If you have been watching Race Across the World (BBC One, Thursdays at 8pm), the hit BBC series where teams race across continents with no flights and a tight budget, this week's episode takes the teams through Turkey and Georgia. Tbilisi and Istanbul are two of the most distinctive cities on the route and this offer lets you do both properly, with three nights in each, a private guided tour included in Tbilisi and a guided tour of Istanbul's most iconic landmarks.
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, a small country tucked between the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea and the borders of Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The old town is a dense mix of carved wooden balconies, crumbling churches, Persian bathhouses and narrow streets that climb up towards a hilltop fortress.
Three nights at the Qarvasla Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis gives you a well located base in the heart of the city. A private walking and panoramic tour is included, covering the key landmarks and giving you a proper introduction to a city that most people have never visited but rarely forget.
A short flight from Tbilisi brings you into Istanbul, one of the great cities of the world. Built across two continents with the Bosphorus strait running through the middle, it is a city of mosques, markets, palaces and waterfront neighbourhoods that has been at the centre of history for centuries.
Three nights at the Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul on a bed and breakfast basis gives you a comfortable base to explore from. A guided small group tour of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar is included, three of the most visited and most impressive sites in the city all covered in one morning.
Return flights from Dublin to Tbilisi and Istanbul to Dublin with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, private transfer from Tbilisi Airport to Qarvasla Hotel, private guided walking and panoramic tour of Tbilisi for 2 adults, private transfer from Qarvasla Hotel to Tbilisi Airport, private transfer from Istanbul Airport to Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul, guided small group tour of Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar for 2 adults, private transfer from Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul to Istanbul Airport, accommodation throughout as follows: 3 nights at Qarvasla Hotel Tbilisi (bed and breakfast), 3 nights at Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul (bed and breakfast). Flights depart Dublin on 04 September 2026. Price is correct at the time of posting (27 April 2026). Offers are subject to change.
Price from €1,420 per person
An Antarctic expedition cruise is designed to take you beyond simply seeing the continent from a ship. Small inflatable Zodiac boats are used to explore bays, reach remote landing sites and get closer to the ice, wildlife and landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Most journeys are designed to get you somewhere as quickly as possible. The Blue Train does the opposite. Over three days and two nights, it travels roughly 1,600 kilometres between Pretoria and Cape Town, turning the distance between the two cities into an experience in its own right.
Europe is packed with iconic destinations, but some of its most rewarding holidays begin just beyond the well-trodden tourist trail. If you've already ticked off the big-name cities or simply fancy somewhere that feels a little different, there are plenty of places offering beautiful scenery, fascinating history, and memorable food without the queues. From medieval towns on the Adriatic coast to volcanic islands in the Atlantic, these lesser-known corners of Europe prove that sometimes the best trips are the ones you weren't expecting.
Finding your match...