Based on our own experience and the many tips we have received from enthusiastic holidaymakers, it is our pleasure to present to you one of the UK‘s most popular cultural tours!²
Flight to Antalya, the pearl of the Mediterranean. Our friendly and competent, English-speaking tour guide welcomes us at the airport and accompanies us to our modern coach. We travel to our hotel in the Antalya area. Here we are greeted with a refreshing welcome drink.
Our adventure begins with a drive through enchanting landscapes along the Mediterranean coast to Lycia. The coastal road, surrounded by pine forests, is accompanied by crystal-clear and turquoise-blue water. Our first stop of the day is Demre, formerly known as Myra. Here, on December 6ᵗʰ, 343, St. Nicholas died. We visit the St. Nicholas Church dedicated to him (admission included). The church is now a popular pilgrimage site for Christians from all over the world. At the enchanting Kaputaş Bay, we make a brief photo stop. In the late afternoon, we reach the capital of the Lycians, Xanthos (admission included), which has been a UNESCO World Heritage since 1988 because of its unique, richly decorated tomb buildings, pillar graves and sarcophagi. We stay overnight with star comfort in Fethiye, the former Telmessos.
Today we are embarking on a beautiful boat trip through the protected lagoon of Dalyan. We travel on traditional fishing boats and admire the impressive rock tombs of the Carian Empire. Arriving at the idyllic İztuzu beach, we take a wonderful stroll. The beach is the breeding ground for the Caretta Caretta turtle species, one of the last turtle species living in the Mediterranean. We will spend the next two nights in a 4-star hotel in the Kuşadası area.
The next highlights await us today – the treasures of the Ephesus region with its 4000-year history. These have rightly been part of the outstanding UNESCO World Heritage since 2015. ‘The sun is new every day’, as the philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus once said here. The Apostle Paul also visited the former port city on his second missionary journey. We first admire the imposing fortress of Selçuk and the St. John’s Basilica (admission included) on the Ayasoluk Hill, which was built on the tomb of the Apostle John. Afterwards, we enjoy a short stop at the statue of the Virgin Mary with a magnificent panoramic view. In the afternoon, you have free time to visit the ancient city if you wish. The excavation finds range from ancient Greece to the Roman Empire.
At the start of the day, we visit the remnants of the legendary Temple of Artemis (admission included), known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Once the largest temple of antiquity, the ruins of this white marble structure are now one of the most significant attractions in the region. Afterwards, we travel to Pamukkale. The journey takes us through the fertile Meander Valley, surrounded by endless fig plantations, cotton fields and vineyards. In the afternoon, we take a photo break at the foot of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage, Pamukkale, and marvel at the unique limestone terraces. We spend the night in our modern and comfortable thermal hotel in Pamukkale.
After a hearty breakfast, we head towards the Taurus Mountains, passing nomadic settlements en route to Tavas. Along the way, we learn interesting facts about the unique life of the mountain people. At a traditional carpet weaving workshop at an altitude of 4,275 ft. we experience the fascinating, centuries-old art form. The variety, craftsmanship, and vibrant colours of the hand-knotted carpets captivate us. We round off the day with a visit to the Karpuzkaldiran Waterfall in Antalya. We stay overnight with 4-star comfort in the Antalya area.
On the 7ᵗʰ day, we set our sights on Antalya. The city, blessed with sunshine all year round, offers a rich array of cultural-historical treasures and natural beauties. After an extensive city tour, we visit the old town. The great craft tradition of our host country then takes us to a jewellery and a leather factory. In addition to information about manual production, we also get the opportunity to purchase a personal holiday souvenir. After another night in a 4-star hotel, an unforgettable holiday week comes to an end on the 8ᵗʰ day. Together we have experienced a lot, friendships have been formed and many wish: We want to see each other again on the next trip.
Package includes:
The package includes a tasty buffet every evening with international specialities: only £179 p.p.
Single room surcharge: £350 per person (subject to availability).
Example hotels
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antalya | 15 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 30 | 26 | 22 | 17 |
| London | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 4 |
Below is an information overview. The conditions of entry, as well as the political and health situation, can change anywhere in the world at any time. We therefore recommend checking before your trip. Please check the website of the Foreign Office (www.gov.uk/) before your departure.
Republic/Parliamentary Republic, head of state since 27.08.2014 President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Following an official letter submitted to the United Nations by the Republic of Türkiye, the country’s name has been officially changed to Türkiye at the UN.
Ankara
Islam with a small Christian and Jewish community.
The official language is Turkish. English is often spoken in cities and tourist resorts, as well as German and French.
Subtropical climate along the Aegean Coast and the Mediterranean Sea throughout the year with temperatures ranging from 30°C in the summer to 12–15°C in the winter.
The supply voltage is 220 V, 50 HZ. An adapter is required.
The time zone in Türkiye is GMT +3 hours with no daylight saving time. The time difference with Turkey is plus 3 hours in winter and plus 2 hours in summer.
The country code for Türkiye is 0090 with the zero cancelled before the area code. If you are calling the UK from Türkiye, please dial 0044 and the area code without the zero.
Barely any country has a history as rich as Türkiye. Today, Türkiye is a modern democracy where tourism is playing an increasingly important role. A visit to Türkiye has to include a visit to the Turkish bazaars, where you can enjoy their oriental flair. The traditional carpet, jewellery and leather goods stores are long-standing, and in some cases centuries-old elements of the culture of this region. So our trip will also include a jewellery manufacturer, a leather goods store and a modern rug gallery. Here you will learn some fascinating facts about the art of carpet weaving and experience how a hand-woven rug has been made for generations. As part of an interesting demonstration, you‘ll find out more about the preparation of silk threads, the natural dyes used for the wool and the delicate and extremely time-consuming knotting process. You will then have 1 – 2 hours in the various stores and factories to look at the works of art and products for yourself.
Bartering is a typical Turkish custom. If you are not interested in buying anything, the traders will also accept a clear no. No bartering takes place in department stores and supermarkets, or at markets where local farmers sell their vegetables.
In Türkiye it is customary to give tips. Similarly, to the USA, this forms part of the income for the people working in the service sector. Moreover, it symbolizes recognition for the service provided. One can tip chambermaids £1 to £2 per night. In a restaurant or taxi, tipping around 10% of the billed sum is customary. Tips are not given in shops. On group trips, the suggested sum for a tour guide, could be £2 per person per day. While for bus drivers the appropriate sum is around £1 to £2 per day per person. Of course, everyone may decide for themselves whether and how much tip they wish to give.
British citizens do not need a visa to enter Türkiye for stays of up to 90 days in any 180 day period. The Turkish government advises that your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Türkiye and that there is a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps. Nationals of other countries are advised to inquire at the Turkish Embassy about the entry requirements applicable to them.
Customers are reminded that it is their sole responsibility to make sure that passport and visa entry requirements for the country or countries that they are visiting are satisfied and we cannot be responsible for any problems encountered (whether at any point of entry or elsewhere) in the event that passport and visa requirements are not satisfied. Regulations in respect of passport and visa requirements for Türkiye are the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye (‘MFA’) whose website is at www.mfa.gov.tr.
Your expert tour guides will be able to provide you with detailed information about the country, people, history, culture, etc., and offer advice and assistance for organising your trip. They can also help with room allocation and look forward to welcoming you with initial information. Here you will find out all you need to know and useful information about the trip. We have put together a varied programme including numerous highlights, enabling you to experience the culture and diversity of landscape that the country has to offer, and learn all about Türkiye and its people.
Since 1 January 2009, the currency is once again called the Turkish lira (TRY). Exchange rate (as of January 2025): 1 GBP = 36.46 TRY; 1 TRY = 0.03 GBP.
Money can be exchanged at banks during opening hours. Another option to change currency is offered at larger hotels. Bank opening hours: Mon – Fri from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., 1.30 to 5.30 p.m. Cash can be withdrawn from cash machines using established international credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, American Express; the usage of debit cards is only possible with some machines. Credit cards are usually also accepted in the larger hotels, various shops and international car rental offices. ATTENTION: Caution is advised when paying with a bank or credit card, as criminals may be trying to copy the traveller’s bank card and obtain the relevant PIN code without being noticed to then be able to withdraw cash from cash machines with fake cards. Travellers are therefore advised to keep an eye on their bank card when paying with it and to enter their PIN number with discretion. Care should be taken when using the bank and credit cards with the PIN code in exchange offices too.
The following regulations apply for tourists: import of foreign currency is unlimited. As for exporting currency, a total amount of 5,000 US dollars (approx. 3,900 GBP) or the equivalent in TRY is permitted. Travellers may import and export personal jewellery to a total value of 15,000 US dollars (approx. 11,758 GBP). Any value higher than this must be declared when entering the country. Documentation is required for purchases made in Türkiye. Otherwise, the following goods per person may by carried upon entry into Türkiye (does not apply to transit travellers): personal belongings as items for personal use, incl. medical articles (devices) and medicine as well as giftware to a value of 230 GBP (children under 15 years of age up to 110 GBP).
Important: If you’re travelling to Great Britain from outside the UK, your personal allowances mean you can bring in a certain amount of goods without paying tax or duty. If you go over your allowances you must declare all your goods and pay tax and duty on all the goods in that category. Please inform yourself about the current customs regulations: www.gov.uk/bringing-goods-into-uk-personal-use/arriving-in-Great-Britain
British citizens wishing to stay in or travel to Türkiye are generally recommended to keep an eye on the security situation, these travel and safety instructions and on reports in the media. Groups of people gathering, including on public squares and in front of tourist attractions, as well as hanging around near government and military buildings should be avoided. Following the failed violent attempted coup, there have been isolated incidents of aggressive attacks by followers of certain political parties on people with supposedly different views. We strongly recommend remaining vigilant for such escalations, distancing yourself from the situation as quickly as possible and finding a secure location. British citizens are recommended to register on the crisis prevention list even for short-term stays and to keep the contact details stored there up to date to enable rapid contact in an emergency.
The purchase, possession and export of ‘cultural and natural properties’ is severely punished (prison sentence of up to 10 years), as these properties are regarded as state-owned assets. In case of violation, several months of custody and high bail fees (currently approx. 7,000 GBP) are common procedure for tourists, too, even if they hold antiques or old objects of supposed small value. In individual cases, prison sentences are imposed. You are therefore urgently warned not to acquire or take along antiques, old coins, fossils, etc. from retailers. It is strongly advised against making political statements in public against the Turkish state or expressing sympathy with terrorist organisations.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website (https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries). Each countryspecific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Caution is advised when eating uncooked food, unpasteurised milk (e.g. fresh milk, ice cream) and fruit that cannot be peeled. Please avoid drinking tap water and ice cubes in drinks! Rule of thumb: do not eat anything that cannot be cooked or peeled! In Türkiye, pharmacies are found at every turn. They are recognised by their green cross and the ‘Eczane’ inscription. The standard is high, the personnel fully trained. Especially in those regions in which tourism flourishes, English-speaking staff are the norm. Most of the medicines that require prescription in the United Kingdom, are also available in Türkiye by prescription only. The handling is somewhat more ‘relaxed’, though. Hospitals and a number of medical practices are found in every larger city and in the touristic regions; usually only community hospitals are based in smaller towns and villages. Make sure you have private travel health insurance. Such policies usually also offer benefits not covered by state health insurance companies, e.g. the costs of repatriation. Please note that the excursions are accessible by foot only and that the buses used for the roundtrip are not customised to transport wheelchairs or similar devices. Customers must ensure that they are in good physical and mental health in line with the trip in question. Customers must enquire about the physical mobility and psychological autonomy required for this trip.
All information is subject to change/Last updated: January 2025
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