Turkey Detailed ItineraryPrint this page


Turkey Independent Journey

Departure date, you decide! .


Day 1 Arrival Istanbul:
On arrival you will be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. Istanbul where east meets west, the crossroads of civilization. At the south of Istanbul the Marmara Sea, and at the north the Black Sea are situated. The Western part of the city is in Europe, and the Eastern is in Asia. The important watercourse that divides Istanbul is the Bosphorus. Enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of these amazing city.
Overnight Amiral Palace or similar

Day 2 Istanbul Sightseeing:
Full day sightseeing on foot. Visits include The Roman Hippodrome, The Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia and The Underground Cistern Basilica. (B)

Day 3 Gallipoli, Troy, Assos:
You will have a morning drive along the Marmara Sea to Çanakkale. Lunch break in Gelibolu. Gallipoli peninsula was famous for Memorial of Turkish and the Allied soldiers from the First World War. After lunch cross the Dardanelles Straight by ferry. Enjoy observing two fortresses on each side of the straight remaining from the 15th.century. Disembark in Çanakkale which is a modern town in the Asian banks of Dardanelles and drive on to Assos. En route, enjoy sightseeing in Troy. Check in Kervansaray Hotel at Assos for dinner and overnight.(BD)

Day 4 Olive Oil Factory and Adatepe village:
Morning sightseeing at the ruins of Assos. Then continue driving along the Sea of Aegean to Adatepe. On arrival visit the Adatepe Olive Oil Factory to observe the methods of traditional oil extraction. You can purchase delicious olive oil and olive oil soap. Lunch will be served at one of the village cafes. Enjoy the peaceful surrounding of this village, visit the altar of Zeus located near the village and enjoy the view. Dinner and overnight Adatepe Pansiyonlari (BD)

Day 5 Pergamum:
This morning you will visit the local market in Kucukkuyu. Then drive to Bergama to visit the Hellenistic ruins of Pergamum and Asclepion, the healing center of ancient times. Then continue driving to Selchuk. Overnight in Kirkinca Evleri.(B)

Day 6 Ephesus:
Full days sightseeing of Ephesus, including the ruins of Hellenistic & Roman Settlement of the ancient city and the local museum.

The ancient city of Ephesus (Turkish: Efes), located near the Aegean Sea in modern day Turkey, was one of the great cities of the Greeks in Asia Minor and home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Ephesus is also a sacred site for Christians due to its association with several biblical figures, including St. Paul, St. John the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary.
Legend has it that St John the Evangelist came to Ephesus with the Virgin Mary in his care. Some also say that it was here that he wrote his Gospel and was finally buried. In 269 Ephesus and the surrounding country was devastated by the Goths. Overnight in Kirkinca Evleri.(B)

Day 7 Sirince Village:
Visit the picturesque Sirince Village which used to be a Greek Village before the exchange of Turkish and Greek Communities in 1924. Try the fruit wines, smell the hand made colorful soaps and wander around many little souvenir shops. You may have a delicious lunch in the village where the natural herbs and greens are famous all around Turkey. Overnight in Kirkinca Evleri.(B)

Day 8 Aphrodisias and Pamukkale:
After breakfast you will drive to Pamukkale. En route visit the ruins of Aphrodisias. The city houses a rich-variety of Roman sculpture. After lunch in a local restaurant continue driving to Pamukkale. Late afternoon arrive at Pamukkale, 'The Cotton-Castle', world-famous geological formation with beautiful white travertine caused by the calcareous hot spring waters. Enjoy your time walking in the thermal waters and white slopes before checking in hotel. Dinner and overnight Richmond Pamukkale Hotel or similar. (BD)

Day 9 Hierapolis and Konya:
Enjoy morning sightseeing of Hierapolis. Then continue driving to Konya. Upon arrival Konya, visit the Tomb of Mevlana, the founder of Mevlevi Sect, the Whirling Dervishes, Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret the early Seljuk Empire edifices. Dinner and overnight Ozkaymak Konya Hotel or similar. (BD)

Day 10 Cappadocia:
Morning departure for Cappadocia. On the way visit Sultanhani Caravanserai of Silk Road. Upon arrival, sightseeing of Kaymakli Underground City & Uchisar.

Cappadocia is Turkey's most visually striking region, especially the "moonscape" area around the towns of Ürgüp, Göreme, Uçhisar, Avanos and Mustafapasa (Sinasos), where erosion has formed caves, clefts, "fairy chimneys" and sensuous folds in the soft volcanic rock.

The Kaymakli Underground City has low, narrow and sloping passages. While the underground city consists of 8 floors below ground, only 4 of them are open to the public today, in which the spaces are organized around ventilation shafts.

Uchisar is situated at the highest point in Cappadocia, on the Nevsehir-Goreme road, just 5 km from Goreme. The top of the Uchisar Castle, provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area with Mount Erciyes in the distance.
Dinner and overnight Burcu Kaya Hotel or similar. (BD)

Day 11 Goreme:
Visits of Göreme Rock-hewn churches, Zelve Valley, Avanos.

The Zelve Open-Air Museum, which once housed one of the largest communities in the region is an amazing cave town, honeycombed with dwellings, religious and secular chambers. Zelve is situated about 10 km out from Goreme on the Avanos road. Here, the Christians and Muslims lived together in perfect harmony, until 1924. Then Christians had to leave the Valley because of the exchange of minorities between Greece and Turkey, and the Muslims were forced to evacuate the Valley in the 50's when life became dangerous due to risk of erosion.

Add an optional balloon ride over the valley, watch the sunrise as you float over the valley. Dinner and overnight Burcu Kaya Hotel or similar. (BD)

Day 12 Return to Istanbul:
After breakfast drive to Nevsehir. Fly to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul
transfer to Golden Horn Sirkeci Hotel. We can visit Chora Museum today upon arrival. Overnight Golden Horn Sirkeci Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 13 Departure Istanbul:
You are free to explore Istanbul today before your transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (B)

Please note this itinerary is an independent trip based on two people travelling with private guide and vehicle; includes meals and sightseeing as per itinerary and internal flight. Price is subject to change based on time of year, type of accommodations and final itinerary. We can change this itinerary as per your request. Add a few days on a gulet along the coast, visit Ankara to visit the Musuem of Anatolian Civilizations, visit Nemrut Dagi, Safranbolu or spend more time in Istanbul. We are here to personalize this trip for you.

Duration: 13 Days

Max Group Size: you decide

Accomodations: hotels, pensions

Price: $4,995USD per person based on two people with private guide and transport.