17 Day Turkey Unplugged Tour beginning with a relaxing blue cruise from the harbour town of Fethiye. This cruise sails along the Turkish coast visiting quaint towns and quiet bays to relax before arriving in Olympos. After time exploring Olympos you will travel to Goreme in Cappadocia where you will take a walking tour as well as the North and South tours showing the best of this varied and magical landscape. Following on you will travel on to Pamukkale and Ephesus taking the tour before continuing on to Istanbul. Once in Istanbul you will tour the city visiting the key sights that have made the city historically fascinating and stunning.
Choose Your DuratIon
Duration
17 Days 16 Nights
Available Languages
EN, ES
Welcome to Turkey
Transfer service direct from Fethiye Harbour, Dalaman airport or Fethiye bus station to the hotel for check-in.
Overnight Fethiye.
FREE DAY
Today you get your first day in Turkey 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.
Pick up from accommodation in Fethiye
After breakfast, you will all be checking in to 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.
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 streets soaking up the ambience of the seaside fishing village.
Overnight cabin cruise.
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 still 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.
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.
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, that will take you directly to Goreme.
Tonight you will board an overnight bus bound for Cappadocia.
This morning you arrive at the unusual and breathtaking scenery of Goreme, Cappadocia. One of our crew members will help to find the way to your accommodation. 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 approximately17:00 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.
- 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 South Cappadocia Tour
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 sites to see in Cappadocia.
Overnight Cappadocia.
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 Pamukkale.
- Early Morning -
OPTIONAL TOUR: PAMUKKALE HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT
This morning you can begin the day by seeing the sunrise from a hot air balloon if you like. This activity is famous in Pamukkale and should definitely not be missed. This is an early morning tour and costs extra.
Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour
You are collected from your bus early and chill out until tour starts 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 onto Ephesus.
Overnight Ephesus region. (Selcuk or Kusadasi)
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 Ephesus region. (Selcuk or Kusadasi)
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 be bought. 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.
Tonight you will board an overnight bus bound for Istanbul.
Free Day
This morning you arrive in Istanbul. Once you have found your way to your accommodation you can relax for the day or catch up on some sleep. The rest of today you get a free day to wander around the city. You may want to get a sneak peek at some of the sites you will start to visit the following day, take in a spot of shopping or go further afield & explore some hidden corners of this enormous City.
Overnight Istanbul.
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 Sultans Palace of Topkapi to see some of the Sultans 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 recommend also 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:
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
Blue Mosque due to prayers on Fridays we are unable to enter
Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays
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 Istanbul.
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 Mondays, therefore 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.
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.
Choose Your DuratIon
Duration
17 Days 16 Nights
Available Languages
EN, ES