Turkey
See & Experience Almost it ALL in 10 Days
Highlights
►Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Cappadocia’s Cave Dwellings
►Having a Traditional Dinner Inside a Native’s Home
►Experiencing a Traditional Turkish Bath
►Bathe in the Natural Limestone Pools of Pamukkale
►An All-Day Boat Cruise Around the Turkish Riviera
►Sightseeing Tour in the Historical Beach Town of Bodrum
►Ephesus Archaeological Site Guided Tour
►Swimming at the Postcard-Perfect Oludeniz Lagoon
►Rich Culture
►Delicious Food
►Wine Tasting
►And Much, Much More…
Type of Tour: Adventure & Sightseeing
Fully Guided? All tours are almost fully guided.
Although virtually all actives on this multi-day tour are shared with other travelers, we can make the trip almost completely private, per your request.
Are Solo Travelers Welcomed?
Yes & There are No Supplemental Fees for the Tours!
Dates & Availability for the Next 12 Months. Any Date w/ 7-Day Notice (some exceptions are made)
Prices are subject to changed until booked.
Itinerary
Day 1: Wine Tasting After Arriving at the Country's Second Most Popular Destination
Our tour starts in Goreme, best reached via the airport in Kayseri or Nevşehir. This village is used as a base from which to explore Cappadocia’s cave dwellings.
In the evening, we are taken to a wine house. There we do wine tasting for about 45 minutes.
Note that you are most likely to go through Istanbul before reaching Goreme. If you are not famililar with this city, then we strongly recommend you spend some time there before beginning our 10-day tour. Istanbul is arguably one of the world's greatest cities. If you are interested in a guided tour, please ask me for details.
Day 2: Hot Air Balloon Ride, Cave Dwellings & Experiencing a Turkish Bath
We go on an excursion today. The day starts with an early-morning, hot air balloon ride over the cave dwellings of Cappadocia. The tour takes about an hour.
Following this is a tour of the area: the surreal-looking rock formations of Pasabagi (a.k.a. Monks’ Valley), Devrent (a.k.a. Camel Rock), a pottery workshop in the small town of Avanos, the Goreme Open Air Museum, Love Valley and Uchisar Castle. Lunch is included on today’s tour.
The day ends with a traditional Turkish bathhouse (a.k.a. hammam). There we are bathed and massaged and sip on tea.
Day 3: Traditional Dinner Inside a Native’s Home, a Rock-Cut Monastery & an Underground City
We go on another excursion today. The destinations for today are a viewpoint called Esentepe, the underground city of Derinkuyu, Selime Monastery, a viewpoint overlooking Ihlara Valley, a hike inside Ihlara Valley, Pigeon Valley and a gemstone (a.k.a. onyx) workshop. Lunch is included on today’s tour.
In the evening, we are taken to a native Turk’s home. There we watch how traditional food is prepared as well as have dinner. The combination of tasty cuisine, rich culture and good company creates an unforgettable experience.
Day 4: Having a Traditional Dinner Inside a Native’s Home & the Castle & Beaches of Kusadası
We relocate from Goreme to Kuşadası via a flight through Izmir. We are provided with a guided tour in Kuşadası, covering sites like the city walls and castle. We also have time to go swimming.
In the evening, we are taken to a native Turk’s home. There we watch how traditional food is prepared as well as have dinner. The combination of tasty cuisine, rich culture and good company creates an unforgettable experience.
Day 5: The Believed Home of the Virgin Mary, an Ancient City, the Believed Burial Site of John the Apostle & a Greek Temple
Still based in Kusadası, it’s almost time to visit the world-renowned archaeological site that is Ephesus. First, however, we head to a Catholic shrine named the House of Virgin Mary. It is believed that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken to this stone house by Saint John and lived there for the remainder of her earthly life.
Moving onto Ephesus, it is one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean. The visible ruins still give some idea of the city’s original splendor and the names associated with the ruins are evocative of its former life. Following our tour there is lunch, which is included on today's tour.
Next is a Greek temple dedicated to an ancient and local form of the goddess Artemis. This temple was completely rebuilt twice, once after a devastating flood and three hundred years later after an act of arson. In Artemis Temple’s final form, it was considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Next is a visit to the ruined Basilica of Saint John. It stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle.
Lastly is Isa Bey Mosque. It is one of the oldest and most impressive works of architectural art in the region.
Day 6: Bathing in Natural Pools & the Travertine Limestone Formations of Pamukkale
We make another daytrip today. We are taken to the village of Pamukkale. There we first have a guided tour of the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis. Next is lunch, which is included on today’s tour.
Next is a visit to nearby Pamukkale, a natural site which shares the same name as the village. Pamukkale consists of hot springs and travertine limestone. It is one of the country’s most photographed locations.
Lastly is swimming in nearby natural pools called Cleopatra Pools. People have bathed in these pools for thousands of years.
Day 7: The Maze-Like Streets of Turkey's Best Known Beach Town
After relocating from Kusadasi to Bodrum, we have a guided tour around the harbor and through the maze-like streets. The traditional houses are characterized by their prismatic shapes, simplistic designs and locally sourced building materials like stone, wood, clay and cane. The highlights for today are the castle and going swimming.
Day 8: Postcard-Perfect Oludeniz Lagoon, a River Cruise, a Therapeutic Mud Bath & Tombs Carved into the Mountainside
Although we are relocating from Bodrum to the resort town of Fethiye, an important stop is made en route, specifically to the village of Dalyan. There we take a river cruise, passing by the mountain-carved Lycian tombs and heading to a therapeutic mud pool.
After bathing in the mud clay, we visit the Tomb of Amyntas, near Fethiye. Like the Lycian tombs in Dalyan, Amyntas is carved into the mountainside.
After checking it out, we are taken to a viewpoint overlooking the postcard-perfect Oludeniz Lagoon. We are then taken to the lagoon itself. Oludeniz has a sandy bay, on a blue lagoon. The seawater is famous for its shades of turquoise and aquamarine. We go swimming and then head back to Fethiye, where we are based for the remainder of our tour in Turkey.
Day 9: An All-Day Boat Cruise Around the Turkish Riviera
We go on a daytrip today. We are taken back to Oludeniz Lagoon. There we take an all-day boat tour. The destinations are the Blue Cave, a butterfly valley, Saint Nicholas Island, a cold-water spring, Camel Beach (home to a rock which resembles a camel) and an aquarium. Lunch is included on today’s tour, around 1:00pm.
Not included in the tour but highly popular nonetheless is paragliding over Oludeniz Lagoon. It is done from Mount Babadag, which is a 1-hour drive away from the lagoon. If you are interested in paragliding, please let us know. It would be done in the morning before taking the boat tour. You would be picked up from your hotel a bit earlier today, at 8:00am instead.
Day 10: Our Tour Ends This Morning
This is the end of our tour to Turkey. Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Dalaman.
On a final note, it takes a good 8 full days to see all the worthwhile attractions in Istanbul, but of course, few people have that sort of time. If you would like to extend this 10-day tour specifically so our tour guides could take you to some of Istanbul’s famous attractions, please let me know.
What's Included
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lodging included for all nights on this tour
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All Ground & Water Transportation, except flights
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Male or Female Tour Guides
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Breakfasts
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1 Dinners
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5 Lunches
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All Activities in Itinerary
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Entry fees
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Your Own On-Call Concierge
What's Included
-
lodging included for all nights on this tour
-
All Ground & Water Transportation, except flights
-
Male or Female Tour Guides
-
Breakfasts
-
1 Dinners
-
5 Lunches
-
All Activities in Itinerary
-
Entry fees
-
Your Own On-Call Concierge
What’s Excluded
-
Any airfare
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Alcohol
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Travel insurance
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Any government-imposed visa fees
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Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
What’s Excluded
-
Any airfare
-
Alcohol
-
Travel insurance
-
Any government-imposed visa fees
-
Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
Please Note
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Travel Insurance is required for this tour. You will be asked to provide your Travel insurance information after your booking is confirmed. It must cover cancellations, medical expenses, evacuations, flight loss or delays and 24/7 assistance.
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As much as we want for this trip to go exactly as planned, we can't predicted complications that may arise; due to inclement weather and/or closures due to uncontrollable circumstances like Covid-19. We will do our very best to make onsite scheduling adjustments as needed, but please note that all listed and intended activities are weather permitting. No refunds will be given if an activity has to be pulled. Additionally, the tour is listed as a package, and no price adjustments will be given if someone wants to "opt-out" of an included activity
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Not liable to any losses, damages, accidents, injuries, death, or sickness during your trip. The same applies to any changes in trip schedule due to weather, strikes, or any other force majeure. Service providers reserve the right to change routes, schedules, and itineraries if needed because of weather, road conditions or should the necessity arise because of unforeseen reasons or circumstances.
Contact me to book or if you have questions
Tell me the dates you want to go & I can give you the most up-to-date price.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that you protect your investment with travel insurance. Cancellation and interruption insurance covers in case of cancellation due to an insurable reason. We require adequate out of country medical insurance for unforeseen medical emergencies while traveling. The All Inclusive Plan includes emergency and health coverage and cancellation/interruption insurance. The rate for travel insurance is determined by the cost of the tour (can be increased to cover flights and other extras), the length of travel and your age.
Terms & Conditions
It is the responsibility of the passengers to verify documentation requirements directly with the embassy or consulate of the country of travel. Customs and/or immigration officials can deny a person entry into their country at their own discretion. We strongly recommend traveling with a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date. Please be aware that different living standards and practices exist outside of North America including but not limited to provisions of utilities, accommodations and services of all kinds.
One Who Loves Travel cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions or mistakes in this form. Your reservation is subject to the rules and conditions of the tour operator