Off the Beaten Track Turkey

After breakfast, our sightseeing Turkey tour begins with a picturesque commute to the famous Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar. This is the 2nd largest covered market in the city and the shops and merchants offer a lot more than various edibles, treats, and spices to enjoy. Next, we board a private boat at Eminonu to cruise and sight-see along the Bosphorus. The Bosphorus is a strait that divides Europe from Asia. During this scenic tour we see old and new historical sites such as mosques, castles, and palaces adorning the amazing waterfront. Later, we dine for lunch at a local Turkish restaurant. Lastly, we continue our tour to Dolmabache Palace. This is one of the largest palaces in Istanbul. This palace has more than 280 rooms and it was built in the 19th century. Finally, we are transferred back to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Start your day at Sultanahmet Square with the iconic Hagia Sophia and the beautiful Blue Mosque. Explore the ancient Hippodrome before heading to Topkapi Palace to tour its lavish courtyards and the Harem. Enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch nearby. In the afternoon, wander through the Grand Bazaar for souvenirs and the Spice Bazaar for aromatic spices.

After the hotel check out we continue with the Turkey tour with a 4-hour drive to Eceabat. This town is located on the eastern shore of the Gelibolu Peninsula, on the Dardanelles Strait. Upon arrival, we have some free time before catching the ferryboat located a few miles away from Eceabat in Kilitbahir for a ferry ride to Gokceada Island. Upon arrival, we are transferred to the hotel and have an overnight stay in Gokceada.

Free day at leisure in Gokceada which is the largest island in Turkey and has some of the most beautiful coasts, crystal clear waters, and breathtaking sunsets over the Aegean Sea. It’s also well known for its organic cuisine and wine, rolling hills, pine forests and craggy small mountains along with plenty of farm animals give the Island its traditional charm. We have an overnight stay in Gokceada.

Swimming is very accessible here because of the long coastline. Plus, the sea is totally free of any kind of pollution. Some areas near the northeastern portion of the island’s coasts have been declared Turkey’s first—and so far the only—underwater national park. While the climate of the island is usually windy (and, thus, the sea is wavy), being surrounded by sea at all sides means you can usually find at least a beach with calm(ish) waters. The most popular beaches are Yildizkoy in the north, Kefalos/Aydincik to the south, and Gizliliman in the west. We have an overnight stay in Gokceada.

After the hotel check-out, we are transferred to the port to catch a ferry back to Kilitbahir. Upon arrival in Eceabat, we have free time for lunch before boarding a coach to Assos, which is 2 hours away. Assos, also known as Behramkale, is a small historically rich town located in the district of Ayvacik. Here, we see the Temple of Athena ruins, whose location offers great views of the Aegean Sea and nearby cities including Lesbos in the south, Pergamom in the southeast, and Mount Ida of Phrygia in the east. To the northwest, there is the gate to the city of two massive Hellenic columns that still exist today. We have an overnight stay in Assos.

This is a free day at leisure to go exploring and sightseeing in this city. Assos is a quaint modern town with restaurants, hotels, and houses along its scenic coastline. You may decide to take a stroll along the port or simply enjoy the fine food (especially fresh seafood) and wine down at the town harbor. We have an overnight stay in Assos.

After the hotel check-out, we continue our Turkey tour with a drive from Assos to Pergamom located 84 kilometers/52 miles away. Pergamom was an ancient Greek city and is known as one of the 7 churches of Asia. This city is also famous for different healing methods like music therapy and sound of water were first used. We continue the tour to Asclepion, an ancient healing temple built in the name of Aesculapis, ‘God of Medicine’. After lunch at a traditional Turkish restaurant, we proceed with the tour to Pergamon Acropolis. Here we visit various temple ruins including the Athena, Trojan, Zeus, and Temple of Dionysos. On this site, we also visit other ancient ruins including the Gymnasium of Youth, Odeon, Library, Agora, Great Theater, and Roman Bath. The day ends with a 3-hour drive to Kusadasi for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, we go to the historical city of Ephesus to proceed with our Turkey tour. This ancient city is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world. Here, we see the Agora, Odeon, public toilets, Roman Baths, Grand Theatre, Marble Street, and much more. Then it’s time for lunch at a local Turkish restaurant. Next, we tour the House of Virgin Mary and visit the chapel where she is said to have spent her last days. Afterwards, we visit the Artemis Temple site, which is one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. The day ends with a transfer to the Izmir Airport for the flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, we are transferred to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Hotel checkout and transfer to Istanbul Airport for departure flight.