Turkey Trio: City, Sights and Sea

Istanbul is known as the meeting place between east and west and in this multicultural city, you’ll have three nights to uncover its secrets. Get to know Istanbul with a full day walking tour with a knowledgeable guide to visit the Blue Mosque, St Sophia and Topkaki Palace, stopping for lunch at an Ottoman cuisine restaurant before learning the traditional marbling Ebru effect in a painting lesson. End the day with a wander around the atmospheric Grand Bazaar.

Your next two days will be filled with more of Istanbul’s fascinating sights. Take to the Bosphorus on a river cruise or delve deeper into Turkish culture with a baklava or Turkish delight tasting. If you’re interested in local life, let us arrange a dinner party at an Istanbul resident’s house or if you like food and wine, we can arrange a specialist guide for a stroll through the local markets, sampling its treats.

After your in-depth exploration of some of Turkey’s most intriguing sights, it’s time to head to its equally famous coastline for some classic holiday relaxation. Fly to Bodrum via Istanbul and transfer to the coastline, where sea, sky and sand creates a panorama filled with blues and greens that form your peaceful and natural environment.

Alongside the coast and inland are cultural villages and archaeological wonders such as Herakleia, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Out at sea visit nearby Greek Islands of Patmos or dive or snorkel in clear aquamarine water to spot wrecks flitting with colourful fish. Or perhaps you might like to simply relax on the beach or by the pool, enjoying great service, long lunches and crafted cocktails. After five nights at this coastal paradise, you will begin your journey home, full of the varied joy that a holiday in Turkey can offer.