Turkish Sojourn 7N8D

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS: Arrival transfer. Dinner included.

Welcome to Antalya. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. You will receive information about the meeting place and start time on the information boards in the hotel´s reception area.

At 16.00 hrs (aprox)- We will make a brief visit to Anatalya, a coastal city of more than a million inhabitants, the door of Adrian, the Ottoman district and its great waterfall that falls straight into the sea. Dinner included.

Distance covered: 530 km

Scenery: Spectacular contrasts; countryside overlooking the sea. High mountains often with snowy peaks; arid lands of Anatolia.

08.00 hrs.-Antalya – Departure -.

09.00 hrs.- ASPENDOS – Arrival – we visit the Roman theatre that many believe to be the best preserved in the world.

09.45 hrs.-Aspendos – Departure -.

10.30 hrs.- SIDE – Arrival -. A small, very tourist city, full of commercial life. You will have free time. Its Greek temple of Apollo by the sea stands out. Time for a stroll around its port and through its streets full of life.

12.30 hrs.- Side – Departure -. Amidst impressive scenery, we cross the Taurus mountains. The peaks, of more than 3500 metres, are covered with snow for a large part of the year. We stop for a meal along the way in a pretty service area in the mountains.

17.00 hrs.- KARAMAN – Arrival -. A city with an oriental atmosphere. Brief stop to view the exterior of the fortress.

17.45 hrs.- Karaman – Departure -. Great arid plains along the route in the south of Anatolia.

20.00 hrs.- NIGDE – Arrival -. We suggest a stroll around its bazaar, its ancient mosque and its fortress. Dinner and accommodation.

Nigde- Avanos- Cappadocia.-

Total distance covered: 120 km. Scenery: We continue amid the beautiful landscapes of Cappadocia. Spectacular scenary. Picturesque towns.

Notes: Today it is again necessary to wear comfortable shoes as we continue to explore Cappadocia.

09.00hrs.- Nigde. Departure. We enjoy a full day in the fantastic region of CAPPADOCIA, with its lunar landscapes, its churches and troglodyte villages.

We start by visiting GUMUSLER, an incredible underground monastery of the 7th century with perhaps the best Byzantine frescoes in Turkey. In KAIMACLI we will visit the underground city that could house 30,000 people. Then, we will visit UCHISAR, a natural fortress where we will know its 60 meter rock filled with houses in excavated caves. Time for lunch.

We will discover after lunch the GOREME Valley with its open-air museum and its churches carved out of the rocks, entry tickets included.

Hotel in Avanos. pleasant town in the center of the region of Capadocia known for its pottery, its attractive old town with cobbled streets and its views over the river. Time to enjoy the hotel facilities or walk through the streets. Dinner is included.

At night, after dinner, we suggest attending the “Turkish night” show (optional).

Capadocia- Ihlara- Konya.-

Total distance: 290 km.

Scenery: We continue amid the beautiful landscapes of Cappadocia. Subsequently arid and flat areas.

Notes: Today it is again necessary to wear comfortable shoes as we continue to explore Cappadocia. In Konya, we visit places considered “holy” for the Dervish sect: please wear appropriate clothing.

07:30 hrs – Nevsehir –Departure-. In the morning we go to small characterful towns mark the Ihlara Valley.

09:45 hrs – Ihlara Canyon –Arrival-. Refreshed by the cooler air by the river, we explore churches that are carved into the rock of the canyon.

11:45 hrs – Ihlara Canyon –Departure-.

13:00 hrs. – Sultanhan –Arrival-. Here one of the most beautiful caravanserai is preserved. This magnificent building reminds us of the great caravans of camels that, in the past, marked these lands. Time to explore and have lunch.

14.45 hrs – Sultanhan –Departure-. Landscapes with large herds and arid plains.

16.15 hrs – Konya –Arrival-. In the center of Konya, we explore the MEVLANA MAUSOLEUM, a holy place for Dervishes, the Muslim sect known for their whirling “trance” dancing. Admission to the exhibition is included. Later, we suggest a stroll through the bustling bazaar. Dinner included.

At night, we suggest that you attend the dance performance of the whirling dervishes in the cultural centre.

Total distance covered: 430 km.

Scenery: Varied: mountain areas and lakes. Fantastic “cotton mountain” at the end of the day. Notes: We recommend that you also bring shoes that are easy to remove and carry in Pamukkale… and if you wish, bring your bathing costume to this place!

08.00 hrs. – Konya –Departure-. We continue our journey through Turkey´s interior.

11:15 hrs. -Egridir. Located on the shores of a lake with the same name, this is a picturesque town with its walls and mosques where we can walk and have lunch.

13:30 hrs. – Egridir –Departure-.

16:15 hrs. – Pamukkale –Arrival-. Admission included. At the “cotton mountain”, our coach will drop passengers at the top of the mountain so that – having admired the ruins that date to the Roman era – you can descend on foot between the hot springs and the “baths”. The colours at sunset are fantastic. Our coach will collect you at the area below. Finally you will have time in the hotel at which point you can enjoy its thermal pools. Dinner included.

Pamukkale- Ephesus- Kusadasi.-

Total distance covered: 225 km.

Scenery: Various: proximity of the sea in region at the end of the stage.

Note: Again, for the Ephesus visit, it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes.

08.30 hrs. – Pamukkale –Departure-.

11:30 hrs. – Ephesus –Arrival-. We now visit a fantastic complex of Roman ruins. 2,000 years ago, this city had a quarter of a million inhabitants. We will discover with our guide the house of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of Saint John and the impressive ruins at Ephesus (tickets included). Time for lunch.

16.00 hrs- Ephesus departure. We continue on towards the Turquoise Coast, which has magnificent landscapes.

16.30 hrs.- Kusadasi. Arrival to this popular coastal town with a lot of atmospher, commercial life and a small castle. We will visit a gallery of leather articles where we will learn about the famous production of sheepskin garmets in this region. Free time to enjoy its bazaars and see its small castle. Dinner included.

Kusadasi- Bodrum- Marmaris.-

Total distance covered: 320 km.

Scenery: Various beautiful sights over the Aegean sea.

08.30 hrs.- Kusadasi- Departure.

10.00 hrs- Lake Bafa- Stop to see the lake, its magnificent nature, history, mystical beauty and serenity is undoubtedly one of the natural wonders to be seen in Turkey.

10.30 hrs.- Bafa Lake, departure.

12.00 hrs.- Bodrum, free time in this beautiful fortified city of Greek origin. You can visit its castle, walk through its streets which are full of life and tourist activity or its leisure marina. Time for lunch.

15.00 hrs- Bodrum, departure.

17.30 hrs.- Marmaris, arrival to another beautiful coastal tourist enclave, with its castle, its marina and its fountains. Dinner and accommodation.

Total Distance: 335 km

Scenery: Coastal sections and sections between high mountains. Contrasts.

08.00 hrs.- Marmaris – Departure -.

09.30 hrs.- DALYAN – Arrival -. An incredible place beside a beautiful navigable river. Free time for a coffee in one on its many restaurants by the river, and we include a boat trip of around two and a half hours to see the LYCIAN ROYAL TOMBS.

11.30 hrs.- Dalyan – Departure -. We continue our route. Mountain scenery. Stop en route to have lunch.

16.15 hrs.- ANTALYA – Arrival -. We will make a brief visit of this great coastal city of more than a million inhabitants, the Adrian door, the Ottoman district and its large waterfall falling straight into the sea.

End of our services.