22 Day Turkey Tour
All the landmarks and beyond – the most comprehensive option among our Turkey private tour packages. Turkey has very rich history, cultural and religious variety and beautiful nature, and this 22 day trip is good way to get to know this richness…
Turkey Itinerary 22 Days
Day 1 : Istanbul – Gallipoli – Canakkale
- Arrive in Istanbul.
- Meet and transfer to the Gallipoli Peninsula.
- See Kabatepe Museum,
- ANZAC Cove,
- Lone Pine Australian Memorial,
- Johnston’s Jolly (Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels),
- The Nek, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial) and visit the poignant Lone Pine Cemetery, the Dardanelles.
- Then take the ferry crossings from Eceabat to Canakkale and check-in to the hotel.
- Rest of the day is free.
- Check-in to the hotel and rest of the day is free.
- Overnight stay in Canakkale.
Day 2 : Troy – Pergamon – Smyrna (Izmir)
- After breakfast, visit Troy, Homer’s legendary Troy, to see the replica of the wooden horse.
- Then travel to Pergamon to visit the Acropolis,
- Temple of Athena, Serapis Temple,
- Heroon,
- Sanctuary of Athena,
- Library of Pergamon,
- Temple of Tragan,
- Theatre,
- Zeus Altar,
- Kizil Avlu.
- Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Izmir.
- Overnight stay in Izmir
Day 3 : Izmir – Sardis – Alasehir (Philadelphia) – Akhisar (Thyatira)
- Visit Sardis capital city of ancient Lydia.
- See the early church remaining in Sardis (Sardis Gymnasium, Jewish Synagogue, Diana {Artemis} Temple).
- Continue to Alasehir to visit the early church remaining in Philadelphia (St John Basilica).
- Then drive to Akhisar (Thyatira) for a short visit to the 4th century church.
- After lunch, visit the Roman Agora in Izmir.
- Overnight stay in Izmir
Day 4 : Izmir (Smyrna) – Selcuk – Kusadasi
- Visit the 2nd century Polycarp Church in Izmir {check if this church’s renovation is completed}
- Then proceed to Ephesus to Virgin Mary’s House.
- Then descended to see the Cave of the Seven Sleepers and have lunch there.
- After that a visit to the Basilica of St John where the apostle of John was buried and view the Temple of Artemis.
- Kusadasi for dinner.
- Overnight stay in Kusadasi
Day 5 : Ephesus – Kusadasi
- Visit Ephesus Museum.
- Then drive to visit the Virgin Mary House,
- descended down to see the Cave of the Seven Sleepers,
- visit Ephesus 1 – Baths of Scholastica, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, the Theater, Temple of Artemis which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
- Then visit the Paul’s Grotto in Ephesus {check to see if this is open to small group tour}.
- Then drive to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.
- Overnight stay in Kusadasi
Day 6 : Patmos – Kusadasi
- Day trip to Patmos Island (* this is optional tour; direct ferry from Kusadasi to Patmos is not available, so we can arrange a charter ferry; please contact us for details)
- Depart from Kusadasi port at 06:30 am, arrival to Patmos island at 11:00 am.
- Meet with Greek guide and visit the Cave of Revelation {Cave of the Apocalypse}.
- This is followed by the visit to Monastery of St John (Agios Ioannis o Theologos {“St. John the Theologist”}), and the nearby museum.
- After lunch depart from Patmos at 2.30 pm.
- Arrive back to Kusadasi at 7:00 pm.
- Overnight stay in Kusadasi
Day 7 : Kusadasi – Priene – Miletus – Didyma– Bodrum
- Travel to the Ionic cities of Priene, the well-designed Greco-Roman city and the best-preserved Hellenistic theater in Turkey to visit the newly excavated remains of a synagogue in the west residential district and the Alexander the Great’s home there.
- Then a visit to the great Ionian port of Miletus, where Paul farewelled the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38) and the newly excavated remains of a synagogue.
- After lunch, a visit the Temple of Apollo at Didyma and then continue to Bodrum.
- Overnight stay in Bodrum
Day 8 : Bodrum – Aphrodisias– Hierapolis – Pamukkale
- Visit Bodrum (Castle of St Peter & Halicarnassus Mousoleum).
- Then drive to visit Aphrodisias [Temple of Aphrodite] excavated by the New York University.
- Proceed to visit Hierapolis; the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, Necropolis and Philip’s tomb.
- Swimming is available at the hot spring water indoor pool of your hotel.
- Overnight stay in Pammukale
Day 9 : Pamukkale – Hierapolis– Laodicea – Colossae – Antalya
- Drive to Hierapolis to visit the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, Necropolis and Philip’s tomb.
- After this, travel to Laodicia (Church of Laodicea 7) to visit the Christian Ruins, Statue of Emperor Augustus, Aqueduct, Stadium, Ephesian Gate.
- Then drive to the unexcavated city of Colossae (Honaz – Ancient metropolis of Phrygia, the recipient of Paul’s letter).
- Then drive south to Antalya city.
- Overnight stay in Antalya
Day 10 : Antalya
- Then drive south to Antalya city to see Kaleici (old Antalya),
- Clock Tower,
- Old Harbour,
- Kesik Minare,
- Hadrianus Gate.
- Then visit Antalya Archaeological Museum.
- After lunch, a visit to the Kursunlu Waterfall to relax and behold God’s beautiful creation dating back to the Roman period.
- Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
- Overnight stay in Antalya
WHAT THEY SAID
Day 11 : Antalya – Perge – Aspendos – Side – Antalya
- Drive to see the Greco-Roman city of Perge where Paul gave his first speech on Christianity in the area.
- Then see the World’s best preserved Greco-Roman Amphitheater at Aspendos.
- Visit Side to see the ancient theatre, great Gate and Temple of Apollo.
- Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
- Overnight stay in Antalya.
Day 12 : Antalya – Psidian Antioch – Konya
- Drive to Yalvac to visit Pisidian Antioch.
- Then continue to Konya via Beysehir Lake for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
- Overnight stay in Konya.
Day 13 : Konya – Cappadocia
- Visit Konya, ancient Iconium, see the Mevlana Monastery of the Dervishes (museum),
- Mausoleum (Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi), the founder chief of whirling Dervishes,
- Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret.
- Visit the walled 13-century Sultanhan Caravansarai en route to Cappadocia for dinner and overnight.
- Overnight stay in Cappadocia
Day 14 : Cappadocia
- Visit Goreme Open Air Museum to see Byzantine Frescoes,
- Tokah Kilise,
- Basil Kilise,
- Elmali Kilise,
- Azize Barbara Kilisesi,
- Yilanli Kilise,
- Karanlik Kilise,
- St Catherine Chapel, C
- arikli Kilise,
- Nunnery,
- the Troglodyte Village of Avcilar,
- Ortahisar,
- Avanos Village and see the fairy chimneys
- St Simeon church at Pasabag (Monk) Valley.
- Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Cappadocia.
- Overnight stay in Cappadocia
Day 15 : Cappadocia – Ankara
- Optional Balloon Ride in early morning (06:00-08:00) which is subject to availability due to weather conditions in the winter.
- Full day tour in Cappodocia:
- Visit Cappadocia Derinkuyu Underground city,
- Uchisar Castle to see the panoramic points to see the cone of Uchisar & Guvercinlik Valley,
- Ihlara Valley, which itself alone needs almost a half day to complete (not suitable for elder people).
- Then drive to Ankara, capital city of Turkey.
- Dinner and overnight stay in Ankara
Day 16 : Ankara
- Full day tour in Ankara.
- Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilization,
- Ulus,
- Mausoleum of Ataturk,
- Temple of Augustus,
- Roman Bath,
- Column of Julian and the Ankara Citadel.
- Dinner and overnight at hotel in Ankara.
- Overnight stay in Ankara
Day 17 : Ankara – Gordion – Bursa
- Visit Yassıhöyük (Gordion) [King Midan’s Earth Tumulus,
- Phrygian Valley, Midas Şehri] and Yazılıkaya with many monument writing-rocks and underground passages from the Phrygian age in there.
- Drive to visit Sivrihhisar Castle & Ballihisar.
- Then follow by visiting Kybele Temple in Pessinus.
- Then drive to Bursa for dinner and overnight at hotel in Bursa.
- Overnight stay in Bursa
Day 18 : Bursa – Nicea – Yalova – Istanbul
- Visit Bursa city center,
- Green Mosque,
- Green Mausoleum and Nicea where the Council of Nicea was held.
- Take the fast ferry to Istanbul and leisure afternoon.
- Dinner and overnight at hotel in Istanbul.
- Overnight stay in Istanbul
Day 19 : Istanbul
- Full day tour in Istanbul:
- Visit Hippodrom of Istanbul,
- Blue Mosque (The Sultan Ahmed Mosque – Sultanahmet Camii),
- Topkapi Palace (Sarayi) including Harem and Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) and visit Cemberlitas Hamam in Sultanahmet.
- Dinner and overnight at hotel in Istanbul.
- Overnight stay in Istanbul
Day 20 : Istanbul
- Full day city tour of Istanbul:
- Visit Kariye Museum (Church of St Savior at Chora),
- Süleymaniye Mosque,
- St Sophia building (Hagai Sofia aka Aya Sofya) & Underground Byzantine Cistern (Yerebatan).
- Dinner and overnight at hotel in Istanbul.
- Overnight stay in Istanbul
Day 21 : Istanbul
- Morning visit of Old Spice Bazaar,
- Bosphorus cruise by ferry to see the Anadolu Hisari, Rumeli Hisari (No interior visits to medieval forts), old mansions, waterfrount wood houses, imperial palaces, hunting lodges, kiosks, modern villas on both the European and Asians shores of the strait while cruising.
- Drive by the Golden Horn to see the Old city walls and visit the Süleymaniye Mosque.
- Visit the Dolmabahce Palace.
- Dinner at a local seafood restaurant in Kumkapi district.
- Dinner and overnight at hotel in Istanbul.
- Overnight stay in Istanbul
Day 22 : Istanbul
- Have a relaxing morning and a visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museum and getting ready to return home.
Please contact us if you need further information about our Turkey private tour packages.
