Why This Tour
The 16-Day Odyssey Turkey Tour is our most comprehensive western and southern Turkey program. It follows the standard Aegean archaeological corridor — Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus — but then turns south along the entire Mediterranean coast through Bodrum, the Lycian shore, and Antalya before heading inland to Pamukkale and Cappadocia. This is the tour for travellers who want the classic sites and the Mediterranean coastline in one trip.
The Lycian Coast — What Other Tours Miss
The four extra days compared to the 12-Day Western Turkey Tour open up an entire civilization that shorter itineraries skip. The Lycian coast between Bodrum and Antalya is one of the richest archaeological corridors in Turkey:
- Priene, Miletus, and Didyma: Three linked Ionian sites — the first planned city in history, the birthplace of Western philosophy, and one of the ancient world’s most important oracles
- Bodrum: The ancient Halicarnassus, where the Mausoleum — one of the Seven Wonders — once stood. The medieval Castle of St. Peter now houses the world-class Museum of Underwater Archaeology
- Dalyan Delta: A protected nature reserve where Caretta caretta sea turtles nest, with the rock tombs of ancient Kaunos carved into the cliff face above
- Xanthos and Patara: UNESCO-listed Lycian capitals — Xanthos for its inscribed pillar tombs, Patara for its 600-metre sand beach and role as the birthplace of St. Nicholas
- Demre, Myra, and Kekova: The rock-cut theatres and tombs of Myra, the original Church of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus), and the partially submerged ruins of Kekova visible through clear water from a boat
Biblical and Early Christian Sites
This tour includes an unusually rich set of early Christian locations. Beyond Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary — which appear on shorter tours — the 16-day program adds two of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Ephesus and Laodicea), the Tomb of St. John in Selçuk, the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre, and the cave churches of Cappadocia. For travellers interested in biblical history, this is our most complete offering on that theme.
The Route Logic
The itinerary forms a large clockwise loop: south from Istanbul through the Dardanelles, down the Aegean coast, east along the Mediterranean, north through Konya, and ending in Cappadocia before flying back to Istanbul. Every overnight stay is chosen to minimise backtracking, so you cover maximum ground without retracing your steps.
Who This Tour Is For
This tour is for travellers who want both western and southern Turkey but do not have 23 days. It covers the Aegean archaeological corridor plus the Mediterranean coast including Bodrum and Fethiye — the Lycian coast that our other western tours skip. If you want archaeology, coastal scenery, and the southern Aegean all in one trip, this is the most complete option under three weeks.
- This tour is also available as a private departure with flexible dates
Compare Your Options
The 12-Day Western Turkey Tour covers the Aegean corridor with Antalya but skips the Lycian coast. The 14-Day Treasures of Ancient Turkey Tour goes east to Göbekli Tepe and Mount Nemrut instead of south. For the complete Turkey experience including both the Mediterranean and the southeast, see the Grand 23-Day Turkey Tour.