An 8-day, 5-night history tour of western Turkey following the ancient Greeks: Troy, Assos, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Istanbul, led by Khun Pap.
Trip highlights
- Turkey Tour: the Anatolian Greeks
- Follow the epic that changed the world: the story of the Greeks in Anatolia
- Explore the ruins of Troy, a World Heritage site more than 3,000 years old, and visit the Troy Museum
- See 2 of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World
- Visit the steepest ancient theatre in the world at Pergamon
- Hear Greek legends on the real sites, from the Iliad and the Odyssey to King Midas and the Gate of Hell
- 13-20 February 2027: a comfortable premium tour, suitable for older travellers
- Led by Khun Pap, who brings the epics back to life
Highlight places
Led by historiansEvery trip travels with an expert history lecturer who brings each site to life in plain language.
Off the beaten pathCentral Asia, the Middle East, the Himalayas — places most tour companies never go.
Private groups, no rushingRight-sized groups and unhurried time at the places that matter most.
Beyond ordinary travelEvery tour is designed by writers and professional travellers to create experiences that reflect who you are — for travellers who want more than an ordinary holiday.
About this tour
Turkey: The Anatolian Greeks is an 8-day, 5-night history tour (13-20 February 2027) through western Turkey, the land once settled by the ancient Greeks and known as Anatolia. The route follows the stories of the Homeric epics and the ancient world through places such as the ruins of Troy and the Troy Museum, Assos, Pergamon, Pamukkale and Hierapolis, Ephesus, and Istanbul.
The trip includes the Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, as well as several UNESCO World Heritage sites. Travel is by Thai Airways between Bangkok and Istanbul, a domestic flight from Bodrum back to Istanbul, and air-conditioned van or coach on the ground, with 4- and 5-star hotels.
The tour is led by Khun Pap, owner of The Wild Chronicles page, who acts as the history lecturer on the trip. A local English-speaking guide also accompanies the group. The Wild Chronicles describes its tours as non-joining (private groups), with more time at the sites that deserve it.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Bangkok – Istanbul
Meet at 21:00 at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), 4th floor departures, and check in at the Thai Airways counter.
- 23:45: fly to Istanbul on flight TG900, about 10 hours 20 minutes, with in-flight meals.
Day 2Istanbul – Canakkale
Arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST) at 06:05 and drive into the city (about 1.5 hours) to see the Historic Areas of Istanbul, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Obelisk of Theodosius: the oldest antiquity in Istanbul, carved in ancient Egypt more than 3,500 years ago.
- Sultanahmet Square: formerly the Hippodrome, the Byzantine chariot-racing arena.
- Blue Mosque: built in the 17th century, with thousands of blue ceramic tiles and six minarets.
- Hagia Sophia: built in the 6th century as a church and later turned into a mosque under the Ottomans.
Then drive about 4.5 hours to Canakkale and photograph the Trojan Horse prop from the 2004 film Troy on the waterfront, a gift to the city.
Day 3Troy – Assos – Ayvalik
Visit the ruins of ancient Troy, the Bronze Age city found on Hisarlik hill and matching Homer's Iliad, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Troy Museum, a rust-coloured steel cube holding thousands of finds from the area.
- Drive about 1 hour to Behram and tour ancient Assos, where Aristotle once lived and taught philosophy.
- Climb to the Doric Temple of Athena for sea views across to the Greek island of Lesbos, home of the poet Sappho.
Then drive about 2.5 hours to Ayvalik.
Day 4Pergamon – Pamukkale
Drive about 1 hour to ancient Pergamon, set on a mountaintop at Bergama, the centre of power and culture of the Pergamon kingdom in the Hellenistic and Roman periods and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Then drive about 4 hours to Pamukkale to see the Travertines, white limestone terraces formed over thousands of years by mineral-rich hot springs, with a chance to enjoy the warm mineral water.
Day 5Hierapolis – Temple of Artemis – Ephesus – Kusadasi
Tour Hierapolis, the hilltop city above Pamukkale and a UNESCO World Heritage site, once known as the city of healing because people came for its natural mineral waters.
- Drive about 2.5 hours to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built in the 6th century BC and once ringed by 127 Ionic marble columns.
- Visit Ephesus, one of the best-preserved and grandest Roman cities of the Mediterranean, once the capital of the Roman province of Asia, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 6Bodrum – Istanbul
See the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built in the 4th century BC for King Mausolus and the origin of the word mausoleum.
- Photograph Bodrum Castle (Castle of St. Peter), built by the Knights of St. John in the 15th century (viewed from the outside).
- Stop at Bodrum Marina, a well-known yacht harbour on the Aegean coast.
- 14:00: drive about 1 hour to Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV) and fly to Istanbul on TK2523, departing 17:10 and arriving 18:45 (domestic flights may change).
Day 7Istanbul – Bangkok
Visit Taksim Square, the heart of modern Istanbul and the start of one of its main shopping and cultural streets, with the Republic Monument built in 1928 and a water distribution point dating to Sultan Mahmud I in 1732. Then enjoy free time to relax and shop.
- 12:00: head to Istanbul Airport (IST); check-in at 13:30.
- 16:30: fly to Bangkok on TG901, about 8 hours 50 minutes.
Day 8Arrival in Bangkok
Arrive safely at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) at 05:20.
Included
- Round-trip international economy flights as specified in the program
- Economy domestic flight (flights may change as appropriate)
- Baggage allowance on international and domestic economy flights, checked and carry-on, under airline conditions
- Transport and sightseeing with an experienced driver
- Accommodation as specified, two guests per room
- Entrance fees as specified in the program
- Meals as specified in the program
- Experienced local English-speaking guide
- Experienced Thai lecturer and tour leader
- Travel accident insurance (subject to the policy terms)
- Note: Turkey tourist visa fee is waived for Thai passport holders
Not included
- Business Class upgrade and any additional costs for upgrading the cabin
- Extra baggage weight or other costs beyond the airline's standard conditions
- Single room supplement (if you wish to stay alone): 9,500 baht per person
- Personal expenses such as telephone, internet, laundry, minibar, special meals or extra drinks outside the program, passport fees, excess baggage, seat reservations, medical costs for pre-existing conditions, personal portable oxygen cans, and lost luggage or valuables
- Tips for the tour leader, local guide and driver (recommended 60 USD per person)
- 7% VAT, 3% withholding tax and other taxes if a tax invoice is requested
- Fuel surcharges, airport taxes and other costs if the airline or related bodies raise prices
About this tour
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Turkey: The Anatolian Greeks
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