Turkey Blue 14 days

Operated : All Year

Tour Highlights : Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Hierapolis, Aphrodisias , Pamukkale, Lycian Coast.

Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul :

Arrival in Istanbul and meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, check- in. Leisure afternoon.
Overnight Istanbul.

Day 2 – Sultanahmet – Old Istanbul (B.L.)

Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:00am
Visit to Topkapi Palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed.(Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch break we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the Yerebatan underground Cistern. At the end of the tour, at request, free time to see the Grand Covered Bazaar (except Sundays). *May be done as a walking tour if your hotel is centrally located.
Overnight Istanbul.

Day 3 – Bosphorus Cruise with St. (Haghia) Sophia & Beylerbeyi (B.L.)

Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:45am
Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market on the Golden Horn. Board your cruise of the Bosphorus, the waterway, which separates the continents of Europe and Asia. Pass Rumeli fortress, built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prepare for his conquest of Istanbul. Cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia and visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill for a magnificent view of Istanbul. Time for lunch in a seaside fish restaurant. Cruise is done by public boat unless other arrangements are made. Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Order of visits may be reversed.. Return to Hotel around 17:00pm (Option to fly to Cappadocia in the evening, please request!)

Day 4 - Istanbul- Cappadocia (B.L.)

Pick-up from hotel 2 hours before flight departure.
Take the early morning flight from Ataturk Airport in Istanbul to Cappadocia. Arrival at the airport and meeting just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name with your driver. Transfer to Cappadocia. Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Drive to to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos )- Sobessos is newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses & Archaeological excavation site. Villages in the valleys, surrounded by the “table top” mountains, are spectacular. Continue with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides it’s frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer which we can only see by torch light. Lunch break. Visit to Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture. Visit to Saruhan Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travellers could rest and recover from the day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across a network of trade routes of Asia, North Africa and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice road. Continue with panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations, is in the heart of Cappadocia but away from the tourist crowd.
Overnight Cappadocia

Day 5 - Cappadocia (B.L.)

Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:30am
In the morning, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses, visit to Pasabag “fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies” near Zelve. Lunch break in Avanos, centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. Afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.
Overnight Cappadocia

Day 6 – Cappadocia (B.L.)

Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:30am
Drive to Ihlara, hiking in Ihlara Canyon, a “mirage” in the Steps of Anatolia up to Belisirma village, the ancient Peristrema: “Valley of the Sky” along the Melendiz River. Rock-cut churches, spread across a wild plantation, surprise you with their successfully painted representations from the Bible. Lunch in Belisirma, a local restaurant by the river. Stop by Selime, a village with cave houses at the end of the canyon and a “star wars” like landscape.
Overnight Cappadocia

Day 7 – Cappadocia – Ephesus- (B.L.)

Pick-up from hotel 2 hours before flight departure.
Take the morning flight from Kayseri to Izmir (direct or via Istanbul).
Arrival and meeting at the airport with your name sign. Transfer to Ephesus.
Visit to the ancient city of Ephesus. We will spend several hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Caesar, Cicero, Apostles Paul and John and many other familiar historical names. The recently opened Terrace Houses (entry extra) where the wealthiest Romans lived are an excellent example of sensitive excavation and presentation. The mosaics and frescos are spectacular. Tradition has it that Virgin Mary was brought here by St John after the Crucifixion and lived her final years near the city of Ephesus on an isolated mountaintop. A lovely chapel is constructed on the site tended by Franciscans and open to visitors. It has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope. Visit to temple of Artemis to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Overnight Kusadasi near Ephesus.

Day 8 – Pamukkale- Hierapolis- Laodicea (B.D.)

Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:30am
Drive to Pamukkale, on the way, visit to Laodicea (present name Denizli) yet one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. Excavations still going on and an ancient city as beautiful as Ephesus will be uncovered soon. We see the ancient theatres, the remains of basilica which was recently uncovered, ancient stone water pipes, Temple A, agora, monumental fountain. After Laodicea, Discovery of Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders that you can see from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side. About 200 m overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a fairyland of bizarre solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle): “pamuk” for cotton and “kale” for castle. Moreover the water in the basins is changing its color according to how the light enters.
Overnight Pamukkale.

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

Meeting at the hotel reception at 08:30am
Transfer from Pamukkale to fethiye. Board the boat in Marmaris at 15:30 from Marmaris Harbour. Guests who arrive early may leave their luggage at the Barbaros Yachting Office. On the first day, the service starts on the boat with dinner and overnight stay in Marmaris Port. Marmaris which was built upon one of the antique Karian cities called Phyckos, has been under the rule of many different civilizations. The most valuable work of art that you can see today is Marmaris Castle dating from 1577. There is also a mosque and an 8-room caravansary 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 has also a large marina.

Day 10: Ekincik Gulf – Dalyan (B.L.D)

After your breakfast, you will be informed about the cruise itinerary and the boat. The cruise will move towards Ekincik Gulf. You may join our optional Dalyan Tour from here. You will be taken from your yacht by a small boat called “piyade”. You will arrive at Caretta-Caretta (turtle) Beach and take a swimming break here. You will enjoy the natural beauty of the delta as you cruise along the river. You will see the ancient Rock Tombs and finally arrive at mud baths to relax and be rejuvenated. A fishing village called Dalyan will be our final destination after we return to our yacht by piyade boat. Dinner and overnight stay will be in the Gulf of Ekincik.

Day 11:Adali Bay – Manastir – Tersane Island (B.L.D)

Because of the wavy seas of Dişibilmez and Kurtoğlu that we have to cross, we will cruise earlier than the other days and reach the world-famous Fethiye Gulf. We will anchor at Adalı Bay for breakfast. For lunch and a swimming break, we will go to Manastır Bay. This place is known as Cleopatra Bay or Sunken Bath Bay due to the beautiful underwater ruins of an old bath. We will anchor at Tersane Island for dinner and overnight stay. This naturally protected harbour was used as the shipyard in Byzantine and Ottoman times.

Day 12: Kizil Island – Fethiye (B.L.D)

After breakfast, we will cruise to Kızıl Island for lunch and a swimming break. On the fourth day of our cruise, we will arrive in Fethiye Harbour around 16:00 p.m. The guests who joined for ‘Mini Cruise’ may leave the boat here. Fethiye, which was known as Telmessos in the ancient times, was the most important city situated on Lycia’s western border with Caria. It is believed that the city’s name comes from Apollon’s son Telmessos. As the name suggests, the city was the city of light and was famous for its prophets. Fethiye stretches in a half circle along the bay protected by 12 Islands. You can visit the city centre if you wish. Dinner and overnight stay will be in Fethiye Harbour.

Day 13: Fethiye – Istanbul (B)

After breakfast in Fethiye, it’s time to bid farewell to your shipmates, gulet & crew. Transfer to Dalaman airport and take the Turkish Airlines morning flight to Istanbul Ataturk airport. Arrival and transfer to Hotel. Free afternoon for a last chance to complete your visits.
Overnight Istanbul.

Day 14 (B)

Pick-up from hotel 3 hours before flight departure.
Transfer to Airport to connect to your international flight and leave Turkey

We can custom design your itinerary to create a touring program that most ideally suits your personal, educational, cultural, and budgetary requirements. Please contact us for details and we will design your dream tour…