Tour Overview

18 Day Tour Starting in Ephesus, the tour will take you to the ancient city of Ephesus with a large section of the city remain intact allowing for exploration including one of the 7 Ancient Wonders. Pamukkale is the next fantastic destination where ancient ruins and relaxing natural mineral pools are the activity of the day. Fethiye and a cruise await you next, spending 4 days on board a traditional gulet.

Olympos is the next destination following your cruise, enjoy the ancient and natural air here before heading to Cappadocia, where you can explore this magical landscape visiting hand-carved homes including an underground city. After your time in Cappadocia, you head to Eceabat. Here you will head to Gallipoli and visit the remembrance sites from the battle that was fought here claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Istanbul in the final destination where you will spend time exploring the icons of the city.

Sultan Explorer

Choose Your DuratIon

Duration

18 Days 17 Nights

Available Languages

EN, ES

Tour Route
9 destinations
1Selcuk
2Pamukkale
3Fethiye
4Kas
5Olympos
6Cappadocia
7Istanbul
8Gallipoli
9Istanbul
Itinerary — Sultan Explorer - Main Itinerary
01
Ephesus

Welcome to Turkey

Transfer service direct from Kusadasi Harbour, Izmir Airport or local bus stations to the hotel for check-in.

Overnight in the Ephesus region. (Selcuk or Kusadasi)

02
Ephesus and surrounding area

Today you get to start to explore the wonders of Ephesus. You are picked up from your accommodation and get taken out to see some of the best-preserved marble ruins in the modern world – Ephesus. Ephesus was one of the Ancient Capitals of Roman Asia - the second largest ancient city of the world! A city where over 200,000 people lived over 3,000 years ago. You also get to visit the House of the Virgin Mary. An important place for the Christian faith, as it is believed it is where Mary spent the last years of her life. You will also visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – The Temple of Artemis.

Overnight in the Ephesus region. (Selcuk or Kusadasi)

03
Ephesus

FREE DAY

Today you have a free day to continue exploring Ephesus & the surrounding area. You can catch a local bus out to the seaside town of Kusadasi for a spot of “genuine fake” shopping. Or go visit the little wine village of Sirince – an old Greek town with fruity wines to taste and local crafts to buy. Or if you want a day in the water, there are 2 big water parks on the way to Kusadasi with plenty of waterslides and water fun to be had.

Overnight Ephesus region. (Selcuk or Kusadasi)

04
Pamukkale

Pick up from accommodation in the Ephesus region. (Selcuk or Kusadasi)

After breakfast, you are collected from your accommodation and depart for Pamukkale, which in Turkish translates to "cotton castle". On arrival, you have lunch before taking in the magnificent views of the “cotton castle” travertines. You get a guided tour over the white cliffs of Pamukkale and of the ancient, historical ruins of Hierapolis.

You then continue your journey for the gorgeous seaside town of Fethiye.

Overnight Fethiye.

05
Fethiye

FREE DAY

Today, you get the day to explore the region of Fethiye. There are so many optional activities you may be interested in booking. Jeep Safari, Paragliding, Mud baths or you may want to jump on a local bus & go out to see the Ghost town of Kayakoy. Be sure to catch the infamous local fish market for dinner in the evening, or pick from the array of local restaurants in the centre of town or along the marina.

Overnight Fethiye.

06
Gulet cruise Fethiye to Olympos

Pick up from accommodation in Fethiye

After breakfast, you will all be checking into one of our Farout Gulets to start your 4 days of cruising the beautiful Mediterranean coastline. Today you visit Butterfly Valley, Oludeniz / Blue Lagoon, and spend the evening anchored down at St Nicholas Island. Be sure to climb to the top of the island for the most beautiful sunset, possibly one of the best, of the whole cruise.

Overnight cabin cruise.

07
Gulet cruise Fethiye to Olympos

Today, after making some stops along the way for swimming, breakfast, and lunch, you will get to spend some time in the beautiful town of Kas. Here you can shop up a storm with the abundance of jewellery shops in town or spend time just wandering the cobblestone street,s soaking up the ambience of the seaside fishing village.

Overnight cabin cruise.

08
Gulet cruise Fethiye to Olympos

Today, you sail past the sunken city. Once part of the original settlement that still makes up the island of Kekova, after a devastating earthquake many centuries ago, this part of the town has fallen into the ocean. You will sail past slowly for a closer look before anchoring down on the opposite side to visit what remains of Kekova. Here you can wander the island and walk up to the Lycian tombs for a closer look, or climb to the top and enter Simena Castle for some beautiful views over the coastline you have just cruised.

Overnight cabin cruise.

09
Olympos

Today you farewell your gulet and head onto Olympos by bus. Here, you enter the National Park where you can explore the ruins of ancient times as you make your way down to the beach for some more sun and swimming.

Overnight Olympos.

10
Olympos

Today you get a free day to relax, soak up some more sunshine, and have one last swim in the Mediterranean before boarding your overnight bus bound for the Cappadocia region. You will leave Olympos in the early evening to meet the overnight bus in Antalya, which will take you directly to Goreme.

Tonight you will board an overnight bus bound for Cappadocia.

11
Cappadocia

This morning, you arrive at the unusual and breathtaking scenery of Goreme, Cappadocia. One of our crew members will help to find your accommodation, where you can relax for the day or catch up on some sleep. 

OPTIONAL TOUR: ATV (QUAD) BIKE SAFARI.

If you love adventure and want to see Cappadocia from a different perspective, then our fully guided Quad Safari is suited to you. Ride on a sturdy ATV (quad) bike and experience this landscape in a completely different way. Our Safari starts at approximately 17:00 pm a great opportunity to see an amazing view of this ancient valley.

- Evening -  
OPTIONAL TOUR: TURKISH NIGHT SHOW & DINNER.
Tonight's optional entertainment is organized so that you have the chance to experience Turkish Culture and Traditions and also enjoy a great show. You will be picked up from your hotel in the evening and taken to a cave restaurant in the heart of Cappadocia, for a night you will always remember.


Overnight in Cappadocia.

12
South Cappadocia

Pick up from accommodation in Goreme.

Today you will be picked up from your accommodation after breakfast to start exploring parts of the south Cappadocia region. The highlights of the day will include the Underground City, Uchisar Castle Panorama, and a beautiful stroll through the Meskendir Valley, to name a few. The day is full of some of the most beautiful sights to see in Cappadocia.

Overnight Cappadocia.

13
North Cappadocia

- Early Morning - 
OPTIONAL TOUR: CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT
If you choose to wake up in the early hours of the morning to take advantage of a Sunrise Hot Air Balloon flight, this experience can be added to the tour. This activity is famous in Cappadocia and is the perfect way to start the day by seeing the awesome views of the mountains from high in the sky. This tour will cost extra.

Full-Day North Cappadocia Tour
Pick up from accommodation in Goreme. You have one more day in this spectacular region to soak up the rest of the sites to see. Today you will be picked up from your accommodation and get to visit some of the oldest settlements in the North Cappadocia region. You will visit some small villages, take in some local handicrafts, and also get to soak up the natural wonders and visit the Monks Valley and Devrent Valley.

Tonight you will board an overnight bus bound for Gallipoli.

14
Eceabat

You arrive at Gallipoli past noon and check into your accommodation. The rest of today is a free day.

Overnight Gallipoli region.

15
Eceabat onto Istanbul

After breakfast, you are picked up from your accommodation and you make your way back out to Anzac Cove for some snorkelling. Here you can jump in the pristine waters and snorkel over the sunken warcraft - 'Milo WW1 Craft'. (Please note – that snorkelling is only available in the warmer months, from April to October.)

Afterwards, There you will have lunch before starting a fully guided tour of the Gallipoli peninsula. You visit the many cemeteries of Australians, New Zealanders and Turk soldiers and also visit the war memorials and see some of the original old trenches on the Gallipoli battlefields. You get time at the museum where you can see some old war artefacts that are still being discovered in the area. It will be time to ponder the heroism and tragedy of past times and understand the friendships that were born between the nations fighting for this piece of the peninsula.

Afterwards, you will then head onto Istanbul.

O
vernight in Istanbul.

16
Istanbul Old City Tour

Today, you get your first look at the mysterious City of Istanbul. You will be picked up from your accommodation, heading off to see some of the major attractions of this historical, mystical City. You will visit the Blue Mosque, the breathtaking Aya Sofya, and then go into the old Sultan's Palace of Topkapi to see some of the Sultan's many ancient treasures and visit the Palace rooms and gardens. You also get a look at some of the best shopping in Istanbul. The tour will walk through the many lanes of the Grand Bazaar – one of the largest covered markets in the world and also visit the Spice Bazaar to take in the scents and aromas of the spices, Turkish delight & Turkish tea & coffee.

Our recommendation:
After the day's tour ends and you have your own free time, we also recommend visiting the Spice Bazaar to enjoy the sights and smells of Turkish tea, spices, and candies. You will be on your own here as its not part of your tour package, but you will have plenty of time and can make your own way back to your hotel.

Important Notes:
The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
Blue Mosque, due to prayers on Fridays, we are unable to enter
Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays
The Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays

We provide pickups from hotels in central areas in the following vicinities:
Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Laleli, Aksaray, Taksim area. Pickup from anywhere outside these areas may incur an extra charge. Please speak to our crew if you have any questions.

Overnight in Istanbul.

17
Bosphorus Cruise & Bus Tour

Today will see you sailing down the Bosphorus Straights and along to the Golden Horn then heading to one of the best viewpoints over the whole city
Before your cruise, you will tour inside the Dolmabahce Palace, built between 1842 and 1853. The last 6 Sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived here. In 1923 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk resided here in the summers until his death in 1938. This palace is built the Neoclassical and Baroque Rococo styles. After leaving we will embark on our cruise that leads from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara one of the first famous sites you will see from the boat is the Maidens Tower. This tower has served as a lighthouse, a radio tower, a hospital, and now it serves as a restaurant and museum.  Sailing up the Bosphorus, You will also enjoy a panoramic view of the Old Constantinople Walls, which were built to protect Topkapi Palace from invaders. In its 1600 year history, these walls were only breached twice, saving the city from invasion on many other occasions.  


At the Kucuksu Palace, built by Sultan Abdülmecid, we will stop for one hour, Kucuksu translates to “small water”, although small it is grand in design. You will return to the boat and pass by the Ciragan Palace, the magnificent Sultans palace turned hotel. The main building burnt down in 1910, however, the exterior structure stayed intact and was rebuilt in the early 1990s. You will sail past the Ortakoy Mosque, with its distinctive pink mosaics, on your way to cruising under the mighty Bosphorus Bridge where you will get the best views of the Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer home of the Sultans. Then it's on to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, where, from the boat, you will see the mighty Rumeli Castle, built by Mehmed in 1452.

At the end of the cruise, we will change transport for a bus tour as we head back to the old city, the bus tour begins in the Sultanahmet district with our trusted guide it's then on over to the famous Pierre Loti Hill named after a French novelist, who had a great passion for Istanbul, this is one of the most romantic spots in the city. Here you will take a cable car to the top of this viewpoint overlooking Istanbul and the Golden Horn. Try Turkish coffee at one of the cafes, the ride back down has even more spectacular views of the city. The bus will take you around the Old City Walls before returning to your hotel around 17:00-18:00.

Important Note:
Dolmabahce Palace 
is closed on Mondaystherefore on this day, only the tour will begin 2 hours later (11:30 am departure) on Mondays
Dolmabahce Palace, Kucuksu Palace, and Pierre Loti Hill are the only sights you will tour by foot. The other sights will be seen from the boat or bus.

Overnight in Istanbul.

18
Istanbul

Today your tour officially ends. If you require any assistance with onward travel within Turkey, accommodation bookings, queries, please let us know & we will be happy to assist.

What's Included & Excluded
Included
Tour Guide
Private / Regular airport transfers
Entrance Fees
Day / Night Bus
4D/3N gulet cruise
15 Breakfast
8 Lunch
3 Dinner
Excluded
Optional Tours
Tips
Personal Expenses
Drinks
All services not mentioned in the Included section are excluded
Send an Enquiry
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Sultan Explorer

Choose Your DuratIon

Duration

18 Days 17 Nights

Available Languages

EN, ES

Send an Enquiry
Your information is secure and will not be shared.