Turquoise Turkey Holiday Package (16 Days & 15 Nights)
Highlights: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pergamum, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pamukkale, Didyma, Miletos, Priene, Dalyan, Fethiye, Kas, Antalya
Operates: May 01st / October 15th - Only on private basis
Package Rate: Please fill the form and tell us your travel dates & choice of hotels
Optional Tours: Turkish Bath (Hamam), Hot Air Balloon, Whirling Dervishes Performance
Note: Turquoise Turkey holiday package is insuranced by TURSAB (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies)
Day 1 Arrival in Istanbul
Upon arrival to Istanbul Ataturk Airport & clearing customs, you will be met by one of our staff at the exit gate of arrivals hall & transfer to your hotel. If time allows, you will have an orientation walk with one of our guides around Sultanahmet by evening.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 Istanbul Sightseeing Tour
We will leave hotel in the morning to visit the spectacular Blue Mosque decorated with beautiful 17th century Iznik tiles. Then stroll around the historical Hippodrome where chariot races were once held. Continue with the Hagia Sophia / St. Sophia Museum. An early Christian church, later converted to a mosque under Ottoman rule. This magnificent temple now serving as a museum with all the artifacts from the Byzantine era intact is especially famous for its mosaics. After lunch break, we continue driving across the first Bosphorus Bridge and head for the summit of Camlica Hill, which offers 360° panoramic views of Istanbul overlooking the Sea of Marmara. Driving back to Europe over the Bosphorus Bridge, we visit Dolmabahce Palace, with more than 340 rooms and eight Turkish Baths the Imperial Residence of the last six Sultans, is sure to fascinate its visitors. End of the tour you will be transferred back to your hotel with evening at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3 Bosphorus Cruise & Topkapi Palace Tour
Breakfast at hotel, then meet your guide at hotel lobby for a short drive to Spice Market, Egyptian Bazaar heaped with various sweets and spices is one of the world’s largest spice bazaars since 1665. Soon after, we embark on the Bosphorus ferry for an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia. Winding between green hills, it is lined with mosques, castles, 19th century mansions, picturesque villages and the extravagant baroque palaces of the late Ottoman Sultans. After lunch break in the afternoon, we will visit the Topkapi Palace Museum, the residence of the legendary Ottoman Sultans. It consists of several exhibition halls, such as the treasury, the porcelain section, armoury, holy relics. Visit to Harem section is also included. We will complete this historical day with a visit to the Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi). Return to hotel with evening at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4 Flight to Cappadocia / North Cappadocia Tour
Early breakfast and check-out from hotel, transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for Kayseri flight. On your arrival to Kayseri Airport, you will be met by your tour guide at the domestic terminal exit gate for transfer to Urgup (1hr). A unique experience in Cappadocia is to stay in a hotel room, which was carved in the landscape centuries or possibly 3000 years ago by its inhabitants. Start with a gentle hike through orchards, unusual volcanic rock formations, rock-cut houses at Red Valley and (Pasabagi) where you will find the world known fairy chimneys. Visit the old Christian Village of Cavusin, followed by lunch break and then an excursion to Pigeon Valley. Then continue on to Goreme Open-Air Museum where you will visit the numerous rock carved churches, monasteries decorated with striking frescoes from early Christianity. Our last stop for the day will be the panoramic viewpoint offering spectacular views of the landscape from the natural rock castle at Uchisar. Overnight in Cappadocia
Day 5 South Cappadocia Tour
After breakfast, another full day tour this time to visit the famous Derinkuyu Underground City, we'll walk through the underground city of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu, where an entire community of Christians lived in a system of subterranean caves and tunnels for centuries without being noticed. Afterwards a short hike through the green Ihlara Valley along the stream and visiting some of the churches dug into the walls of the gorge. Stop in Belisirma village for lunch break and then continue on to Selime for a panoramic view. Our last stop will be at the Agzikarahan Caravanserai built by the Seljuk Turks to accommodate travellers on the ancient Silk Road. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 6 Flight to Izmir / Pergamum Tour
Early breakfast & check out from hotel, transfer to Kayseri Airport for Izmir flight. On your arrival to Kayseri Airport, you will be met by your tour guide at the domestic terminal exit gate and drive north from Kusadasi to the Asian Pergamum (Bergama) Ruins (1.5hrs), the most favoured of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Christianity reached the city of Pergamum very early and this particular church was praised for its forbearance during hard times. It was here in Pergamum, that the first Christians were executed by Romans. You will see the Acropolis of the Hellenistic City of Pergamum, located 1,000 feet above town, as well as the Altar of Zeus, the Temples of Trojan, Dionysus. Following lunch break, we will go on to Asclepion the first healing centre in the world where Galen taught and finally we will visit the Red Basilica which was dedicated to Egyptian Gods: Serapes, Isis and Harpocrates, Red Basilica was also one of the 7 Churches of the Revelation. After the tour we will drive to Kusadasi. Check in to hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 7 Ephesus Tour
After breakfast at hotel, drive to visit the Ancient City of Ephesus which is among the best places in the world enabling one to genuinely 'soak in' the atmosphere of Roman times and one of the best preserved Greco-Roman Cities in the world. Soon you'll find yourself on the marble sacred street connecting the Great Theater with the library of Celsus, the facade of which has been fully restored. agora, connected to the library square by the Gate of Augustus, beautiful side walks for pedestrians paved with mosaics, private hill houses, Temple of Hadrian, little shops, state agora are just a few of the places we will see. Lunch break can be given before or after visiting Ephesus. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 8 Aphrodisias & Pamukkale Tour
Early in the morning we will depart from hotel and drive for 1.5 hours to reach Aphrodisias. As its name implies, it was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of Love. The city was founded in the second century B.C. on the site of a rural sanctuary of Aphrodite. The city was built near a marble quarry, which was extensively exploited in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and sculptors in marble from Aphrodisias became famous in the Roman world. After lunch we will continue tha day with visit to Pamukkale. The hot springs at Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, are in south-western Turkey. It is some 2,700 meters long and 160 meters high and can be seen from a great distance. Every second, 250 liters of hot water rises from the spring. The water contains large amounts of hydrogen carbonate and calcium, which merge to form calcium bi-carbonate. 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). Then we will drive back to our hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 9 Didyma, Miletos & Priene Tour
Check out from hotel and meeting with your guide & drive to Priene. This was once a harbour city but is now located 16 km inland from the sea on the hills of the Mykale Mountain. Alexander The Great lived in this city for a time and reconstructed the Athena Polias Temple as a gift to the city. The theatre in Priene is one of the most beautiful ones from the Hellenic World. After Priene, we will depart for Miletos which once was one of the biggest cities in Asia Minor. It was located on the trade routes and it was for this reason that it became very prosperous and had many colonies. Miletos is famous for its genius philosophers and architects, such as Thales, Anaximander’s, Anaksimenes, Hippodamos and Isidoros. Miletos is also famous for the Faustina Baths. Lunch break, then visit to Didyma. This was not a city but a temple dedicated to Apollon. It was once one of the biggest temples in the Hellenic World & was connected to Miletos with a holy road of 19km. After 2.5 hours drive we reach Dalyan. Overnight in Dalyan.
Day 10 Dalyan & Caunos Tour / Travel to Fethiye
Check out from hotel for Dalyan Caunos tour. Dalyan is an area of outstanding natural beauty and historic interest. Also is the protected breeding ground of the Caretta Caretta, Loggerhead turtle. Here, a covered boat will take us down the meandering Dalyan river delta, twisting and turning through thick vegetation which is overlooked by the 4th century BC Lycian rock cut tombs. These Lycian tombs are among the most splendid examples of Lycian type funerary architecture which are sculpted in the form of the porticoes of small Ionic temples. We will get off to visit the ancient city of Caunos which stands midway along the channel facing Dalyan. Founded around the 9th century BC, became an important Carian city in 400 B.C. and was Christianized early 4th Century A.D. various archaeological remains at the site are: city walls, theatre, four temples, an agora, stoa, nymphain, baths, palestra, churches and a cistern. After reaching Iztuzu beach by boat along the river where parts of the film "African Queen" was filmed we have free time on the beach. Then the boat will bring us back to a riverside restaurant. After lunch break, we will visit the mud baths of Dalyan which can only be reached by boat from the harbour. "Beauty Mud" which is not only cleanses the skin but is said to remedy rheumatism and has anti-ageing properties. After allowing the mud to dry in the sun it can be removed in the sulphur water pool. After returning back to Dalyan we continue on land to Fethiye (1hr).
Overnight in Fethiye/Oludeniz.
Day 11 Xantos, Letoon & Patara Tour / Travel to Kas
Check out from the hotel after breakfast and drive to Xanthos, Lycia's capital city which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list since 1988. Although most of the finds of Xanthos are now in the British Museum, many interesting monuments & structures remain, including two of the most interesting tombs in Lycia. In the Roman acropolis are the ruins of a huge monastery which has built in the Byzantine period on top of a Roman temple with floor mosaics, is well worth seeing. After a 15 min. drive we reach ancient Letoon which was the sacred cult centre of Lycia and its most important sanctuary. The city was dedicated to the three national deities of Lycia - Leto and her twin children Apollo and Artemis. Letoon is a romantic site and many of the monuments arise from standing water which provides lush vegetation. With their ruins, mosaics, temples, monuments & theatres these cities remind you that life stopped here some thousands of years ago. After lunch break, we continue to the beautiful 12 km-long Patara Beach, voted one of the top beaches in the world by Times Online - Best of 2005, is an easy 10-15 minute stroll away from the major ruins at Patara. The Patara area is a national park, a key biodiversity area and is rich in birdlife. In Christian history Patara is famous for being a place of St. Paul’s missionary work at the end of his third missionary journey as he changed ships en route to Jerusalem. Patara was also the birthplace of St. Nicholas in 3 A.D, bishop of Myra and the future Santa Claus. Then drive along the famous “Turquoise Coast to the small fishing village of Kas. Overnight in Kas.
Day 12 Kekova Sunken City & Myra Tour / Travel to Antalya
After breakfast check-out and we will drive an hour east to reach to Ucagiz Village, to visit a mystical place called Kekova; known for its crystal clear sea, endless small bays for swimming, castles, the ancient ruins on land & in the sea, sarcophagus’ all around the land & the sea, the fisherman villages and countless other beauties that can not be listed here. We will take a glass bottom boat to visit around the shores of Kekova Island which will give us a chance to see the ruins of a sunken city. The ruins of the ancient city that has sunken after an earthquake can be seen with bare eyes as they lie at one to four meters deep. The ancient city of Simena (Kekova) was once of two parts - an island and a coastal part of the mainland. On the mainland the charming fishing village of Kalekoy stands today, its buildings mingling with ancient and medieval structures. The top of the village is dominated by a well-preserved castle built by the Knights of Rhodes (St. John). We visit Simena castle and have lunch break. Then drive to Myra to see the Church of St. Nicholas. On the north of the church of Saint Nicholas on the slope of a steep hill, a brief stop to see the ruins of Myra city and rock tombs. Inside the church is the sarcophagus of St. Nicholas although his remains were taken to Italy. The earliest church of St. Nicholas was built in the 6th century AD, supposedly over St. Nicholas' tomb. We leave Demre and continue to Antalya (1.4hrs). Overnight in Antalya.
Day 13 Perge, Aspendos, Side Tour
Depart in the morning to visit Perge, an important city of ancient Pamphylia, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. St. Paul visited Perge on his first missionary journey. The theater stage has finely carved marble reliefs & other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium. Then proceed to Aspendos, which bears one of the best preserved Roman theatres in Anatolia. After lunch break by the river, visit Manavgat Waterfalls before continuing to Side. Side is one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey. It was an ancient harbor whose name meant pomegranate. Today Side is a pretty resort town with its ancient ruins, two sandy beaches and numerous tiny souvenir shops. The magnificent theater of the ancient city, built on colonnaded arches, is the largest in the whole area. Other monuments include the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, which is situated near the sea, a fountain and Necropolis. The extensive Roman baths, now a museum, houses one of Turkey's finest archeological collections. After some free time in Side, return back to Antalya. Overnight in Antalya
Day 14 Flight to Istanbul
After breakfast, check-out from hotel and transfer to Antalya Airport for Istanbul flight.
*** There are frequent flights from Antalya to Istanbul, so you may chose to spend the balance of day either in Antalya or Istanbul. Transfer to hotel in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 15 Free Day in Istanbul
After breakfast at hotel, remainder of day will be at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 16 Istanbul / Home
After check-out, we will arrange for the transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your onward flight.
What's Included:
* Hotel accommodations in choice of preferred class
* Professional Tour Guides licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
* Noted sightseeing tours on regular group or private guided basis
* Main entrance fees to sights mentioned by the itinerary
* Meals mentioned by the itinerary - Vegeterian meals available
* Required land transport including roundtrip airport transfers with A/C non-smoking minivans
* Required internal flight tickets
* Local taxes & handling services