Tour Information

long road trip visiting almost all important sites of Turkey through a 14-day trip with a licensed English speaking driver/guide

Day 1: Departure from Istanbul and Gallipoli Tour: You will be picked up from your hotel at around 07:00 and drive to Eceabat which takes about 5 hours, stopping on the way for a small breakfast. Upon your arrival, you will have lunch at a restaurant and start the tour of Gallipoli. You will visit: Kabatepe War Museum, Beach Cemetery (John Simpson´s Grave), ANZAC Cove, Ari Burnu (First ANZAC landing place), Lone Pine Cemetery (Australian memorial), Johnston´s Jolly (Walk in the ANZAC trenches), View Shrapnel Valley, Turkish Memorial, The Nek and Walker´s Ridge, Chunuk Bair (Main New Zealand memorial). After the tour, you will cross the Dardanelles on the ferry and check into your hotel. Accommodation in Canakkale. (breakfast and lunch included) 

 

Day 2: Troy and Pergamum Tour: You will depart from your hotel at around 09:00 for the tour of Troy Ancient City. It is one of the most important ancient cities in the world and very popular by the book of Homer´s Iliad. A great mythological and historical background attracted many scientist, archeologists, adventurers and treasure hunters. You will be served a lunch pack and then drive to Pergamon, once the ancient world´s major power and center of learning and the arts. Visit the ancient Library, once held 200.000 books, Temple of Athena, Temple of Trajan, Altar of Zeus and the Gymnasium situated on terraces and the lower Agora. Afterwards, you will drive to Kusadasi, where you will stay overnight. Accommodation in Kusadasi. (Breakfast and lunch included) 

 

Day 3: Ephesus Ancient City and Virgin Mary's House Tour: You will be picked up from your hotel at 09:00, and start driving for Selcuk (Ephesus). Upon your arrival, you will have a short stop for breakfast at Selcuk, then start the tour of Ephesus Ancient City and Virgin Mary´s House Tour. You will visit Temple of Artemis (Diana), the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, Ephesus which is known to be the Commercial, the Religious and the Social Center of Antiquity, and one of the Highlights of any visit in Turkey; Terrace Houses, where the residences of the wealthy Ephesians are located. After lunch we will visit House of Virgin Mary, probably where She spent recent years of Her life; Isa Bey Mosque, this impressive mosque from XIV. Century A.D. is unlike any other you will see in this country. After the tour, you will drive to Kusadasi, where you will stay overnight. Accommodation in Kusadasi. (breakfast & lunch on the tour)

 

Day 4: Priene, Miletus and Didyma Ancient Cities Tour: You will depart from your hotel at around 09:00 and drive to Priene. This was once a harbor city but is now located 16 km inland from the sea on the hills of the Mykale Mountain. It has many examples of Hellenic art and architecture. The theatre in Priene is one of the most beautiful ones from The Hellenic World. The Athena Polias Temple was reconstructed by Alexander The Great as a gift to the city. After Priene, you will depart for Miletos. Visit the ancient city of Miletus which once was one of the biggest cities in Anatolia. It was located on the trade routes and it was for this reason that it became very prosperous and had many colonies. Lunch break and then visit to Didyma. This was not a city but a temple dedicated to Apollo. It was once one of the biggest temples in the Hellenic World. After the tour, you will start driving for Pamukkale to stay overnight, which takes around 3 hours. You will arrive at around 19:30 and check into your hotel. Accommodation in Pamukkale. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

 

Day 5: Pamukkale Travertines and Hierapolis Ancient City Tour: You will depart from your hotel at around 09:00, and you will visit Hierapolis Ancient City & Pamukkale Travertines, which is the center of natural thermal spring waters with healing properties. Due to the chemical properties in the water, pure white colored travertines and stepped water terraces have been created on the mountain slope. It is for its resemblance to cotton piles that it is called ´Cotton Castle´ in Turkish. You will visit the travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. Also, The Sacred Pool is one of the highlights of the site, where you can have a chance to swim in the thermal waters, with a fee of 10 Euro  person self-payment (have your own swimsuits and towels ready if you wish to swim in the pools). There shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath. After swimming break, you will have lunch at a restaurant, then start driving for Fethiye, which takes around 3,5 hours. You will check into your hotel and stay overnight.  Accommodation in Fethiye. (breakfast&dinner at hotel, lunch on the tour)

 

Day 6: Dalyan Boat Trip: You will depart from your hotel at 08:30, and drive to Dalyan docks to get on the boat for a cruise on Dalyan River, departing at around 10:30. You will sail to Dalyan Mud Baths and stop for about an hour, where the muds here are believed to have Therapeutic effects for rheumatism, sciatica and stomach problems and have beautifying effects on the skin since ancient times. You cover yourself in mud and let it dry for a couple of minutes. Then you get in the sulphur pool to wash away the mud. You would feel it’s rejuvenating effects and it surely is, a great chance for hilarious snapshots. Then you continue sailing along the river and stop at Koycegiz Lake for about an hour for swimming. After break, you will continue sailing and stop for lunch break at a restaurant by the river. After lunch, you will sail to Iztuzu Beach (Turtle Beach), one of the few Caretta Caretta Turtles’ nesting sites in the world and world famous beach. You will have a chance to swim in saltwater on one side, and fresh water on the other side of this beach. You may also have a chance to see the turtles if you are lucky enough. After about 2 hours’ stop here, you will sail to Caunos Ancient City, visiting the site and view the King Tombs carved into the rocks, after stopping here for about an hour, you will sail back to the docks and get on the vehicle to drive back to Fethiye. Accommodation in Fethiye. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

 

Day 7: Drive to Antalya: You will depart from your hotel at around 08:30, then you will start driving for Antalya by the Mediterranean coastline. On the way, your first stop will be Xanthos, the biggest governmental center of Lycia in the ancient times; and Letoon, the biggest Lycian religious city, with its temples to Artemis, Apollo and their mother Leto (with the biggest temple to her built here). Also, the city gets its name from her. After your visits, you will continue driving and stop at Kaputas Beach for about an hour, one of the best beaches Turkey, with its turquoise clear waters. After swimming stop, you will continue driving passing through Kas and stopping at Demre to visit Myra Ancient City, one of the most important cities of Lycia in terms of religion and government. It kept its importance in the Christian times as well. Also, this is the home city of St. Nicholaus, whose name later evolved and formed the image of Santa Claus as we know today. You will have lunch break in Demre, then continue driving for about 1,5 hour, arriving at Kemer Phaselis Ancient City, the most important harbor city of Lycian east coast with its 3 harbors and the most important trading hub between Egypt, Asia and Greece. After your visit, you will drive to Antalya city center and checkin at your hotel. Accommodation in Antalya. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

 

Day 8: Perge, Aspendos, Side Tour: You will depart from your hotel at around 08:30 and visit Perge, the place where most of the statues that are on display in Antalya Museum were unearthed. Perge is the most important antique cities of Pamphilia Region where is originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. The theater stage has finely carved marble reliefs and other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium. Amateur archaeologists will want to see the handsome city gate flanked by two lofty towers, a long colonnaded road once paved with mosaics and lined with shops, a large agora, the public baths and a gymnasium. Then proceed to Aspendos, which has a capacity of 15,000 people and bears one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Anatolia. It is located beside the river Eurymedon (Koprucay). The beautiful galleries of the theater, stage decorations and most important of all the acoustic of the theater reflects the talent of architect Zenon. Besides the theatre are temples, monumental fountain, basilica, agora, bouleuterion, stadium and aqueducts in Aspendos. The most important art is the Theater, which has been restored by Seljuks in 13 th century A.D. but was used as a caravanserai. By Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's order, now it is being used as a museum and attracts a lot of tourists all the year round. Cultural activities and festivals are held in Aspendos every year in Summer.

After lunch by Koprupazari Stream, you will visit to Side. Side is one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey. It was an ancient harbor whose name meant pomegranate. Today a pretty resort town with its ancient ruins, two sandy beaches, numerous shops and extensive tourist accommodation attract hundreds of visitors. Free time in Side, and a visit to Kursunlu Waterfalls on the way back to Antalya, arriving at around 18:00. Accommodation in Antalya. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

 

Day 9: Drive to Konya and Konya Tour: You will depart from your hotel at around 07:00 and depart for Konya, which takes around 4,5 hours’ drive, stopping on the way for breakfast. Upon your arrival in Konya at around noon, you will have lunch first, then you will visit the Tomb of Rumi in the Museum of Mevlana, an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims. Then, we visit the Ottoman-era Sultan Selim mosque. Then you will drive to Alaeddin Hill (a prehistoric tumulus) to visit the 1000-year-old Alaeddin Mosque. In its courtyard are the tombs of many of the Seljuk Turkish sultans. Walking down the north side of the Alaeddin Hill we pass the remains of the Seljuk sultan's palace, then cross the street for a view of the elaborate portal of the Ince Minareli Madrasah, the theological college. After the tour, you will drive to your hotel to spending the evening for resting. Accommodation in Konya. (breakfast on the way, lunch on the tour)

 

Day 10: Drive to Cappadocia and Cappadocia Tour: You will depart from your hotel at around 08:30, then start driving for Cappadocia, which takes around 4 hours’ drive, stopping on the way at the Seljukian SultanHan Caravanserai. Upon your arrival at Cappadocia, you will stop for lunch then visit Ihlara Canyon, enjoying a pleasant and easy 4km hike through this sheer-sided, lush canyon with a beautiful stream running all the way through. Then you will see Narli Gol (the volcanic crater lake) and Kaymakli Underground City, the largest underground city in the region. After your visits, you will drive to Urgup and check-in at your hotel. Accommodation in Cappadocia. (breakfast at hotel lunch on the tour)

 

Day 11: Cappadocia Tour: You will depart from your hotel at around 09:00 and you will visit Devrent Imagination Valley and walk through this lunar landscape. Next, visit Zelve Open Air Museum, where you will witness houses carved into the rocks, a Seljukian mosque as well as traces of most, if not all, ancient civilizations, Pasabaglari (the world-famous Fairy Chimneys), the village of Avanos, where you will witness a Pottery-making demonstration using ancient Hittite techniques, lunch in a local restaurant, Uchisar Rock-Castle, (the highest point in the region, Esentepe (a panoramic view of Goreme valley) and Goreme Open Air Museum (Rock-cut churches, frescoes, monastery). After the tour, you will drive back to your hotel. Accommodation in Cappadocia. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

 

Day 12: Hattusas Tour: Your guide will pick you up from your hotel at around 08:30, and start driving for Hattusas, which takes around 3 hours. Upon arrival, you will start visiting Hattusas which was the capital of the Hittite Kingdom for a long time. Before visiting the main capital, you will proceed to Yazılıkaya to see the open air sanctuary as the sunlight comes on the bas-reliefs direct in the morning. You will get your lunch in a local restaurant. After the lunch, you will visit the archaeological site of Hattusas, former capital of the Hittite Empire which is notable for its urban organization, the types of construction that have been preserved (temples, royal residences, fortifications), the rich ornamentation of the Lions' Gate and the Royal Gate and Tunnel. After the tour, you will start driving for Ankara, the capital city of Turkey, which takes around 2,5 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, you will check into your hotel. Accommodation in Ankara. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

 

Day 13: Ankara Tour: You will depart from your hotel at around 09:30 and start the tour of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with its Neolithic, Hittite, Urartian and Phrygian works of art. Just up the hill from the museum, you'll visit the Citadel, and then, down the hill near Ulus Square, the ruins of the Roman Temple of Augustus and Rome. Last stop is the Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the national hero who founded the Turkish Republic. After the tour, you will have lunch and start driving for Safranbolu, which takes around 3 hours’ drive. Upon arrival, you will check into your hotel. Accommodation in Safranbolu. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

 

Day 14: Safranbolu Tour: You will have a half-day tour around the town of Safranbolu, which gets its name from the saffron flowers cultivated here (only cultivation area in Turkey), an important trading center and caravanserai in the old east-west trade route and famous for its Ottoman houses still standing to date. You will go up to Hidirlik Hill to get a good view of the town. Then you will go down and visit Kaymakamlar Museum, in which you can get information about the history of the town and the structure and architecture of the Ottoman Houses of Safranbolu. Then you will walk through the handicraft bazaars of the town, and visit Cinci Han Caravanserai (serves as events venue, hotel and café today) and the Cinci Turkish Bath, where you can have the Turkish Bath experience if you would like (use of the bath is at your own expense). You will have lunch at a local restaurant, then start driving for Istanbul, which takes around 5,5 hours. Then you will be dropped off at your hotel in Sultanahmet. Accommodation in Istanbul. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

 

Further or prior arrangements can be made upon request in Istanbul and in other parts of Turkey.

 

The price is 8500 Eur per person, including:

 

  • 1 night’s BB accommodation in double room at Akol Hotel in Canakkale (www.hotelakol.com.tr)
  • 2 night’s BB accommodation in double room at Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel in Kusadasi (www.ilaydaavantgarde.com)
  • 1 night’s HB accommodation in double room at Richmond Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale (http://bit.ly/1zyNNkY)
  • 2 nights’ BB accommodation in double room at Yacht Boutique Hotel in Fethiye (www.yachthotelturkey.com)
  • 2 nights’ BB accommodation in double room at Aspen Hotel in Antalya (www.aspenhotel.com.tr)
  • 1 night’s BB accommodation in double room at Hich Hotel in Konya (https://hichhotel.com/)