Discover Turkey on this 15 Days Western Discovery Tour

Discover Turkey on this 15 Days Western Discovery Tour

This private Grand Tour is conducted by a comfortable non-smoking minivan with air conditioning and separates professional driver and guide, and we allow a maximum of 10 passengers.

This is a full-service escorted tour with entry fees to the sights as mentioned included with no expensive hidden extras. Hotels are a mix of nice quality hotels, all with private ensuite facilities.

We think you will be enchanted with the varied sights, tastes and culture of Turkey and you will appreciate the nicely paced journey that allows you to discover and enjoy the best of Turkey.

Some of the sights you will visit while on this fantastic Turkey Tour are the main sights in Istanbul, including the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and a Bosphorus cruise which connects Europe with Asia.

These are just some of the sights you will see on this Turkey adventure with an opportunity to see all the famous sites of this beautiful country all in one trip.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul

Stop At: Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Sanayi, 34906 Pendik/İstanbul, Turkey
Our guide will meet you at Istanbul Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Istanbul where you will have the rest of the day to relax.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 2: See the sights of Istanbul

Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Your guide will collect you have enjoyed breakfast from your hotel in Istanbul and start the tour at Topkapi Palace, which was an abode for the Ottoman Sultans in the 15th to 19th centuries. You will also get to see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain and the robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Next, it is on to the beautiful Blue Mosque that was built for Sultan Ahmet I. This structure is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 decorative blue Iznik tiles.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hippodrome, Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2, Istanbul Turkey
Then it will be on to the Hippodrome (At Meydani), with an Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. this also the place where the chariot races took place.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Grand Bazaar, Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
At the end of the afternoon, we will visit the Grand Bazaar with its 4000 shops full of treasures and where you will find the perfect memory to take back home.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 3: Istanbul to Cappadocia

Stop At: Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya), Ayasofya Square, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Enjoy breakfast before your guide will pick you up to start the day at Hagia Sophia Museum, which was built by the Emperor Justinian and was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Mısır Çarşısı, Rüstem Paşa, Erzak Ambarı Sok. No:92, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
Then visit the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) to discover the flavours and the aromas of Istanbul with every herb and spice you can possibly think of available to purchase.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Cruise the Bosphorus Strait that connects Europe to Asia with some amazing views along the way.

Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Cappadocia

Day 4: Goreme Tour in Cappadocia

Stop At: Goreme National Park, Goreme 50180 Turkey
Today you will have your breakfast before visiting Goreme National Park, where you will have an entire day to enjoy the natural beauty cultural depth and stunning landscape of this unique region.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Fairy Chimneys, Goreme Turkey
You will get to explore the frescoed interiors of Goreme's cave churches, which dates back to the 8th century before going to see the mesmerising landscape of the Fairy Chimneys.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Cappadocia

Day 5: Cappadocia Tour

Stop At: Ozkonak Underground City, Nevsehir Turkey
Once you have enjoyed breakfast your guide will begin today's tour with a Visit to Özkonak or similar underground city which is a maze of different levels and rooms.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Avanos, Avanos, Cappadocia
Then you will stop at the Hanging Bridge of Avanos town.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Red Valley, Nevsehir Ortahisar, Nevsehir 50650 Turkey
Visit the Red Valley famous for the red-rose colour of the rocks and is one of the most stunning of the many valleys in the Cappadocia region. On this part of the tour, there will be about 6 km of walking
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Cavusin, Cavusin, Cappadocia
Visit Çavuşin Town where you will get a chance to witness some pottery be made and maybe you could give it a try!
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Love Valley, Goreme 50180 Turkey
Then on to Love Valley made up of wide valleys with unique rock formations spiking out of the sparse terrain.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Cappadocia

Day 6: Cappadocia - Konya

Stop At: Karatay Han, 50 km east of Kayseri, Kayseri Turkey
You will have an early breakfast before checking out of your hotel and driving to Konya where on the way you will visit Obruk Han Caravanserail and its lake.

Once in Konya which was known as Iconium in the Roman times and was the capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to 13th centuries. You will visit Mevlana Muzesi (museum), Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi founded a Sufi order known as the Whirling Dervishes.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Mevlana Muzesi, Mevlana Cd. No:1, Konya 42030 Turkey
Once in Konya which was known as Iconium in the Roman times and was the capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to 13th centuries. You will visit Mevlana Muzesi (museum), Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi founded a Sufi order known as the Whirling Dervishes.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Konya

Day 7: Konya - Çatalhöyük - Antalya

Stop At: Catalhoyuk Yolu Kucukkoy Mahallesi, Konya 42500 Turkey
Today we will visit one of the most surprising neolithic age open-air museum of Çatalhöyük that rises 20m above the flatlands. The East Mound found at Çatalhöyük is left over from one of the most prominent Neolithic settlements on Earth and about 9500 years ago, up to 8000 people lived here, and the mound comprises of 13 levels of buildings, each containing around 1000 structures. Little now remains of the ancient centre other than the excavation areas, which draws archaeologists from all over the world.

After here we will make our way to Antalya.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Antalya

Day 8: Antalya

Stop At: Hadrian's Gate, Old Town, Antalya Turkey
Today we will have a tour of Antalya on the Turkish Mediterranean Coast starting with a visit to Antalya's Old Town with its charming marina, Hadrians Gate, coffee and tea shops.

After walking and the guide explaining about the city, your guide will give you some necessary free time where you can explore this beautiful city and is an excellent chance to purchase some holiday souvenirs.

You will then stop at Hadrian's Gate before visiting Düden Waterfalls, a famous waterfall of Karpuzkaldıran in Antalya.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Antalya

Day 9: Antalya - Demre- Kekova - Fethiye

Stop At: Santa Claus Museum, Gökyazı, 07570 Demre/Antalya, Turkey
Today you will visit the Santa Claus Museum in Demre and see the Church of St. Nicholas where you will learn the legend of Santa Claus and how he originated in Turkey, and the church is now a pilgrimage site.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Island of Kekova, Kekova Turkey
Next, is the Island of Kekova, where you will take a boat and cruise to the ancient harbour and view Andriake with the Granary of Hadrian and shops at the edge of the water bordering on Bird Paradise.

Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Burguç Şifalı Soğuk Su, Karabucak, 07570 Demre/Antalya, Turkey
Considering weather conditions and the wishes of your group you may want to take a dip in the cold curative waters of the Burguc Spring or a swim on one of the unspoiled bays nearby.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Old Town, Fethiye Turkey
After this relaxing day, you will then make your way to Fethiye.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Fethiye

Day 10: Fethiye - Pamukkale

Stop At: Hierapolis & Pamukkale, Pamukkale 20280 Turkey
Drive to Pamukkale, meaning cotton castle by crossing the magnificent Taurus Mountains again.

Arrival to Pamukkale where you will see immense tiers of white limestone cascading down a barren hillside making it a mesmerising landscape.

Next, visit Hierapolis, with the Temple of Apollo and extensive Necropolis the main Street and Gates, the thermal Baths, the devil’s hole, and Masterpiece Theater.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Pamukkale

Day 11: Pamukkale - Aphrodisias - Kuşadası

Stop At: Aphrodisias Museum, Geyre, 09385 Karacasu/Aydın, Turkey
Today, after breakfast, we will drive through the valley following the Meander River, which gave us the word “Meandering. We will then spend some time at the Greco-Roman site of Aphrodisias, which is still being excavated and features the Temple of Aphrodite, two agoras, a huge intact stadium, baths of Hadrian and theatre, and was the site of a famous sculptural school.

After looking around at the site of Aphrodisias we will then make our way to Kusadasi
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Kusadasi

Day 12: A Day at Ephesus

Stop At: Ancient City of Ephesus, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
Once you have had breakfast at your hotel, you will travel to Ephesus an ancient city about 30 minutes from Kuşadası where you will explore the ancient city by wandering along its 2,000-year-old marble streets to such famous sites such as the theatre and the Celsus Library.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: The Temple of Artemis, Ataturk, Park Ici Yolu No:12, Selcuk Turkey
Then you will visit The Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world although today only a column remains to indicate where one of the Seven Wonders of the World was.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel in Kusadasi

Day 13: Kuşadası - Bursa

Stop At: Grand Mosque of Bursa, Nalbantoğlu, Atatürk Cd., 16010 Osmangazi/Bursa, Turkey
After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel in Kusadasi and continue to Bursa and surrounds the mosques, mausoleums and other sites from its incarnation as the first Ottoman capital.

Despite being built-up and somewhat chaotic but its strong Ottoman core and plenty of parks that keep it extremely placid in places. For some fresh air after walking around the markets, the soaring peaks of Mt Uludağ (Turkey's premier ski resort) are nearby, with Çekirge's thermal Hamams en route.

Bursa was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014 for being the birthplace of the Ottoman Empire, and the city's historic contributions to Islamic development have given it an austere reputation.

While in Bursa we will visit the Grand Mosque, Silk Bazaar and Green Mausoleum of Bursa before stopping at Koza Hani, and the Silk Bazaar.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Bursa

Day 14: Bursa - Istanbul

Stop At: Istiklal Street Taksim Beyoglu, Istanbul Turkey
Once you have had breakfast, you will depart to Istanbul, and upon arrival, you will visit the Karaköy Pera district by walking and see the ever-bustling Istiklal Avenue that goes from Taksim Square just about all the way to the famous landmark of Galata Tower. Istiklal Avenue is the beating heart of the city, and three million people pass it every day. Although High Street chains and fast food joints are starting to edge out the more old fashioned shops, there’s still traces of old Istanbul here. Also if you get the chance ride the tram which goes the middle of the street.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 15: Istanbul Departure

Stop At: Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Sanayi, 34906 Pendik/İstanbul, Turkey
After you have had breakfast, you will have some free time until it is time for our guide to take you to the airport for your departure flight or maybe you could extend your holiday.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.