Turkey: Cave Churches & Fairy Chimneys

This G Adventures small-group tour offers a compact introduction to Turkey over six nights, starting in Istanbul. Here, the itinerary includes a welcome dinner and a walk through parts of the city, followed by a Bosphorus cruise that threads between the continents. The journey continues inland with visits to sites in Cappadocia, among them the Göreme Open Air Museum, where cave churches bear frescoes dating back centuries.

The tour also takes in Antalya and nearby Termessos, an ancient city perched in the mountains, providing a contrast to Turkey’s modern coastal towns. Throughout, transport is a mix of private vehicles and local buses, contributing to the budget-conscious and immersive approach. The accommodation is simple but chosen for cleanliness and character, reflecting the local flavour rather than luxury.

Breakfasts feature Turkish staples like olives and cheese, while lunches and dinners are opportunities to sample local fast foods, kebabs and mezes, with plenty of options outside the tour’s inclusions. There’s enough in the itinerary to get a genuine feel for Turkey’s complex heritage and landscapes without the rush of a longer holiday.