Here's the perfect tour & Gulet yacht cruise for a first-timetrip to Turkey: Istanbul, Cappadocia, the ancient cities of Aphrodisias, Bodrum, Didyma, Ephesus, Hierapolis, Knidos, Konya, Miletus, Pamukkale, Priene, a 4-day Blue Voyageyacht cruise on a Turkish gulet, and a hot-air balloon flightover the moonscape of Cappadocia, all in 14 days.
Highlights of Turkey Tour
Called Highlights of Turkey, the tour is operated by Argeus Travel & Events, one of my favorite travel agencies in Turkey. It hits all of Turkey's top sights, and also gives you the relaxing pleasure of a Blue Voyage yacht cruise along Turkey's spectacular Mediterranean coast.
The touring party is limited to 10 travelers—more like a group of friends than a "tour group:" enough fellow travel enthusiasts to promote camaraderie, not enough to bog you down.
Top Quality!
All tours are not alike, even if the itineraries are similar. Argeus's tours are top quality and offer excellent value for money. You can find cheaper tours on the same itinerary, but not with the same quality. Here's how to judge value-for-money in tours. Please read this.
Argeus Travel & Events
A fine all-around agency available to make any arrangements for you anywhere in Turkey: hotel reservations, car rental, airport pick-up, and good guided tours. I've been recommending Argeus for decades, and continue to receive glowing reports from their satisfied clients. More...
Bodrum Tour Blue Cruise
Bodrum Tour has a passion for wooden yachts, Turkish hospitality and culture, fine local cuisine, and planning every detail with guests to make sure they have the best gulet experience.
"Gulet in perfect condition. Crew 100% efficient. Cook and all meals 100%. Attention to detail 100%. We were a group of 8 adults and could not find one complaint after 7 days on the wonderful Kaya Guneri 11. Looking forward to returning for another adventure along the Turkish coastline." Read More...
2022 Departure Dates
The tour's two departure dates in 2022 are on Saturdays:
—Saturday, May 14th
—Saturday, September 10th
(Departures on other dates are possible; rates vary depending on the number of persons in the group)
May and September are two of the best months to travel in Turkey. The tour fee is about US$300 per person per day, ($4190 for the whole trip) lodging, transport, yacht cruise, guiding, taxes, and virtually all meals (buffet and/or à la carte, not table d'hôte) included, a very reasonable rate for what you get. (See below for details.)
Day 4: The Bosphorus & Cappadocia
Dolmabahçe Palace, then a Bosphorus cruise to Sarıyer; flight to Cappadocia, transfer to your hotel. (BLD)
Day 5: Cappadocia "Moonscape"
Hot-air balloon flight, Dervent Valley, Zelve Open Air Museum,Paşabağı Fairy Chimneys Valley, Avanos, Göreme Open Air Museum, Uçhisar Castle. (BLD)
Day 6: Cappadocia Off the Beaten Track
Soğanlı Valleys, Taşkınpaşa, Mustafapaşa, Underground City. (BLD)
Day 7: Silk Road, Konya & Pamukkale
Silk Road, Sultanhan Caravansaray, Konya, Mevlana Museum,Pamukkale. (BLD)
Day 13: Ephesus
Virgin Mary's House, city of Ephesus, St John Basilica in Selçuk,Temple of Artemis, İsa Bey Mosque. (BLD)
Day 14: Your Next Destination
You are escorted to İzmir's Adnan Menderes Airport for your flight home, or to Istanbul, or your next destination. (B)
Additional Days & Nights
If you wish, Argeus will be happy to arrange additional nights in Istanbul at a hotel of your choice (optional, at extra cost) so you can do last-minute shopping or see even more of the imperial city, perhaps the Great Palace Mosaic Museum, or the Archeological Museums, or the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.
For more information, the full itinerary, and availability, please contact Argeus. When you do, please mention TTP. Here's why.
—by Tom Brosnahan
Tour Itinerary
Here's a short version of the tour itinerary:
Day 1: Welcome to Istanbul
Argeus representatives greet you at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport, escort you to your hotel, and brief you on the tour before dinner. (D)
Day 2: Byzantine Istanbul
Byzantine Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Chora Church. (BLD)
Day 3: Ottoman Istanbul
Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and its Harem, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar, Grand Bazaar. (BLD)
Day 8: Pamukkale, Bodrum & Blue Voyage
Hierapolis, travertine terraces of Pamukkale, Aphrodisias, Bodrum, board your gulet yacht for a Blue Voyage along the Aegean coast. (BLD)
Day 9: Blue Voyage to Knidos
Knidos, Mersincik. (BLD)
Day 10: Blue Voyage to Kisebükü Bay & Çökertme
Kisebükü Bay to Çökertme. (BLD)
Day 11: Blue Voyage to Orak Island & Çiftlik
Orak Island, Çiftlik, return to Bodrum. (BLD)
Day 12: Didyma, Miletus, Priene & Kuşadası
Disembark from the gulet, Didyma and Temple of Apollo, Miletus and its Roman theater, Priene, Kuşadası and hotel. (BLD)