Backpacker’s Highlights Tour-1
Day 1 Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul! You will be transferred to Orient Hostel located in the heart of the old city, Sultanahmet. The remainder of the day is yours free to explore. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 2 Istanbul Bosphorus & Two Continents (B-L)
08:30 Pick up from the hotel ,visit to;
-City Walls
-Spice Bazaar
-Tour on the Bosphorus
-Rumeli Fortress
-Lunch
-Beylerbeyi Palace
-Camlica Hill
17:30 End of the tour, transfer to hotel.
P.S : Also visioned during the tour ,Çırağan Palace Hotel Kempinski,Ortaköy Mosque,Military Highschool,Bosphorus Bridge,Dolmabahçe Palace from the sea.
Closed: Spice Bazaar on Sunday ./ Replaced with Pierre Loti. Beylerbeyi Palace on Monday and Thursday /Replaced with Chora Museum.
Day 3 Istanbul to Gallipoli ( B-L)
One of the most emotionally and touching places in Turkey, today we visit the WWI Battlefields of Gallipoli including Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, the Nek, Johnston’s Jolly and the Kaba Tepe Gallipoli Museum. Overnight .
Day 4 Gallipoli to Selcuk via Troy (B)
Today we step back in time as we visit Troy, famous for the legendary Trojan Horse from the times of beautiful Helen, Queen of Sparta and Paris, the Trojan Prince. Bus to Selcuk via İzmir. Overnight.
Day 5 Ephesus (B-L)
Full day tour of Ephesus & The House of Virgin Mary starts around 09:00. First you will visit The Temple of Artemis, which once was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Then you will visit the world famous ancient Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a lunch break. After lunch you will visit The House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. End of the tour transfer to hostel and Overnight.
Day 6: Pamukkale – Fethiye (B + L)
You will be picked up from hostel after the breakfast. Then driven to Pamukkale which is the center of natural thermal spring waters with healing properties. Due to the chemical properties in the water, pure white colored travertines and stepped water terraces have been created on the mountain slope. It is for its resemblance to cotton piles that it is called “Cotton Castle” in Turkish. Visit the travertines and the Ancient City of Hierapolis which has the biggest Nekropol with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. The sacred pool also is one of the highlights of the site. There shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins which lie beneath. Bus to Fethiye. Make your own way to Hostel .Check in to hostel Overnight in Fethiye.
Day 7: Blue Cruise 4 days – 3 nights (From Fethiye to Olimpos) (B + L )
1.Day: Fethiye
You will picked up from hotel after breakfast and transfer to harbour. Departure from Fethiye Harbour between 11 and 12 a.m. to Samanlik Bay for swimming & lunch. Butterfly Valley (sea conditions permitting) is our next stop for a swim & to visit this natural reserve, hosting 136 kinds of different butterflies and moths. Afterwards we cruise to Ölüdeniz (The Blue Lagoon) again sea conditions permitting. Option for paragliding available. Last stop of the day is St-Nicholas Island. Visit the Byzantine ruins, swim, dinner & 1st night
Day 8: Blue Cruise (B + L + D)
2.Day: Kalkan-Kas-Kekova
Around sunrise departure to Aquarium or Firnaz Bay near Kalkan for breakfast & swimming. Cruising to Kas where we stop in the harbour for lunch & visit of this charming fishing village. Of ancient Antiphellos, as Kas was once known, only Lycian rock tombs & sarcophagi and the Roman theatre are left. But the charm of the town remains! In a bay near Kekova we stop for swimming, dinner & the 2nd night
Day 9: Blue Cruise (B + L + D)
3.Day: Sunken City-Simena
Breakfast. Departure to Sunken City of Kekova (this Lycian- Roman archaeological site is protected, so only looking!). Simena, a traditional Turkish fishing village with no car access and Byzantine/Ottoman castle. In Gökkaya Bay water sports are available. Dinner, relax in this pirates haven or party the night away at the Smugglers Inn.
Day 10: Blue Cruise (B + L + D)
4.Day: Myra-Demre-Olympos
After breakfast we have a look at the Pirates Cave before cruising to Andriace harbour (lunch). Bus transfer to the archaeological site of Myra, and to Demre for the St-Nicholas Church, shopping and banking when requested. Bus transfer to all Tree houses in Olympos where we arrive between 4 and 6 p.m. Check in to top tree houses. Diner & Overnight.
Day 11: Olympos (B + D)
Free Day.
Dinner & Overnight.
Day 12: Olympos – Cappadocia (B)
FREE DAY.
Overnight bus to Cappadocia.
Day 13: Cappadocia (B + L)
You will be picked up from your hotel around 09:00 and start to visit;
Full day tour of North Cappadocia. In this day you will be able to see; Devrent Valley, Monks Valley, Avanos, Göreme Open Air Museum, Uçhisar, overnight in cave hostel.
Day 14: Cappadocia – Istanbul (B + L)
Breakfast & check out the hostel or hotel . 09:30 You will be picked up from your hostel or hotel for Full day tour of South Cappadocia. In this day you will be able to see: Kızılçukur, Cavuşin, Hospital Monastry, Kaymaklı Underground City, Pigeon Hosue, After the tour, transfer to bus station. 20:30 Depart from Cappadocia.
DAY 15 / Arrive in İstanbul
07:30 Arrive back in Istanbul & transfer to Orient Hostel .
