Enjoy the Relaxing Turkey with Backpackers 14 days tour : You will visit Istanbul, Cappadocia, Olympos, Blue Cruise on Med., Pamukkale and Ephesus
Day 1 : Istanbul City Tour : Pick up time is about 08.30 from the hotel. You will visit : Topkapi Palace (Harem section is extra), Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome. After lunch you will see: St.Sophia Museum, Basilica Cistern (Underground Water Palace), Million stone, Tomb of Sultan Mahmud and ancient Ottoman cemetery, Cemberlitas (Burnt Column) and the tour ends about 16:30 with free time at the Grand Bazaar. You will be advised by your guide for getting back to your hotel on your own. Please note that Hagia Sophia closed on Monday, Topkapi Palace on Tuesday and Grand Covered Bazaar is closed on Sunday. (lunch on the tour) - Accommodation in Istanbul
Day 2 : Golden Horn & Bosphorus Cruise : Pick up time is about 08:30 from your hotel. You will visit : Yedikule Dungeons, City Walls, Chora Church, Pierre Loti Hill and Fener Orthodox Patriarchate. After lunch you will see Rustem Pasha Mosque, Sprice Bazaar and Bosphorus Cruise by boat. Return back to the hotel about 18:00. Please note that Chora Church is closed on Wednesday. (lunch on the tour) - Accommodation in Istanbul
Day 3 : Free Day in Istanbul : One free day in this great city. You will take an overnight bus to Cappadocia with non smoking, fully air-conditioned bus. The shuttle departs about 18:30 from our office and the bus departs about 20:00 from the bus station which is about 11 hours of journey to Cappadocia. (breakfast at the hotel)
Day 4 : First day in Cappadocia : Upon your arrival to the bus station of Cappadocia, you will be met and transferred to the hotel for refreshment. The tour starts about 09.30 am from your hotel in the morning, you´ll drive to Devrent Valley where the geographical formations remind a place of another planet. Then in Pasabagi, you´ll take a stroll among the amazing fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. From there driving to Avanos to have lunch. After having the lunch you leave from Avanos to see the most beautiful examples of Byzantine art in Goreme Open Air Museum. Then you´ll drive to Uchisar Castle, the highest point of the region, where you will have a fabulous panoramic view over Cappadocia. Then return to the hotel about 17.30. (lunch on the tour) - Accommodation in Cappadocia
Day 5 : Second day in Cappadocia : Depart from your hotel at 09.30 am for a tour on a 4km hike through the Rose Valley visiting the churches. Afterwards visit the old christian village of Cavusin. Stop for lunch in Pigeons Valley and then continue on to see the marvel of construction that is the Kaymakli Underground City. You will also visit the Ortahisar Natural Rock Castle. (breakfast at the hotel and lunch on the tour) - Accommodation in Cappadocia
Day 6 : Free Day in Cappadocia : One free day in magic valley to explore the area or just to have a rest after two full day tours before the overnight bus to Olympos. The bus leaves at 20:00. (breakfast at the hotel)
Day 7 : Free Day in Olympos : Arrival at 09:00 in the morning.Free day in Olympos.Accommodation in Olympos at tree houses&bungalows. (breakfast at the hotel)
Day 8 : Blue Cruise on Med. : Pick-up from the tree houses in Olympos between 10:00-10:30. Bus transfer to the archaeological site of Myra, and to Demre for the St-Nicholas Church when requested, shopping, banking and lunch. Boat departure from the harbour of Demre between 1 and 2 p.m. Pirates Cave (sea conditions permitting), Sunken City of Kekova (this Lycian-Roman archaeological site is protected, so only looking!). Simena, a traditional Turkish fishing village with no car access and Byzantine/Ottoman castle. In Gokkaya Bay optional water sports are available. Dinner, relax in this pirates haven or party the night away at the Smugglers Inn. (lunch and dinner on the deck) - First night on board.
Day 9 : Blue Cruise on Med. : Breakfast. Departure to Kas. A swim stop in a nice and quiet bay in front of the little town. Lunch. Visit of this charming fishing village. Of ancient Antiphellos, as Kas was once known, only Lycian rock tombs & sarcophagi and the Roman theatre are left. But the charm of the town remains! Near Kalkan we stop in Aquarium or Firnaz Bay.(breakfast, lunch and dinner on the deck) - Second night on board
Day 10 : Blue Cruise on Med. : Around sunrise we depart for Butterfly Valley where we stop (sea conditions permitting!) for breakfast, swimming and to visit this natural reserve, hosting 136 kinds of different butterflies and moths. Oludeniz (The Blue Lagoon) is our next stop, again sea conditions permitting! Option for paragliding available. Lunch. Last stop of the day is St-Nicholas Island. Byzantine ruins, swim. (breakfast, lunch and dinner on the deck) - Third night on board
Day 11 : Fethiye and Blue Lagoon : Departure for Samanlik Bay for swimming. Finally we sail to Fethiye Harbour where we arrive between 3 and 4 p.m. (breakfast and lunch on the deck) - Accommodation in Fethiye
Day 12 : Depart to Pamukkale : Day bus to Pamukkale which takes about 4 hours. .When you arrive Pamukkale you will be met to take you to your hotel .Free day in Pamukkale. (breakfast at the hotel) - Accommodation in Pamukkale
Day 13 : Pamukkale Travertenies and Hierapolis Ancient City : Pick up from the hotel about 09.30 am for the daily tour of the ancient city of Pamukkale Travertenies and Hierapolis Ancient City. We start form the North Gate of Pamukkale (Hierapolis). You will see the Necropolis (cemetery) of Hierapolis which is one of the biggest ancient cemetery in Anatolia with 1.200 graves, Roman Bath, Domitian Gate, the Main Street, Byzantian Gate. Then, you walk to the natural warm water terraces which were formed by running warm water that contains calcium. The temprature of the water is about 35. You can see the gleaming white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, located next to the ruins of Hierapolis. The extraordinary effect is created when water from the hot springs loses carbon dioxide as it flows down the slopes, leaving deposits of limestone. The layers of white calcium carbonate, built up in steps on the plateau, gave the site the name Pamukkale (cotton castle).After the open buffed lunch Swimming in hot red thermal pools in the hotel. Then If you like to swim in the Ancient Pool which is also called Cleopatra s Pool they charge extra entrance fee. The Cleopatra Pool is warmed by hot springs and littered with underwater fragments of ancient marble columns. Possibly associated with the Temple of Apollo, the pool provides today´s visitors a rare opportunity to swim with antiquities! During the Roman period, columned porticoes surrounded the pool; earthquakes toppled them into the water where they lie todAfter the tour you will be transferred to the bus station for taking 3 hours bus ride to Ephesus. (breakfast at the hotel and lunch on the tour) - Accommodation in Ephesus
Day 14 : Ephesus Ancient City and Virgin Mary House : Pick up from the hotel about 09.30 am for the daily tour of the ancient city of Ephesus. You will visit Ephesus which is known to be the Commercial, the Religious and the Social Center of Antiquity, and one of the Highlights of any Visit in Turkey. After the lunch, you will drive to Temple of Artemis (Diana), the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world; House of Virgin Mary, probably where She spent recent years of Her life; Isa Bey Mosque, this impressive mosque from XIV. Century A.D. is unlike any other you will see in this country. Return to the hotel about 17.30. (breakfast at the hotel and lunch on the tour). You will be transferred to the bus station for the overnight bus back to Istanbul. The bus leaves at 21:00.
Day 15 : End of the tour : Arrive Istanbul in the morning. Upon your arrival to Esenler Bus Station, you may use the free shuttle to get to Sultanahmet Square or use the public transportation to get to Ataturk Airport.
Price :
875 Euros per person. If you are a single traveller, there will be %25 percent single supplement.
Tour Price Includes
Accommodation in 3* hotels or similar boutique hotels
Meal services during the tour noted in the itinerary above
Transportation by major companies with A/C busses
Professional licensed guiding services
Entrance fees to the museums during guided tours
The local tours may include some shopping facilities if the timing will be available
Tour Price Excludes
Personal expenses
Dinners
Tips (optional)
Extra Offers
Whirling Dervishes Ceramony in Istanbul for 20 euro per person
Cappadocia Balloon Tour for 150 euro per person
Traditional Turkish Night Show and Dinner in Cappadocia for 35 euro at Yasar Baba Restaurant
