Turkish Delights Tour – 20 days, 19 nights

Experience Real Turkish Life and Meet the Locals
This is the best! Sail on a gulet, see the ancient sites and visit a Turkish family. All this plus Gallipoli and Cappadocia.

This tour has everything! See all the sights in Istanbul and cruise the beautiful Bosphorus! Then visit the battlefields of Gallipoli before enjoying the unique experience of staying in a Turkish village – meet the real Turkey! On to Ephesus and Pamukkale before boarding your gulet for a cruise around the Sapphire Coast. Sail over a sunken city in Kekova and see Lydian caves. The ancient ruins of Aspendos and Side then await you! Drive on to Anatolia to for 2 nights in Cappadocia – glide over the landscape in a balloon at sunrise and see underground cities! Back by flight to Istanbul for a free day to relax and shop before your flight out. This is the pick of them!

Day by Day Itinerary
EXPAND DESCRIPTIONS
DAY 1 - Arrive in Istanbul
Transfer to your hotel. Dinner in local restaurant. Evening in Istanbul
DAY 2 - Istanbul Old City Tour
Visit ;Hagia Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque, Byzantine Hippodrome with its Obelisks, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. Dinner at famous lively Kumkapi Fish area with gypsy music. Evening in Istanbul.
DAY 3 - Bosphorus Cruise Tour
Free morning and afternoon private cruise tour on the amazing Bosphorus. Evening in Istanbul.
DAY 4 - Travel to Canakkale/Gallipoli Tour
Check-out and travel to Gallipoli. Lunch on arrival in Eceabat. After lunch visit Anzac Cove, original tunnels and trenches at Johnston Jolly, The Nek Cemetery, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Brighton Beach. Dinner in a horbourside restaurant in Canakkale. Evening in Canakkale.
DAY 5 - Troy & pergamon Tour/ To Turkish Village
Early morning departure for Troy & Pergamon before arrivingat the Turkish Village of Gokkaya. Meet our hosts and setle in! Enjoy cooking the evening meal with your hosts.
Evening in the village.
DAY 6 - Turkish Village Activities
Out into the fields by tractor to take part in harvesting of fruits in season and learn about Turkish Culture first hand! Visit to a local market and evening bBQ with local musicians at nearby mountain. Evening in the village.
DAY 7 - Ephesus
Farewell our village hosts to drive via the ruins od Sardis and lovely Stone village of Odemis. After lunch drive on to Selcuk. Evening in Selcuk.
DAY 8 - Ephesus Ancient City Tour
Visit to the House of Virgin Mary, the City of Ephesus, Temple of Artemis and Ephesus Museum. Afternoon visit Greek Village of Sirince. Evening in Selcuk
DAY 9 - Pamukkale & Hierapolis
Drive to Pamukkale. Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis with its Temple of Apollo, the Theatre, Necropolis and baths of Hierapolis Antique City. Finally visit the calcium terraces and pools. Evening in Pamukkale.
DAY 10 - Fethiye to Olympos (Demre) Gulet Cruise
Early departure to travel to Fethiye. Embark on your gulet and cruise to Samanlik Bay for swimming, lunch or depending on the sea conditions to Butterfly Valley. A swim and optional visit of this natural reserve, hosting 136 kinds of different butterflies and moths. Afterwards we cruise to Oludeniz (The Blue Lagoon) again sea conditions permitting. Option for paragliding available. Last stop of the day is St.Nicholas Island with its Byzantine ruins. Chance for swimming followed by dinner on board.
DAY 11 - Fethiye to Olympos (Demre) Gulet Cruise
Around sunrise departure to Aquarium or Firnaz Bay near Kalkan for breakfast and a swim. Cruising to Kas where we stop in the harbour for lunch and visit this charming fishing village. Kas was once known as ancient Antiphellos of which Lycian rock tombs, sarcophagi and Roman theatre are now left. But the charm of the town remains! In a bay near Kekova we stop for swimming and diner on board.
DAY 12 - Fethiye to Olympos (Demre) Gulet Cruise
Around sunrise departure to Aquarium or Firnaz Bay near Kalkan for breakfast and a swim. Cruising to Kas where we stop in the harbour for lunch and visit this charming fishing village. Kas was once known as ancient Antiphellos of which Lycian rock tombs, sarcophagi and Roman theatre are now left. But the charm of the town remains! In a bay near Kekova we stop for swimming and diner on board.
DAY 13 - Antalya
After breakfast we have a look at the Pirates Cave (sea conditions permitting) before cruising to Andriace harbour. Drive to Antalya. Evening in Antalya.
DAY 14 - Perge,Aspendos,Side Tour
Visit Perge Ancient City, Greco-Roman Amphitheater at Aspendos, Side, Agora, the Gymnasium, the Apollo Temple. Evening in Antalya.
DAY 15 - Cappadocia via Konya
Depart from Antalya fort he morning drive to Konya where we stop for lunch. A visit to Mevlana Museum before driving to the area known as Cappadocia. Evening in Goreme.
DAY 16 - South Cappadocia Tour
Visit Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, lunch break in Belisirma Village by the river. After lunch visit Selime, panoramic viewing point and then Agzikarahan, a 13th Century Seljuk Karavansaray on the silk road. Dinner in an authentic Anatolian Restaurant. Evening in Goreme.
DAY 17 - North Cappadocia Tour
Visit Devrent Valley and Pasabaglari Fairy Chimneys, Avanos, Uchisar Castle, Pigeon Valley and Esentepe for a panoramic view of Goreme Valley. Finally Goreme Open Air Museum. Evening Folk Dance Dinner Show. Evening in Cappadocia.
DAY 18 - Flight to Istanbul
Return to Istanbul on the morning flight. Transfer to hotel for check in and relax after your journey. Evening in Istanbul
DAY 19 - Free Day in Istanbul
Free day in Istanbul before our farewell dinner. Evening in Istanbul.
DAY 20 - Departure
Breakfast,check-out and transfer to International Airport for departure.

* Airport transfers on tour
* Hotel accommodation
* Internal flight tickets
* Confortable Air Conditioned quality Mini Bus
* TURSAB qualified guide fort he whole of your tour – 17 Days
* Entrance Fees
* Meals as per İtinerary (B:Breakfast, L:Lunch, D:Dinner)
* Local taxes
*Private Bosphorus Tour
*Travel Insurance while on tour
*HOTELS
5 x Nights (Ayasofya Hotel or similar) – Istanbul
1 Night (Grand Anzac Hotel or similar) – Canakkale
2 Nights (Village Home Stay)
2 Nights (Kalehan Hotel or similar) -Selcuk
1 Night (Pam Thermal Hotel or similar) – Pamukkale
3 Nights (Gulet Cruise)
2 Nights (Alp Pasa Hotel or similar) – Antalya
3 Nights (Stone House Cave Hotel or similar) – Goreme

 

*Meals and drinks other than specified
*Drinks
*Optional activities ie Sunrise Balloon Flight
*Items of a personal nature while travelling

Payment Terms:
Upon booking a non refundable deposit of 20% is required and balance of final payment one month prior to arrival in Istanbul by credit card or bank transfer.

Cancellation Policy:
*Cancellation after booking received – retention of 20% non refundable deposit.
*After one month prior to arrival we reserve the right for a further charge of 20% of cost of tour.