Istanbul • Cappadocia • Konya • Antalya • Kekova Island • Gulet sail in Fethiye bay • Pamukkale • Ephesus (13 Nights / 14 Days)

Day 1: Arrival at Istanbul Ataturk airport
Private transfer to your hotel; orientation walking tour of the neighborhood with your private guide. Some good local restaurants can be pointed out for dinner this evening.

Ortakoy mosque and Bosphorus bridge - Istanbul

Balloon flight - Cappadocia

Cultural experiences - Performance of Whirling Dervishes

Sailing Turquoise coast of Turkey - Private gulet yacht charter

Travertine terraces of Pamukkale

Celsius library - Ephesus - Selcuk

Day 2: Istanbul
Private sightseeing includes the Roman Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar.
If you feel energetic enough, we are happy to expand the tour to include other interesting aspects hidden in the less touristy areas of the district. (B)

Day 3: Istanbul
Private sightseeing includes Topkapi Palace and The Harem, the Spice Market, a boat ride on the Bosphorus Strait for about an hour and a backroads walking tour. (B)

Day 4: Istanbul / Cappadocia – Flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir
Upon arrival, start to discover the wonders of this incredible region. Enjoy beautiful panoramas at the Ortahisar Valley and visit the Goreme Open Air Museum. (B)

Day 5: Cappadocia
Optional early morning balloon ride is available. After breakfast, included visits to the remarkable Underground City of Kaymakli, Uchisar town and fortress, Pasabag and the small town of Avanos where the pottery and rugs are splendid representatives of the Turkish handicraft tradition. (B)

Day 6: : Cappadocia / Konya / Antalya – Transfer to Antalya via Konya
Drive with your guide to Antalya today. Enroute, we can visit the Agzikarahan Caravanserai. Also stop in the city of Konya to visit the shrine to Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi who founded the Whirling Dervishes. In the late afternoon arrive in Antalya - Turkey's principal holiday resort in the Mediterranean region. (B, L)

Day 7: Antalya
Our first visit today is to the ancient site of Perge which is located about 30 minutes outside of Antalya city. Perge was an important city in Pamphylia. Today its ruins include a theater, a palaestra, a temple of Artemis, and two churches. From here we drive further to the the ancient site of Aspendos. Aspendos is famous for having the best preserved theater of antiquity. Here we can also visit the acropolis of the city with a great view of the river. After a break for lunch by the river we will go back to the city center and visit the Antalya Archaeology Museum which offers an exposition on statues of various Greek gods, a stunning mosaic collection from Xanthos, extraordinary findings from the Karain Caves, which date back to the Old Stone Age, as well as a comprehensive ethnographical collection. Finally, we will visit Kaleici, Antalya’s old quarter. Narrow streets, charming cafés, and numerous souvenir shops bring a special attractiveness to this part of the city. (B)

Day 8: Antalya / Fethiye / Embark Gulet – Depart for Fethiye
Depart down the beautiful Turquoise Coast toward Fethiye. On the way, visit the church and tomb of St. Nicholas. Then arrive in Ucagiz where we can take a boat trip to the sunken ruins near Kekova Island. Lunch is on the boat. Drive on to Fethiye and embark on your private gulet. You can discover the lovely marketplace of Fethiye before embarkation and meeting your captain and crew. Weather permitting, your captain will head towards a quiet cove for dinner and an overnight stay. (B, L, D)

Day 9 & Day 10: Gulet / Blue Voyage in and around Fethiye bay
Spend two full days - and three nights - on a gulet, admiring the natural beauty of the Turquoise coast. Your adventure includes swimming, short hikes on the shore, and home-style meals served on the open deck. Cruising and sailing (weather permitting) will take place inside Fethiye bay. Some of the visits we do are Gemiler Island, abandoned Kayakoy old Greek town, Bedri Rahmi and Cleopatra Bath coves, and Yassica Islands. (B, L, D)

Day 11: Gocek / Pamukkale – Disembark in Gocek and Transfer to Pamukkale
Arriving in early afternoon. Visit the ancient site of Hierapolis, the cotton-white travertine formations and then have time to enjoy the thermal pools at your hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 12: Pamukkale / Kusadasi – Depart for Kusadasi
Depart in the morning, stopping along the way for a visit to Aphrodisias. View the famous stadium preserved in remarkable condition as well as the theatre, odeon and temple. Then continue on to Kusadasi, where you will spend two nights. (B, L)

Day 13: Kusadasi / Ephesus and Sirince old Greek village
Visit the ruins of Ephesus, including the Roman period villas known as the Terrace Houses. Have lunch in the local village of Sirince with a chance to socialize with the locals and taste the simple but delicious cuisine of the Aegean at an included local lunch. A final stop is in the town of Selcuk where you can visit the Museum of Archaeology. (B, L)

Day 14: Kusadasi / Istanbul - Homebound departure
Transfer to Izmir Airport for a flight to Istanbul, connecting to your flight home. (B)

1. Accommodation:
   3 nights Istanbul: Hotel Ottoman Imperial (in the historic Sultanahmet neighborhood) or similar
   2 nights Cappadocia: Hotel Yunak House or similar
   2 nights Antalya: Hotel Rixos Downtown or similar
   3 nights aboard a traditional hand-made wooden Gulet yacht (in Fethiye bay)
   1 night Pamukkale: Hotel Lycus River or similar
   2 nights Kusadasi: Hotel Kismet or similar

2. Domestic flights in coach class within the program (Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir and Izmir to Istanbul).

3. Meals as indicated by (B, L, D) - B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
   24 Meals: 13 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 4 dinners include bottled water.

4. Services of a private licensed, professional English-speaking guide throughout your trip.

5. All transfers and travel by private, modern, air-conditioned, chauffeur driven vehicles, appropriate to the size of your group.

6. All entrance fees to the sites and museums mentioned in the program.

7. Parking, ferry, and toll road fees. Not applicable if you are driving a rental car.

8. Gratuity at restaurants where a meal is included in the program.

9. Porterage fees at airports when our guide travels with you.

1. Airfare for international flights.

2. Beverages other than water during included meals.

3. Optional gratuities to the tour guide(s), driver(s) and the gulet crew.

4. Tipping for porters at hotels.

5. Travel insurance.

6. Visas, laundry, and personal items.