12 Days Historical In-Depth of Turkey

Istanbul Airport, İmrahor, Istanbul Airport (IST), Turkey - Kayseri Erkilet Airport, Turkey, Turkey

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Start Time: 14:00

Details

12 Days | 11 Nights

Tour Types: Private

Runs: Everyday

Accommodation: 4* Hotels

Minimum Age: 18

Tour Description

Get ready for a 12-day journey filled with experiences awaiting your discovery. Be enchanted by Turkey's iconic destinations, from the captivating beauty of Istanbul to the ancient riches of Ephesus, the awe-inspiring marvel of Pamukkale, embark on boat trip in Fethiye, the coastal allure of Antalya, and the surreal vistas of Cappadocia.

Highlights

Visit the ancient wonders of Ephesus.
Delve in the vibrant city of Istanbul.
Marvel at the natural wonders of Pamukkale.
Relax along the coastal beauty of Fethiye.
Soak in the sun-kissed charm of Antalya.
Explore the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Istanbul Airport – Istanbul Hotel
1 Stop

Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey! You will be picked from Istanbul airport and drive to your hotel, check in at the hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

4* Celal Sultan Hotel or similar

Day 2
Istanbul City Tour – Istanbul Hotel
1 Stop

Istanbul

According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore Hagia Sophia; was the largest building on earth barring the Egyptian Pyramids or the Great Wall of China. It was the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period. Next; Topkapi Palace; As well as being the imperial residence of the Sultan, the palace was also the seat of government for the ottoman empire. It housed the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Continue to with Hippodrome; Built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203AD, during the Roman period hippodrome was the civil center for the people of the city where once 100,000 spectators could be held. Next, Blue Mosque; Built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in the year 1616, Blue Mosque today is one of the most famous landmarks of the old city with its famous six minarets and magnificent dome. At the end of the tour back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

4* Celal Sultan Hotel or similar

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 3
Egyptian Bazaar – Bosphorus Cruise – Flight to Izmir – Kusadasi Hotel
4 Stops

Egyptian Bazaar

After breakfast at the hotel, check out, and leave your luggage at the lobby. According to your pick-up time meet with your guide and start your half-day tour. Visit Spice Bazaar; It was called Egyptian Bazaar during the Ottoman period because shopkeepers used to sell herbs and spices brought throughout Egypt and Asia.

Bosphorus Cruise

Next, Cruising on Bosphorus; where you will enjoy a magnificent view. Great history with beautiful nature. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion, you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, Rustem Pasa Mosque, Rumeli Fortress and further along with the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace.

Flight from Istanbul to Izmir

Take your luggage and drive to Airport for your 1 hour 15 min domestic flight to Izmir.

Kusadasi

Upon arrival you will be greeted by your drive who will drive you safely to your hotel. Check in. Overnight in Kusadasi.

3* Efe Boutique Hotel or similar

Breakfast

Day 4
Kusadasi – Ephesus Tour – Kusadasi Hotel
2 Stops

Ephesus

According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Visit The House of Virgin Mary; a church was built from the 6C AD to the top of the foundations of a house from 1C AD and it is declared by the church to be the final house where Mary spent her last days. Your tour continues with the Ancient Ephesus; The best-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. During the 1C AD, Ephesus was the second-largest city on the planet after Rome with more than 250,000 citizens. Ephesus is also so well preserved that, walking on the ancient streets among the beautiful monuments such as the third largest library of the ancient world or the largest roman theatre on the Asia continent, gives you the feeling of a time traveler. Next; Temple of Artemis or Artemision was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its ancient cult dedicated to Artemis was very famous in antiquity and made Ephesus a much-visited pilgrimage place.

Kusadasi

After tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

3* Efe Boutique Hotel or similar

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 5
Kusadasi – Pamukkale Tour – Fethiye Hotel
2 Stops

Pamukkale

After breakfast at the hotel, check out. According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Visit Pamukkale; Pools of Heaven on Earth, Pamukkale has always been a very popular settlement where hot springs were believed to have healing powers so it is considered to be the earliest spa on earth wherein history people traveled long distances in order to find a cure. The unique terraces were formed by running warm spring water at a temperature of 35 C, containing calcium bicarbonate. Today Pamukkale is declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Visit; the ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. Also, The Sacred Pool is one of the highlights of the site. Their shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath.

Fethiye

At the end of the tour, we will drive for about 3 hours to Fethiye. Transfer to your hotel and overnight.

4* Woyn Point Hotel or similar

Breakfast

Day 6
Fethiye Island Boat Tour – Fethiye Hotel
2 Stops

Fethiye Island Boat Tour

According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Fethiye harbor, when you embark on our comfortable and spacious boats, our hospitable crew will take you for an enchanting ODYSSEY along with the 12 Islands. On a myriad of bays and islands where navies and corsairs sought shelter from tempests all through man’s nautical history, you’ll find yourself in the bosom of the Mediterranean like no other boat trip can compare. Swim in the aquarium clear crystalline waters, disembark and take strolls at various islands and bays, sunbathe and fall asleep in tune with mother nature’s most tranquil lullaby, and have a BBQ lunch on board.

Fethiye

After tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Fethiye.

4* Woyn Point Hotel or similar

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 7
Fethiye Hotel – Antalya Hotel
1 Stop

Antalya

After breakfast at the hotel, check out. We will drive you for 4 hours journey to Antalya. Transfer to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Antalya.

4* Best Western Khan or similar

Breakfast

Day 8
Antalya City Tour – Antalya Hotel
1 Stop

Antalya

Today you visit the cable car ride 'from sea to sky'. Enjoy amazing views from the top of Tunektepe which stands 1365 mt above sea level. You will see the beautiful coastline of the Antalya region, gorgeous mountains, pine forests, and turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Great pictures taken during the trip will remind you of this unforgettable experience. Next; Duden waterfalls are the most beautiful and the most visited in the Antalya region. Walk through the beautiful park and listen to the sound of falling water. After lunch at a local restaurant with a beautiful panoramic view you will have 1-1.5 hours of free time to explore the old town (Kaleici). You will see the top attractions of the city: Hadrianus Gate, Clock Tower, Kesik Minare (Truncated Minaret) and city walls dated back to the 2d century. Old Town with its narrow stone streets is also a great place to explore numerous boutiques, art galleries, and interesting museums. Return to your hotel and overnight in Antalya.

4* Best Western Khan or similar

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 9
Antalya – Konya – Cappadocia Hotel
2 Stops

Konya

After breakfast at the hotel check out, and visit the museum of 13th-century Philosopher Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi. Mevlana was a philosopher and mystic of Islam, but not a Muslim of the orthodox type. His doctrine advocates unlimited tolerance, positive reasoning, goodness, charity and awareness through love. Then visit the 700-year-old Sultanhani Caravanserail (ancient traders and travelers on silk road)

Cappadocia

After lunch travel to Cappadocia. Transfer to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Cappadocia

4* Fresco Caves Suites or similar

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 10
Cappadocia Tour – Cappadocia Hotel
1 Stop

Cappadocia

According to your tour pick-up time, meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Explore Goreme Museum; which consists of many rock-cut churches from the second half of 9C with beautiful colorful frescoes decorating the walls. Next; is Devrent Valley; famous for its quirky animal-shaped rocks. It looks like a sculpture zoo made by nature. Next; Pasabagi which means: the Pacha's vineyard. This site is also called Monks Valley. The hermitage of Simeon monks was here. Next, we continue to Goreme Panorama, which has one of the best panoramic views of the fairy chimneys. Next Uchisar the Natural highest Rock Castle provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area. At the end of the tour drive you back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia

4* Fresco Caves Suites or similar

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 11
Cappadocia Tour – Flight to Istanbul – Istanbul Hotel
3 Stops

Cappadocia

After breakfast at the hotel check out. According to your tour pick-up time meet with your guide and start your full-day tour. Visit Rose Valley; is an incredibly unique area of Cappadocia with sharp ridges, tinted in pink especially during sunset! the minerals in the sandstone have a pink tinge. Next Cavusin; is surrounded by a valley, which becomes gradually wider, called Red Valley. The houses of the village were cut into massive rock formations. The village is famous for its rock-churches. Next; Pigeon Valley; earned its name from the countless man-made dovecotes (Pigeon Houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Pigeon Valley is one of the best spots for walking in the marvelous Cappadocia region. Next; Underground Cities; once a place of refuge for 15000 Christians. These settlements were of enormous value to the development of Christianity as they provided shelter and worship and were in use until the end of 7C AD. Witness the ancient bedrooms, church, meeting hall and food storage rooms in this eight-story city connected by 30km of corridors and passageways. Tour continues to Ortahisar; famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets and lovely churches as well as the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named.

Flight from Kayseri to Istanbul

At the end of the tour drive you to Kayseri Airport for your 1hour 30min domestic flight to Istanbul.

Istanbul

Upon arrival you will be greeted by your driver who will drive you safely to your hotel. Check in at the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

4* Celal Sultan Hotel or similar

Breakfast & Lunch

Day 12
Istanbul Hotel – Istanbul Airport
1 Stop

Istanbul Airport

Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Depending on your flight departure time you will be transferred to Istanbul Airport and say farewell to the land of the Turks!

Breakfast

Inclusions

Private transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle with driver.

2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Antalya.

2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Fethiye.

2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Kusadasi.

Domestic flight, economic class ticket (IST-ADB and ASR-IST).

3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Istanbul.

2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Cappadocia.

Professional and licensed English-speaking guide during day tours.

7 lunches at local restaurants.

Entrance fees to mentioned sites.

Exclusions

Any International flight to Turkey.

Entry visa to Turkey (if applicable).

Travel Insurance.

Meals and beverage not stated.

Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia.

Any optional additional tours or activities during free time.

Any tip for driver or local guide.

Any portage and personal expenses.

Others not mentioned on above inclusions.

Practical Info

• The price is calculated for this itinerary. Modified itineraries may result in higher costs.
Any change in the number of passengers affects the quote.
• The driver/tour guide escorts according to the booked itinerary, he is not 24/7 at your disposal.
• Official check in time at hotels 15:00 – check out time at hotels 12:00.
• We do not check the availability of accommodation when planning your trip. Once you booked and any hotel is not available, we search an alternative and inform you.
• The Istanbul old city tour is on foot as the places are in walking distance to each other. The order of visits may be reversed.
• The Hagia Sophia is open from 09:00-17:00 in the period November to March and from 09:00-19:00 in the period April to October. The last entry is one hour before closing time.
• Women need to cover their head, and everyone needs to move the shoes before stepping on the carpet.
• The Hagia Sophia is now a mosque, so do not walk in front of praying visitors and note that the Hagia Sophia might get busy during Friday prayers around noon.
• Opening Hours of the Topkapi Palace are 10:00-16:00 in the period October to March, 09:00-18:45 in the period April to September. The palace is closed on Tuesdays.
• The Blue Mosque is closed to non-Muslims 45 minutes before the call to prayer, 30 minutes afterwards, and on Fridays until 14:30.
• To respect the local culture please cover shoulders and knees, for mosque visit women need to cover their head.
• For swimming in the Cleopatra Pool of Pamukkale please pack towel, swimwear and bathing shoes.
• If you opt for a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, it only takes place in the early morning. We recommend to book as early as possible as this is a popular activity and subject to availability.
• You walk several km in during day tours, so bear in mind good walking shoes and a backpack for beverage, camera etc.
• All guides in Turkey are licensed by the Ministry of Tourism in Turkey and are not part of our team.
• The size of the vehicle used for the tour is based on the number of travelers. Nexus Travel DMC assumes that each traveler carries 1 suitcase and 1 hand luggage. If clients travel with more luggage, we need to be informed in advance. In case a larger vehicle needs to be used to store all luggage, additional costs will be covered by clients.

How to Book this Tour

- After booking the tour with us online, one of our consultants will get in touch within 24 hours. You need to pay then a 25% deposit by credit card or by bank transfer. The full payment is due latest 14 days before tour start.
- Cancellations or changes need to be sent in written form. Charges are as follows:
• 5% of the total price of the trip for cancellations from the date of booking until 41 days before departure.
• 50% of the total price of the trip for cancellations or changes made 40 to 15 days before departure.
• 100% of the total price of the trip for cancellations or changes made 14 to 01 days before departure or no show.
- For refunds we do not cover transaction fees charged by credit card companies and banks.

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