing site.

Following breakfast, transfer to the port to embark Oceania’s intimate Marina, your floating home for the next nine nights as you exchange ancient wonders for adults-only sophistication at sea.

Off the Turkish coast, Bozcaada is a tiny island of vineyards, cobbled lanes and a mighty castle overlooking the harbour. According to legend, the Greek fleet hid here while the Trojan Horse waited at the gates of Troy, which lies just across the water.

Thessaloniki wears its long history lightly, with Roman arches and UNESCO-listed churches scattered among lively cafés. Stroll the seafront to the White Tower, then browse the Modiano and Kapani markets, piled high with olives, cheeses and spices.

Volcanic Milos is best known for the moon-like white cliffs of Sarakiniko, smoothed by wind and waves into sweeping curves. Wander the hilltop village of Plaka, admire the painted boathouses of Klima or perhaps take a boat trip to the sea caves of Kleftiko.

Katakolon is the gateway to Ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games. Walk through the stone tunnel into the original stadium, where athletes competed more than 2,700 years ago, and see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

As you sail through the Bay of Kotor, limestone mountains rise sheer from fjord-like waters on either side. Inside the UNESCO-listed old town’s walls, explore a tangle of stone lanes and Venetian palaces, or climb the ramparts for views over the bay.

Dubrovnik is one of the Adriatic’s most beautiful old towns. Walk the city walls above a sea of terracotta rooftops, stroll the Stradun, its paving stones polished to a shine, or ride the cable car up Mount Srd for views across the Elafiti Islands.

Split’s old town grew up inside the Roman emperor Diocletian’s palace, and today its 1,700-year-old courtyards hum with cafés, boutiques and family homes. Wander the Peristyle, descend into the vaulted cellars, then join locals for coffee on the palm-lined Riva waterfront.

Koper offers a taste of Slovenia’s short but lovely Adriatic coast, its old town shaped by centuries of Venetian rule. Admire the Gothic Praetorian Palace on Tito Square, or perhaps venture inland to fairy-tale Lake Bled or the dripping caverns of Postojna Cave.

Your holiday complete, today you’ll head to the airport for your flight home.