Our 15 days/16 nights trip (inclusive of travel) exploring Turkey covering Istanbul (2 nights) – Ephesus & Pamukkale, Selcuk (2 nights) – Kaleici, Antalya (2 nights) – Goreme, Cappadocia (2 nights) – Istanbul (3 nights)
Day 1: Took an early morning Qatar Airways flight at 04:10 am from Mumbai which arrived in Istanbul at 12:30 pm and checked into Sophia Studio Apartments in Sultanahmet. We visited Grand Bazaar to exchange currency (you get the best exchange rates there) and then headed to Galata Tower for the Sunset.
Day 2: After breakfast, we headed out to visit Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern. Post lunch we relaxed in the gardens outside Topkapi Palace and then headed to Istiklal Street to spend the evening.
Day 3: Post breakfast we checked out of Sophia Studio Apartment and left luggage in the luggage room. We then visited Grand Bazaar and walked to the Spice Market and explored the market between the two. Post that we had lunch and then chilled at Eminonu. In the evenings, we headed back to the apartment to collect our luggage. We took the overnight bus by Metro Turizm to Selcuk which departed at 09:30 pm from Istanbul.
Day 4: We arrived at Selcuk at about 07:00 am and checked into ANZ Guesthouse. We visited Ephesus and explored the ruins and then visited Mother Mary’s home, which many Catholics consider a pilgrimage. Later in the evening, we browsed through the Saturday Market at Selcuk.
Day 5: We headed to the Pamukkale also known as the cotton castle. We took the 9:15 am bus by Pamukkale Turizm from Selcuk that reached Pamukkale at 12:25 pm. We spent the day enjoying the natural springs and returned back to Selcuk by the evening bus that left Pamukkale at 16:00 pm and reached Selcuk at 7:30 pm.
Day 6: We checked out of ANZ Guesthouse and went to explore Temple of Artemis (One of the seven wonders of the ancient world) and St. John’s Basilica (burial site of St. John). Post lunch we visited Kusadasi which is one of the main ports in Turkey. We returned to Selcuk to collect our luggage and take the overnight bus to Antalya. We travelled by a Pamukkale Turizm bus that departed from Selcuk at 12:00 am midnight.
Day 7: We arrived early morning at 6:15 am at Antalya and then travelled to Kaleici. We checked into our hotel Lazer Pension. We explored the old town of Kaleici and Antalya Marina.
Day 8: Post breakfast we took a yacht cruise from Antalya Marina through the turquoise waters and then headed to relax at Konyaaltı Beach.
Day 9: We checked out of Lazer Pension post breakfast and headed for a Gulet cruise to explore Duden Waterfalls. We returned to the hotel in the evening to collect out luggage and to take the overnight bus to Cappadocia. We travelled by a Metro Turizm bus that departed from Antalya at 07:30 pm.
Day 10: We arrived at Goreme, Cappadocia at about 05:00 am and checked into hotel Shoestring Cave House and later visited the Goreme open air museum.
Day 11: Took the early morning Hot-Air balloon ride at about 05:00 am to watch the sunrise and returned back to the hotel at 07:30 am. Post breakfast we took the Green tour at about 09:00 am that was organized by the hotel that included exploring ancient monasteries, underground cities, pigeon valleys and a trek alongside a river. We returned at 05:30 pm and after resting for a while we headed Turkish Night at around 08:30 pm which included dinner, drinks, dance and entertainment (performances included were whirling dervish, belly dancing, etc).
Day 12: We checked out of the hotel and took the 10:20 am flight by Pegasus Air to Istanbul from Kayseri. We arrived in Istanbul (Asian side) at 11:40 am and checked into Stone House Oldcity, Sultanahmet and explored the old city.
Day 13: We took the Bospohrous Cruise and once again explored the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar to purchase goodies to get back to India.
Day 14: We visited Chora Museum and then headed to Taksim Square and walked through Isitklal Street
Day 15: We checked out of the apartment and headed to the airport to take the 01:20 pm Qatar Airways flight to head back to Mumbai.
Day 16: We arrived in Mumbai at 2:40 am.