İSTANBUL, EPHESUS AND TURQUISE COAST TOUR (8 Nights-9 Days)

Gulet Boat Cruising, Walking, Archaeology, Cultural Adventure,Gastronomy

This is our most favourite and popular Archaeological Blue Cruise in Turkey. Our 9 days trip combine Istanbul and Ephesus with 4 nights luxury gulet boat cruise on Mediterranean. We have 2 departure dates in 2014 but we can arrange a custom trip for you and your family. We have designed a special trip for families with children who wants to see Istanbul and Ephesus and explore some of the ancient wonders of Mediterranean on a gulet boat.Our 9 days archaeological trip offer Blue cruise on Mediterranean, hiking, cultural adventure and gastronomy.

We explore Istanbul, Ephesus and Turkish Mediterranean Coast on this 9 days Blue Cruise.Our archaeological and cultural Turquoise tour in Turkey begins in Istanbul. First day on our tour, we visit the ancient highlights of Byzantine and Ottoman Empire in Istanbul.Then fly to Izmir in the morning for our full day tour to Ephesus,once the capital of Asian province of Roman Empire. After our visit to Ephesus ruins and the House of Virgin Mary, we stay at our hotel in Kusadasi, the beautiful and small seaside town nearby Ephesus. Next day after breakfast at the hotel,we drive to Ephesus for our visit to The Basilica of St.John. After our lunch at local town, we drive onto south to Marmaris for our 5 nights on board the gulet boat. Marmaris is located in the southwestern part of Turkey, in a part where the Turkish coast is full of small peninsulas and promontories stretching out to sea.We cruise along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey and explore some of the best preserved ancient sites each day.We eat our meals at the most beautiful small bays and inlets on our cruise. You’ll find the best examples of traditional Turkish and mediterranean cuisine on the menus as well as excellent seafood specialities. We stop at small towns, visit local open air bazaars and markets. You have plenty of time to swim and snorkell in small bays and harbours of Mediterranean during our cruise. We will cruise to Fethiye and enjoy the clear blue waters of Mediterranean, delicious food on board and special land tours. All land tours and entrance fees to the sites are included on our cruise.We will join a small boat for our Dalyan River boat trip.This trip will be guided by a Turkish Archaeologist and licensed expert tour guide.

DAY 1: Arrival at Istanbul Atatürk Airport and transfer to the hotel in Old Town. Late afternoon, walking tour if time allows. Overnight in Istanbul

DAY 2: ISTANBUL- FULL DAY TOUR WALKING TOUR IN İSTANBUL Hagia Sophia-Blue Mosque-Topkapi Palace-Underground Cistern We explore the Byzantine and Ottoman Highlights of Istanbul today.We learn the rich and fascinating history of Istanbul walking through the Churches, Mosques and Palaces. Istanbul was the center of Eastern Roman Empire called Constantinople and the capital city of Ottoman Empire. (B)

DAY 3: ISTANBUL-FULL DAY TOUR We visit famous Spice Market and then take a local public ferry for our Bosphorus Cruise. (B)

DAY 4: ISTANBUL-FLIGHT TO IZMIR-EPHESUS-SIRINCE VILLAGE-KUSADASI Drive to the airport for our morning flight to Izmir.Upon arrival, we drive to Ephesus for our all day tour. We visit Ephesus ruins, the best preserved Greco-Roman city in Turkey.We also visit The House of Virgin Mary,St. John’s Basilica and Sirince Village, a small Turkish village with traditional Turkish houses and narrow streets. We walk into the village and meet local people in the village.Overnight in nearby seaside town, Kusadasi. (B,L,D)

DAY 5: BOAT TRIP IN DALYAN RIVER-CAUNOS-IZTUZU BEACH-EKINCIK This morning we depart for our gulet on the Mediterranean Coast. We stop at local village and visit Train Museum.Then we visit a local Carpet Cooperative where you can learn about traditional Turkish Carpets and rugs.We drive to Dalyan,a small town where we take a boat for our boat ride along the Dalyan River.This river tour takes us inland along the reed-lined channels of the Dalyan River delta, home to turtles, herons and kingfishers. Heading to the town of Dalyan, we’ll pass beneath impressive ancient Lycian rock tombs. After the river trip,we will embark on our gulet yacht and enjoy dinner in a nearby beautiful cove.(B,L,D)

DAY 6: TERSANE BAY-AGALIMANI-CLEOPATRA’S COVE We cruise east from Dalyan and to the Tersane Cove and Agalimani (Sunken Bath) where you can see the underwater ruins of an ancient bath.We hike into the pine forest from the cove.We have chance to swimand snorkell in most beautiful bays and coves today.

DAY 7:GÖCEK COVES Today we hike to explore ancient Lydae, a rarely visited and unexcavated site of Lycian civilisation.During our scenic hike, you will be able see small inlets covered by pine trees and meet locals. This is our longest hike on our cruise with beautiful view of pine trees.(B,L,D)

DAY 8: GEMILER ISLAND - KAYAKÖY VILLAGE We cruise the gulf of Fethiye today and enjoy lunch in Gemiler Island.Gemiler Island also known as St.Nicholaus Island is a small island with ancient ruins of Byzantine Churches. Gemiler Island was the center of Christian pilgirimages in medieval ages.Afternoon we drive to famous Kayaköy Village, an old abandoned Greek village. We walk in Kayaköy Vilage and visit stone houses and Churches with frescoes.We hike over the village to the Soguksu Cove and meet our boat.(B,L,D)

DAY 9: FETHIYE AND RETURN TO ISTANBUL After breakfast on board the gulet, transfer to the Dalaman Airport for your return flight to Istanbul to connect with your international flight. (B)

This trip can be customized and changed according to your request. We reccommend you to book your trip at least 6 months in advance.If you already booked your hotel in Istanbul and would like to join the rest of our trip, please send us an e mail.

Trip Cost Includes:

Services of a private licensed, professional English-speaking guide
3 Nights in Istanbul
1 Night Kusadasi
4 Nights aboard a traditional hand-made wooden gulet yacht Entrances to museums and sites Domestic flights within the program.
17 Meals: 8 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 4 dinners
Trip Cost Does Not Include: International airfare, transfers for independent arrival or departure, or to/from any airport other than Istanbul Ataturk, dinnner at first night in Istanbul,optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, any additional hotel nights that may be necessary due to airline schedule changes or other factors; travel insurance, passports, visas, and personla expenses (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Trip Payment Schedule

At time of reservation: $500
150 days prior to departure: 50%
90 days prior to departure: Balance
Cancellation and Transfer Fee Schedule
Minimum fee: $500
61-120 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
60 days or less: 100% of trip cost

This gulet cruise can be arranged in different dates. If you are a family or a group of friends and want to book this gulet cruise, we can arrange a private gulet cruise any dates you want. Please let us know the number of your family or friends for your private cruise. Prices are per person in double bed or cabin.Single supplement is plus 50%. Maximum number of people is 14 and minimum 4 person is required for this trip. Please send us an e mail for more information about price details and and our special offers.

Hotels in Istanbul: Ottoman Hotel Imperial or Yasmak Sultan Hotel or similar.
Hotels in Kusadasi: Kismet Hotel or Charisma Hotel
Trip Leader: Aykut Altinisik, Turkish Archaeologist and official tour guide.

aykut@privatetours-turkey.com © Copyright 2010 - 2011 Başar KULAÇ