10-Day Scenic Journey Through Turkey from Istanbul

Welcome to a Journey Across Continents!!! Upon touchdown at the airport, our representatives will escort you to your hotel. Utilize your free time to relax or explore until your tour commences. Please ensure to check the informative posters at the hotel reception that contain essential information about your upcoming services, such as meeting place, time, and guide's name.

We begin our adventure in a city that spans two continents. Our exploration will take us to the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, the largest mosque in Istanbul. We'll pass by the city walls, the Golden Horn, the fishermen's district, and marvel at the exterior of Hagia Sophia. After this, we offer tickets for a visit to the Topkapi Palace, the former administrative hub of the Ottoman Empire, with its spectacular courtyards and pavilions.

In the late afternoon, we'll head to the bustling Taksim neighborhood, the city's commercial and entertainment heart. You'll have free time to enjoy dinner in one of the many local restaurants, take a ride on the old tram, or visit the nearby Galata Tower.

Today includes a two-hour Bosphorus boat ride, exclusively for our group. The Bosphorus is a strait linking the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, dividing Istanbul into its European and Asian parts. We'll soak in the bustling strait scene, pass under the two bridges connecting Europe and Asia, and admire the sultans' palaces, traditional wooden houses, and Ottoman villas. Free time afterwards.

We depart from Istanbul early morning and continue our journey through Turkey. Around lunchtime, we reach EPHESUS, the best-preserved ancient city in Asia Minor, which was home to a quarter of a million people 2000 years ago. We will explore Saint John's Basilica, followed by the House of the Virgin Mary and the archaeological site (tickets included). We then head to KUSADASI, a lively coastal town with a bustling market, charming small castle, and a lively atmosphere. Dinner and overnight stay.

We set off for Lake BAFA, one of Turkey's natural wonders, then continue to BODRUM, a picturesque fortified city of Greek origin. You can visit its castle, walk through its vibrant streets or explore its sports marina. After lunch, we proceed to MARMARIS, another stunning coastal tourist spot with a castle, marina, and fountains. Dinner and overnight stay.

We depart for DALYAN, a remarkable place by a navigable river. A two-hour boat ride is included to see LYCIA'S ROYAL TOMBS, and we continue by boat to a large lake, stopping at the thermal springs. You can take a dip in the warm waters or even enjoy a mud bath! Lunchtime in DAYLAN by the river. We then continue to ANTALYA, for a brief visit to this coastal city of over a million inhabitants, admiring the Adrian's Gate, the Ottoman district, and its impressive waterfall. Dinner and overnight stay.

We leave Antalya for ASPENDOS, where we visit the Roman theatre, widely believed to be the best-preserved in the world. In SIDE, we admire the Greek Temple of Apollo near the sea. Enjoy some free time to wander around the port and its lively streets. As we cross the Taurus Mountains, we'll make a stop in KARAMAN to visit TARTAN EVI, an old Ottoman mansion. Then it's onward to the region of Cappadocia. Dinner and accommodation in NIGDE.

A full day in the enchanting region of CAPPADOCIA, with its surreal landscapes, unique churches, and troglodyte villages. We begin with a visit to GUMUSLER, an astonishing 7th-century underground monastery with arguably the best Byzantine frescoes in Turkey. In KAYMAKLI, we explore the underground city that once accommodated 30,000 people.

We visit the natural fortress of UCHISAR, then after lunch, we explore the GOREME Valley with its open-air museum and rock-hewn churches (entry included). Hotel in AVANOS. Dinner included.

An exhilarating day awaits us in the heart of Anatolia. A stop in ANKARA offers some free time to walk around and lunch in the city center. We then move northwards towards the lush landscapes of SAFRANBOLU, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its significant role in the caravan routes. We'll enjoy a traditional Turkish tea in the courtyard of a stunning old Caravanserai. Dinner and overnight stay.

Our journey today traces the Black Sea with its lush landscapes. We visit GOKGOL MAGARASI and include entrance tickets to this magnificent cave with its underground river and multiple colors. In EREGLI, by the Black Sea, we allow time for lunch and also visit the captivating Cehennemagzi Magarasi caves and tombs filled with mythology.

On our way back to Istanbul, we stop at EYDINPINAR, for a leisurely walk to the waterfalls amidst the green trails! We arrive back in ISTANBUL in the evening. End of our services.