12 Days Explore Turkey Tour from Istanbul

12 Days Explore Turkey Tour from Istanbul

Explore Turkey Tour from Istanbul
Day 1: Istanbul – Ephesus Tour   (L)
Early morning fly from Istanbul to Izmir. Arrival to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. Met on arrival by our travel team & transfer to Ephesus Ancient City.
Meet with the local guide and you start to the full day tour of Ephesus & Virgin Mary House. First, you are going to visit the Temple of Artemis, which once was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Then you will visit the world famous ancient the Greco-Roman City of Ancient Ephesus, the most well-preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a lunch break. After our lunch, you are going to visit The House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. After the Ephesus tour, transfer to the hotel & Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 2: Miletos Priene & Didyma Tour      (B, L)
After the breakfast, your guide will meet you and depart for Priene which in its time was one of the most spectacular of all the Ancient Ionian Cities. After the visit here, you then travel on to Miletus with its magnificent theater and the Byzantine fortress on the acropolis above. Last, but not least, visit Didyma. Here you will find the largest Ionic Temple in the world, that of Apollo. At the end of the full day tour, transfer back to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour – Fethiye        (B, L)
Breakfast and Check out from the hotel.
08:00 – Pick up from your hotel drive to Pamukkale. Arrival to Pamukkale and have lunch and start to visiting; Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis with the Temple of Apollo, the breathtaking Theater, the fascinating Necropolis and the last the great baths of Hierapolis antique city, where St. Philip was martyred. St. Philip is connected with the early church in Hierapolis and played an important role in Pamukkale the history of the city. Finally, we visit the calcium terraces and pools. After the tour free time, you can swim at the thermal pool (with the extra charge).
At the end of the Pamukkale tour bus transportation to Fethiye. Check into hotel. Overnight in Fethiye.

Day 4: Blue Cruise Departs From Fethiye for Olympos
Samanlik Bay – Butterfly Valley – St-Nicholas Island         (B, L, D)
Breakfast and Check out from the hotel in Fethiye. Transfer to the boat at the Fethiye harbor. Departure from Fethiye Harbour between 11 and 12 a.m. to Samanlik Bay for swimming & lunch or, depending on the sea conditions, to Butterfly Valley for lunch, a swim & optional visit of this natural reserve, hosting 136 kinds of different butterflies and moths. Afterward, we cruise to Oludeniz (The Blue Lagoon) again sea conditions permitting. Option for paragliding available. Last stop of the day is St-Nicholas Island. Byzantine ruins, swim, dinner & 1st night.

Day 5: Aquarium – Kas – Kekova          (B, L, D)
Around sunrise departure to Aquarium or Firnaz Bay near Kalkan for breakfast & swimming.
Cruising to Kas where we stop in the harbor for lunch & visit of this charming fishing village. Of ancient Antiphellos, as Kas was once known, only Lycian rock tombs & sarcophagi and the Roman theater are left. But the charm of the town remains! In a bay near Kekova, we stop for swimming, dinner & the 2nd night.

Day 6: Sunken City – Simena – Gokkaya Bay          (B, L, D)
Departure to the Sunken City of Kekova (this Lycian – Roman archaeological site is protected, so only looking!). Simena, a traditional Turkish fishing village with no car access and Byzantine/Ottoman castle.
In Gokkaya Bay optional water sports are available. Dinner, relax in this pirates haven or party the night away at the Smugglers Inn.

Day 7: Myra – Demre – Olympos          (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we have a look at the Pirates Cave (sea conditions permitting) before cruising to Andriace harbor (lunch).
Bus transfer to the archaeological site of Myra, and to Demre for the St-Nicholas Church, shopping, and banking when requested by your group.
Bus transfer to the Tree houses in Olympos where we arrive between 4 and 5 p.m. Overnight stay in Olympos (Olimpos).

Day 8: Olympos – Antalya          (B)
Breakfast and Check out from tree houses in Olympos. You can soak up the sun and relax on the beach or perhaps explore the Olympos. Or you can take a minibus from Olympos to Antalya (duration 2 hours) and check into your hotel. Rest of the day you can explore the Antalya on your own today. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 9: Perge – Aspendos & Side Tour – Cappadocia          (B, L)
After breakfast, Pick up from the hotel and departure for full day tour to Side, Perge and Aspendos Ancient Cities. One of the largest ancient cities in the Pamphylia region. Perge was the capital city of Pamphylia. The Roman Bath, the Agora, Colonnaded street, Nymphaion and the Stadium will be visited and after lunch, we visit Manavgat waterfall and the Roman Era such as Theatre, Roman Bath, and Apollo’s Temple in the Side. At the end of the tour. Overnight bus transportation to Cappadocia. The bus journey takes 10 hours with two stopovers on the way for personal needs.

Day 10: Cappadocia
Morning arrival to Cappadocia. Check into hotel. Today is your free day to relax and explore the hotel town. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 11: Cappadocia Tour I          (B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
09.30 – Depart for a fully guided tour and visiting Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy-chimneys. Drive to Pasabag (Monk’s Valley) to see the most interesting mushroom-shaped pinnacles. Drive to the city of Avanos for lunch. In the afternoon visit another beautiful open air museum at Goreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Lastly, before returning to your hotel, visit the natural castles at Uchisar. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 12: Cappadocia Tour II – Istanbul           (B, L)
Breakfast and Check out from the hotel.
09.30 – Depart from your hotel to visit Red valley, and explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike 5 km through the Gulludere valley (Rose valley). Then visit Cavusin village. This village is famous for the houses and churches of the Christian clergymen. Drive to the pigeon valley for lunch. In the afternoon visit underground city. Where early Christians lived in fear and faith. On the way back visit the natural castles at Ortahisar.
At the end of the tour, transfer to Cappadocia airport and fly back to Istanbul. Upon arrival to Istanbul. Tour Ends.