5-Day Aegean Tour: Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale

Five days tracing ancient Troy, Pergamum, and Ephesus across Turkey's coast, with a guide who knows the stories behind the ruins.

This 5-day guided tour from Istanbul travels the Aegean coast to Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus and Pamukkale, with an English-speaking guide, 4-star hotel stays, daily meals and transport included. You walk the World War I battlefields and memorials at Gallipoli, explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of Troy and its museum, tour the ancient city of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis site, and soak in the thermal pools of Pamukkale among Roman-era columns. A domestic flight returns you to Istanbul on day five. Children from age 8 are welcome. The itinerary suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Gallipoli Battlefields

• Visit Lone Pine Memorial
• See Chunuk Bair Memorial
• Explore ANZAC Cove
• Visit The Nek and Johnston's Jolly
• Walk original trenches and tunnels

Day 2: Troy, Behramkale, Kusadasi

• Depart from Çanakkale
• Explore ancient city of Troy
• Visit Troy Museum
• Explore Behramkale village
• Enjoy Turkish tea or coffee
• Travel to Kusadasi

Day 3: Ephesus and Kusadasi

• Guided tour of Ephesus
• Visit Temple of Artemis site
• Explore Ephesus Archaeology Museum
• Learn carpet weaving traditions

Day 4: Pamukkale and Hierapolis

• View handcrafted leather goods
• Visit Pamukkale Travertines
• Tour ancient city of Hierapolis
• Soak in hot springs

Day 5: Return to Istanbul

• Transfer to airport
• Arrive in Istanbul
• Transfer to hotel
• Last minute shopping or exploring

The experience

How do you see five of Turkey's most significant archaeological sites in one trip without arranging flights, hotels and transport separately? This tour handles it. You depart Istanbul, fly to Çanakkale, and spend four days moving through the Aegean region with a guide who contextualizes what you're standing in front of. The first day is Gallipoli: the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek, Johnston's Jolly, and the original trenches and tunnels of the World War I battlefields. It's emotionally weighted ground, and the guide's role is to hold the history steady while you walk it.

Day two takes you to Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you tour both the ancient city itself and the award-winning Troy Museum, then continue to Behramkale, a traditional village with stone houses and narrow streets where you can sit with Turkish tea or coffee before heading south to Kusadasi for the night. Day three is Ephesus: a guided walk through the ancient city and theatre, the site of the Temple of Artemis, and the Ephesus Archaeology Museum with its regional artifacts. You also visit a carpet village to watch hand-weaving and learn what determines a carpet's value, not a shopping stop, but a working craft. Day four moves to Pamukkale, where you first see a display of locally handcrafted leather goods, then walk the white calcium terraces (Travertines) and tour Hierapolis, the ancient city above them. The thermal pools there (used in Roman times for their therapeutic properties) let you soak among ancient columns. A domestic flight on day five returns you to Istanbul, where you're transferred to your hotel.

Four nights in 4-star hotels, all meals, entrance fees, and transport in an air-conditioned vehicle are included. The guide speaks English throughout. You'll need to send passport copies ahead so the operator can book your domestic flight. Tips for the driver and guide are optional.

What’s included

• Four nights in 4-star hotels (Kolin Hotel in Istanbul and Çanakkale, Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel in Kusadasi, Adem Pira Hotel in Pamukkale).
• all daily meals except lunch.
• entrance fees to all sites.
• transport in a fully air-conditioned vehicle.
• an English-speaking guide for the entire tour.
• and a domestic flight between Denizli and Istanbul.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (8 to 11 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Fez Travel

Is this one for you?Five days is long enough to move through five major sites without rushing any of them, but short enough to fit into a week-long trip. If you have more time, you'll want to linger in Ephesus or add a separate Istanbul itinerary. If you have less, you'll need to choose between the Aegean sites and skip some. The fixed schedule and included transport mean the logistics hold together without you building them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 11 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What exactly is there to see at Gallipoli on this tour?

The Gallipoli Peninsula tour covers the World War I battlefields and memorials: Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair memorials, ANZAC Cove, The Nek, Johnston's Jolly, and the original trenches and tunnels. The guide walks you through the sites and their history.

Does this tour include meals, or do I need to budget for restaurants?

Daily meals are included throughout the five days. Lunch is not covered, so you'll have the option to choose where and what you eat at midday.

Will I have time to actually soak in the Pamukkale thermal pools, or is it just a quick stop?

Pamukkale includes a dip in the hot springs among the ancient columns at Hierapolis. The itinerary builds in time for this, not just a viewing.

Is the domestic flight between Denizli and Istanbul included in the price?

Yes, the domestic flight from Denizli back to Istanbul on day five is included. You'll need to provide passport copies when you book so the operator can arrange it.

What's the difference between touring Ephesus and visiting the carpet village, is one more rushed than the other?

Both are guided stops on day three. Ephesus includes a full tour of the ancient city, theatre, Temple of Artemis site and the Archaeology Museum. The carpet village is a separate stop where you watch hand-weaving. It's a cultural experience, not a market push.