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tUrkey
19 Days
Turkish Odyssey
Turkey is a land of contrasts that awaits discovery postcard-perfect beaches, azure waters, ethereal lunar-like landscapes and Greco-Roman ruins. All of this beauty combined with the warmth, smiles and hospitality of its people make a trip to this land on two continents a truly remarkable adventure.
n isTanbuL n hiPPodrome n bLue mosQue n grand bazaar n CaPPadoCia n ViLLage homesTay n konya n 3-day guLeT Cruise n feThiye n kas n oLudeniz Lagoon n PamukkaLe n sirinCe n gaLLiPoLi n anzaC CoVe
Days 1-2/Istanbul Our trip starts today in Istanbul. No activities are planned, so you may arrive at any time. The next morning our guide shows us the treasures of the old town including the iconic Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and Cistern Basilica. The afternoon is free to explore and in the evening we take the overnight train to Ankara. Day 3/Ankara - Goreme From Ankara we travel through the Anatolian landscape and past Tuz Gölü salt lake to Cappadocia. On the way we visit a 13th-century Seljuk caravanserai and have the option to visit amazing Derinkuyu an incredible underground city that descends eight floors below the surface. Days -5/Cappadocia In the Akvadi (White Valley) of Cappadocia, we walk past fruit gardens and vineyards to the village of Uçhisar and The Fortress viewpoint. We take an afternoon walk along Pigeon Valley. The next day we head to Pasabaglari (Priest Valley) and follow a trail to the picturesque village of Cavusin before continuing through to Kizilcukur (Red Valley), considered the most beautiful valley in Cappadocia. Tonight we are guests in a local village home and experience traditional Turkish hospitality. Day /Konya Konya was once a regular port of call on the old caravan routes and the capital city of the Selcuk Empire. It is also the hometown of Mevlana, founder of Whirling Dervishes. After an orientation tour of Konya, there is an opportunity to visit the Mevlana Museum.
Day 7/Antalya In Antalya we discover palm-lined boulevards, a small marina and an old castle with traditional architecture all set amidst a thriving modern city. Day 8/Çirali We drive to Çirali, a beautiful beach backed by mountains, where theres plenty of time for a swim. For the more adventurous, there is an option to explore the Chimeira an impressive site where eternal flames burn throughout the rocks as well as the ruins of Phaselis. Days 9-11/Gulet Sailing We board our traditional gulet (sailing boat) for a memorable voyage along the Turquoise Coast, which offers some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the world. Sailing on the beautiful azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea, we swim, snorkel and explore the natural and historical sites along the way. Day 12/Kas - Fethiye We reach the picturesque harbour at Kas, where there is time to visit the quaint town centre before driving to Fethiye, famous for its Persian, Lycian, Carian and Roman art. This charming village is on a pretty bay scattered with large and small islands a great place to watch the sunset from one of the many seaside restaurants. Day 13/Oludeniz - Pamukkale We take a dolmus (local bus) to Oludeniz, described as the Eden bestowed by God to the world. The three-kilometre-long beach has the appearance of a natural lagoon with warm water lapping its shores. We enjoy a swim here before continuing to Pamukkale. Day 1/Pamukkale - Selçuk Today we explore Pamukkale, with its spectacular natural pools, shelves and ridges. There is also the option to explore the ancient city of Hierapolis. We then take a local bus to Selçuk, our base for exploring one of the best-preserved classical cities in the eastern Mediterranean. Day 15/Ephesus - Sirince - Selçuk Today is free to explore or take an optional tour to Ephesus perhaps the greatest Greco-Roman site in the world. Make sure you have plenty of space on your memory card! It is a full and exciting day. Later we head to Sirince, a stunning small mountain village situated a short distance from the coast, before returning to Selçuk for the night. Day 1/Selçuk - Ayvalik After breakfast we take a local bus to Ayvalik, a charming seaside town where we enjoy a walk through its maze of alleyways and markets. A drink at a harbourside bar is a great accompaniment to watching the sunset. Day 17/Gallipoli - Çanakkale A highlight for many is a ferry crossing across the Dardenelles to Gallipoli Penisula. The site of the bloody 1915 battle is now a point of pilgrimage and a shrine to those who gave up their lives amidst its craggy coves and ravines. We later cross back to our hotel in Çanakkale and have an opportunity to visit the ancient ruins of Troy.
Day 18/Çanakkale - Istanbul After breakfast we board our bus for a ride back to Istanbul. Arriving mid-afternoon we have a chance to explore the awesome Spice Market and the alleyways and stalls that make up the Grand Bazaar. Tonight we hit the town for the last night of our tour. Day 19/Istanbul After breakfast we exchange addresses and bid farewell to new-found friends as our tour ends.
trip info
Group size: Maximum 15. Grade: Moderate. Transport: boat, local bus, overnight train, private aircon bus. Accommodation: 1 night village homestay, 1 night overnight train, 9 nights budget/tourist class hotels, 4 nights pensions, 3 nights gulet boat. Meals: 17 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners. Other: Please note that the 9 April 2008 departure ties in with ANZAC Day at Gallipoli. This departure has a surcharge of 50 Euro per person and departs on a Wednesday instead of the usual Sunday. Local payment: Your tour leader will collect EUR300 from each person on Day 1. Tour Code: GETO. Prices: See page 2. Further Info & Trip Notes: www.geckosadventures.co.uk/trips/geto
Start Sun 2008 23-Mar *09-Apr Finish Thu 10-Apr 27-Apr 27-Apr 18-May 08-Jun 29-Jun 20-Jul 15-May 05-Jun 26-Jun 17-Jul 07-Aug 31-Aug 21-Sep 2009 22-Mar *09-Apr 18-Sep 09-Oct 09-Apr 27-Apr 26-Apr 17-May 07-Jun 28-Jun 14-May 04-Jun 25-Jun 16-Jul
*Special ANZAC Day trip surcharge of 50 Euro per person
Turkish Odyssey
BLACK SEA
Istanbul Gallipoli Ayvalik Pamukkale Ephesus Selçuk Fethiye Kas Antalya Ankara Uchisar Konya
T URKEY
Göreme
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
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