RELAXING TURKEY – 14 DAYS(ISTANBUL-ANTALYA-CAPPADOCIA-EPHESUS-PAMUKKALE-FETHIYE)

A good option including cultural visits and free time at resorts. The tour include Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale, Antalya and Kas. Transport provided with overnight buses.

Enjoy the Relaxing Turkey with Backpackers Travel 14 days tour : You will visit Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya,  Fethiye, Pamukkale and Ephesus

Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul: One of our colleagues will be waiting for you at the arrival hall with a sign of Efendi Travel. He/she will accompany you to our vehicle and you will be transferred directly to your hotel. Accommodation in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul City Tour: You will be picked up from your hotel at around 08:30. You will visit: Hagia Sophia , Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome Grand Bazaar After lunch you will see: Topkapi Palace , Hagia Irene  and the tour ends about 16:30 and back to hotel Accommodation in Istanbul. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Please note that Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Blue Mosque will not be visited on Fridays.

Day 3: Dolmabahce Palace Tour & Bosphorus Cruise: (check out from hotel in the morning) 

You will be picked up from your hotel at around 08:00-08:30 for Dolmabahce Palace & Bezmi Alem Mosque Tour. We firstly visit Dolmabahce Palace, recent residence for Ottoman Sultans. Famous with great collection of European antiquity, furniture and 4.5 tons chandelier, the palace has 285 rooms of 46 halls. After palace the next stop is Bezmi Alem Mosque. Then you will drive to the restaurant for lunch break. After lunch, you will first drive by Golden Horn shores viewing the City Walls, dating back to the Byzantine Era. Then you will get on the vehicle and drive to Eminonu, where you will get on the boat for a 2-hour Bosphorus Cruise. You will see the most impressive sights along the shores of the Bosphorus including Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Maiden´s Tower, Bosphorus bridges, Rumeli and Anadolu fortresses and Ottoman Residences.

 After the cruise, you will be dropped off back at our office at around 17:00. You will take the bus company’s shuttle service to Esenler Bus station from our office departing at 18:30, then take the overnight bus to Nevsehir departing at around 20:30. The journey takes around 11 hours. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 4: First day in Cappadocia: Upon your arrival at Nevsehir Bus Station, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel to wait for the tour group and to have breakfast (with time allowing – subject to extra charge). You will be picked up at around 09:00, then you will drive to Devrent Valley where the geographical formations remind a place of another planet. Then in Pasabagi, you will take a stroll between 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 will drive to Uchisar Castle, the highest point of the region, where you will have a fabulous panoramic view over Cappadocia. You will return back to your hotel at around 17:00. Accommodation in Cappadocia. (lunch on the tour)

Day 5: Second day in Cappadocia: You will be picked up from your hotel at around 09:00 for a tour on a 4 km 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 to see the marvel of construction that is the Kaymakli Underground City. You will also visit the Ortahisar Natural Rock Castle. After the tour, you will be dropped off back at your hotel. Accommodation in Cappadocia. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 6: Free Day in Cappadocia: (check out from hotel until noon) 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 Antalya. Then you will be transferred to the bus station to take an overnight bus to Antalya. (your bus tickets will be handed over to you when you are dropped off at the bus station – breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 7: Antalya City Tour: Upon your arrival at Antalya bus station, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel to wait for the tour group and to have breakfast (with time allowing – subject to extra charge). You will be picked up from your hotel at around 08:00 for the full day Perge, Aspendos, Side Tour. You will be visiting Perge antique site in detail; Stadium, Roman Gate, Nymphaeum, Roman Bath, Hellenistic gate, Colonnaded Main Street and the Agora. Lunch on the Koprupazari stream near the Aspendos Theater. Visiting Aspendos Theater and the Historical Aqueducts. Shopping Break where also the Turkish handcrafts are introduced. Introduction of Side and an hour and a half free time. After the tour, you will be dropped off back at your hotel. (lunch on the tour)

Day 8: Antalya to Fethiye: You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the bus station to take a day bus to Fethiye, which takes around 6 hours. Upon your arrival at Fethiye bus station, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation in Fethiye. (breakfast at hotel)

Day 9: Free Day in Fethiye: Free day just relaxing under the sun and to enjoy the most beautiful and popular Blue Lagoon Coast in Mediterranean. Accommodation in Fethiye. (breakfast at hotel)

Day 10: Free Day in Fethiye: One more free day just relaxing under the sun and to enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean. Optional Tours (Paragliding, 12 Islands Boat Tours) (breakfast at hotel)

Day 11: Bus to Pamukkale: You will be transferred to the bus station to take a day bus to Pamukkale, which takes around 5 hours. Upon your arrival at Pamukkale, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation in Pamukkale.

Day 12: Pamukkale Travertenies and Bus to Kusadasi:  (check out from hotel in the morning) You will be picked up from your hotle at around 09:00 for the tour of Pamukkale, which is the center of natural thermal spring waters with healing properties. Due to the chemical properties in the water, pure white colored travertines and stepped water terraces have been created on the mountain slope. It is for its resemblence to cotton piles that it is called ´Cotton Castle´ in Turkish. Visit the travertines and 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 (entrance is about 10 Euro extra). There shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath. After the tour you will be transferred to the bus station to take an evening bus to Kusadasi. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation in Kusadasi. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 13: Ephesus Ancient City and Virgin Mary’s House: You will be picked up from your hotel at around 09:00 for the full day Ephesus Ancient City and Virgin Mary’s House Tour. 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. After the tour, you will be dropped off back at your hotel.

Day 14: Free Day and Bus to Istanbul: (check out from your hotel until noon) Free time to enjoy the region. You will be picked up from your hotel in the evening and transferred to the bus station to take an overnight bus to Istanbul. (your bus tickets will be handed over to you when you are dropped off at the bus station – breakfast at hotel)

Day 15: End of the tour: You will arrive at Istanbul Esenler Bus station at around 07:00. Upon your arrival, you may use the public transportation to get to Istanbul Airport or Sultanahmet area.

Price:
1500  EUR per person in double/twin room. If you are a single traveller, there will be a 25% single supplement surcharge.

We offer a 5% discount for cash payments.

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 Dervish Show: 35  Eur per person extra

Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus: 50 Eur per person extra

Turkish Night, Dinner & Belly Dance Show: 70 Eur per person extra

Standard Hot-air Balloon Ride: Price range 180 Euro-300 Euros