Western Türkiye, from Cappadocia to Istanbul

Your route

1. Day1
   Cappadocia

   Arrival in Kayseri and check-in in Cappadocia

   Our team welcomes you at Kayseri airport. Transfer to your hotel in the heart of Cappadocia for a first quiet evening in this region shaped by volcanoes.

2. Day2
   Cappadocia

   Pigeon Valley, Love Valley and Uçhisar Castle

   You walk through Pigeon Valley and then Love Valley, where erosion has carved tall fairy chimneys. The day continues at the cave citadel of Uçhisar, a rock pinnacle honeycombed with dwellings, whose summit offers a sweeping view over the whole region.

3. Day3
   Cappadocia

   Göreme, Çavuşin, Paşabağ and Zelve

   The Göreme Open-Air Museum brings together a monastic complex and rock-cut churches that bear witness to Christian life in Cappadocia. You then discover the citadel of Çavuşin, the fairy chimneys of Paşabağ, nicknamed the Vineyards of the Lord, and the Zelve Valley, a former cave village turned museum.

4. Day4
   Konya

   Derinkuyu, Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery

   Visit the underground city of Derinkuyu, whose stacked galleries date back to Hittite times and served as a refuge for local people. You then walk through the Ihlara Valley, past its rock-cut churches, and discover Selime Monastery, carved into the cliff. Drive to Konya for the night.

5. Day5
   Antalya

   Mevlana Museum, Aspendos and Side

   Visit the Mevlana Museum in Konya, dedicated to the founder of the order of the whirling dervishes. Drive to the Antalya coast, then discover the ancient theater of Aspendos and the site of Side, with its remains of aqueducts by the sea.

6. Day6
   Antalya

   Perge, the Archaeological Museum and Antalya's old town

   You explore the site of Perge, the former capital of Pamphylia, then the Antalya Archaeological Museum, which holds many of its finds. The afternoon is devoted to the old town of Kaleiçi and Hadrian's Gate, the monumental entrance to the Roman city.

7. Day7
   Kekova

   Phaselis and a boat trip at Kekova

   Phaselis, an ancient Lycian port, has preserved its three harbors, its aqueduct and its theater among the pines. You then board a boat for a trip around Kekova, among islands and the remains of ancient cities at the water's edge.

8. Day8
   Fethiye

   Xanthos, Patara and Saklikent Canyon

   Visit two great Lycian cities: Xanthos, the former capital of Lycia, and Patara, which tradition holds to be the birthplace of Apollo. You end the day in the Saklikent Gorge, where a short walk leads to a small waterfall.

9. Day9
   Pamukkale

   Kayaköy, Ölüdeniz Lagoon and Aphrodisias

   You discover the abandoned village of Kayaköy and the Ölüdeniz lagoon on the Fethiye coast. Then head inland to visit Aphrodisias, a Roman city dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, before spending the night in the Pamukkale area.

10. Day10
    Kuşadası

    Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Ephesus and the Church of St John

    In the morning, you visit Hierapolis and walk on the white limestone terraces of Pamukkale, formed by hot springs. Drive toward the Aegean to discover the Church of St John and the site of Ephesus, the leading city of Ionia. Overnight in Kuşadası.

11. Day11
    Bursa

    Şirince village and Pergamon

    Stroll through the village of Şirince, perched on hills among orchards. You then visit the ancient site of Pergamon, whose landscape bears the traces of several successive civilizations, before setting off for Bursa.

12. Day12
    Bursa

    Ottoman Bursa and the village of Cumalıkızık

    A day in the first capital of the Ottoman Empire: its mosque, its mausoleum and its silk market tell the story of the dynasty's beginnings. You then wander through the village of Cumalıkızık, known for its well-preserved Ottoman houses.

13. Day13
    Istanbul

    Hagia Sophia and a cruise on the Bosphorus

    Arrive in Istanbul and visit Hagia Sophia, the former Byzantine basilica crowned by its immense dome. You then board a public ferry for a trip on the Bosphorus, the strait that separates Europe from Asia.

14. Day14
    Istanbul

    Topkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque and Süleymaniye

    Visit Topkapı Palace, residence of the Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries. You then discover the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) and the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent, two great landmarks of Istanbul's skyline.

15. Day15
    Istanbul

    End of the trip and airport transfer

    End of our tour. Transfer to Istanbul airport (IST or SAW) for your return flight.

This itinerary can be adjusted: pace, stops, extra nights or hotel category are tailored to your group.