14 breakfasts, 3 dinners

15

Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip.

Breakfast

Turkish breakfasts are very different from your usual cereal and toast morning fare – when was the last time you had olives for breakfast? They pretty much universally consist of large slices of fresh “french style” white bread accompanied by slices of tomato, cucumber, white and yellow cheeses, olives, jam and honey. This is accompanied by tea (which a Turk would always choose!) or coffee (which is pretty much always instant coffee)You will of course want to sample the famous Turkish coffee, but it is usually taken after a big lunch or dinner, or in the late afternoon with a pastry.While we think these breakfasts are absolutely delicious, some travellers do find them a bit repetitive and enjoy buying market fruit the day before and eating this for breakfast.

Lunches

Will usually be simple and on the run. They are a great chance to try Turkey’s delicious and healthy array of “fast foods”.This may include, “gozleme”, a type of Turkish savory crepe, “chorba”, delicious lentil soup, and of course doner kebabs in both beef and chicken varieties. You won’t want to miss the chance to try “pide”, Turkish pizza, and lahmucan- thin crust pizza you fold greenery intoYou may also find “kumpir”, Turkish stuffed potatoes.

Dinner

Most Turks start their dinners with a couple of mezes- small taster dishes such as grilled octopus, aubergine salad, and many more. You could also choose a soup made of fresh local ingredients. Main courses tend to be based around fresh seafood if you are near the coast (expect to pay around 500 – 600 lira for a whole fish) or the ubiquitous kebab- skewers of charcoaled meat which comes on bread with salad. There are plenty of variations of the kebab; many regions have their own speciality so be sure to ask your leader.

Desserts

Yum- it’s all about the sugar. Baklava (about 65 TL a piece for the good stuff) is something of a national obsession and it is believed the best comes from the East. There are endless varieties of pastries and milk-based deserts available and you are sure to spend at least some time in a Turkish bakery taste testing.

Snacks

Don’t miss munching on a simit, a Turkish pretzel, or perhaps some grilled sweet corn to get you through between meals.

Drinks

Tea, served in small tulip glasses, is the number one beverage of choice in Turkey. It is freshly brewed and a tea bag is a rare thing. Turkish coffee is wonderful thing to try. The national beer is named Efes and is very good (usually 160 – 170 TL a bottle). Wine is made in Turkey and is getting better every year. Expect to pay around 250 – 300 liras for a glass in a restaurant. Water is approximately 35 TL for a 1.5 litre bottle, soft drinks and juices are around 70 – 80 TL.

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

RAMADAN

Please note that Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some limitations to services and disruptions to schedules during Ramadan, but generally our tours still operate effectively during this period and food is available to non-Muslims throughout the day. It is very important to display increased cultural sensitivity during Ramadan. Please wear loose fitting clothes, that cover knees and shoulders, and try to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public out of respect for those who can’t at that time.

EXTRAS

Looking to add to your experience? Check out our Extras! Specially designed for travellers with unique interests, Extras are optional add-ons to your G adventures trip that make your adventure more you-centric. Extras must be booked prior to departure, please see details in our optional activities field and ask your sales GCO or travel agent about booking.

ANZAC DAY

Please note that if your visit to Gallipoli falls on April 25th (ANZAC Day), an alternative activity will be scheduled.

**If you confirmed the My Own Room service, please see the FAQs for exception nights**

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.

On this trip you can expect to stay in small family-run hotels or pensions (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run, with some traditional character, and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations.

Village Stay:

During our village stay we aim to give you the experience of life with a local family. We use two houses with each room sleeping up to three people and sharing the family bathroom. Please note that beds are on the floor and all bedding is provided. In the evening we gather together to enjoy a meal of fresh, local produce with the menu dependent on what is in season.

Please note that pre & post additional accommodations cannot guarantee same gender rooming thus mixed gender rooming may occur.

You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible. We highly recommend using a backpack, light sports bag, or medium suitcase (up to 20 kg or 44 lbs), whichever you find easiest to carry, plus a small daypack. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them between transport and hotels (max. 15-20 mins walking).

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Descend into a multi-level underground city, a maze of rock-cut tunnels, kitchens, cellars, stables, and chapels carved deep into soft volcanic stone. Learn how early Christian communities hid here, sealing passages with rolling stone doors.

As you move through cool corridors and communal rooms, imagine entire neighbourhoods shifting life below ground. Ventilation shafts, wineries, and smoke-blackened ceilings reveal ingenious adaptations to landscape and threat—an intimate window onto resilient frontier faith.

Pay respects on a guided visit to the Gallipoli battlefields, tracing the 1915 campaign across rugged ridges and calm inlets. Stand at ANZAC Cove, read names in the war cemeteries, and reflect at Lone Pine Cemetery.

Context from your guide brings strategy, hardship, and evacuation into focus, explaining why this peninsula holds profound meaning for Turkey, Australia, and New Zealand. Somber memorials meet serene coastal scenery, inviting quiet remembrance.

Witness the meditative turning of the Whirling Dervishes during a sacred Sema ceremony. Robes billow as dervishes revolve to Sufi music, expressing devotion through graceful, concentric movement.

Introductory commentary explains symbolism—white skirts, black cloaks, and the journey toward unity. This optional cultural experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, offering contemplative depth to your understanding of Anatolian spiritual traditions.

Begin your journey by gathering to meet your CEO and group. Get acquainted with fellow travellers as your CEO shares local tips, safety guidance, and practical advice for making the most of each destination on this route across Turkey.

Use this time to align expectations, ask questions, and tap into insider insights on culture and customs. Many travellers choose to join an optional first-night dinner to continue the conversation in a relaxed, convivial setting nearby.

Discover the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO-listed monastic complex where painted cave churches and chapels reveal vivid Byzantine frescoes in volcanic tuff. Step into cool rock-cut sanctuaries to see biblical scenes that have endured for centuries.

Monks carved this honeycomb of refectories and sanctuaries between the 10th and 13th centuries. Notice pigments that still glow—lapis blues, earthy reds—and the artistry that transformed bare rock into a living catechism of Byzantine devotional art.

Visit the Mevlana Museum, spiritual home of the Mevlevi Sufi order, to admire the turquoise-tiled shrine and the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Rumi. Explore courtyards lined with dervish cells, manuscripts, and ritual objects.

Interpret the symbolism behind the Mevlevi’s turning meditation and the poetry that still resonates worldwide. The museum illuminates the contemplative heart of the Whirling Dervishes, where music and motion become pathways to devotion.

Explore Catalhoyuk, an extraordinary Neolithic proto-city where tightly packed mudbrick houses were entered from rooftops. Walkways and viewing platforms reveal wall paintings, household shrines, and the compact urban fabric of one of humanity’s earliest settlements.

Archaeology here rewrites urban origins, showing community, ritual, and art flourishing by 7500 BC. Guides unpack layers of daily life—grain storage, obsidian trade, and symbolic burials—linking ancient innovation with today’s science-led preservation.

Cruise the Mediterranean along the Kekova archipelago, gliding past coves and pine-clad headlands with a waterside view of Simena Castle (Kalekoy). Settle on deck as the captain steers along translucent shallows famed for the vestiges of a sunken Lycian town.

Savour a freshly prepared dinner on board as the light softens over the Taurus Mountains. This easygoing afternoon at sea celebrates Turkey’s turquoise coast—sea breezes, boat creak, and sunset on deck (weather permitting).

Walk the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, formed by mineral-rich springs that cascade in chalky pools. Continue into Ancient Hierapolis to roam Roman streets, necropolis tombs, and a theatre perched above the terraces.

Guides unpack the site’s geology and spa culture, a draw since Hellenistic times. In this UNESCO World Heritage Site, nature and archaeology fuse—warm breezes, calcium ridges underfoot, and stonework etched by centuries of pilgrims and patrons.

Explore Ephesus, one of the Mediterranean’s best-preserved Roman cities. Walk marble streets to the elegant facade of the Library of Celsus, then stand within the sweeping tiers of the Great Theatre overlooking Harbour Street.

Colonnades, mosaics, and inscribed stones reveal civic life at a cosmopolitan crossroads. From temples to bathhouses, guides illuminate trade, religion, and politics in a city whose urban plan and monuments shaped classical Asia Minor.

Witness a traditional carpet weaving demonstration that reveals the patience and technique behind hand-knotted rugs. Learn how motifs encode regional identity and how natural dyes bring Anatolian patterns to life.

From loom set-up to finishing, appreciate the labour and artistry that elevates each piece beyond décor. This cultural encounter supports heritage crafts and helps you discern quality and provenance in a time-honoured Turkish art form.

Walk among the ancient city of Troy, exploring layered ruins that trace millennia of settlement linked with the legendary Trojan War. Hear how archaeology separates epic poetry from tangible history.

Guides highlight fortification walls, gates, and foundations that reveal successive Troys. The site’s stratigraphy and artifacts illuminate trade, conflict, and mythmaking at the Dardanelles—where Homer’s verses continue to echo across wind-bent grass and stone.

Rise before dawn to drift in a hot-air balloon above Cappadocia’s rippling valleys. Watch sunrise paint chimneys and vineyards in rose and gold as baskets float in near silence over an otherworldly landscape.

Pilots trace wind currents for panoramic views and photo-perfect angles. This optional experience is at additional cost, weather dependent, and bookable on tour with your CEO, typically scheduled early during your time in Cappadocia.

Extend your discovery with a guided city walk followed by a Bosphorus cruise between Europe and Asia. Glide past waterfront palaces and neighborhoods with views toward Galata Tower and mosques that crown the skyline.

From the water, Istanbul’s geography makes instant sense—currents, bridges, and seaside life unfolding along the strait. This optional add-on is at additional cost and bookable on tour (available pre- or post-trip, subject to scheduling).

Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class celebrating market-fresh herbs, olive oil, and vegetables of the Aegean. Prepare mezze and home-style mains before sharing a convivial shared meal.

Along the way, learn about seasonal produce, family recipes, and the role of hospitality in Turkish homes. This flavorful experience is optional, at additional cost, and bookable on tour with your CEO.

Unwind in a traditional Turkish hammam, moving from warm rooms to a steam and scrub ritual on a heated marble platform. Emerge refreshed after a vigorous kese exfoliation and foamy wash.

This centuries-old bathing culture blends wellness and social custom under vaulted domes and soft light. The experience is optional, at additional cost, and bookable on tour for an indulgent pause during your Mediterranean stay.

Explore the storied streets of Sultanahmet on a guided orientation walk, passing the courtyards of Topkapi Palace, the shimmering domes of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, and the graceful minarets of the Blue Mosque. Thread through lanes that open onto the Grand Bazaar and the aromatic Spice Bazaar.

Gain your bearings while absorbing layers of Byzantine and Ottoman history. Hear tips on navigating trams, ferry routes, and neighbourhood eateries as you acclimate to the city’s rhythm and savour its heady blend of muezzin calls, roasted chestnuts, and waterfront breezes.

Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk (Anitkabir), a monumental complex honouring the founder of the Turkish Republic. Walk the ceremonial avenue to a vast ceremonial plaza and the marble-clad Hall of Honor, where Ataturk rests in solemn dignity.

Interpretive galleries trace the War of Independence and state-building years, while the minimalist, modernist architecture symbolizes a forward-looking nation. Pause to reflect on the legacy of the Republic’s founder amid orderly gardens and limestone colonnades.

Share a warm dinner with a local family in the rock-fringed village of Cavusin. Sit down to seasonal Anatolian dishes—hearty stews, salads with village olive oil, fresh-baked bread—served in a home setting that radiates Cappadocian hospitality.

Conversations flow over tea as you hear about daily rhythms, harvest seasons, and traditions passed from generation to generation. This simple, home-cooked meal becomes a cultural exchange, connecting travellers and hosts beyond the tourist trail.

Experience a welcoming village homestay in Guneysinir, where you sleep on traditional floor bedding and share a home-cooked meal. Stroll to a community cooperative and park supported by responsible travel initiatives, meeting locals at the heart of village life.

Conversations over tea offer insights into farming cycles, crafts, and hospitality customs. The visit fosters respectful cultural exchange and supports grassroots community development while illuminating the warmth of rural Anatolia.

Visit Cop(m)adam, a women-led social enterprise transforming recycled materials into stylish accessories. See how design, training, and fair wages turn discarded packaging into upcycled handicrafts with purpose.

Meet artisans, learn production steps, and understand how each purchase supports livelihoods and waste reduction. This hands-on showcase of women’s empowerment in Ayvalik connects travel with tangible community impact.

Trace faith and empire at St John’s Basilica, wander the courtyard of the 14th-century Isa Bey Mosque, and visit the archaeological park marking the once-mighty Temple of Artemis, famed among the Seven Wonders.

These compact sites reveal shifting spiritual centers—Byzantine, Seljuk, and classical. Architectural fragments and inscriptions tell stories of saints, sultans, and merchants. This trio visit is optional, at additional cost, and bookable on tour.

Wander Sirince, a hillside village of stone lanes and vine-draped houses. Browse small workshops, sample local olive oils, and pause in vine-covered courtyards for a taste of fruit wines made from regional harvests.

Greek-Ottoman architecture and mountain breezes set an unhurried tone, while tastings introduce light, aromatic styles unique to the area. This excursion is optional, at additional cost, and bookable on tour.