Turkey 2 Week Itinerary

• Upon arrival in Istanbul for your two week Turkey itinerary, your driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.
• Overnight stay in Istanbul.

• After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for a full-day walking tour of Istanbul’s historic Old City.
• You’ll explore some of the most iconic landmarks, starting with the Hagia Sophia, a stunning architectural masterpiece that once held the title of the world’s largest church.
• Next, you’ll visit the Underground Byzantine Cistern (Yerebatan), a fascinating historical site beneath the city.
• Your guide will then take you to the Hippodrome of Istanbul, where you’ll see the remnants of the ancient chariot racing grounds, followed by the famous Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), known for its stunning blue tiles.
• After lunch, head to the Topkapi Palace, once the main residence of Ottoman sultans. The Harem section, in particular, offers a glimpse into royal life.
• Before returning to your hotel, you’ll have time to stroll through the Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest and oldest open-air market.
• Overnight stay in Istanbul.

• After meeting your guide in the hotel lobby, you’ll head out for another day of sightseeing in Istanbul.
• Your first stop will be the Süleymaniye Mosque, a magnificent work of architecture by the famous Ottoman architect Sinan.
• Next, you’ll visit the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora, known for its beautiful mosaics, and then head to Pierre Loti Hill, one of the best points for panoramic views of the city.
• Enjoy a private yacht Bosphorus trip, cruising along the strait to admire Istanbul’s landmarks, including the Bosphorus Bridges, Dolmabahçe Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Anadolu and Rumeli Fortresses, and picturesque houses along the shore.
• Your day will conclude with a visit to the Spice Market, a 17th-century marketplace once at the heart of Istanbul’s spice trade.
• Overnight stay in Istanbul.

• After an early departure from Istanbul, you'll begin a 5-hour drive to Troy.
• Explore the legendary city of Troy, made famous by Homer’s epic tales, and see the replica of the iconic wooden horse. Learn about the history and myths surrounding this ancient site.
• Next, you’ll drive for about an hour to Assos, where you can visit the Temple of Athena, located on a hilltop offering spectacular views of the sea.
• Overnight stay in Assos.

• After leaving Assos, we’ll drive for about 3 hours to Bergama, where you’ll visit Asklepion, the ruins of one of the world’s first hospitals.
• After a short lunch break, we’ll continue to the ancient city of Pergamon, where we’ll spend about two hours exploring the site.
• You’ll have the chance to see the Temple of Hadrian, one of the steepest Hellenistic theaters in the world, the Zeus Altar, and the second largest library of the ancient world.
• Pergamon is also significant for its Biblical history, as it was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation.
• After sightseeing, we’ll drive for 2.5 hours to Kusadasi.
• Overnight stay in Kusadasi.

• After breakfast, we’ll depart from the hotel and drive for about 20 minutes to the Ephesus area.
• First, we’ll visit Ephesus, one of Turkey’s most visited sites, famous for being one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world.
• Next, we’ll head to the House of Virgin Mary, a sacred site believed to be where Mary, the mother of Jesus, was brought by the Apostle John.
• After enjoying a local lunch, we’ll explore Sirince Village, known for its picturesque streets and traditional atmosphere.
• Then, we’ll stop briefly at the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• We’ll return to Kusadasi for an overnight stay.

• On this full-day tour in the Aegean region, you’ll visit three ancient cities: Priene, one of the best-preserved Greek cities in the world; Miletos, known for its famous philosopher Thales and his philosophical school; and Didyma, home to the Temple of Apollo, the second-largest oracle center in antiquity.
• After a local lunch, we’ll return to Kusadasi for another overnight stay.

• We’ll depart from Kusadasi and drive for about 2.5 hours to Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, famous for its well-preserved stadium.
• After a delicious lunch, we’ll continue our journey for another hour to Pamukkale.
• In Pamukkale, also known as the “Cotton Castle”, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the famous thermal pools, swim in one of them, and admire the remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis.
• After the tour, you’ll spend the night in a local hotel.

• After breakfast, we’ll drive for about 3 hours to Saklikent, where you’ll experience the second-largest and most spectacular gorge in Europe.
• We’ll also make a brief photo stop at the ancient city of Tlos, where you can see examples of Lycian tombs.
• Next, we’ll visit Xanthos, a remarkable site that showcases the unique architecture of the ancient Lycian Civilization, and Patara, an ancient Lycian city near one of the longest beaches in Turkey.
• After the tour, we’ll head to Kas for an overnight stay.

• After breakfast, we’ll depart from the hotel and drive for about 2 hours to the charming fishing town of Kekova, where we’ll take a boat tour to explore the fascinating sunken city.
• Next, we’ll continue along the scenic Turquoise Coast to Demre.
• Our first stop in Demre will be the St. Nicholas Church, believed to be the birthplace and burial place of St. Nicholas.
• We’ll also visit the ancient city of Myra, known for its impressive rock-cut tombs and ancient theater.
• Afterward, we’ll drive for about 2.5 hours to Antalya, making stops along the way to explore some of the picturesque small coastal towns.
• We’ll arrive in Antalya for an overnight stay.

• After breakfast, we’ll depart from Antalya and start our journey with a visit to the Greco-Roman city of Perge, where St. Paul delivered his first speech on Christianity in the region.
• Next, we’ll head to Aspendos, home to one of the world’s best-preserved Roman theaters.
• Following our visit, we’ll drive for about 3 hours to Konya, the ancient city of Iconium.
• Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Mevlana Mausoleum, the spiritual center of the Whirling Dervishes and a major pilgrimage site.
• At the end of the tour, we’ll drop you off at your hotel for an overnight stay in Konya.

• After breakfast, we’ll depart from Konya and head towards Cappadocia.
• On the way, we’ll visit the Ihlara Valley, a popular spot for hiking and exploring Byzantine cave churches, offering one of the most fascinating experiences in the region.
• Next, we’ll visit Kaymakli Underground City, one of Cappadocia’s 36 underground cities. It was used by early Christians to hide from Roman persecution and is the widest and most visited of them all.
• Afterward, we’ll arrive at our hotel in Cappadocia for an overnight stay.

• Optional Hot-Air Balloon Ride: Early morning pick-up from your hotel (04:30-05:00 am, we will inform you about the exact pick-up time one day in advance).
• After a one-hour hot-air balloon flight, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel for breakfast.
• After breakfast, your guide and driver will meet you and take you on a sightseeing tour.
• First, we’ll visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a must-see stop in  and an extraordinary monastery complex.
• Next, we’ll head to the Troglodyte Village of Avcilar and Ortahisar Castle to explore the region's fascinating history.
• After lunch, we’ll visit Avanos Village, known for its traditional and modern pottery production.
• Then, we’ll explore Pasabag (Monks Valley), where you can see the famous fairy chimneys and the St. Simeon Church.
• After the tour, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your flight to Istanbul.
• Upon arrival in Istanbul, you’ll be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

You’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight, taking with you unforgettable memories of your 14 days private Turkey tour.