Best of Turkey 14-Day Tour Package with Gallipoli & Fethiye Gulet

On arrival at Istanbul airport, a driver is there to bring you to your hotel.

The day has no set programme. Tomorrow morning at 09:30 AM your guide will come to meet you.

Today is a full-day walking tour through the core of Istanbul’s Ottoman and Byzantine past.

• 09:30 AM – Hotel pick-up: your guide collects you from the hotel to start the day.
• 10:00 AM – Topkapi Palace (optional): the home of the Ottoman sultans, known for its history and fine architecture.
• 11:30 AM – Blue Mosque: the city’s famous mosque, with its detailed blue tiles and imposing structure.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch break (not included): time to eat at a local restaurant.
• 1:30 PM – Hippodrome: the old chariot-racing track, where the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain still stand.
• 2:30 PM – Hagia Sophia (optional): a UNESCO World Heritage Site with grand Byzantine architecture and a majestic interior.
• 3:30 PM – Grand Bazaar: the oldest covered market in the world and a busy place to shop for souvenirs, spices and textiles.
• 5:00 PM – Hotel drop-off: you are driven back to your Istanbul hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

• 08:30 AM – Breakfast at the hotel.
• 09:30 AM – Egyptian Spice Bazaar: wander between stalls piled with exotic spices, Turkish delights and local specialities, surrounded by rich smells and a lively crowd.
• 11:00 AM – Bosphorus Cruise: a relaxed boat trip between Europe and Asia, with Istanbul’s mix of architecture on both shores.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch break (not included): time to eat at a local restaurant.
• 2:00 PM – Bosphorus Cruise continues: more views of the city as you pass Ottoman palaces such as Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace.
• 4:00 PM – Transfer to the hotel: after the cruise you return to your hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

Today you leave Istanbul, drive to Gallipoli and spend the night in Eceabat.

• 06.00 – 06.30: pick-up from your hostel or hotel door in the Taksim area.
• 06.30 – 07.00: pick-up from your hostel or hotel door in the Sultanahmet area.
• The drive to Eceabat is in an air-conditioned, non-smoking minibus.
• 09.00: breakfast stop on the way.
• 12.20: arrival in Eceabat.
• 13.00: start of the fully guided Gallipoli tour.
• 18.00: return to Eceabat, hotel check-in and overnight stay.

Sites on the tour: Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, ANZAC Commemorative Site, Respect to Mehmetcik Statue, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly (with its Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels), Turkish 57. Infantry Regiment Cemetery, The Nek and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.

• 07.30: open buffet breakfast.
• 08.30: departure for the Troy tour.
• 10.30: the Troy visit ends and you set off for Bergama.
• 13.30: lunch in Bergama, then a fully guided tour of the Pergamon Acropolis.
• 17.30: the tour ends and you head for Kusadasi.
• 20.30: arrival in Selcuk.
• 21.30: arrival in Kusadasi for the night.

Troy: the legendary city was once a powerful city-state. Here you see the Trojan Horse, the city walls and the remains of the successive cities built on the site, from Troy I to Troy IX.

Pergamon: one of the great powers of the ancient world and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its key sites include the Acropolis, the Library of Pergamon, the Altar of Zeus and the Gymnasium.

Today is spent in Ephesus, one of the most impressive historical sites in the country. The highlights include:

• Library of Celsus: a grand ancient library with a striking facade and fine architectural detail.
• Temple of Hadrian: the well-preserved ruins of a temple built for the Roman emperor Hadrian.
• Hercules Gate: a monumental entrance decorated with reliefs and sculpture.
• Grand Theatre: a huge and imposing theatre that once held thousands of spectators.
• The Snake Cult of Asklepios: hear about the ancient snake cult linked to healing and see the ruins of the Asklepion, an ancient medical centre.
• Herm (Marker) of Hermes: a stone marker dedicated to the Greek god Hermes, who stood for travellers and boundaries.
• Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: a detailed carving of Nike, the symbol of victory and triumph.
• Fountain of Trajan: an ancient fountain dedicated to the Roman emperor Trajan and decorated with ornate sculpture.
• Ruins of Artemis Temple: what remains of the legendary Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• St. Mary’s House (optional): if you wish, visit the sacred site believed to be the house where the Virgin Mary spent her last years.

03:30 PM – Return to the hotel: after a full day of sightseeing you are driven back to your hotel.

• 07:00 AM – Hotel pick-up: an early start for Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis.
• 10:00 AM – Hierapolis: visit the Necropolis, the Theatre and the well-known Cleopatra Pool (there is an admission charge for swimming in the pool).
• 11:30 AM – Pamukkale Travertines: white terraces of mineral-rich pools. Walk on the cotton-like surface and enjoy the wide views.
• 01:00 PM – Lunch (not included) at a local restaurant.
• 02:30 PM – Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park: a scenic lake and park to end the day.

Overnight in Pamukkale.

Around 07.00 AM you are collected for the early transfer to your gulet in Fethiye.

You check in at our Fethiye Harbour office at 09:30 am, where your guide welcomes the group, a mix of travellers of all ages, and gives a short briefing. At 10:30 am everyone boards the gulet and the cruise begins.

The first stop is Butterfly Valley, a natural haven with something for everyone. Some guests swim in the cool Mediterranean, while others walk up to a nearby waterfall through rich plant and animal life. Look out for the colourful moths and butterflies that give the valley its name.

Back on board, lunch is served, with dishes to suit different tastes and diets.

Next the gulet sails to Oludeniz (Blue Lagoon). For the adventurous, paragliding from Babadag Mountain is an option: you glide 2,000 meters above Oludeniz Beach and the Blue Lagoon. Guests who prefer a slower pace can simply relax and enjoy the scenery.

Towards evening the boat anchors near St. Nicholas Island, where history and nature meet. Explore the ruins, learn about the island’s past, take photos and watch the sun set over the water.

Accommodation: Turkish gulet. Meals: lunch, five o’clock tea, dinner.

At first light the crew steers the gulet along the coast past Patara to Hidayet Bay, where breakfast is served. After a swim in the calm water, you sail into Kas, a pretty fishing village known for its craft shops and ancient theatre. There is free time to browse the busy markets for handicrafts and souvenirs.

Most guests have lunch in Kas before returning to the boat for an afternoon cooking class. You learn to make traditional Turkish cheese rolls and pancakes, then sit down to a brunch of the dishes you prepared. Late in the afternoon the gulet sails to a quiet bay between Kas and Kekova and anchors there for the night.

Accommodation: Turkish gulet. Meals: breakfast, lunch, cooking class, five o’clock tea, dinner.

The day begins at the Sunken City of Kekova, a group of ancient ruins that an earthquake sent under the sea in the 2nd century AD. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the gulet cruises slowly along its edge so you can see the ruins from the deck. Swimming and snorkelling are not permitted here.

In the afternoon the boat anchors near Kekova Island so you can visit Simena Castle. Climb to the top for wide views over the bay and the land around it, and try the well-known homemade ice cream that local sellers offer at the castle, a good reward after the walk. The night is spent at anchor in Gokkaya Bay, under the stars.

Accommodation: Turkish gulet. Meals: breakfast, lunch, five o’clock tea, dinner.

Your last morning on board starts with a special breakfast at Turtle Beach, where you can swim with the gentle sea turtles of the Mediterranean in their natural home. The gulet then continues to Demre Harbour, arriving around 09:30 am. After breakfast you are transferred to your accommodation in Antalya.

• 09:00 AM – Perge: walk through this ancient city, with its grand theater, colonnaded road and well-kept ruins.
• 11:00 AM – Aspendos Theater: one of the best-preserved ancient theaters in Turkey, famous for its architecture and its acoustics.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch break (not included): try regional food at a local restaurant.
• 2:00 PM – Side: stroll through the old streets of ancient Side and see its amphitheater and the well-known Temple of Apollo.
• 4:00 PM – Manavgat Waterfall: a pretty natural spot to relax and enjoy the view.
• 6:00 PM – Return to your hotel in Antalya: you are driven back to your accommodation in the centre of Antalya to rest.

Overnight in Antalya.

• 01:00 PM – Departure from Antalya Airport: an afternoon flight takes you to Istanbul.
• 03:00 PM – Arrival in Istanbul: your guide or driver meets you and takes you to the hotel.
• 04:00 PM – Hotel check-in: time to settle in and rest.
• Free evening: explore the neighbourhood, have dinner at a nearby restaurant or simply relax at the hotel.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Check out of the hotel after breakfast. A member of our team helps with your transfer to the airport, and this is where our services end.

Extra nights in Istanbul can be added if you would like to stay longer.

Optional extras

• Cappadocia hot air balloon flight (GOREME): $310
• One extra hotel night in Istanbul, before or after the tour: $65
• Upgrade to a private tour: $700