20 Days Turkey Tour with Blue Cruise

20 days

Duration

Highlights : Istanbul, Galipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukklae, Kusadası, Fethiye, Kalkan, Kas, Kekova, Olympos, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia

What is Included:

Domestic flights
Mentioned hotels
Mentioned meals, B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner
Air-conditioned transport
Professional English speaking tour guide
All entrance fees mentioned in the Itinerary
Mentioned transfers

Not included :
Drinks, tips to guide and driver, personal expenses and optional tours

20 Days Turkey Tour with Blue Cruise

Day 1- Istanbul

After arrival at Istanbul Airport, we will pick you up from airport and transfer you to your hotel, free time and overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2- Istanbul- Walking City Tour ( B / L)

We pick you up from your hotel in the morning then start our tour in Sultanahmet, the heart of old Istanbul, where the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires were ruled.

Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest marvels of architecture, constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian.Built in 537 by Byzantine Emperor Justinianus, St.Sophia has been the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years; it is considered the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture;after having been the Patriarchal basilica of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II the Conqueror and into a museum by Atataürk in 1935.

Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of the city. It is the only imperial mosque with six minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet. The last great imperial mosque of the classical period; its name comes from 20.000 marvellous blue-toned Iznik tiles decorating the interior walls.

Hippodrome was the centre of sportive (chariot races, athletics) events and political activities of the old city. Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, German Fountain of Wilhelm II are the monuments decorating Hippodrome.

Grand Bazaar is the largest covered narket in the world with more than 60 streets and 4.000 shops, where you may find in a authentic oriental atmosphere all kind of gifts, leather clothing,rugs and kilims, antiques,jewellery,hand-woven fabrics etc…

Topkapı Palace – this extraordinary palace was the residence of the Imperial Ottoman Sultans and the center of the Ottoman might for nearly 400 years. The buildings are a typical example of Ottoman architecture and the rooms exhibit rich collections of porcelains, robes, weapons, shields, armour, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts as well as Ottoman treasures, jewellery and the sacred Islamic relics of Prophet Mohammed.

Note: Monday: Hagia Sophia closed, replaced with Chora Museum,

Tuesday: Topkapı Palace closed , replaced with Turkish and Islamic art museum

Sunday: Grand Bazaar closed.

Day 3 – Istanbul to Gallipoli ( L )

We will pick you up from your hotel early morning in Istanbul then depart for afternoon tour of Gallipoli. Arrive in Gallipoli, we will have lunch at a good local restaurant then we will visit the World War I battlefields of Gallipoli. Visit the Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, ANZAC Cove, Johnston’s Jolly. Overnight Canakkale or Eceabat.

Day 4 – Troy – Pergamon – Kusadası ( B / L )

After breakfast at your hotel then we will pick you up from your hotel to visit the ancient city of Troy, famous for the legendary Trojan horse from the times of the beautiful Helen, Queen of Sparta, and Paris, the Trojan Prince. After our morning Troy Tour, we will drive to Pergamon, where we will visit Asclepion and Health Centre.

Acropolis, the Red Basilica, Ancient Theatre will be included on our tour.

Arrive Kusadasi or Selcuk. One of our staff will meet on arrival and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Kusadası.

Day 5 – Ephesus Tour ( B / L )

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel and a short scenic drive, visit to the House of Virgin Mary where she is supposed to have spent her last years together with St. John in the vicinity of Ephesus; Then to Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city in Turkey and famous for its Celsius library, great theatre, marble streets, temples, and baths. It has been known throughout history for its temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus is one of the most extensive archaeological sites in the world. We tour this amazing site and wonder at the people who built and walked through this ancient city. After lunch in the town of Selcuk visit St. John’s Basilica and Ephesus Museum. Then drive back to hotel and overnight in Kusadası.

Day 6 – Pamukkale Tour ( B / L )

After breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel. Then driven to Pamukkale which is the center of natural thermal spring waters with healing properties. Pamukkale is one of the most interesting places in the world, justly famous not only for the entrancing beauty of its unique geological formations but also for its historical remains. Due to the limestone properties of the water, pure white colored travertines and stepped water terraces have been created on the mountain slopes. It is called “Cotton Castle” in Turkish because of its fluffy white aspect. Visit the travertines and the Ancient City of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. The sacred pool also is one of the main highlights of the site. There shallow thermal waters ripple over ancient Roman ruins which lie beneath.

End of the tour you will take a bus to Fethiye which will take almost five hours, arrive in Fethiye, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Fethiye.

Day 7- Fethiye,Oludeniz ( B / L / D )

Breakfast at your hotel then our four days and three nights Blue Cruise starts from the harbour of Fethiye.

The Turquoise coast is a place where you can enjoy and experience an exceptional holiday with its history, culture, nature, beaches, historical sites and sea sports.

Departure from Fethiye Harbour between 11 and 12 a.m.Briefing about the route and the boat. Leave from Fethiye Harbour to Samanlik Bay for lunch and swimming depending on the sea conditions.

Butterfly Valley is swimming and hiking stop. It hosts 136 kinds of different butterflies and moths. It is also home to the unique Jersey tiger butterfly, from which it takes its name.

Afterwards we cruise to Oludeniz (The Blue Lagoon), again sea conditions permitting. Optional paragliding available.

Last stop of the day is St.Nicholas Island. Byzantine ruins, swim, dinner. Overnight on the boat under the stars.

Day 8- Kalkan,Kas ( B / L / D )

Around sunrise departure to Aquarium or Firnaz Bay near Kalkan for breakfast and swimming.

We cruise on to Kas where we stop in the harbour for lunch and visit this charming fishing town, ancient Antiphellos, as Kas was once known; now only Lycian rock tombs, sarcophagi and the Roman theatre remain.

You can stroll down Uzun Carsı street to see Lycian King Tomb and take a look at the charming wooden balconies of Kas dripping with colourful flowers. We stop in a bay not far from near Kekova for a swim followed by a dreamy dinner under thousands of stars.

Overnight on boat.

Day 9- Simena,Kekova,Gokkaya Bay ( B/ L/ D )

Cruise to the Sunken City of Kekova (Lycian-Roman archaeological site is now protected, so only looking!). On the Lycian coast the remains of Pagan, Roman, Hellenistic, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations and cultures can be seen not just on land, but also under the sea.

Lunch. Simena, a traditional Turkish fishing village with no car access and Byzantine/Ottoman castle. Beneath the clear waters you can see the remains of Simena, a city ravaged by earthquakes around two thousand years ago. Structural movements of the land over the years have caused some of the ancient houses to be totally submerged while remains of the others are scattered along the shore. In Gokkaya Bay optional water sports are available.

Dinner, relax in this pirates haven or party the night away at the Smugglers Inn.

Overnight on boat.

Day 10- Pirates Cave, Demre, Myra ( B / L )

After breakfast we have a look at the Pirates Cave and snorkeling (sea conditions permitting) before cruising to Andriace harbour for lunch.

Bus transfer to the archaeological site of Myra, and to Demre for the St.Nicholas Church, shopping and banking when requested by our group. Our blue cruise tour finishes in Demre.

After Demre but we will join our tour then transfer you to Olympos to the Tree houses in Olympos where we arrive between 4 and 6 p.m. Overnight in a tree house. Live out every child’s dream and sleep in a tree house on the hillside of Zeus.

Note : Blue Cruise tours are available from 1st of April till 30th of October.

Day 11- Olympos to Antalya ( B )

Breakfast at your tree house in Olympos, you will take a bus to Antalya which will take about an hour and a half. Arrive in Antalya and transfer to your hotel. Free afternoon, you may discover the hidden beauties of Antalya at leisure. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 12- Antalya ( B )

Breakfast at your hotel then free time till afternoon. You will be transferred to bus station to take a bus to Konya which will take under six hours by comfortable, non-smoking , air-conditioned bus. Arrive in Konya, we will meet you at the bus station and transfer to your hotel near the Mevlana Museum.

Day 13- Konya ( B )

After you have your breakfast at your hotel in Konya, it will be your free time to explore the city and its historic sights at leisure. Stroll through the old city and discover Mevlana Museum, the historical market area, shop for souvenirs in the beautiful boutiques selling clothes, spices, souvenirs near Aziziye Mosque.

Konya is located right in the middle of Turkey. Once known as Iconium, Konya is historically and religiously significant on several counts: it was one of the missionary destinations of St. Paul, the capital of the Seljuk empire from 1150 to 1300 and was the home of Rumi (Mevlana), the Sufi saint who founded the Whirling Dervishes. The Mevlevi sema is the Sufi worship ceremony in which the Mevlevi dervishes whirl in their quest for mystical union with the Divine. The Mevlana Museum shelters the tomb of Jelaleddin Rumî (1207-1273), known to his followers as Mevlana (or Rumî), a Muslim poet and mystic and one of the great spiritual thinkers and teachers of all time.

You should taste the world famous ‘Etli Ekmek’ (Turkish pizza) and ‘Fırın Kebabı’ (oven-baked kebab). Konya cuisine has made great contributions to Turkish cuisine, try the local specialities.

We will transfer you to bus station to take a bus to Cappadocia which will take almost four hours. Arrive in Cappadocia and transfer to your cave hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 14: Cappadocia – Nemrut Mountain ( B/L/D)

We will pick you up from your hotel at 08:30 am. After passing Kayseri, we will visit the 13th century Seljuk Caravansarai “Karatayhan”. Our next stop will be in Pinarbasi to have a cup of tea. Then we will continue driving to Tekir for Lunch. After taking pictures of the gorgeous scenery of the Tekir Valley we will drive to Kahta and check-in to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Kahta

Day 15: Nemrut – Sanliurfa-Harran ( B / L / D )

We will depart from your hotel early in the morning towards to the ruins. At the end of the road, we will get off the van and walk to the mountain top where we will watch the beautiful sunrise between the gigantic statues and heads of the kings and Gods. After the sunrise, your guide will give you all the information about Commagene Kingdom and the statues. On the way back to hotel we will visit the ruins of the Arsemia Roman bridge of Cendere, Tumulus Tomb of Karakus and the capital of the Commagene Kingdom. After the breakfast, we will drive to Sanliurfa and Harran.

On our way, we will visit the Ataturk Dam which is the biggest dam in the Middle East. Check-in to your hotel in Sanliurfa. After lunch we will visit Abraham’s Cave and the Pools of Holy Carp adjouning it. We will walk around oriental covered bazaar and drive to Harran village of “beehive” houses which mentioned in the book of Genesis and where Abraham spent the last years of his life. After visiting the ruins of Harran including city walls, oldest Islamic university and the castle dated to 18th century, we will drive back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Sanliurfa.

Day 16: Sanliurfa – Cappadocia ( B / L )

After breakfast we will depart from Sanliurfa for Birecik which is famed for its bald-ibis (Kelaynak) birds. These birds only live in Birecik area in the world and their population is very limited. We will visit the breeding farm of Bald Ibis birds. After our lunch, we will drive up to the Taurus Mountains. We will have our lunch break here and drive back to Cappadocia or we can transfer you to Gaziantep Airport then you can fly to Istanbul or back to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 17- North Cappadocia Tour (B / L)

*Balloon Fligh is highly recommended.

Breakfast at your hotel then we will pick you up from your hotel and depart for a full guided day tour of Northern Cappadocia, we will visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, Devrent Valley, Avanos, Pasabag, Cavusin village, Urgup’s Fairy Chimneys. Opportunity to taste a delicious pottery kebab and homemade Cappadocia wine here. End of the tour transfer back to your hotel and stay at a cave hotel in Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 18- South Cappadocia Tour ( B / L )

After breakfast at your hotel departure for your full guided day tour of Southern Cappadocia which begins at Pigeon Valley, where you see thousands of dovecots lining the steep cliffs. A visit to one of the extraordinary underground cities at Derinkuyu where Christians hid in fear and faith. At Selime Village you will be astonished by the beautiful churches carved out of the volcanic tufa rock. Visit Ihlara Valley, the most beautiful gorge in Cappadocia. At the end of the tour we will transfer you to Kayseri Airport for a flight to Istanbul. Arrive in Istanbul, we will transfer you to your hotel in Istanbul.

Day 19- Istanbul – Bosphorus & Two Continents Tour ( B / L )

After breakfast, pick up from hotel and a short visit to 17th century Spice Market one of the most colourful bazaars with different fragrances of various spices and herbs. Next we take an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, with wonderful surroundings, palaces, mansions and imposing fortifications. Rumeli Fortress was built by Mehmet the Conqueror to protect and control the Bosphorus. Bosphorus Bridge is a unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another (Asia). During our Bosphorus cruise, from the deck of our boat take in sights and sounds of this legendary waterway, that is lined with ancient villages, mansions, wonderful fishing jetties, without forgetting Beylerbeyi Palace which was used as a summer residence of the Ottoman sultans with its original furniture and elegant gardens .Camlıca Hill, the highest point of Istanbul. At the top of the hill you can stop and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens. After a stop to taste Turkish coffee, you will be transferred to your hotel . Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 20- Istanbul ( B )

After breakfast, our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and depending on your international flight schedule we transfer you to airport and say ” have a good flight ”.