Turkey Panorama Tour

Tour Itinerary: 21 Days

Day 1: Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul. Transfer to hotel.
Today you will meet with our team at the airport and transfer to the Hotel. We’ll meet in the afternoon for a brief introduction to the tour, then take a stroll to the Blue Mosque, a 17th Century Ottoman Imperial Mosque dominating the skyline of the Old Town. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 2: Istanbul
This morning your guide will take you around some of Istanbul's famous sites; all are close to the old part of town - Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar. Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, was the hub of the Ottoman Empire, and many of the grand buildings of this period are present today. Foods, clothing, jewellery, leather goods can be found at reasonable prices if you bargain. You could easily spend a week in this city and still not have seen all the sights. (B)

Day 3: Istanbul – Kayseri
Transfer to airport and fly to Cappadocia in the morning. After checking in at the hotel our guide will take you to a hike in this old Greek village.

Day 4: Cappadocia
Biking in Cappadocia
Today, our ride will start from Goreme, descend through Kiliclar valley to Cavusin where we'll have lunch and visit some churches. In the afternoon we'll pedal near Akvadi, where we'll see the white fairy chimneys, the unique topography Cappadocia is known for.. Afterwards we will descend from Uchisar to Goreme along asphalt road. Total ride about 15 km, 10 km off road, Return to hotel for overnight, (BLD)

Day 5: Cappadocia
Hiking in Cappadocia
after breakfast a short transfer to Zelve, an old cave dwelling village transformed today into an open-air museum. The first walk for the day will include hiking through the typical fairy chimneys of Pasabaglari. In the afternoon, while the sun is setting, we will enter the Red Valley, looking even redder at the light of the sunset. This is the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia with its formations and colours. Then we will continue to Avanos to discover the handicrafts of Cappadocia with pottery demonstrations. Here it will be possible to try a Turkish bath, too. We will spend the night in the same Hotel. The walk for the day will be about 5-6 hours. (BLD)

Day 6: Cappadocia
Hot air balloon + hike in Cappadocia
Very early in the morning we'll go for a hot air balloon ride. We'll then come back for breakfast and set off to hike in the Uzengi Valley. Then we will enter another valley – Pancarlik Valley, in order to see the numerous cones and fairy chimneys decorating our path and also to visit the Kepez and Sarica churches for their architectural significance. Following our pathway we arrive in Ortahisar village, an opportunity to sample Turkish delicacies. Then we will continue hiking up the fortress (a volcanic ash peak), which will be rewarded by the incomparable view over the Cappadocia Valley. Avcilar Valley, surrounded by extraordinary rock formations, will be the target place for the afternoon walk. We will spend the night in the Hotel. The walk for the day will be about 5 hours. (BLD)

Day 7: Cappadocia - Sokullupinar -Taurus Mountains (Hiking)
This morning we set off by vehicle into the Taurus Mountains. On the way we'll visit Derinkuyu, a huge underground city buried under the plains of Central Anatolia. It's 8 floors deep and was used by the early Christians, hiding from Roman persecution. We'll drive to Demirkazik for a delicious trout lunch at an open-air restaurant on the riverbank. Then carry on to the Cimbar gorge, the starting point of our trek. We'll hoof up to Arpalik Yayla and have spectacular views of narrow passages and towering rock walls surrounding us. After 4 hours of trekking, we reach Sokulupinar, our campsite located at 2.000m. The views here are gorgeous, especially as the sun is setting on the horizon. Overnight at camp in Sokulupinar 2.000m, (BLD)

Day 8 Taurus Mountains - Sokulupinar – Emli Valley – (Hiking)
We rise early in our tents, head to the dining tent for a homemade breakfast. Then we set off on foot, ascending to Sakartas at 2.300m. We traverse along the path to Eznevit, a semi-nomad campsite at 2.538m, where we may meet some local families herding their flocks of animals. After having lunch we gradually descend to the Siyirmalik valley, with wonderful panoramic views of the high rocky pinnacles of the Aladaglar region forested with fragrant Cedar and Juniper trees. We eventually end at our campsite in the Emli Valley, located at 1800 metres. 6 hours trekking. Overnight at camp in Emli Valley 1.750m,

Day 9: Taurus Mountains – Antalya
Today we depart from our campsite by vehicle. We are headed to Antalya, located on the beautiful Mediterranean coast of Southern Turkey. After a three hour drive we break our journey in Konya where we stop to visit the Whirling Dervishes museum. We then drive for a further four hours through the Taurus Mountains to arrive in Antalya. Antalya is a beautiful coastal town, set atop a limestone plateau, with the Beydaglari Mountain peak looming to the west. Our accommodation here is in an authentic Ottoman guesthouse in the old city centre, near the old harbour. It's a great location to wander at night through the narrow streets for an evening stroll on the promenade. Overnight at a comfortable hotel in the old city.

Day 10: Antalya – Kas
Drive west along the coastline for Kas. Free afternoon
After a hearty Turkish breakfast, we head west to Kas, a quaint fishing village on the Mediterranean. If we feel like stretching our legs en-route, there are some places of interest to stop along the way, either at Mt. Olympos to see the burning stone of Chimera or at the Church of St. Nicholas. Upon arrival to Kas we’ll check into our cozy hotel and then try out the kayaks. After dinner, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.

Day 11: Free day in Kas
Day free of activity, enjoy beach / sea.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 12: Kas
Sea kayak in the Mediterranean.
Early morning we launch our sleek kayaks into the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. We’ll paddle to Simena, where we’ll have the chance to stroll the narrow streets filled with traditional houses.
After via the sunken city of Kekova, where we’ll be able to see mysterious chambers, steps and walls carved directly into the rocks below us. If you still are not tired, we’ll have a look at aquarium cove and back to Ucagiz.
(BL)

Day 13: Kas
Snorkelling
Morning snorkelling trip in the surroundings of Kas. Afternoon is free time. (B)

Day 14: Kas – Fethiye
Drive to Fethiye along the Mediterranean. Visit Xanthos ancient city (Unesco World Heritage site) en route. In Fethiye, enjoy swimming in the "Dead Sea" and the blue lagoon, connected to Mediterranean with a narrow strait.

Day 15: Fethiye
The beginning of our trek is in Kayakoy, originally named”Karmilassos”. This is an old Greek village given up at the beginning of the 20th S. In accordance with the treaty of Lausanne which envisaged an exchange of population between Greece and Turkey. Two admirable churches are still drawn up among the ruined stone-built houses. After the visit we go on trekking following a forest path which offers a splendid panorama on the limpid turquoise water splits. We walk directly down to the Oludeniz lagoon. In this part of the Mediterranean, it is possible to bathe very late in the season, and if the temperature allows it, the amateurs of the bath will find their happiness here. Transfer to Fethiye for overnight.

Day 16: Fethiye
Today we first visit Butterflies Valley and after drive to Faralya village to have lunch at George House. In the afternoon we spend two hours hiking to Kabak. Overnight at George House if we can get rooms (or tree houses). It is a very small place and don’t expect any luxury. Toilets and showers are shared, but food is fantastic (food service continuous until you say “I’m full). And view of sun set and stars will give you an unforgettable adventure.

Day 17: Oludeniz – Fethiye – Pamukkale
After Breakfast we drive towards Pamukkale along none-touristy roads of South-Eastern Toros Mountains and arrive to Pamukkale (Cotton Castle). Created by deposits from the thermal waters that cascaded down the mountain side over hundreds of years, forming a myriad of pools and terraces. As the water overflows from the pools, dazzling cream-coloured stalactites are formed that, from afar, resemble cotton or snow. White pools are full with hot-spring water that has healing powers for human’s circulation and digestive systems. Just next to Pamukkale are the ruins of Hierapolis, found in 2nd Century B.C. and became a health centre later.

Day 18: Visit Aphrodisias – Selcuk
In the morning drive to Geyre village and visit Aphrodisias.
The ancient city of Aphrodisias, once the capital of the province of Lydia, is located near the village of Geyre. In ancient times, the attractive marble buildings of Aphrodisias no doubt shone out, as they do now, from amidst the rich vegetation of the Dandalaz valley with its almond, pomegranate and poplar trees. In the afternoon drive to Selcuk for overnight.

Day 19: Visit Ephesus – Sirince Village
Even the crowds of tourists are unable to ruin the charm of Ephesus. With the exception of Pompeii, Ephesus is the largest and best-preserved ancient city around the Mediterranean. We spend three to four hours exploring the ruins, many of which have been restored making it easier to visualise the city and what life would have been like for the Ephesians back in 1000BC in its original site until its decline in the Byzantine era. (B)

Day 20: Selcuk
A day trip to Didim Apollo Temple, Miletus and Priene ancient city. Didim, ancient sanctuary and seat of an oracle of Apollo, located south of Miletus in modern Turkey. Miletus; Situated at the mouth of the Meander in the south of the province of Ionia in Western Anatolia, the ancient city of Miletus was the oldest and the most powerful of the twelve Ionian cities in Asia Minor. B

Day 21: Departure
After having breakfast end of our service (If they go to Kusadasi or Izmir airport, free transfer.
At the end of the trip, they are taking the ferry to Greece.

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Packed Paradise Turkey 2010