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Fascinating Turkey Tour (13 Days)
Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
Highlights: Istanbul, Bosphorus, Ephesus, Aphrodisias,
Pamukkale, Didyma, Miletos, Priene, Dalyan, Fethiye, Xantos, Letoon, Kas,
Myra, Olympos, Perge, Aspendos, Side,
Departure Dates: Everyday (Only on private basis)
Note: All Turkey tour packages are modular and you can
use these itineraries as a starting point and we can help modify this itineraries
to accommodate your personal requirements and desires to find your perfect
holiday.
DAY 01 – Arrival in Istanbul
On your arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your
hotel with the remainder of day at your leisure to explore city or relax
before your tour commences.
DAY 02 – Historical Istanbul Sightseeing Tour
After breakfast at hotel meet with the guide to depart on the full day regular
group tour to explore some of the most important sights in Istanbul. Visit
the Blue Mosque, the St Sophia, Hippodrome and Obelisk, Grand Bazaar and
Topkapi Palace (excluding optional extra entrance to Harem room). Today
tour wil be completed with a visit to Rustem Pasha Mosque. After the tour,
return to hotel with the evening then at leisure.
DAY 03 – Bosphorus Cruise & Dolmabahce Palace Tour
This morning you will drive Eminonu Port to board the regular city boat
for a 2 hour Bosphorous Cruise. Enjoy this relaxing cruise along the shoreline
while your guide explains to you the history of sights seen while onboard.
We then continue on land to visit the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace and
then also visit Camlica Hill.
DAY 04 – Drive to Gallipoli / Gallipoli (WWI) Battlefields Tour
Early morning drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula along the Thracian coastline
viewing the countryside and villages on the European soil of Turkey. Lunch
en- route at Tekirdag. Arriving to the Battlefields and fully guided tour
of Anzac Cove, Brighton Beach, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, The Nek, trenches,
Simpson's Cemetery then across the Dardanelles Strait by ferryboat to Canakkale
and overnight at hotel.
DAY 05 – Troy & Pergamum Tour / Drive to Kusadasi
After check-out you will visit Ancient Troy and see the current excavations,
9 layers of old cities, the Trojan Horse, and you will hear and see from
your guides remaining of the Trojan War. Then the day will continue with
a drive to Pergamum. After lunch start the tour of Pergamum with the Acropolis,
the Steepest Theatre of the ancient world, Temple of Trojan, the library,
Asclepion, the ancient medical centre, the oldest known hospital in the
world. At the conclusion of your day of sightseeing, you will be driven
to the hotel for your stay in Kusadasi.
DAY 06 – Ephesus Ancient City Tour
Check out and transfer to airport for 65 min flight to Izmir. On your arrival,
you will be met and start the tour to Ephesus; one of the grandest cities
in the Roman world. Drive to Meryemana and visit the house of Virgin Mary.
Continue to Ephesus the Capital of Asia Minor. Visit the ruins of Odeon,
herculas gate, the temple of Hadrian, the magnificent library, Agora and
fantastic Greco Roman theatre. After the tour, you will be transferred to
your hotel.
DAY 07 – Aphrodisias & Pamukkale Tour
Early in the morning you will depart from your hotel and travel to Aphrodisias,
city of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of Love. After the guided tour of Aphrodisias,
your next stop will be the Hierapolis Ancient City, which houses Pamukkale
‘’Cotton Castle’’. This natural phenomenon leaves thick white layers of
limestone and travertine cascading down the mountain slope, which resemble
a frozen waterfall. There will be free time to walk on the terraces (where
allowed), after which you will be returned to your hotel.
DAY 08 – Diyma, Miletos, Priene Tour
Your guide will meet you to begin your travel to Dalyan which is located
on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. On the way you will have stops for
three ancient Hellenic cities of Miletos, Priene and Didyma. During the
drive you will have the chance to view the wonders that the Turkish coastline
has to offer, with rolling mountain sides. Tonight your overnight stay will
be in Dalyan.
DAY 09 – Boat Cruise on Dalyan River
After check-out, you will begin the Dalyan Caunos tour with a boat ride
which will take you down the meandering Dalyan river delta, twisting and
turning through thick vegetation which is overlooked by the 4th century
BC Lycian rock cut tombs. It is also is the protected breeding ground of
the Caretta Caretta, Loggerhead turtle. After a lunch break at a riverside
restaurant, you will visit the mud baths of Dalyan which can only be reached
by boat from the harbour. "Beauty Mud" not only cleanses the skin
but is said to remedy rheumatism and has anti-ageing properties. After returning
back to Dalyan you continue on land to Fethiye for your overnight stay.
DAY 10 – Xantos, Letoon & Patara Tour
Today you will begin the tour with a visit to Xantos which has been listed
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. After a 15 minute drive you
will reach ancient Letoon, which was the sacred cult centre of Lycia and
its most important sanctuary. Following a lunch break, you will continue
to the beautiful 12 km-long Patara Beach, voted one of the top beaches in
the world by ‘’Times Online - Best of 2005’’, also the birthplace of St.
Nicholas. The day will continue with a drive along the famous “Turquoise
Coast’’ to reach the small fishing village of Kas where you will spend your
evening.
DAY 11 – Kekova Sunken City Tour & Myra
After an hour journey to Ucagiz, you will take a glass bottom boat and cruise
around the shores of Kekova Island giving you a chance to see the ruins
of a sunken city. You will also visit Simena castle and have lunch in a
restaurant on the water. On the way to Myra Ancient City where the Lycian
rock tombs are, you will have a short visit to the church of St Nicholas.
You will depart Myra to arrive in Antalya for your overnight stay.
DAY 12 – Mediterenian Jewels Tour
Today will be filled with the sites of the Mediterranean, starting with
a leisurely visit to Perge, an important city of ancient Pamphylia, originally
settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. It is also the location where St.
Paul made his first missionary journey. From here, to Aspendos, which plays
host to one of the best preserved Roman theatres in Anatolia. After a lunch
break by the river, visit ‘’Side’’ which is one of the best-known classical
sites in Turkey with an ancient harbor and sandy beaches. After the tour,
you will take the flight back to Istanbul.
DAY 13 – Departure
After you have checked-out from your hotel, we will arrange for the transfer
to Istanbul International Airport for your return or onward flight.