Day 1 - 27 April 2026 - Istanbul

• arrived in in Istanbul mid-Afternoon 
• enjoyed an evening stroll in the Old Town
• had a dinner in a local restaurant and retired early to recover for a full day in transit

Day 2 - 28 April 2026 - Istanbul

• undertook a 3.5 hour Walking Tour of Istanbul’s Old City and Ancient Port 
• during the tour we learned about the Byzantine and Ottoman Empire’s and many of their significant buildings and monuments displayed today throughout the city
• enjoyed blooming tulip in Gülhane Park (Garden of the Topkapı Palace) 
• walked through the famous Eminou Street Food Stands while enjoying the aroma of spices in the air 
• visited Egyptian Bazar
• visited Sirkeci railway station where the world-famous Orient Express once ended it journey from Paris - now closed for renovations
• enjoyed traditional Kofte (grilled meatballs) for lunch
• admired the sunset on the boat tour on the Bosporus and Golden Horn
• enjoyed the evening strolling in the Old Town

Day 3 - 30 April 2026 - Istanbul

• visited the Tomb of Sultan Ahmed Khan 
• visited the Panorama 1453 History Museum that offers a detailed explanation of the great conquest of Constantinople in 1453
• explored the Theodosian Walls - Istanbul City Walls and particularly the section that was breached in 1453 leading to the fall of the city and the end of the Byzantine Empire 
• visited Sahaflar Bazaar known as the “Old Book Bazar”
• visited Beyazıt Mosque
• visited Istanbul University and Beyazit State Library
• wandered the maze-like streets of the Grand Bazar
• visited Rustem Pasha Mosque 
• enjoyed beers in the Karaköy District 
• had dinner with my beloved friend Eda in Minoa Pera - a bookstore turned into a hip cafe - a true bibliophile's paradise!

Day 4 - 30 April 2026 - Istanbul

• visited the Blue Mosque first thing in the morning before the crowds arrived 
• changed hotels and met with our travel group for an orientation meeting 
• toured the inner city’s premier sites with our guide and group
• enjoyed our first group dinner together at a traditional Turkish restaurant located next to the Blue Mosque
• retired early in preparation for our tours 0430 hours start

Day 5 - 1 May 2026 - Istanbul to Gallipoli to Canakkale

• started out at 4:30 am in order to beat the road closures for the May 1 Turkish Narional Holiday 
• traveled by local bus from Istanbul to Gallipoli
• switched into our private bus and drove by Çanakkale Bridge (the longest suspension bridge the world, featuring a main span of 2,023m)
• explored the Gallipoli WWI battlefields 
• visited ANZAC (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) Cove and its memorial site 
• paid our respects at the ANZAC Lone Pine cemetery 
• visited the ANZAC trenches on the Silt Spur battle site 
• enjoyed the spectacular views across the Dardanelles Strait and the Gallipoli Peninsula
• took the Killitbahir Canakkale ferry
• explored Canakkale in the evening after a wonderful dinner in the local restaurant

Day 6 - 2 May 2026 - Canakkale to Troy to Selcuk

• visited the ruins of ancient city of Troy - A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 4,000 years of history, including nine distinct layers of ancient cities
• following our guided tour of the ruins we visited Troy’s Museum 
• drove from Troy to Selcuk
• on at Selcuk explored several historical buildings on the slopes of Ayasoluk Hill on an orientation walk
• passed by Isa Bey Mosque, the imposing Byzantine citadel of the Grand Fortress and ruins of the Basilica of St John, built by Justinian I in the 6th century
• follow a wonderful group dinner we retired for the evening in preparation for tomorrow's visit to Ephesus

Day 7 - 3 May 2026  - Selcuk to Ephesus to Selcuk

• visited one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - The Temple of Artemis, sadly, only a single column (of 127 originally) remains
• despite a heavy downpour of rain we explored the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus – one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman classical cities in the world
• marveled at the city fascinating history and its remarkably preserved ancient ruins, including one of the largest Roman amphitheaters in the world and the iconic Library of Celsus
• visited the Arvalya carpet weaving centre to see how traditional turkish carpets are woven with the double knot technique 
• got a comprehensive introduction into the rug design, an understanding of what they cost, how they're made and what makes a rug valuable (or cheap) - and nope, we didn’t buy one 😉

Day 8 - 4 May 2026 - Selcuk to Pamukkale

• took a train inland through mountainous landscapes to Pamukkale – which literally translates to ‘cotton castle’
• explored the natural hot springs composed of a high calcium content cascade over the edge of the cliffs
• explored ruins of the city Hierapolis - renowned UNESCO World Heritage site known for its abundance of temples and religious structures, vast necropolis and strange tombs
• visited The Hierapolis Theatre a exceptionally well-preserved Roman theatre with a seating capacity of 12,000–15,000
• explored stunning natural hot springs known for its dazzling white, mineral-rich thermal terraces and pools formed by calcite-laden waters
• swam in the famous Cleopatra Antique Pool - a thermal pool where you can swim among sunken Roman columns from the 7th-century earthquake
• enjoyed a lovely dinner in the restaurant run by the local family

Day 9 - 5 May 2026 - Pamukkale to  Kayakoy  

• were absolutely overwhelmed by the traditional Turkish breakfast provided by our hotel hosts 
• traveled four hours by Sprinter Van bus through the Western Taurus Mountains south toward the Mediterranean Sea
• as we traveled over the summit we were astounded by the road side snow accumulations 
• took a two hour Trek up the mountain to the village of Kayakoy - called “the Ghost Village”
• explored ancient stone houses that were abandoned after their Greek inhabitants left Turkey during the great population exchange of the 1920s

Day 10 - 6 May 2026 - Kayakoy to Oludeniz to Kayakoy

• hiked along a section of rugged coastline, following part of the ancient walking trail of the Lycian Way to nearby sea city of Oludeniz
• made our way through forest, and then up a mountain side with fantastic views out across the Mediterranean as we trabversed the ridge line  
• explored the beautiful Blue Lagoon - with a breathtaking views of an arching peninsula of white sand beach separating the crystal waters from its lush banks 
• took a local dolmus shared bus back to Kayakoy
• joined our hosts for a Turkish barbecue dinner, relaxing in their garden and enjoying some delicious local food, wine and lively company

Day 11 - 7 May 2026 - Kayakoy to Kas

• traveled from Kayakoy to Kas enjoying some spectacular coastal scenery along the way
• enjoyed beauty of Kaputas Beach - stunning!
• walked around the picturesque village of Kas – admiring whitewashed buildings covered in bougainvillea and cobbled streets 
• explored the handicraft markets and small local shops
• visited Antiphellos Theatre in an ancient coastal city in Lycia where we enjoyed a busking Band performance in the first century theatre

Day 12 - 8 May 2026 - Kas to Kekova to Kas

• traveled to harbor in Kekova village
• boarded a gulet (a traditional Turkish boat) and enjoyed a day of swimming and chilling on the boats deck in the sunshine
• cruised over an ancient Sunken city observing the ruins from above 
• enjoyed a traditional Turkish lunch on board and took in the gorgeous scenery
• took an evening stroll in the old town of Kas

Day 13 - 9 May 2026 - Kas to Konya

• took a private bus inland from Kos to Konya 
• passed Myra (modern-day Demre city) town where St Nicolas was originally buried
• crossed the Toros Mountain Range
• visited The Eşrefoğlu Mosque - the largest wooden-columned mosque in Anatolia, featuring 42 wooden pillars (cedar) and a unique central "snow pit" , remarkably preserved wooden construction and UNESCO World Heritage status
• tried traditional Tarhana - a dried fermented grain and yogurt mixture
• visited the original Tekke of Mevlana, which holds many relics and is also the final resting place for Rumi - closely linked with the whirling dervish sect of Islam 
• explored Konya town center and its surrounding markets

Day 14 - 10 May 2026 - Konya to Urgup

• took a bus to the Region of Cappadocia’s town of Urgup 
• visited the Kaymakli Underground City - an ancient, multi-level subterranean complex with four floors open to visitors, featuring narrow tunnels, stables, kitchens - dated back to the 7th-8th centuries BC and used into the 20th century, it is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site
• visited Pigeon Valley - known for thousands of ancient pigeon houses carved into volcanic tuff cliffs
• experienced a deeply spiritual Whirling Dervish Ceremony - an authentic Sufi Sema ceremony held in a historic 13th-century caravanserais Saruhan
• enjoyed a special home-cooked dinner in a local cave home and enjoyed a friendly chat with Nuray, our lovely host

Day 15 - 11 May 2026 - Urgup to Goreme to Avanos to Urgup

• woke up at 3:30 am to see Cappadocia’s unique landscapes at sunrise from a hot air balloon! 🎈- A must do  bucket list experience!!!
• visited Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley) famous for its unique, naturally eroded rock formations that resemble animals (such as the famous camel), mythical figures, and objects
• traveled a part of the Silk Road and visited one of the caravanserais 
• visited Omurlu Ceramic - a historic, family-run pottery workshop (since 1907) offering demonstrations of traditional Hittite-style pottery and hands-on wheel-throwing experiences
• hiked Love Valley (or Baglidere Valley) a stunning, scenic spot renowned for its unique, 30-meter-tall phallic-shaped "fairy chimney" rock formations
• admired snow on volcanic Mount Erciyes (Erciyes Dağı) 3,917 meters (12,851 feet) above sea level
• explored Ürgüp and enjoyed dinner in the rooftop restaurant with an amazing view of the rock houses

Day 16 - 12 May 2026 - Urgup to Eskisehir

• drove from Urgup Eskisehir – Eskisehir is known as the ‘students city” as many Universities are located there
• drove on Türkiye's first "musical road" - located on the Ankara–Eskişehir motorway, the groves in the roadway make your vehiclea tires play Mozart's "[Rondo alla Turca]" (Turkish March) 
• when driven over at a constant speed of 100 km/h; it uses specialized pavement grooves to create melodic vibrations, enhancing road safety and playing 
• visited Eskişehir Odunpazarı Village and wandered the colourful houses nearby
• enjoyed an evening stroll along the Porsuk River

Day 17 - 13 May 2026 - Eskisehir to Istanbul

• took a high speed train from Eskisehir to Istanbul
• boarded a bus and got stuck in Istanbul traffic for 2 hours before finally arriving in our hotel (less then 5 km drive)
• went for a last walk to Grand Bazar and Sultanahmet where we did some last minute shopping 
• enjoyed a final dinner with our Aussie travel family in one of the rooftop restaurants overlooking the Golden Horn
• took an evening stroll in Karakoy district

Day 18 - 14 May 2026 - Istanbul to Gdansk

• enjoyed the last breakfast with our travel group and said goodbyes to everyone
• shopped some more 😉
• Davis went to a barber to have his beard trimmed - it looks great!
• cached the afternoon flight home via Warsaw