Discover the true essence of Turkey with an itinerary crafted by seasoned independent travelers John O’Neill and Julie Roller from Santa Cruz. This unique journey is designed for explorers who prefer authentic experiences over rigid schedules.

Unlike typical tours, this small-group adventure (maximum 16 travelers) allows you to immerse yourself in Turkey’s local culture and breathtaking landscapes. Spend two to three days in each region, exploring must-see sites, hidden gems, and stunning beaches and mountains.

Savor delicious meals in charming local restaurants, relax at cozy bars and chill-out spots, shop artisanal treasures in vibrant backstreets, and connect with the warmth of the local community as you journey through this incredible country.

Experience Türkiye at its finest—your way, at your pace!

About the Leaders

John O’Neill

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John O’Neill and Julie Roller are from Santa Cruz, California. John was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Sultanate of Oman from 1977-79, where he taught English and became proficient in the Arabic language and has also traveled in East Africa. He has a master’s degree in International Studies. He taught English to students from around the world for the past 39 years in California colleges and he's now retired. He has been to Turkey 17 times since summer 2005 and in those trips has spent over a year in the country. One of John’s passions is the study of comparative mythology, and he adds this dimension to our explorations of the ancient and modern cultures of this region.

Julie Roller

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Julie has a Master’s degree in geology and has worked in many fields over the years. She was the onboard geologist for Special Expedition EcoTours in Baja California and Alaska, and the director of Elderhostel, now called Road Scholar, in northern Arizona, where she created and led educational tours to the Grand Canyon, and Navajo & Hopi reservations for Elderhostelers from around the world. She has been to Turkey 14 times since 2008 and, along with John, has traveled from one end of Turkey to the other and seen much of the country. She currently owns a small import business with Turkish towels, textiles and jewelry.

Itinenary

May 29 - Istanbul

Monday

Welcome to Istanbul. This is our first day in this magical city. Upon arrival you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the Old City, Sultanhamet. Tonight, we will enjoy a welcome dinner together at a favorite restaurant where you’ll meet your guide and the rest of the group as well as enjoying a lovely dinner.

May 30 - Istanbul

Tuesday

We’ll walk down to Eminonu at the Galata Bridge and take a private boat north up the Bosphorus between Asia and Europe while enjoying the sights of beautiful mosques, palaces and old houses along the shore. Upon return, we walk to the nearby Rustem Pasha Mosque, enveloped by beautiful blue Iznik tiled walls, a small quiet gem of a mosque tucked in the backstreets. After lunch, we will explore the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. I buy spices here every year for home use and gifts. Optional - Take the tram up to the Grand Bazaar, the largest and oldest covered market in Istanbul with more than 3000 shops selling carpets, leather, jewelry, spices, antiques, and more. Test your bargaining skills or just enjoy the scene, while wandering in the many streets of this market. Free time in evening.

May 31 - Istanbul

Wednesday

We start our day with a visit to the Underground Cistern, the ancient water supply for Istanbul. It is beautifully restored and enveloped in a magical mystical atmosphere. Then across Sultanhamet Square to visit Topkapi Palace with its spacious grounds, four courtyards and treasury. Walk to Hagia Sophia, (550 BC), the 6th century Byzantine basilica, the largest church of its era and the architectural glory of the Byzantines. It’s being used as a mosque again. We continue with a visit to the Blue Mosque, the 17th century imperial mosque famous for its six minarets and its interior blue tiles. We then step out in the Hippodrome Square, which was considered the heart of Constantinople. We meet late afternoon at the hotel lobby to drive to our cooking class. Our teachers/chefs will introduce you to Turkish cooking and offer a glimpse of daily life while guiding you through preparing a meal. We’ll enjoy the fruits of our labor with local wine for dinner.

June 1 - Istanbul

Thursday

Another beautiful day soaked in history and culture. Walk to the Archaeological Museum complex with its collection of sculptures, sarcophagi, Iznik tiles and other objects from ancient sites around Turkey. We move to the Pera Beyoglu Area for lunch and a walking tour of its vibrant cosmopolitan Istiklal Street, with many points of historical, architectural and cultural interest – Christian, Greek and Armenian churches, picturesque shopping arcades and passages, old Ottoman Hans, bazaars and coffeehouses, bustling with shoppers, students and young professionals. Along the road we will pay a visit to St. Antonio Church, the biggest and the most beautiful on Istiklal Street. Finally, we end up at the Galata Tower, watchtower of the Genoese fortifications dating from 1349. Free evening.

June 2 - Seljuk

Friday

Fly to Izmir in the morning, meet our bus and drive to Camlik Village near Seljuk to visit Can Carpets and enjoy a homemade lunch with local traditional dishes. This is a small atelier, where they still use the traditional dye extracting method from plants. Here we will learn about the dying process with a demonstration and observe women making traditional one-of-a-kind wool carpets, some of which now grace the Presidential palace in the capital. Overnight in Selcuk. Enjoy the chillout zone and fresh spring water pool of our hotel.

June 3 - Selcuk

Saturday

In the morning, we’ll visit the Roman aqueduct with Stork nests, the small Ephesus Museum, then enjoy the large street market of Selcuk, shopping along with locals buying snacks of figs, dates, olives and fruit. Also some fun clothes to be had. Return to Atillas Getaway to relax and swim, then we’ll visit Ephesus Ancient City in the late afternoon to avoid the crowds and heat. Ephesus, once the second largest city in the Roman empire, is the best preserved Greco-Roman site in Turkey and includes the famed Grand Library of Celsius and the Great Theater, capacity of 24,000 spectators, and an amazingly preserved marble royal road.

June 4 - Dalyan

Sunday

Drive to explore the important beautiful ancient city of Aphrodisius. After lunch at a nearby charming garden restaurant, we drive to Dalyan, a small town famous for Iztuzu Beach where the Caretta Caretta Sea Turtles breed and lay their eggs.

June 5 - Dalyan

Monday

From Dalyan, we enjoy a private river boat cruise past magnificent Lycian tombs carved into the rock face 3000 years ago. We’ll see the ruins of Caunos then motor to the wonderful sandy expanse of Turtle Beach (Caretta Caretta) where turtles lay their eggs. Take a swim in the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Lunch included. Free evening.

June 6 - Kas

Tuesday

Leave Dalyan and stop at Patarra Ruins & Beach, have lunch, then drive along the deep blue sea to Kas, a lovely Mediterranean harbor town, one of our favorites. Drinks at Deja Vu bar with J&J optional.

June 7 - Kas

Wednesday

Today we explore gorgeous bays and inlets of the warm turquoise Mediterranean on a gulet cruise. Our private boat will take us to Ucagiz, Simena, and Kekova bays where you’ll swim in the crystal blue waters, see Lycian sarcophagus (kaya mezarları) and float over a sunken city. Relax on board sailing through nature. Fish Lunch served on the boat. Free evening.

June 8 - Kas

Thursday

This is a free day for you to relax and explore charming Kas, swim in the refreshing spring-fed sea, shop and explore the back streets. Kas is lively and fun to walk around and shop in the evening.

June 9 - Antalya “Kalichi”

Friday

In the morning, we’ll first stop at the local market to pick up more snacks, herbs/spices and other fascinating items. Then we depart and drive south along the blue Mediterranean Coast. Lunch at a river restaurant and continue on to the Antalya Archeological Museum with over 5000 pieces of stunning ancient art on exhibition. Many of the sculptures and statues recovered in Perge are in this stellar museum. Free evening in the attractive old part of Antalya.

June 10 - Antalya

Saturday

Another day soaked in the rich archaeological heritage of Anatolia visiting one of the important relics of ancient times at Perge (Pamphylia). It was settled during Hittite times and became an important Hellenic and Roman city. Perge is the source of most of the stunning Greco-Roman statuary in the Antalya museum. Afternoon free time with suggestions - take in the small Ethnographic museum, or historic hammam, shopping or beach w/chairs & umbrellas at dramatic spot off the cliffs near our hotel.

June 11 - Konya

Sunday

Our morning takes us to stupendous Aspendos, the best-preserved Roman theater of antiquity. Built in the 2nd c. AD, with a capacity of 15,000 people, it’s still used today for grand performances and festivals. We leave the coast and head inland for a scenic drive, crossing over the rugged Taurus Mountains onto the Anatolian Plateau. Arriving in the religious capital of Konya, we’ll visit the Mevlana Museum. Mevlana is known as Rumi to most Westerners. We’ll visit the small living history display and learn about Mevlana and his renowned Sufi philosophy. We hope to visit a renown Sufi healer friend and learn more about their beliefs, if he is feeling well.

June 12 - Urgup - Cappadocia

Monday

Morning stop to Catalhoyuk, one of the most important Neolithic cities from 7500-5800 BCE to visit their illustrative visitor center and take a tour of the active dig site. Then drive from Konya across the Anatolian Plateau to one of the most magical sites of the world, Cappadocia. On our way across the “Long Road”, we stop by Sultanhani Caravansarai, which was a waystation for travelers, merchants, and their animals moving along the Silk Road and is a beautiful well-preserved example of Selcuk architecture from the 13th century. Upon arrival in Urgup, we check into our hotel and enjoy a free evening to explore the small friendly town.

June 13 - Cappadocia - Urgup

Tuesday

Optional tour. 1. Famous Balloon ride, pick up at hotel around 4am, Extra cost to be announced (around E150) The surrealistic geological formation of Cappadocia is one of the wonders of the world. We start our morning after breakfast with a walk up Love Valley with its infamous geologic spires then onto the incredible “moonscape” of Pasa Bagi Valley to stroll through the fairytale landscape. Then down the road for lunch in the traditional pottery making village of Avanos. Free evening.

June 14 - Cappadocia

Wednesday

Visit the Underground City of Derinkuyu, which dates back to Hittite times (1200 BCE). Then on to climb Uchisar Castle for the spectacular view of Pigeon Valley and distant volcanic mountains. Plus shopping time at nice market shops near the castle. Drive to Goreme for lunch & time to walk around the small town. Bus to Goreme Open Air Museum with its dozens of painted cave-churches. In early evening, we’ll head north to watch a Whirling Dervish ritual dance, called a Sema, in the historic Sarihan Caravansarai near Avanos. We’ll meet with the lead Dervish and talk about the Sema and its significance.

June 15 - Fly to Istanbul

Thursday

We’ll take a morning flight back to Istanbul. The hustle and bustle of the city may be a nice change after the quiet plains of Anatolia. Enjoy a free afternoon in bustling European side Istanbul. You can catch up with last minute shopping, enjoy a Turkish bath or simply relax in one of the many nice cafes of the Pera district near Galata Tower. Tonight we will enjoy a farewell dinner in the beautiful rooftop terrace restaurant at our hotel in Istanbul.

June 16

Friday

This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.

Details

Duration

18 Nights - 9 Days

Tour Leader

John O’Neill

Julie Roller

Book the Tour

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Testimonials

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A Good Experience ❤️
Huge gratitude to Unison Turkey! Traveling abroad can be intimidating, but finding a quality tour company makes all the difference.
Tony & Julie S.
The Perfect Trip to Embark On 💃
If you love dance, history, and colorful cultures, this trip is perfect for you. The hosts are knowledgeable and incredibly welcoming.
Bozenka A. - USA
Well Beyond the Call of Duty 🌍
Thank you, Gursan & Nazan, for going above and beyond. Your care and attention were truly appreciated.
Sara W. - Canada
A Perfect Holiday 🏖️
Thank you, Burcu! We had a fantastic holiday, and everything exceeded our expectations.
Natasja B. - Holland
☀️ Peace of Mind
We’ve worked with Unison Turkey for 8 years. Every detail is handled with care, and they are always available when needed.
Paula A. - Portugal
🍽️ A Fabulous Cuisine and Cultural Tour
I was lucky to join this incredible food and culture tour by Unison Turkey and Nathan Fong. Every detail was perfectly planned!
Larae C. - Canada
🌟 Amazing Vacation
Everything was magnificent! Thanks to the Unison Turkey team, we had a truly amazing vacation.
Amy S. - USA
🌍 A Nice Turkey Experience
We recently visited Turkey and had an amazing time. Unison Turkey took care of all our needs, from transportation to booking tours. Zehra was incredibly helpful!
Hemita Sagar & Family - USA
🙌 Thank You SO MUCH for Everything!
Huge shout-out to Burcu and Yoko! The trip was wonderful from start to finish. If you’re in the dance community, just go!
Saroya A. - Panama
🇹🇷 Hosted Very Well in Stunning Parts of Turkey
I always have a great time with Unison Turkey, knowing my students will be well taken care of. One of the best experiences ever!
Ozgen O. - UK
✅ Recommend Them Without Hesitation!
Unison Turkey is a wonderful company—welcoming, knowledgeable, and accommodating. I would highly recommend them!
Artemis M. - USA