Private Turkey Tour with Fethiye Gulet Cruise: 10 Days, Flights

On arrival at Istanbul Airport, you are met and driven to your hotel. There is nothing planned for today. Your guide will meet you the following morning at 09:30 AM.

Today you check out of your hotel, see the highlights of Istanbul and fly to Cappadocia in the evening.

• 09:30 AM – Hotel pick-up: Meet your guide and set off into Istanbul's Ottoman and Byzantine past.
• 10:00 AM – Topkapi Palace (optional): See the former home of the Ottoman sultans, with its detailed architecture and collections of artifacts. (Optional, depending on the schedule and entrance tickets)
• 11:30 AM – Blue Mosque: Step inside and enjoy the calm interior and the famous blue tiles.
• 12:00 PM – Hippodrome: Walk across the old Byzantine chariot-racing ground with its obelisks and historic monuments.
• 1:00 PM – Lunch break (optional): Stop for lunch at a local restaurant (cost not included).
• 2:00 PM – Hagia Sophia (optional): Visit Hagia Sophia, where Byzantine and Islamic art and architecture meet. (Optional, depending on the schedule and ticket availability)
• 3:30 PM – Grand Bazaar: Wander the lively maze of the Grand Bazaar and shop for Turkish crafts and souvenirs.
• 5:00 PM – Bosphorus Cruise: Finish the sightseeing on the water, with views of both the European and the Asian shores of Istanbul.
• 6:30 PM – Transfer to Istanbul Airport: After the cruise you are taken to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia.

On arrival in Cappadocia, you transfer to your cave hotel for the night. Breakfast is included.

Early risers can start with an optional hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia at sunrise (extra cost).

The guided tour usually starts at about 09:00 and ends by 16:00 at the latest. Today's highlights:

• Goreme Esentepe – Panoramic View: The day opens at the Esentepe lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme, with a wide view over the Cappadocian valleys, the fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum: Zelve was once a centre of monastic life and Christian learning. Its old monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-kept frescoes that tell the story of the region's past.
• Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, the Monks Valley, is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys. Also called “Pasha's Vineyard”, it has some of the most dramatic rock pillars in Cappadocia.
• Devrent Valley: A short drive away, Devrent Valley looks almost like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed chimneys invite you to spot shapes of animals and mythical creatures in the rock.
• Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has been a pottery town since 3000 BC, and local craftsmen still work with clay from the Red River. At a traditional workshop you watch them shape their ceramics by hand.
• Love Valley: The last stop is Love Valley, where millions of years of erosion have carved cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys, some as tall as 40 meters. It is one of the strangest and most photogenic places in Cappadocia.

You then return to your cave hotel for the night. Breakfast is included.

Today you check out of your hotel, see more of Cappadocia and then fly to Izmir.

The guided tour usually starts at about 09:00 and ends by 16:00 at the latest. Today's highlights:

• Meskendir Valley (4.4 km Trek): The day starts on foot with a 4.4 km walk through Meskendir Valley near Ortahisar. On the way you step inside Meskendir Church, decorated with bold red geometric patterns and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling, and enjoy the valley scenery around it.
• Rose Valley: Behind Ürgüp lies Rose Valley, one of the finest spots in Cappadocia, with unusual rock shapes and churches cut into the stone out of sight. Paths run through vineyards and gardens between small villages and towns, and locals sometimes offer walkers fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
• Red Valley: Red Valley shares the dramatic rock forms and old cave churches of its neighbour. Its trails branch out like a spider's web, tying together remote villages and fields, so you see the region's landscape and history side by side.
• Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin is one of the oldest villages in Cappadocia, its cave homes cut into the cliff in a maze of old dwellings. The village's Church of John the Baptist, dating from the 5th century, is the biggest cave church in the region.
• Underground City: Early Christians dug 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to hide from persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them. It goes down eight levels, and you walk through parts of it to see old wineries, kitchens and living rooms.
• Pigeon Valley: On the edge of Göreme, Pigeon Valley takes its name from the dovecotes cut into its cliffs over many centuries. Farmers once collected the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today the valley is a wide viewpoint and a favourite photo stop.
• Uchisar Castle Panorama: The final stop is Uçhisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its landmark is Uçhisar Castle, a tall rock outcrop once used as a fortress. From the top you can see across the whole region to Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.

When the tour ends, you transfer to the airport for the flight to Izmir. From Izmir you are driven to Kusadasi for the night, with breakfast included.

• 10:00 AM – Hotel pick-up: After breakfast your guide collects you from the hotel.
• 10:20 AM – Magnesia Gate: Your walk through Ephesus Ancient City begins here.
• 10:30 AM – Library of Celsus: See the library's ornate facade and fine architecture.
• 11:00 AM – Temple of Hadrian: Stop at the elegant temple raised in honour of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
• 11:30 AM – Hercules Gate: Pass through the old gate with its notable reliefs and sculptures.
• 12:00 PM – Grand Theatre: Stand in the huge theatre that once seated thousands of spectators.
• 12:30 PM – The Snake Cult of Asklepios: Hear about the ancient healing cult at the ruins of the Asklepion, dedicated to the god of medicine.
• 1:00 PM – Lunch: Take a relaxed break at a local restaurant (lunch not included).
• 2:00 PM – Herm (Marker) of Hermes: See the stone marker devoted to Hermes, the Greek god of travellers.
• 2:20 PM – Stone-Carving of the Goddess Nike: Look at the detailed relief of Nike, the symbol of victory.
• 2:40 PM – Fountain of Trajan: Visit the decorated fountain built for Emperor Trajan.
• 3:00 PM – Ruins of Artemis Temple: Walk around what is left of the Temple of Artemis, one of the ancient world's Seven Wonders.
• 3:30 PM – St. Mary's House (optional): If you wish, visit the holy site thought to be the last home of the Virgin Mary.
• 4:00 PM – Return to Kusadasi: Transfer back to your hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

Today you check out of your hotel, visit Pamukkale and then continue to Fethiye. The tour usually starts at about 07:30.

Today's highlights:

• Hierapolis: See the Necropolis, the Theatre and the Cleopatra Pool. (There is an admission charge to swim in the Cleopatra Pool.)
• Pamukkale: The main event is Pamukkale's travertines, a natural wonder of bright white terraces filled with mineral-rich pools. Walk on the soft, cotton-like surface and enjoy the views.
• Pamukkale Naturel Lake: There is also time to visit Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park, which add to the beauty of the area.

Please be at Fethiye Harbor by 10:00 AM.

After check-in you board the gulet and get a short introduction to life on board. The boat then leaves Fethiye Harbor for its first stop, Butterfly Valley. Here there is time for a swim, lunch and an optional hike to the waterfall. The valley is home to more than 136 species of butterflies and moths, though they are harder to see on hot days.

Optional activity – paragliding over the Blue Lagoon: The next stop is Oludeniz (Blue Lagoon), one of the most photographed beaches in the world. If you like, you can go paragliding here, taking off from Babadag Mountain at 2000 meters and gliding over the lagoon. Booking in advance is recommended to get special rates. If you decide during the cruise, just tell the captain.

In the evening the gulet drops anchor at St. Nicholas Island. Walk up to the island's ancient ruins and watch the sun set from the top. (L, D)

Start the morning with a swim in the clear water of Aquarium Bay near Kalkan, followed by breakfast on board.

The gulet then sails to Kas, a small fishing town with lively cafes, beer gardens and interesting shops. It is a good place to look for handmade jewelry and to see its well-preserved ancient theater.

Optional activity – diving: Kas is one of the top diving spots in southern Turkey. Beginners and certified divers alike can explore caves and wrecks under the water. Book in advance for discounted rates.

You spend the night anchored in a quiet bay between Kas and Kekova. (B, L, D)

After breakfast the gulet sails to the Sunken City, an ancient Lycian town that sank into the sea after an earthquake in the second century. The boat moves slowly over the ruins of this protected World Heritage site. Swimming, diving and snorkeling are not allowed here.

Next, the gulet anchors near Kekova so you can visit Simena Castle. The walk to the top rewards you with lovely views over the bay.

In the afternoon the boat reaches Demre Harbor, where the cruise ends. You are picked up and taken to the airport for your flight back to Istanbul.

You are transferred to the airport for your departure, and our services end here.

Would you like to stay longer? Extra nights in Istanbul can be added to your trip.

Optional extras

• Cappadocia hot air balloon (Goreme): $310
• One extra night in an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
• Upgrade to a private tour: $500