Turquoise Days

Kuşadası is a resort town on the Aegean coast. The area has been a center of art and culture for many civilizations since being founded by the Leleges people in 3000 BC. The beach was conquered by Alexander the Great and then became the Hellenistic culture's center. The Roman Empire took possession of the coast in the 2nd century BC and made it their provincial capital in the early years of Christianity. Göcek is a tranquil resort town with gorgeous vistas of sea and mountains, hosting significant marinas that serve the yacht tourism in the region. The Gulf of Göcek, with more than a thousand coves, is declared a Registered Area of Special Protection. Discover the natural travertine formations in Pamukkale, the "Cotton Castle."  
Visit five cities in 9 days (2 nights in Istanbul – 2 nights in Kuşadası – 3 nights in Gocek – 1 night in Pamukkale).  
With this 8-Night & 9-Day program, start with the historical city of Istanbul, travel through the Eagean cost, visit ancient cities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites,  walk in the footsteps of Saints and Legionnaires in Ephesus, enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters of the Gulf of Gocek, explore the natural wonders at Pamukkale and visit Hierapolis.  

Arrive at Istanbul airport, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. Have a short rest and set off to the Old Town of Istanbul. Visit Topkapı Palace, Sultan Ahmet Square, the German Fountain, the Hippodrome, the Million Stone, the magnificent Hagia Sophia, and Sultan Ahmet Mosque, known as Blue Mosque. Discover Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, and enjoy strolling in the Egyptian Market known as Spice Market. The daily tour finishes at Galata bridge. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul.  

Breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby and set off for an approximately 30-minute drive to Eminönü. Bosphorus Tour's boat departure time is at 10:20 am. You'll get a panoramic view of the Bosphorus, the waterway which separates Istanbul into two parts, the European continent and the Asian continent. During the Bosphorus cruise, you'll see Dolmabahçe Palace's ornated seaside entrance gate, which the sultans used. Maiden tower, Çırağan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, the fortress of Rumelihisarı, and old wooden villas (called Yalıs) along the seaside are some of the pearl grains adorning the strait which joins Marmara and the Black Sea. "Yalı" s served as the summer residence for distinguished citizens, grand viziers, and Paşas starting from the end of the 17th century. "Yalı" s were built with the inspiration of baroque, art nouveau, and modern styles of architecture and typically painted rust red, a color known as Ottoman rose. The boat trip will take approximately 90 minutes. You will have two hours in a cozy fisherman village called Kavak to walk around and have lunch. This pretty village is well known for fried mussels and fish restaurants. Take the boat, and our trip will end at Eminönü. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul.  

Early breakfast at the hotel and departure from the hotel. Drive to Bursa (2.5-hour drive), the first capital city of the Ottomans. Visit the Green Mosque, a culmination of the early Ottoman architectural style. The complex consists of a mosque, türbe, madrasah, kitchen, and bath. The name Green Mosque comes from its green and blue interior tile decorations, which Persian artists make. Have lunch and set off to Gölyazı (1-hour drive), a town founded on a small peninsula on Lake Uluabat. The place has also been known as Apolyont. Even though the city has founded by ancient Greeks, ruins of the Roman period are abundant. It's known that the Roman Emperor Hadrian visited the town. Expected arrival time to Kuşadası at around 6 pm. Overnight Kuşadası.  

Have breakfast and, leave the hotel, set off to the ruins of Ephesus, a 30-minute drive. Visit the archeological site until noon. Ephesus, the capital of the ancient city of Anatolia, is an extremely splendid metropolis. This mega ancient city, whose unique architectural monuments have been standing for thousands of years, has entered the World Heritage List. Based on Anatolia's mother goddess (Kybele) tradition, the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, also increases the importance of Ephesus. The most famous remains identified with Ephesus Archaeological Site, "The Library of Celsus, "which is breathtaking with its enormous columns. The Hadrian Gate and the Temple of Hadrian are among the prominent structures on Kuretler Street, built in the name of Emperor Hadrian. The other ruins worth seeing are; one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the biggest theatre in Anatolia with its 25,000-seating capacity, stadium, terrace houses, trade and state Agoras (market place), Prytaneum which has Temple of Hestia (Holy fire), 1,800-seating capacity Odeon (assembly hall and concert hall) and the ancient harbor. Have lunch in Selçuk and visit St John Basilica, the Grotto of Seven Sleepers, and the Virgin Mary's house. set off to a small town Sirince, a 30-minute drive, where you'll admire the stone-and-stucco houses adorned with red-tiled roofs. An example of a blend of Turkish and Greek cultures, several of these traditional homes are open to visitors and provide a glimpse into this shared past. Transfer to your hotel and rest before dinner. Overnight Kuşadası.  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel to set off to Göcek. Stop by a small town called Akyaka (a 2.5-hour drive). Akyaka is known for its old houses. While their gardens and sofas provide an exceptional appearance, the houses are generally two-story structures in stone with wooden ornamentations. Eucalyptus trees surround the town, and the Azmak River runs through fields to the seafront, where there is a sandy beach. The river's water is freezing and slightly salty. Have lunch and a boat tour of the river. There are friendly boutique hotels and restaurants along the river. Expected arrival time to Göcek at around 6 pm. Overnight Göcek.

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. Transfer to the marina. Have a private boat tour on the gulf of Göcek. Once you embark from the marina, you'll notice the islands (Gocek island, Yassica Island, Zeytin island, Tersane Island, and Pig Island). Enjoy the deep blue sea in the bays of Göcek with a gulet-type boat. Explore the numerous isolated creeks around those islands and swim in the turquoise water. Lunch will be served on board. Arrival at the marina is expected around 6 pm. Transfer to your hotel and rest for dinner. Overnight Göcek  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. set off to Dalyan. Dalyan means "fishing weir" in Turkish. Bass, Mullet, and Sea Bream swim upstream from the sea to Köyceğiz Lake, and when returning to the sea, they are caught in the "dalyan." While you'll having a daily boat tour in the Calbys river (Dalyan River), you'll notice, beyond the reeds, the façades of rock tombs of the ancient trading city of Kaunos. Kaunos was a vital seaport Carian city dating back to the 10th century BC. Your guide will give you more explanations about the rock tombs during your excursion to the river. During your boat trip, some sea turtles (Caretta Carettas) may accompany you as their breeding ground; Iztuzu beach lying south of the river along with the sea coast. Have lunch on board and free time for swimming. In the afternoon, visit the mud and sulphur bath on Lake Koycegiz. It is known that the mud baths and the thermal waters have been used since the times of the Kaunos people. Return to Dalyan port, transfer to your hotel (45-minute drive), and rest before dinner. Overnight Göcek.

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. On the way to Pamukkale, visit the ancient site of Laodicia, located in the Hellenistic regions of Caria and Lydia. The archaeological site of Laodicea was inscribed in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in 2013. The ruins include a stadium, baths, temples, a gymnasium, theatres, and a bouleuterion (Senate House); they are being substantially renovated. Continue to Pamukkale, a 30-minute drive. Have lunch, and in the afternoon, discover the natural travertine formations. Pamukkale's terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by mineral water from the hot springs. In this area, there are 17 hot springs with temperatures ranging from 35 °C (95 °F) to 100 °C (212 °F). Pamukkale is recognized as a World Heritage Site with Hierapolis, the ancient site used as a healing center and thermal spa early in the 2nd century BC. Free time to explore travertines and swim with Roman ruins in the large natural swimming pool at Hierapolis. Overnight Pamukkale.

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. Visit the archaeological site of Aphrodisias, 1,5 hour's drive, one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in Turkey. The site's central feature is its temple, built in the 3rd century BC to honor the Goddess Aphrodite, after whom the city was named. The archeological site is littered with the gleaming remains of a once-thriving community—from a grand amphitheater built to hold 30,000 spectators to a richly ornamented monumental gate (tetrapylon) and a large public bathhouse. Several examples of marble sculpture work—including finely detailed sarcophagi, reliefs, and life-size Aphrodite figures—can be found in the onsite museum. Have lunch and transfer to the Adnan Menderes Airport (2.5-hour drive). (Flight duration to Istanbul, 1 hour).