Turkey's best Historical Highlights Tour and Turquoise Coast Cruise

Turkey's best Historical Highlights Tour and Turquoise Coast Cruise

This is a fantastic tour of beautiful Turkey where for 14 days you will visit some of the best sights in Turkey before embarking on a cruise of the turquoise coast

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Day

Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Turkey
Arrival to Istanbul Airport where our driver/guide will meet you and transfer to your hotel for check-in before having the rest of the day at your leisure.
Duration: 1 hour

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

Day 2: Sultanahmet – Old Istanbul

Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Go to the Topkapi Palace, which was once used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries and see the magnificent collection of priceless jewels, silver, crystal, and porcelain, robes that were worn by the sultans and the relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra).
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
After lunch, we will visit the stunning Blue Mosque that was built for Sultan Ahmet I, and is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hippodrome, Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2, Istanbul Turkey
Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II and visit the hidden Underground Cistern.

See the Grand Covered Bazaar with its many shops perfect for your holiday souvenirs.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise with Haghia Sophia and Beylerbeyi

Stop At: Misir Carsisi (Spice Market), Rustem Pasa Mahallesi, Erzak Ambari Sok. No:92 Eminonu - Fatih, Istanbul 34116 Turkey
Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market located on the Golden Horn before boarding your cruise of the Bosphorus where the waterway separates the two continents Europe and Asia.
Duration: 3 hours

Pass By: Rumeli Fortress, Tarabya Yenikoy Cad., Istanbul Turkey
Pass by Rumeli fortress which was built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452, so he could prepare for his conquest of Istanbul.

Stop At: Beylerbeyi Palace, Abdullahaga Cad., Istanbul Turkey
Cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia where you will visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was once the summer address of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill for a fantastic view of Istanbul.


Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya), Ayasofya Square, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Time for lunch in a lovely seaside fish restaurant. Cruise is on a public boat unless other arrangements are made.

Visit the Hagia Sophia, which was built by Emperor Justinian and was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years and has intricate mosaics and a huge central dome.

Order of visits may be reversed.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 4: Istanbul - Cappadocia

Stop At: Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Turkey
Fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia, and upon arrival, you will be met at the airport just outside the arrival’s gate and transfer to Cappadocia. 



Tour the Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the fascinating underground settlements in Cappadocia then drive to Sahinefendi (Sobesos) which is newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses and Archaeological excavation site.

Villages in the valleys are surrounded by the “tabletop” mountains which are spectacular.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Keslik Monastery, Urgup Turkey
Continue to the Keslik Monastery close to Cemil, that hides its frescoes behind a thin smoke layer which you can only see by torchlight.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Mustafapasa Yeni Cami, Sht. Nadir Kurt Sk. Yukarı, Mustafapasa, Urgup 50400 Turkey
Visit Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; outstanding examples of late Greek settlements and architecture.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Red Valley, Nevsehir Ortahisar, Nevsehir 50650 Turkey
Visit Saruhan Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travellers would rest and recover from their day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of information, commerce and people across a network of trade routes of North Africa, Asia, and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice Road.

Continue with the panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations and is in the heart of Cappadocia but still away from the tourist crowd.
Duration: 2 hours

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


Day 5: Cappadocia

Stop At: Devrent Valley, Devrent Mevkii No:1 Aktepe Koyu Turkey
Meet at the hotel reception after breakfast, then have your first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia with some rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley, walk-in Pasabag near Zelve and wonder at the “fairy chimneys” where the sound of the wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Avanos Oren Yeri, Kapadokya Cd., Avanos 50500 Turkey
Lunch in Avanos which has been the centre of terra cotta work of art since around 3000 BC and you will get a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Goreme National Park, Goreme 50180 Turkey
In the afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art that are in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Uchisar Castle, Uchisar Turkey
Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.
Duration: 1 hour

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

Day 6: Cappadocia

Stop At: Ihlara Valley, Guzelyurt 68500 Turkey
Drive to Ihlara and on the way walk in the Ihlara Canyon, a “mirage” in the Steps of Anatolia to Belisirma village, the ancient Peristrema: “Valley of the Sky” along the Melendiz River.

Rock-cut churches spread across a wild plantation that will surprise you with their successfully painted representations from the Bible.

Have lunch in Belisirma, a local restaurant by the river and stop at Selime, a village with cave houses and a “star wars” like landscape.
Duration: 6 hours

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

Day 7: Cappadocia – Ephesus

Stop At: Ephesus Museum, Selcuk Turkey
Have an early morning flight from Kayseri to Izmir (direct or via Istanbul), and upon arrival, our professional driver will meet at the airport with your name sign and transfer to Ephesus.

Visit the ancient city of Ephesus and spend a few hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Apostles Paul, Caesar, Cicero, and John and many other well-known historical names.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Ephesus Terrace Houses, Selcuk 35148 Turkey
The recently opened Terrace Houses (entry included) which is where the wealthiest Romans lived and are a great example of sensitive excavation and presentation and the mosaics and frescos are stunning.

Tradition has it that St John brought Virgin Mary hereafter the Crucifixion and lived her last years close to the city of Ephesus on a secluded mountaintop. A lovely chapel was constructed on the site and tended by Franciscans and open to visitors and has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope.

We will continue with Saint John Church where Apostle John spent his final years and was buried and visit the temple of Artemis to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Duration: 4 hours

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

Day 8: Pamukkale- Hierapolis- Laodicea (188 km)

Stop At: Road to Pamukkale, Hieropolis-Pamukkale World Heritage Site, Pamukkale Turkey
Drive to Pamukkale and on the way visit Laodicea (present name Denizli) and one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor.

Excavations are still active, and an ancient city as beautiful as Ephesus will soon be uncovered.


Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Laodicea, Just off Denizli - Pamukkale, Denizli Turkey
We will see the ancient theatres, the remains of the basilica which were recently uncovered, ancient stone water pipes, Temple A, agora and the monumental fountain.

After Laodicea, discover the pure white travertine terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis.


Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Pamukkale Turkey
The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are definitely one of the most spectacular natural wonders that you will be able to see from several mineral springs in a substantial white cliffside.

About 200 m overlooking the plain you can see how the calcite-laden waters have dripped over a number of terraced levels and created a fairyland of unusual solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins and look like creations made from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle).

Moreover, the water in the basins changes its colour according to how the light enters.
Duration: 3 hours

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

Day 9: Pamukkale to Marmaris for a Mini Cruise ( Departures: Friday/Saturday/Monday)

Stop At: Marmaris Marina, Marmaris Turkey
Transfer from Pamukkale to Fethiye and board the boat in Marmaris from Marmaris Harbour.

Guests who arrive early can leave their luggage at the Barbaros Yachting Office.

On the first day, the cruise starts on the boat with a delicious dinner and overnight stay in the large Marmaris Port.

Marmaris was constructed upon one of the ancient Karian cities called Phyckos and has been under the rule of many different civilisations.

The most impressive work of art that you are able to see today is Marmaris Castle dating right back to 1577.

You will also find a mosque and an 8-room caravansary that is covered with arches from the Ottoman Period.

The ruins of the Antique times lie on Asar Hill; a small, low hill located on the northern side of the city.

Being one of the best-known touristic places of Turkey, Marmaris also has a large marina.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay on the boat

Day 10: Ekincik Gulf – Dalyan

Stop At: Ekincik Plaji, Ekincik Mahallesi, Mugla Turkey
After your tasty breakfast, you will be informed about the cruise itinerary and the boat before moving towards Ekincik Gulf.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Iztuzu Beach, Dalyan Mah. 302. Sok. No:1 Kat:2, Dalyan Turkey
You can join our optional Dalyan Tour from here where you will be taken from your boat by a smaller boat called “piyade”.
You will arrive at Caretta-Caretta (turtle) Beach where you will take a swimming break, and you can enjoy the natural beauty of the delta as you cruise along the river.

You will see the ancient Rock Tombs before arriving at the mud baths where you can relax and feel rejuvenated.

A charming fishing village called Dalyan will be our final destination before we return to our boat by piyade boat.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay on the boat

Day 11: Adali Bay – Manastir – Tersane Island

Stop At: Sunken City Ruins of Simena, The Mediterranean Sea, Kekova 07570 Turkey
Because of the unsettled of Disibilmez and Kurtoglu capes that we will cross, we will cruise earlier and reach the world-famous Gocek Gulf.

We will anchor at Sunken Bath and have a delicious breakfast and a swimming break. This place is also called Cleopatra Bay due to the beautiful underwater ruins of an old bath.

Then we will cruise to Tersane Island a naturally protected harbour which was used as a shipyard in Byzantine and Ottoman times.
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight on the boat

Day 12: Kizil Island – Fethiye

Stop At: Fethiye Harbour, Fethiye Turkey
After you have enjoyed breakfast, we will cruise to Kızıl Island for lunch and a swimming break. Fethiye, which was also known as Telmessos in ancient times and was the most important city located on Lycia’s western border.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Ancient City of Telmessos, Fethiye Merkez, Fethiye Turkey
It is claimed that the city’s name came from Apollon’s son, Telmessos and as the name hints, the city was the city of light and was well known for its prophets.

Fethiye stretches in a half circle along the bay protected by 12 Islands.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight on the boat

Day 13: Fethiye – Istanbul

Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Turkey
After your final breakfast in Fethiye, it’s time to bid farewell to your shipmates, gulet and crew.

Transfer to Dalaman airport and take the morning flight to Istanbul Airport.

Arrival and transfer to Hotel and have a free afternoon for the last chance to complete your visits.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel in Istanbul

Day 14: Departure Day

Stop At: Istanbul Airport, Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No:1, 34283 Arnavutköy/İstanbul, Turkey
Transfer to Istanbul Airport to connect to your international flight.
Duration: 1 hour

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