Adventure of Turkey Tour 13 Days: Paragliding, Skydiving & Ephesus

On arrival at Istanbul Airport, a private tour guide greets you and assists with your transfer to the hotel. Once you have checked in, you are free for the remainder of the day.

Today is a full-day walking tour through the Ottoman and Byzantine heart of Istanbul. Your guide collects you from the hotel at 09:30 AM.

• 09:30 AM – Hotel pick-up: Meet your guide at the hotel and set off on foot.
• 10:00 AM – Topkapi Palace (optional): The sultans' former home, known for its long history and fine architecture.
• 11:30 AM – Blue Mosque: Istanbul's landmark mosque, admired for its vast structure and delicate blue tiles.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch break (not included): Time to eat at a local restaurant.
• 1:30 PM – Hippodrome: The old chariot-racing ground, where the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column and German Fountain still stand.
• 2:30 PM – Hagia Sophia (optional): Step inside this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its grand Byzantine interior.
• 3:30 PM – Grand Bazaar: Browse the busy lanes of the world's oldest covered market for souvenirs, spices and textiles.
• 5:00 PM – Hotel drop-off: Transfer back to your Istanbul hotel for the night. Breakfast is included.

Today you cross to Kadikoy, a lively district on Istanbul's Asian side.

• 09:30 AM – Hotel pick-up: Leave your hotel for Kadikoy.
• 10:00 AM – Historic fish market: Food lovers will enjoy Kadikoy's busy market, with its fresh fish and seafood, spices, olives and traditional Turkish snacks.
• 11:30 AM – Moda neighbourhood: Walk the narrow streets of Moda, a bohemian quarter with waterfront views, small boutiques, cosy cafes and art galleries.
• 01:00 PM – Lunch (not included): Stop at a cafe or restaurant in Moda for authentic Turkish food.
• 02:30 PM – Moda Pier: The tour ends at Moda Pier, looking out over the Bosphorus Strait, the Golden Horn and the skyline of the Old City. Relax with a tea or watch the sunset.
• 04:00 PM – Return to hotel: Transfer back to your hotel after a full day of exploring.

Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel is at 04:00 AM for the drive to the airport and your 06:55 AM flight to Cappadocia. Our guide meets you on arrival and takes you to Goreme, where the adventure starts. At approximately 09:00 AM the first day of touring begins among the fairy chimneys and rock churches that give Cappadocia its unique look.

Prefer a later flight? We chose the early flight so you can see Cappadocia in real depth. If you do not mind missing some stops on the itinerary, we can book you on a later flight instead, for example at 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM or in the afternoon. Just tell us in the booking form and we will arrange it.

The tour usually starts around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.

Highlights of the day

• Göreme Esentepe panoramic view: The day opens at the Esentepe viewpoint between Uçhisar and Göreme, with fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe spread out below.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum: Once a monastic community and a centre of Christian learning, Zelve is full of old monasteries, churches and chapels whose frescoes have survived in good condition.
• Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, also known as Pasha's Vineyard, is famous for its three-headed fairy chimneys, among the most striking rock shapes in Cappadocia.
• Devrent Valley: A short drive away, Devrent looks almost like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed chimneys invite you to pick out animals and mythical creatures in the rock.
• Avanos pottery workshop: Avanos has been a pottery town since 3000 BC, and its potters still shape clay from the Red River. At a traditional workshop you watch the craft up close.
• Love Valley: The last stop is a valley of cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys carved by millions of years of erosion, some as tall as 40 meters, and one of the most photogenic corners of the region.

In the evening you return to your cave hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

If you choose the optional hot air balloon flight, you rise over Cappadocia at sunrise and watch the sky change colour above the rock formations and fairy chimneys. After landing there is a champagne toast, then a transfer back to your hotel.

The day's tour usually starts around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.

Highlights of the day

• Meskendir Valley (4.4 km trek): The day starts with a 4.4 km walk through Meskendir Valley near Ortahisar. You can step inside Meskendir Church to see its bold red geometric decoration and the large cross carved into the chapel ceiling.
• Rose Valley: Tucked away behind Ürgüp, this quiet valley is known for its rock formations and churches cut into the stone. Paths link small villages through vineyards and gardens, and local people sometimes offer walkers fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
• Red Valley: Rose Valley's neighbour shares its dramatic rock formations and old cave churches, with trails that criss-cross like a spider's web between remote villages and fields.
• Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin is one of Cappadocia's oldest settlements, a maze of cave houses cut into the rock. It is also home to the Church of John the Baptist, the largest cave church in the region, dating from the 5th century.
• Underground City: Early Christians built 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to escape persecution, and you visit the largest and best known of them. It has eight levels, and you walk through parts of it, including old wineries, kitchens and living quarters.
• Pigeon Valley: On the edge of Göreme, this valley is named after the pigeon houses carved into its cliffs over the centuries; farmers once used the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today it is a fine spot for wide views and photos.
• Uchisar Castle panorama: The final stop is Uçhisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its tall rock castle once served as a fortress, and from the top you can see the whole region, with Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.

After the hike and the sightseeing, you are back at your hotel around 16:00 for the night.

• 08:00 AM – Departure: Leave Cappadocia for Antalya in the tour vehicle, with wide views of the countryside along the road.
• 12:00 PM – Lunch stop (not included): Break the drive at a local restaurant before the last stretch to Antalya.
• 03:00 PM – Hotel check-in: Arrive in Antalya, check in and rest.
• 06:00 PM – Dinner (not included): In the evening, try the rich flavours of Turkish cooking at a traditional restaurant.

Please note: Boat trips depend on the weather and the season. If the boat tour cannot run, the programme may change according to the gulet's availability, so please contact us before you book.

• 09:30 AM – Departure: Set out by boat across the turquoise water of the Mediterranean Sea.
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Time on deck: Sit back and enjoy the calm.
• 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM – Swim stop: Jump into a clear cove and look at the underwater scenery.
• 01:00 PM to 02:00 PM – Lunch on board (not included): Eat with the coastline all around you.
• 02:00 PM to 03:00 PM – Duden Waterfalls: The high point of the trip, where the falls pour straight into the sea.
• 03:00 PM to 04:30 PM – Cruise continues: More time to relax and watch the coast go by.
• 04:30 PM – Back to shore: The boat returns to the harbour and the trip ends.

Morning: Travel to the seaside town of Oludeniz and check in to your hotel.

Afternoon: Oludeniz, in Fethiye on the Turkish Riviera, is famous for its turquoise water, clean beaches and the mountains that rise steeply behind it. Its sheltered lagoon, often called the Blue Lagoon, has calm, clear water that is ideal for swimming, sunbathing and water sports. You spend the afternoon paragliding above the sea, with views over the coast, the mountains and the Blue Lagoon itself.

Evening: Back on the ground, take a slow walk along the promenade, then sit down to a seafood dinner of the day's catch at one of the local restaurants, with the quiet of the coast around you.

• 06:00 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 famous Cleopatra Pool. A swim in the pool costs an extra admission fee.
• 12:30 PM – Pamukkale travertines: Walk on the white, cotton-like terraces with their mineral-rich pools, and enjoy the wide views.
• 02:00 PM – Lunch (not included): Eat at a local restaurant.
• 03:30 PM – Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park: A green and scenic end to the sightseeing.
• 05:30 PM – Drive to Denizli: Transfer to your hotel in Denizli for the night, with breakfast included.

Morning: Drive from Pamukkale to Selçuk in the tour vehicle.

Skydiving over Selçuk: Jump from 4,000 meters for a 45-second free fall, then float down under the parachute with views of ancient Ephesus, the Aegean Sea and the mountains around them. This is a tandem jump, so it suits first-timers as well as experienced skydivers. A professional instructor is strapped to you and guides you through every step to keep the jump safe.

What to expect

• Safety briefing: the safety measures and each stage of the jump explained
• Scenic flight up to jump altitude
• 45 seconds of free fall
• 5-7 minutes under the parachute, enjoying the view
• Soft landing in the designated area

Requirements

• Minimum age: 14 years
• Weight: 45-90 kg (99-198 lbs)
• No previous skydiving experience needed

It is a rare chance to see Selçuk from a completely new angle.

Evening: Spend the night in the pretty seaside town of Kuşadası, with a relaxed evening and a taste of local life.

At 10:00 AM you leave Kusadasi for a day tour of Ephesus, walking through the well-preserved ruins of what was once a thriving city. Lunch is not included.

Tour highlights

• 10:30 AM – Library of Celsus: The grand facade of this ancient library is the best-known image of Ephesus.
• 11:00 AM – Temple of Hadrian: A temple to the Roman emperor Hadrian, with well-kept columns and finely carved reliefs.
• 11:30 AM – Terrace Houses (optional): The luxurious homes where the wealthy families of Ephesus once lived.
• 12:00 PM – Hercules Gate: A monumental gateway decorated with carvings of the legendary hero.
• 12:30 PM – Grand Theatre: This vast theatre once held up to 25,000 spectators and still stages performances today.
• 1:00 PM – Herm (Marker) of Hermes: Ancient stone markers that guided travellers and marked boundaries in the city.
• 1:15 PM – Artemision: The site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• 1:45 PM – Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: A finely worked relief of Nike, the winged goddess of victory.
• 2:00 PM – Fountain of Trajan: The well-preserved remains of a monumental fountain built in honour of Emperor Trajan.
• 2:30 PM – House of Virgin Mary (optional): The tour ends at the house believed to be the final resting place of the Virgin Mary.
• 3:30 PM – Free time: Look around the area or shop for souvenirs.
• 4:30 PM – Leave Ephesus: Transfer back to Kuşadası.
• 5:00 PM – Get ready to fly: Prepare for your flight back to Istanbul at the end of a day spent in the ancient world.

Your last full day in Istanbul begins at 10:00 AM at the Spice Bazaar, full of colour and the scent of spices, herbs and local treats.

Tour highlights

• 11:30 AM – Basilica Cistern (optional): Walk through this ancient underground water reservoir, known for its rows of columns and moody lighting, and learn about its history and purpose.
• 1:00 PM – Bosphorus cruise: See the skyline, palaces and historic landmarks of Istanbul from the water.
• 2:30 PM – Free time for shopping: Pick up souvenirs or explore one of the city's trendy neighbourhoods, with local food at nearby cafes or markets.
• 5:00 PM – Back to the hotel: Freshen up and rest before dinner.
• 7:00 PM – Farewell dinner: Enjoy Turkish cuisine at a rooftop restaurant with panoramic views over the city, and look back on the whole trip.

Have breakfast, then check out and ride to Istanbul Airport to catch your flight home, taking many good memories of Turkey with you.

Optional extras

• Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (Goreme): $310
• One extra night at an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
• Upgrade to a private tour: $650