Turkey

The Best of Turkey: A Journey by Land and Gulet

Program No. 18761RJ
Go off the beaten path as you explore the Turkey seldom seen by tourists. From a private Sufi and Zikr ritual to expert-led walks and sailing excursions, this adventure has it all.

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We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
Activity Level: Let's Go! (4)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 13 - May 29, 2024
Starting at
6,099
Sep 23 - Oct 9, 2024
Starting at
6,099
Filling Fast!
Oct 7 - Oct 23, 2024
Starting at
6,099
Oct 14 - Oct 30, 2024
Starting at
6,099
Activity Level: Let's Go! (4)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
May 13 - May 29, 2024
Starting at
7,599
Sep 23 - Oct 9, 2024
Starting at
7,599
Oct 7 - Oct 23, 2024
Starting at
7,599
Oct 14 - Oct 30, 2024
Starting at
7,599
Activity Level: Keep the Pace (6)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 5 - May 21, 2025
Starting at
6,499
Full Inventory
May 12 - May 28, 2025
Starting at
6,499
Sep 15 - Oct 1, 2025
Starting at
6,499
Sep 22 - Oct 8, 2025
Starting at
6,499
Oct 6 - Oct 22, 2025
Starting at
6,499
Oct 13 - Oct 29, 2025
Starting at
6,499
Activity Level: Keep the Pace (6)
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 5 - May 21, 2025
Starting at
8,119
Filling Fast!
Full Inventory
May 12 - May 28, 2025
Starting at
8,119
Sep 15 - Oct 1, 2025
Starting at
8,119
Sep 22 - Oct 8, 2025
Starting at
8,119
Oct 6 - Oct 22, 2025
Starting at
8,119
Filling Fast!
Oct 13 - Oct 29, 2025
Starting at
8,119

At a Glance

Experience the mingling of modern and ancient civilizations as you explore the wonders of Turkey. Beginning in Ankara, find expressions of the living heritage of Turkey in its myriad forms. Walk the streets of Istanbul where crusaders and janissaries once marched, and step aboard an exclusively chartered gulet for a four-night voyage along the Mediterranean coast.

Extend Your Adventure

This program includes an optional program extension.

Extension: Istanbul: Ancient City and Modern City

Istanbul is thousands of years old, so it deserves a few extra days of exploration. Continue your discovery of this complex and mysterious city with our local experts.
Activity Level
Varies by date
Walking up to three hours on varied terrain. Steep stairs without railings. Stooping in underground city. Elevations up to 3,100 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Board a privately chartered gulet and discover the ancient ruins, harbors and coves of the Turquoise Coast.
  • Witness a private Sufi and Zikr ritual not open to the public.
  • Head inside the Hagia Sophia mosque, then enjoy views of Istanbul from a boat on the Bosphorus.

General Notes

Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Timur Comertpay
Timur Comertpay was born and raised in Adana, a city on the eastern Mediterranean shore of Turkey. After working as an English teacher at several schools, he took up a new profession as a licensed excursion leader in 1992. Timur has lead educational groups to some of the best known archeological and historical sites in Turkey, as well as on hiking adventures along the Blue Voyage Coast. He believes to truly appreciate Turkey, visitors should experience the culture, taste different foods and interact with locals.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Sami Ozcini
Sami Ozcini View biography
Sami Ozcini has shared his love for Turkey — and his home city of Istanbul — with Road Scholar participants for more than 12 years. His on-site lectures bring a different perspective to understanding and appreciating the rich history and legacy of Istanbul. A graduate of Marmara University, Sami has a degree in English literature and enjoys traveling throughout Europe, Australia and the U.S. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and acting as a referee for amateur football games in Istanbul.
Profile Image of Zeynep Kuban
Zeynep Kuban View biography
Dr. Zeynep Kuban is an assistant professor of architecture at Istanbul Technical University, one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey. Her special area of interest is architectural history. Dr. Kuban’s lectures to Road Scholar participants share her wonderful insights on the creation of one of the world’s most architecturally fascinating cities from early Roman times to the 21st century.
Profile Image of Gul Isin
Born in 1967 in Ankara, Mrs. Isin studied classical archaeology in Ankara at both the undergraduate and graduate level. She earned her doctorate from Akdeniz University in Antalya, where she is currently a member of the faculty. She specializes in the ancient sites near Antalya and still digs at various Greek and Roman sites in the region.
Profile Image of Timur Comertpay
Timur Comertpay View biography
Timur Comertpay was born and raised in Adana, a city on the eastern Mediterranean shore of Turkey. After working as an English teacher at several schools, he took up a new profession as a licensed excursion leader in 1992. Timur has lead educational groups to some of the best known archeological and historical sites in Turkey, as well as on hiking adventures along the Blue Voyage Coast. He believes to truly appreciate Turkey, visitors should experience the culture, taste different foods and interact with locals.
Profile Image of Kazim Uzunoglu
Kazim Uzunoglu View biography
Kazim Uzunoglu started his travel career as a licensed national guide in Turkey in 1987. He studied economics at the University of Virginia but decided to stick to the travel business. After many years of leading educational programs around Turkey, he switched to the organizational side of the operation in 2004 and started running Baltac Tourism and Travel, the program provider for Road Scholar in Turkey. His hobbies include riding motorcycles around the world, vintage cars and motorcycles, photography, and rock and roll music.
Profile Image of Thomas Zimmerman
Thomas Zimmerman View biography
Thomas Zimmerman, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Archaeology at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, teaching Anatolian and Eurasian Archaeology since 2003. He holds a doctorate in Prehistoric Archaeology from Regensburg University, Germany. He is currently preparing his master’s degree and doctorate theses for publication, investigating Neolithic elite burials in the west Mediterranean and writing a textbook on time-telling devices in prehistoric and early historic times.
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