Treasures of Turkey

From the Aegean coast’s gentle olive groves around Ayvalik to Ephesus’s well-preserved Greco-Roman streets and the unusual village of Sirince, the tour provides a mix of archaeological and cultural highlights. Later days include Pamukkale’s white calcium terraces and Hierapolis’s theatre ruins, before moving inland to Konya—with its Whirling Dervishes connections—and the surreal, cave-carved valleys of Cappadocia. The slower days, with time to watch hot-air balloons or sip local wine overlooking the stone formations, allow space to take in the atmosphere.

This moderately paced, mainly land-based trip touches on the diverse parts of Turkey that remain less hurried than the capital but are no less compelling in their layers of history and landscape. The chance to sample local pastries and watch weaving demonstrations feels like a pause on the way rather than an add-on to the agenda.

New to Turkey? Our Turkey guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.