Tours to Turkey

The Essence of Turkey

Bridging the continents and cultures of Europe and Asia, Turkey has lavish palaces and haunting ruins, traditional coffeehouses and cosmopolitan cities, ethereal landscapes and medieval monuments, beaches, bazaars, and whirling dervishes.

Why choose a tour in Turkey?

From the ancient remains of Ephesus to the opulence of Topkapi Palace; from the pale blue pools of Pumakkale to the cobbled lanes of Çanakkale; from the ‘other-worldly’ Göreme Valley to “God’s Gift” of beautiful Bursa; and from multi-minareted mosques to the mystical subterranean Cistern; Turkey is a mesmerising mixture.

Time-travelling across four millennia, Jules Verne tours in Turkey visit every era of the country’s cultural heritage, from Trojan and Hittite to Greek and Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and contemporary.

The range of routes include cruising along the Bosphorus, skirting the Sea of Marmara to Gallipoli’s Great War landing sites, relaxing in coastal Kusadasi, and sailing across the Dardanelles, where Leander and Lord Byron swam the Hellespont’s four-mile stretch.

Among remarkably well-preserved ruins, we follow in the footsteps of biblical saints in the marble streets of Ephesus, climb to the Acropolis of Pergamon, visit Aphrodite’s Temple in archaeological Aphrodisias, and tour from ‘modern Troy’ (Hisarlik), with its huge wooden horse on the seafront, to the vast ruins of its ancient ancestor.

The great and the good are celebrated in statues, monuments, and the mausoleums of Atatürk, in Ankara, and Gordion’s 7^th-century BC king, the legendary Midas of the ‘golden touch’.

And Turkey’s rich heritage is revealed in Konya’s ‘Whirling Dervishes’ Museum; at the country’s largest caravanserai, in the remote little town of Sultan Han; and in Istanbul’s sky-piercing minarets and soundtrack of muezzin calls; and everyday culture continues in tavernas and tea gardens, coffeehouses, and colourful, spice-scented souks.

When to go on Turkey holidays

There are huge variations across the regions and seasons, with temperatures hitting highs of 35° in July and August, which can be uncomfortably hot for touring. Our tours are timed for the more temperate climates of Spring, early Summer, and Autumn, with averages around 19° in March & April, and 26° in May, June, September, and October.

Who are Turkey tours suited to?

With art and architecture in fortresses, palaces, and places of worship; Byzantine churches boasting fine frescoes and mosaics; coastal interludes, country plateaus, ancient and contemporary cities, and small towns off-the-beaten-track; there are landmarks, landscapes, and leisurely days to inspire, inform and intrigue travellers with a broad range of interests and an appetite for adventure. Jules Verne’s Turkish tours are enjoyed by singles, couples, and groups of friends, and include exclusively Solo and ‘No Single Supplement’ departures.

Why book Turkey tours with Jules Verne?

With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary journeys, Jules Verne visits iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Our tours in Turkey cover the country’s chequered past, its contrasts, culture, and cuisine, from the cosmopolitan capital to an isolated Silk Road city, with a little of everything in between.

All our guided tours to Turkey are ABTA and ATOL protected, and we offer a 100% price guarantee, so you can book with complete confidence.