Best of Turkey

Itinerary

3 Nights – Istanbul
3 Nights – Cappadocia
3 Nights – Izmir / Ephesus
5 Nights – Bodrum / Pamukkale

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✈ UK – Istanbul (3 Nights): You will first take a flight from the UK to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul we’ll transfer you to your chosen hotel where you’ll spend 3 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Istanbul was the capital of the Roman Empire and is steeped in history. It also has a unique blend of Asian and European influences, uniquely straddling the two continents by the Bosphorus Waterway. On the historic European side of the city, the Sultanahmet is one of the city’s major sights, with its stunning Blue Mosque adorned with more than 20,000 Iznek tiles, a fabulous example of classical Ottoman architecture. Another of the city’s architectural wonders is the Hagia Sophia, a former church turned mosque, but now a museum which is deemed one of the best surviving pieces of Byzantine architecture. If you like a good haggle, visit the historic Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, selling jewellery, leather, spices and other Turkish wares. For something more relaxing, why not take a boat trip down the Bosphorus waterway for a great way to see the city, or for a truly authentic Turkish experience, visit one of the Turkish hammam baths for a body scrub and massage.

✈ Istanbul – Cappadocia (3 nights): On your final day in Istanbul we will transfer you to the airport for your short flight to Cappadocia and then transfer you on to your hotel where you’ll be staying on a bed and breakfast basis.

When you arrive in Cappadocia, you will feel like you’ve been transported to a fairy tale kingdom as its completely unlike anywhere else! The city is built into the soft boulders and rocks, meaning that most of the hotels are either located inside caves or underground. The whole area was registered as a UNESCO world heritage site back in 1985 and is steeped in history dating back thousands of years. The must do thing whilst in Cappadocia is to see the unique rock formations from above and what better way to do this than by a hot air balloon! If heights really aren’t your thing though, you can simply sit back with your Turkish coffee and enjoy the spectacle of hundreds of Balloons taking flight over the city, it’s certainly something you’ll never forget. Along with the natural and outstanding beauty of the area you will find a plethora of shops, bars and food eateries ranging from your traditional Turkish cafes right through to Michel star restaurants, so if you like your food you’ll be in your element here.

✈ Cappadocia – Izmir / Ephesus (3 nights): On your final day in Cappadocia we will transfer you to the airport for your short flight to Izmir and then transfer you on to your hotel where you’ll be staying on a bed and breakfast basis. You can choose to either stay in the city of Izmir or at one of the nearby coastal resorts, from which you will be able to visit the magical UNESCO World Heritage Centre of Ephesus.

Izmir is Turkey’s third most populous city with amazing highlights such as the Acropolis and Agora Open Air Museum. The city also offers an impressive collection of museums. There are then the various beach resorts near to the city, offering traditional tavernas, bustling bazaars and a wealth of beach hotels.

🚌Optional Ephesus Day Trip: Ephesus is a short drive away, so we can arrange a day tour for you to explore this Greco-Roman ancient metropolis. 80% remains unearthed, but what has been excavated is truly magical.

🚌 Izmir – Bodrum (5 nights): After your visit to Izmir, we’ll transfer you by road down to the bustling port town of Bodrum.

This is one of Turkey’s most popular resorts, with everything on offer from secluded retreats to large-scale family resorts. With stunning beaches to spend endless days relaxing on, a range of nightlife to suit all tastes and plenty of tourist attractions, there is something for everyone.

🚌Optional Pamukkale Day Trip: Why not let us arrange a day trip to Pamukkale, located next to the ancient city of Hierapolis.  Pamukkale, meaning ‘cotton castle’ in Turkish, is famous for its terraces of white mineral-rich thermal waters which cascade down the hillside, formed by the carbonate minerals that are deposited by the flowing water – and which you can walk and take a dip in.

✈ Bodrum – UK: On your final day we’ll pick you up from the hotel to transfer you back to the airport for you flight home.