10 DAYS PRIVATE TOUR OF SOUTH TURKEY
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10 DAYS PRIVATE TOUR OF SOUTH TURKEY
10 Days of South Turkey Private tour.
Itinerary
Start in Istanbul and end in Bodrum! With the sightseeing tour Tour the Best Highlights of ..
10 Days of South Turkey Private tour.
Itinerary
Start in Istanbul and end in Bodrum! With the sightseeing tour Tour the Best Highlights of South Turkey in 10 days, you have a 10-day tour package taking you through Istanbul, Turkey, and 5 other destinations in Turkey.
Introduction
Explore the highlights of South Turkey and see some of the amazing places of history and stunning landscape that this beautiful country has to offer.
Leave all the planning to us on this 10-day tour that will transport you to the country’s top sights without any hassle or stress.
Throughout your trip, you’ll visit Istanbul’s highlights, including Hagia Sofia, and cruise between two continents on a Bosphorus cruise.
You will venture to the UNESCO-listed Ephesus where you will see one of the world's best-preserved ancient sites and see where the Virgin Mary spent her final days at the House of the Virgin Mary. Get to experience the Temple of Artemis one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Explore the fairy-tale landscape of mystifying Cappadocia where you can also see the labyrinth of the underground city. You may even have the option to take a hot balloon ride, which is a memory you won't want to forget.
Visit Priene was an important city in ancient times because here is where the Panionium stood, which was the central meeting place and sanctuary of the Ionian Confederacy. Miletus was the principal port and the wealthiest imperium on the Aegean coast. Didyma was once an ancient Ionian city and now known as Didim. The town was formed just outside of the sanctuary containing a temple and oracle of Apollo, the Didymaion. Didyma was a neighbor of Miletus.
The last stop is Bodrum where you will tour this coastal town on your own, where you could visit Bodrum Castle (Castle of St Peter). Sat on a peninsula dividing the city’s two bays, this Crusader fort was constructed in 1402 by the Knights of St John before being seized in 1522 by the Ottomans. Most of the castle is devoted to the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, a treasure-trove of artifacts found under the local seas where you can admire jars, jewelry, and weapons found on the ancient shipwrecks and see the prize exhibit of the Uluburun shipwreck: a wooden Bronze Age merchant ship that was recovered from the sea in 1982.
Continue to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, which is the site of the tomb of King Mausolus, the ruler of the ancient city of Halicarnassus that stood on the site of Bodrum in the 4th century BC. Look at the broken relics as your guide details the once-glorious tomb, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visit the Bodrum Amphitheater that is cut into a hillside an impressive structure dating back to the 4th century BC. Explore the orchestra and view the steep tiers of seats, some still engraved with their patrons’ names.
Day 1: Arrival Day
Arrive at Istanbul Airport where our driver/guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in before having the rest of the day at your leisure.
Start point our driver will collect you from the Arrivals Hall, İstanbul Airport, Tayakadın Mahallesi, Eyüp, Istanbul, Turkey00:00 - 23:55
Day 2: Sultanahmet – Old Istanbul
Go to the Topkapi Palace, which was once used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries, and see the magnificent collection of priceless jewels, silver, crystal, and porcelain, robes that were worn by the sultans, and the relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra).
Visit the Hagia Sophia, which was built by Emperor Justinian and was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years and has intricate mosaics and a huge central dome.
After lunch, we will visit the stunning Blue Mosque that was built for Sultan Ahmet I, and is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles.
Visit the ancient Hippodrome the sports center with the Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar, and German Fountain of Wilhelm II, and visit the hidden Underground Cistern.
See the Grand Covered Bazaar with its many shops perfect for your holiday souvenirs.
Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise and Beylerbeyi
Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market located on the Golden Horn before boarding your cruise of the Bosphorus where the waterway separates the two continents Europe and Asia.
Pass by Rumeli fortress which was built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452, so he could prepare for his conquest of Istanbul.
Cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia where you will visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was once the summer address of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill for a fantastic view of Istanbul.
Time for lunch in a lovely seaside fish restaurant. Cruise is on a public boat unless other arrangements are made.
Day 4: Istanbul - Cappadocia
In and around Cappadocia
Fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia, and upon arrival, you will be met at the airport just outside the arrival gate and transfer to Cappadocia.
Tour the Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the fascinating underground settlements in Cappadocia then drive to Sahinefendi (Sobesos) which is newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses and Archaeological excavation site.
Villages in the valleys are surrounded by the “tabletop” mountains which are spectacular.
Continue to the Keslik Monastery close to Cemil, which hides its frescoes behind a thin smoke layer that you can only see by torchlight.
Visit Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; outstanding examples of late Greek settlements and architecture.
Visit Saruhan Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travelers would rest and recover from their day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of information, commerce, and people across a network of trade routes of North Africa, Asia, and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice Road.
Continue with the panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations, and is in the heart of Cappadocia but still away from the tourist crowd.
Day 5: Cappadocia
Meet at the hotel reception after breakfast, then have your first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia with some rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley, walk-in Pasabag near Zelve, and wonder at the “fairy chimneys” where the sound of the wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”.
Lunch in Avanos which has been the center of terra cotta work of art since around 3000 BC and you will get a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.
You will get the opportunity to visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and view the finest examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).
Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.
Day 6: Cappadocia – Ephesus
In and around Ephesus
Take an early morning flight from Kayseri to Izmir (direct or via Istanbul), and upon arrival, our professional driver will meet at the airport with your name sign and transfer to Ephesus.
Visit the ancient city of Ephesus and spend a few hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Apostles Paul, Caesar, Cicero, and John, and many other well-known historical names.
The recently opened Terrace Houses (entry included) is where the wealthiest Romans lived and are a great example of sensitive excavation and presentation and the mosaics and frescos are stunning.
Tradition says that St John brought Virgin Mary hereafter the Crucifixion and lived her last years close to the city of Ephesus on a secluded mountaintop. A lovely chapel was constructed on the site and tended by Franciscans and open to visitors and has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope.
We will continue with Saint John Church where Apostle John spent his final years and was buried and visit the temple of Artemis to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Day 7: Kuşadası – Priene- Miletus – Didyma – Bodrum
Drive to Bodrum, and on the way, we will visit Priene, Miletus, and Didyma.
Ephesus may be the creme-de-la-creme of the ancient ruins but Priene, Miletus, and Didyma though less frequently visited are still significant ancient settlements.
Priene sits in a dramatic position overlooking the Meander Valley and plain. Miletus preserves a spectacular theatre, and Didyma has a Temple of Apollo vaguely reminiscent of the magnificent temples at Karnak in Egypt.
Day 8: Bodrum
Today we will visit Bodrum Castle and the underwater archeologic museum
Day 9: Bodrum
Free day in Bodrum, enjoy your hotel, the beach, or shopping in Bodrum
Day 10: Departure Day
Transfer to Bodrum Airport to connect to your international flight. or domestic flight to Istanbul.
Included services:
- HB - BB accommodation
- Lunches during tours and mentioned Dinners
- Entrance fees
- Transfers
- Airport transfers
- Domestic flight tickets
- Public bus transfer
- English guides
Excluded services:
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
Itinerary
Start in Istanbul and end in Bodrum! With the sightseeing tour Tour the Best Highlights of South Turkey in 10 days, you have a 10-day tour package taking you through Istanbul, Turkey, and 5 other destinations in Turkey.
Introduction
Explore the highlights of South Turkey and see some of the amazing places of history and stunning landscape that this beautiful country has to offer.
Leave all the planning to us on this 10-day tour that will transport you to the country’s top sights without any hassle or stress.
Throughout your trip, you’ll visit Istanbul’s highlights, including Hagia Sofia, and cruise between two continents on a Bosphorus cruise.
You will venture to the UNESCO-listed Ephesus where you will see one of the world's best-preserved ancient sites and see where the Virgin Mary spent her final days at the House of the Virgin Mary. Get to experience the Temple of Artemis one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Explore the fairy-tale landscape of mystifying Cappadocia where you can also see the labyrinth of the underground city. You may even have the option to take a hot balloon ride, which is a memory you won't want to forget.
Visit Priene was an important city in ancient times because here is where the Panionium stood, which was the central meeting place and sanctuary of the Ionian Confederacy. Miletus was the principal port and the wealthiest imperium on the Aegean coast. Didyma was once an ancient Ionian city and now known as Didim. The town was formed just outside of the sanctuary containing a temple and oracle of Apollo, the Didymaion. Didyma was a neighbor of Miletus.
The last stop is Bodrum where you will tour this coastal town on your own, where you could visit Bodrum Castle (Castle of St Peter). Sat on a peninsula dividing the city’s two bays, this Crusader fort was constructed in 1402 by the Knights of St John before being seized in 1522 by the Ottomans. Most of the castle is devoted to the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, a treasure-trove of artifacts found under the local seas where you can admire jars, jewelry, and weapons found on the ancient shipwrecks and see the prize exhibit of the Uluburun shipwreck: a wooden Bronze Age merchant ship that was recovered from the sea in 1982.
Continue to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, which is the site of the tomb of King Mausolus, the ruler of the ancient city of Halicarnassus that stood on the site of Bodrum in the 4th century BC. Look at the broken relics as your guide details the once-glorious tomb, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visit the Bodrum Amphitheater that is cut into a hillside an impressive structure dating back to the 4th century BC. Explore the orchestra and view the steep tiers of seats, some still engraved with their patrons’ names.
Day 1: Arrival Day
Arrive at Istanbul Airport where our driver/guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in before having the rest of the day at your leisure.
Start point our driver will collect you from the Arrivals Hall, İstanbul Airport, Tayakadın Mahallesi, Eyüp, Istanbul, Turkey00:00 - 23:55
Day 2: Sultanahmet – Old Istanbul
Go to the Topkapi Palace, which was once used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries, and see the magnificent collection of priceless jewels, silver, crystal, and porcelain, robes that were worn by the sultans, and the relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra).
Visit the Hagia Sophia, which was built by Emperor Justinian and was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years and has intricate mosaics and a huge central dome.
After lunch, we will visit the stunning Blue Mosque that was built for Sultan Ahmet I, and is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles.
Visit the ancient Hippodrome the sports center with the Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar, and German Fountain of Wilhelm II, and visit the hidden Underground Cistern.
See the Grand Covered Bazaar with its many shops perfect for your holiday souvenirs.
Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise and Beylerbeyi
Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market located on the Golden Horn before boarding your cruise of the Bosphorus where the waterway separates the two continents Europe and Asia.
Pass by Rumeli fortress which was built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452, so he could prepare for his conquest of Istanbul.
Cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia where you will visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was once the summer address of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill for a fantastic view of Istanbul.
Time for lunch in a lovely seaside fish restaurant. Cruise is on a public boat unless other arrangements are made.
Day 4: Istanbul - Cappadocia
In and around Cappadocia
Fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia, and upon arrival, you will be met at the airport just outside the arrival gate and transfer to Cappadocia.
Tour the Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the fascinating underground settlements in Cappadocia then drive to Sahinefendi (Sobesos) which is newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses and Archaeological excavation site.
Villages in the valleys are surrounded by the “tabletop” mountains which are spectacular.
Continue to the Keslik Monastery close to Cemil, which hides its frescoes behind a thin smoke layer that you can only see by torchlight.
Visit Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; outstanding examples of late Greek settlements and architecture.
Visit Saruhan Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travelers would rest and recover from their day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of information, commerce, and people across a network of trade routes of North Africa, Asia, and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice Road.
Continue with the panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations, and is in the heart of Cappadocia but still away from the tourist crowd.
Day 5: Cappadocia
Meet at the hotel reception after breakfast, then have your first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia with some rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley, walk-in Pasabag near Zelve, and wonder at the “fairy chimneys” where the sound of the wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”.
Lunch in Avanos which has been the center of terra cotta work of art since around 3000 BC and you will get a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.
You will get the opportunity to visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and view the finest examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).
Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.
Day 6: Cappadocia – Ephesus
In and around Ephesus
Take an early morning flight from Kayseri to Izmir (direct or via Istanbul), and upon arrival, our professional driver will meet at the airport with your name sign and transfer to Ephesus.
Visit the ancient city of Ephesus and spend a few hours walking in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, Apostles Paul, Caesar, Cicero, and John, and many other well-known historical names.
The recently opened Terrace Houses (entry included) is where the wealthiest Romans lived and are a great example of sensitive excavation and presentation and the mosaics and frescos are stunning.
Tradition says that St John brought Virgin Mary hereafter the Crucifixion and lived her last years close to the city of Ephesus on a secluded mountaintop. A lovely chapel was constructed on the site and tended by Franciscans and open to visitors and has been designated a pilgrimage site by the Pope.
We will continue with Saint John Church where Apostle John spent his final years and was buried and visit the temple of Artemis to see the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Day 7: Kuşadası – Priene- Miletus – Didyma – Bodrum
Drive to Bodrum, and on the way, we will visit Priene, Miletus, and Didyma.
Ephesus may be the creme-de-la-creme of the ancient ruins but Priene, Miletus, and Didyma though less frequently visited are still significant ancient settlements.
Priene sits in a dramatic position overlooking the Meander Valley and plain. Miletus preserves a spectacular theatre, and Didyma has a Temple of Apollo vaguely reminiscent of the magnificent temples at Karnak in Egypt.
Day 8: Bodrum
Today we will visit Bodrum Castle and the underwater archeologic museum
Day 9: Bodrum
Free day in Bodrum, enjoy your hotel, the beach, or shopping in Bodrum
Day 10: Departure Day
Transfer to Bodrum Airport to connect to your international flight. or domestic flight to Istanbul.
Included services:
- HB - BB accommodation
- Lunches during tours and mentioned Dinners
- Entrance fees
- Transfers
- Airport transfers
- Domestic flight tickets
- Public bus transfer
- English guides
Excluded services:
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
