Legendary Turkey Tour
Per person sharing
The Legendary Turkey Tour seems like a majestic journey through the heart of history and natural beauty. Starting in Istanbul, a city steeped in the legacies of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, offers a profound glimpse into the meeting point of cultures and time periods. The two full-day tours promise a comprehensive exploration of its iconic landmarks and vibrant culture.
Moving onward to Cappadocia, the landscape transforms into a wonderland of fairy chimneys and ancient dwellings carved into the valleys. The sheer beauty of this region, with its surreal geological formations, is bound to captivate and inspire.
Antalya, nestled along the Mediterranean coast, provides a stunning juxtaposition of history and scenic vistas. The meeting of East and West echoes through the historical sites and resonates with the beauty of the coastline.
The tour's emphasis on first-class service and guided transportation ensures a seamless and enriching experience. Exploring Turkey's historical sites, shaped by its rich Christian and Islamic heritage, offers a profound understanding of its past. Yet, venturing into the interior promises a glimpse into the slower, more traditional pace of life and the enduring warmth of Turkish hospitality.
This tour seems to encapsulate the essence of Turkey, presenting a blend of historical grandeur, natural beauty, and the vibrant spirit that defines this captivating country.
At a glance
| Day 1 | Welcome to Istanbul. Transfer to hotel |
| Day 2 | Full-Day tour to Bursa with a cable car ride and lunch |
| Day 3 | Spend a day on Princess Island with lunch included |
| Day 4 | Transfer to the Airport for onward flight to Cappadocia |
| Day 5 | Full-day South Cappadocia including lunch |
| Day 6 | Transfer to the airport for onward flight to Antalya |
| Day 7 | Full-day Old Antalya and waterfall tour including lunch |
| Day 8 | Travel to Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Return to Antalya for overnight |
| Day 9 | Return flight to Istanbul. End of tour |
Highlights
> Explore Bursa and Princess Island
> Visit famous sites in Cappadocia such as rock-cut churches and Underground cities
> Visit the gorgeous hot springs in Pamukkale
> See the splendid Duden Waterfalls in Antalya and spend a few hours in the Old City
Quick Contact
Itinerary
Istanbul Arrival Day
- Meet at the airport for transfer to your hotel.
- You will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul
Bursa Tour (B/L)
- Embark on a full-day Bursa tour excursion, which was once the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
Beautifully nestled on the northwestern slopes of Mount Uludag, the city is renowned for its many lovely gardens and parks. It is also quite famous for its peaches, chestnuts, and silk industry.
On your tour, you will cover the Grand and Green Mosques, the Green Mausoleum, and the old silk market in the covered bazaar.
Learn about the rich history of Turkish culture as you explore the surrounding fertile plain, its thermal baths, several interesting museums, and orderly urban growth that adds to Bursa's appeal.
Return to your hotel in Istanbul after the tour
Princess Island tour (B/L)
- Get ready to explore Heybeliada and Buyukada, the largest islands of Turkey's Princes' islands, on our full-day excursion from Istanbul. We cruise across the Sea of Marmara, enjoying the fabulous view of the city.
- Pick up from the hotel in the morning and transfer to the port. Board the boat and start a relaxing trip to the Princes’ Islands. This trip takes you to Heybeliada and Buyukada. Our first destination is Heybeliada.
- Take a stroll through the streets with your guide and breathe the fresh atmosphere of the island. Spend around one hour in Heybeliada and board the boat again to Buyukada.
- Buyukada is the largest of the Princes Islands. Explore the beauties of the island with your guide, and learn more about the history of the island. Your guide will tell you how Princes Islands once was used as a place of exile for banished statesmen and royalty, and how life as a monastic settlement was during the Byzantine-Christian period.
- In Buyukada, walk past the lovely wooden mansions which are fascinating examples of the island’s late Ottoman-era architecture. Feed the seagulls that you can find everywhere in Buyukada. It will be a nice experience for you.
- Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and then spend the rest of your day at leisure on the island.
- After leisure time on the island, meet your guide at the port and take the boat back to Istanbul. Drop off at your hotel after this lovely excursion to the Princes’ Islands.
Inclusions
- Meet and assist on arrival and departure by our local representative
- Transfer and intercity transportation as per itinerary in AC vehicle
- Accommodation in selected hotels in double/twin sharing
- Meals: as mentioned
- Local English-speaking Guide
- Entrance fees
Exclusions
- International/Domestic flights – Departure & Fuel taxes (Contact us for best airfares)
- Personal expenses, meals and drinks unless otherwise specified
- Travel Insurance
- Turkey Visa fee
- Tips
- Services not stated in the itinerary
Validity
- Rate valid for travel between 01 MAY to 31 OCT 24
Contact us for alternative travel dates
Country information
Best time to go
The best times to visit Turkey’s archaeological sites and cities are in spring (Apr-May) and autumn (Sep-Oct) as the temperature is warm, but not too hot.
High summer (Jun-Aug) can be hot: best time for beach holidays. Winters can be cold and many hotels though city breaks are still an option. Turkey does offer ski options during the winter months
Turkey food & drink
Turkish food is varied and delicious. It’s often meze style – lots of small dishes to sample, including aubergine dips, calamari, borek (stuffed pastries), mashed broad beans and stuffed vine leaves – plenty of options for vegetarians, too. Local food involves a lot of meat, often in kebab form – the smell of charcoal-grilled beef, lamb and chicken permeates Turkey.
A Turkish menu includes wonderful loaves of bread, super-sweet baklava (pistachio and syrup pastry) and salty white cheeses. Despite being a Muslim country, alcohol is easy to find in Turkey, especially in the touristy coastal regions. Efes is the Turkish beer of choice. Raki, grape spirit, is potent.
Turkish coffee is pitch black, very strong and often sweet. Tea is widely drunk and served black
Culture and Language
Turkish is the official language, however, English, French, and German are widely spoken in all major cities and tourist areas. Shaking hands is the common form of greetings. Hospitability is a top priority. Pointing fingers at a person a considered rude. Declining an offer is done by putting your hand over your heart. Observe dress code when visiting Islamic sites
Getting around
Train travel is a very popular mode of transport between the major cities. It may be slow but can sometimes offer you some inspiring scenic moments. Coach travel is the most used way of getting around Turkey. Bus routes are relatively cheap and are most comfortable. Just about any city is connected by coach. On certain upmarket coaches, extra legroom and Wi-Fi is offered. If your journey is more than 5 hrs, a 30-minute stop is made about every three hours. Taking a taxi is by far the most convenient way of travel in major cities, but not always the quickest way. Taxis can easily be hailed on the street. Important: only take the official bright yellow taxis. If they do not have a meter, then it is a no go
Tipping
The basic rule is: tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafes and bars. Hotel staff does, however, expect a tip between 5 and 20 Turkish Lira. Do not tip taxi drivers but round up the fare. Tour Guides do not depend on tips, however, if a tour has really gone beyond what your expected, a tip of between 20 and 30 Tl will be greatly appreciated
Classical ruins, Bazaars, Cuisine and more...
Turkey's teeming cityscapes, magnificent classical ruins, chaotic bazaars, and rich, complex cuisine testify to the country's unique position at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. Istanbul, astride the strategic Bosphorus Strait, has been the capital of three empires—Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman—and has the tile mosaics and dome-and-minaret skyline to prove it.
Ruins of legendary towns dotting Turkey's long Mediterranean coast—Aphrodisias, Ephesus, Bodrum, and Troy—preserve in stone the secrets of ancient civilizations. In sprawling bazaars, carpets, spices, silks and other exotic goods for sale reflect millennia-old trade routes still traversing the country.
Inland, even geologic wonders have cultural depth. The cascading mineral pools of Pamukkale once fed royal baths. And Turkey's food is revered as one of the world's great cuisines: chicken with apricots and almonds, slow-roasted eggplant with garlic and lemon, lamb shish kebab, honey pastries and lots of yogurts.