The morning begins with a quiet departure from Istanbul. As your bus rolls past mosques and tea gardens, the hum of the city gives way to open fields and the occasional shepherd. You’ll cross the Dardanelles Strait — the legendary waterway that once saw the fleets of Troy, Alexander the Great, and the Allied Forces pass through.

Today’s journey leads to Gallipoli, a name heavy with memory. Here, among the pine-scented hills and rugged cliffs, you’ll walk through ANZAC Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery. The breeze whispers through eucalyptus trees, and seagulls circle silently overhead. Your guide will recount the harrowing WWI battles — tales not only of loss but also of camaraderie and resilience.

At some point, you may feel an unexpected stillness. It happens to many visitors here. The land is so peaceful now, the sea so calm, it’s hard to reconcile it with the history. And yet, that's the power of Gallipoli.

By evening, you arrive in Canakkale, a vibrant student town that feels refreshingly alive after the solemnity of the day. Your Anteros Travel rep will point you toward the local promenade, where laughter rises from cafés and the air smells of the sea. Grab a drink near the marina or join locals playing backgammon under the stars.

Accommodation: Boutique hotel by the waterfront
Meals: Breakfast

The morning mist still hangs low over the hills as you journey to the legendary ruins of Troy. Here, where myth meets stone, you’ll tread paths once thought to exist only in Homer’s verses. Peer down at the ancient walls and imagine the wooden horse, the clash of spears, the whispers of gods. If you choose to join the optional excursion, your guide will bring the lost city to life with tales of love, betrayal, and war.

By midday, the scenery softens as you head south to Ayvalik, a sleepy harbour town scattered with olive trees, shuttered houses, and stories in two languages. This afternoon, meet the incredible women of Copmadam — a grassroots cooperative turning discarded plastic and textiles into art and income. Watch how they weave resilience into every stitch.

Later, join your Anteros Travel rep for a stroll through narrow alleys filled with cats, cafes, and the scent of grilled toasties — Ayvalik’s answer to comfort food. Golden bread, molten cheese, secret sauces. It’s more than a sandwich; it’s a declaration of local pride.

Today is yours to live slowly and deeply. Start with a stroll through Ayvalik’s cobblestone streets where ivy creeps up weathered walls and locals sip strong tea on wooden stools. Follow the scent of baked sesame simit to the morning market, where traders smile with their eyes and scales clatter like percussion.

Or catch a boat to Cunda Island, a poetic blend of Greek heritage and Turkish soul. Wander among Orthodox chapels turned museums, breathe in the salt air, and try fresh-out-the-oven pastries under fig trees. There’s no schedule here, only rhythm.

This evening, regroup with your fellow travellers over raki and meze at a harbour-side taverna. Your Anteros Travel rep knows a place where the octopus is chargrilled to perfection and the owner sings with a gravel voice as he serves you.

Leaving the coast behind, your road winds inland to Selcuk, a humble town that guards one of the great archaeological jewels of the world. Entering Ephesus is like stepping into a parallel world — one where marble streets gleam, where knowledge was worshipped, and where gods and emperors demanded your awe.

You’ll walk in the footsteps of Cleopatra, gaze up at the Library of Celsus, and sit in a grand amphitheatre that still holds echoes of applause. Your guide will recount tales of Artemis, divine rituals, and the glory of an empire obsessed with eternity.

Return to Selcuk in the golden light of dusk. If your legs are up for it, climb to the Basilica of St. John or sip pomegranate juice under the shadow of the Temple of Artemis. Even the ruins here whisper.

Pamukkale appears on the horizon like a dream — a snow-white hillside glowing beneath the Anatolian sun. But this isn’t snow. It’s calcium-rich water trickling down over centuries, forming glowing travertine terraces that have soothed travellers and pharaohs alike.

Walk barefoot across the cotton ridges and dip your feet in ancient pools said to heal the weary. Then ascend to Hierapolis, a sacred Roman spa city whose bones still lie beneath the fields. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the sun setting behind the Acropolis — all golden shimmer and goosebumps.

Cleopatra’s Pool may be closed, but her spirit remains — in the columns beneath the water, and in the sparkle of thermal steam rising into cool mountain air.

Seven hours may sound like a long journey — until you realise what awaits you. Kas is a jewel. A seaside town where every alley is a photo, every bite is a blessing, and every wave invites you to dive headlong into bliss.

Spend your afternoon exploring its Old Town, where whitewashed houses bloom with bougainvillea and cats nap on sun-warmed stones. Visit the ancient Lycian tombs, carved straight into the rock. Your Anteros Travel rep will point you to the best rooftop for sunset, where the meze is fresh and the Aegean glows with impossible blue.

This morning you board a traditional Turkish gulet, your vessel of wonder for the day. Sail toward the island-strewn coast where the sunken city of Kekova lies beneath shimmering water. You’ll drift above ancient walls and broken mosaics, half-drowned by earthquakes and time.

Swim in emerald coves, feast on grilled fish and fresh salads on deck, and let the Mediterranean sun wrap you in its warmth. This is the kind of day that turns strangers into lifelong friends, and salt-streaked skin into cherished memory.

You arrive in Antalya, a city where every corner offers a surprise. Old stone gates lead to vibrant bazaars. Ottoman mansions lean into Roman temples. The Taurus Mountains loom behind like quiet protectors.

Explore the winding alleys of Kaleici, the historic heart, where jasmine vines hang heavy and shopkeepers call you in for tea. Visit the Antalya Museum, home to marble gods and golden treasures. As evening falls, dine with your group and your Anteros rep one final time — a table full of flavours and farewells.

Turkey doesn’t say goodbye. It says ‘güle güle’ — go smiling.

As your journey comes to an end, you’ll carry with you the scent of orange blossoms, the sound of call to prayer at dusk, the warmth of shared meals, and the joy of stories passed under starlit skies. Your Anteros Travel rep will be at hand for any final needs — transport, goodbyes, or simply one last glass of çay.

And who knows? The road may call you back again.