Active & Adventure Tour of Turkey

(16 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Alacati & Ephesus, Bodrum, Turquoise Coast

This private tour is perfect for travelers interested in a more active vacation and offers an ideal combination of Turkey's most interesting and important cultural sites, stunning landscapes, and opportunities for hiking, biking, kayaking and other active pursuits.

Begin in Istanbul. During flexible private touring, visit sights such as the Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and its Harem, the Rustem Pasha Mosque, an ancient underground cistern, and Istanbul's Spice Market. Shop for carpets and kilim, jewelry, glass, textiles and antiques at the Grand Bazaar and at our favorite boutiques. Enjoy a boat ride on the Bosphorus, the waterway separating old Istanbul from new, Europe from Asia. Also visit Istanbul's most interesting museums, including the Istanbul Modern. There will also be time to enjoy the city's wonderful cafes and vibrant neighborhoods.

Next, fly inland to Cappadocia to explore ancient subterranean cities filled with frescoed churches and cave dwellings in Goreme, Kaymakli and other locations. Also visit a local winery, shops selling the local style of carpets, and a pottery studio. Accommodation is in a luxury cave-style hotel. One morning, if desired, enjoy a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia's dramatic landscapes while the sun rises.

Fly to Izmir and continue to the small seaside town of Alacati to enjoy a wind surfing excursion and explore the town's charming stone houses, small shops and cafes and picturesque cobblestone streets.

Continue to Bodrum. En route, tour the magnificent ruins of Ephesus, including the Library of Celsus, the Terrace Houses and Ephesus Museum, as well as the nearby House of the Virgin Mary. During private touring in Bodrum, an ancient harbor town, see the beautiful whitewashed backstreets, Roman amphitheater, the Castle of St. Peter and the remains of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. There will also be time to enjoy your beautiful resort.

Continue eastwards on the unspoiled Turquoise Coast, taking in views of bays, small islands and dazzling blue water. See rock-cut tombs and other fascinating Lycian ruins in Myra, Xanthos and Patara. Enjoy a cruise to Kekova Island to see the underwater ruins of an ancient city. Discover the Dalyan Delta, a conservation area of reeds and waterways that's home to sea turtles, water birds and blue crabs. Kayak along the picturesque bays and islands of Gocek or enjoy a hiking excursion through the impressive ruins of ancient Kaunos, the Saklikent Canyon or along parts of the famed Lycian Way, if desired.

Finally, fly back to Istanbul and enjoy additional city touring or flexible shopping. If desired, spend a day exploring one of Istanbul's lovely, peaceful Princes' Islands by bicycle.