Turkey - A Timeless Road Trip
Trip Overview
Turkey is geographically one of the most unique countries in the world lying partly in Asia and Europe respectively. Throughout its history, it has acted as both a barrier and a bridge between the two continents. Embark on an exciting self-drive road trip through Turkey and discover a lot more than meets the eye. Between the beaches, baklavas and bustling markets lie a wealth of history filled with interesting figures, civil war, and a multitude of languages. Begin in Istanbul – melting pot of East and West which also straddles two continents, and end in the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia. Along the way, cruise down the Bosphorus River, explore the ancient Greek and Roman city of Ephesus, visit the Roman spa town of Pamukkale, pay homage to the tomb of the famed Sufi poet Rumi, and drive along the Lake District of Turkey, a stunning collection of lakes in one of the most beautiful locations of Turkey.
About the trip
Duration
8 Nights / 9 Days
Trip Cost
INR 3,35,000 Per Person (EMI Option available)
Excluding 5% GST & 5% TCS
Trip style
Self Drive Road Trip
Landscapes
Highway, Sea
Activities
Hot Air Balloon, Bosphorus Cruise, Whirling Dervish
Upcoming Dates
13 May – 21 May 2023
14 Oct – 22 Oct 2023
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Brochure
Route Map
Itinerary
Arrive In Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey and the vibrant city of Istanbul! Upon arriving at Istanbul International Airport, you will be privately transferred to your centrally located hotel. Settle into your luxury hotel and later in the evening get to know your fellow participants as you wine and dine together while experiencing a beautiful sunset cruise on a private yacht through the Bosphorus Strait, admiring the shores of both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. Seeing the city by boat offers an entirely different perspective, allowing you to truly appreciate the size of the city and why it played such an important role geographically for centuries.
Istanbul (City Tour)
Wake up in Istanbul and after a lavish breakfast in your hotel, begin a full day tour of the city. You will start at Topkapi Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman sultans in the 15th century. Next, you will visit the Grand Bazaar which has 64 streets and 4000 shops! It is also a wonderful place to buy local souvenirs. Continue exploring the famoussites of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Napoleon Bonaparte declared: “If the earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.” Discover why his words were justified as you immerse yourself in the historic sights of this great metropolis.
Istanbul - Sirince
After breakfast, get ready to sit behind the wheel as you head towards the Izmir Sirince Village. It is going be a long day on the road, but we will keep making regular stops and make the most of our first day on the road. Sirince is a picturesque village near Ephesus Ancient City. This pretty old Orthodox village is 12 km away from Ephesus and 30km from Kusadasi and was once called Cirkince. Still, after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly at all and called it Sirince. As the village is located on the top of a mountain, anyone will enjoy the impressive vineyards and peach trees views on the way. We will arrive in Sirince by evening, and check into the stunning and beautiful accommodations at the Nisanyan House.
Sirince - Ephesus - Sirince
Wake up at leisure and enjoy a hearty breakfast after which you can take a dip in the pool. Once the sun calms down a bit, we will hop on a coach and set out to explore the village visit the Ancient City – Ephesus. The city was the centre of worship of Diana (or Artemis), goddess of hunting. Throughout history, Ephesus survived multiple attacks and changed hands many times between conquerors. Further, we continue to Kusadasi port city. It is a stone’s throw away from the main shopping areas and Pigeon Island. You have free time to explore the lively bars, clubs, and restaurants in the city in the evening.
Sirince - Sagalassos (Via Pamukkale)
Rise and shine early as we will drive towards the incredible town of Sagalassos and this one is going to be a long day on the road. The ancient city of Sagalassos lies 60 miles from the coast in southwestern Turkey. En route, we will visit Pamukkale, which means “Cotton Castle” in Turkish. We will visit the Travertines, famous for its baby-blue, mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces. Post which we stop for lunch before we continue our drive towards Sagalassos Lodge. Sagalassos features monumental structures, colossal baths, and a 9,000- seat theatre. Its extreme isolation has been both a blessing and a curse. We will reach before dawn, after which you can enjoy a spa or take a dip in the pool before heading for a delicious dinner at the lodge.
Sagalassos
A free day to experience the surrounding of this historic city located high in the western Taurus Mountains. During the Hellenistic period, Sagalassos reached its zenith after being conquered by Alexander in 333 BCE en route to Persia (modern-day Iran). Explore the rich archaeological site, and engage in activities like nature walks and bicycling.
Sagalassos - Cappadocia (Via Konya)
Start your day with a delightful breakfast, postwhich we drive towards the city of natural wonders Cappadocia, an ancient district in East-Central Anatolia, situated on the rugged plateau north of the Taurus Mountains. En route, we drive through Konya, a city located south of Ankara in Turkey’s Central Anatolia region. It’s a pilgrimage destination for Sufis, focused on the tomb of the founder of the Mevlana order, Jelaleddin Rumi at the Mevlana Museum. After a few hours of driving, we stop for lunch and then continue further towards Cappadocia. It will probably get dark by the time we reach Cappadocia. Check-in your beautiful hotel, celebrate the conclusion of your successful drive through Turkey, and call it an early night so you can wake up fresh for a 4 a.m. Hot Air Balloon ride.
Cappadocia
We will start our day with a Hot Air Balloon Ride at sunrise which is definitely the best and most amazing way to see the incredible Cappadocia landscape. The ride takes almost 1 hour, and you will have a champagne landing and get your certificates. We will return to the hotel for breakfast after which we will start our Cappadocia Tour. Visit the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural site famous for its wall paintings dating back to the 10th century describing the life of Jesus and his apostles. We will then drive to the Devrent Valley known as Imagination Valley with spectacular fairy chimneys and beautiful landscapes, it is considered the most beautiful valley of Cappadocia. In the evening, we will witness a beautiful performance of the whirling dervishes.
Departure
It is time to bid farewell to magnificent Turkey. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kayseri Airport for your flight to Istanbul from where you catch a connecting flight back home or choose to spend more time in the city. In case you wish to extend your holiday and explore Turkey further and want to add a few more days, we will be happy to assist you.
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Useful information
Trip Inclusions
- Accommodation (08 nights on Twin Sharing basis) in hotels
- All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
- Transportation to and from Airport
- Self-Drive SUV vehicle (4 people sharing 1 vehicle)
- Fuel, toll fees, parking charges of the vehicle
- Istanbul city tour with Bosphorus Cruise
- Visit to Ephesus Ancient City and Travertines of Pamukkale
- Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia
- Certified English speaking Guide
- Adventures Overland crew and support team
- Vehicle Branding
- Adventures Overland Merchandise
- Visa assistance
Trip Exclusions
- Meals and drinks other than listed in the itinerary
- International Air Tickets
- Turkey Visa Fee
- Medical and travel insurance etc.
- Refundable Security Deposit for vehicle
- Porterage, Tip and Gratuity
- Lunch on day 1
- Alcohol
- Any cost arising out of unforeseen conditions like ill health, road blocks, bad weather etc.
- Any activity not mentioned in inclusions
- Any Charges For Carrying Video Camera Or Still Camera
- Any expense of personal nature
- 5% GST
- 5% TCS
Cancellation Policy
- 10% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fee. if the trip is cancelled before 60 days of the departure date
- 25% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fee .if the trip is cancelled within 60 – 45 days of the departure date
- 50% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fee. if the trip is cancelled within 45 – 30 days of the departure date
- 100% of the trip cost will be charged as cancellation fee.if the trip is cancelled within 30 days of departure date
Refund Policy
- In case of cancellation, the refund will be made in 15 working days as per the cancellation policy and subtracting 5% GST on the deposited amount.
- The refund will be made to the same account/mode through which transfers have been received
Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs)
What type of expeditions do you organise?
Adventures Overland offers two types of Expeditions – Fixed Departures and Customized Tours. As part of our Fixed Departures, you will be self-driving your (or a rented vehicle) in a convoy of vehicles that is always led by at least one support vehicle and 2 crew members. For a bigger convoy, we provide a lead and a sweep vehicle. Customized Tours are those where you travel on your own chosen dates and we can customize the route as per your preferences. For such journeys, we make all necessary travel arrangements including hotel bookings, permits, excursions and if required, we can send a support team with the group.
In which parts of the world do you organize expeditions?
We organize expeditions all around the world in 6 continents every year. We organize fly anddrive expeditions in Jordan, Russia, Iceland, Alaska, Mongolia, South America, Africa and Australia where you don’t need to bring a vehicle as the vehicle is included as part of the package.
What kind of people travel on your expeditions?
Since 2012, we have been proudly putting together off beat and luxury bespoke tours all around the world for solo travelers, families, couples and senior citizens who come from different walks of life and comprise of entrepreneurs, professionals, industrialists, doctors, creative minds etc. mostly aged 35 years & above.
Are your expeditions suitable for solo woman travellers and families?
Our expeditions are ideal for solo travelers (male and female) and families with kids. Average male female ratio on most of our expeditions is 60:40. Families, couples and senior citizens join us frequently in all kinds of expeditions.
Is driving mandatory on these expeditions?
Driving is NOT mandatory on any of our expeditions and you are most welcome to enjoy the journey, sit back and relax while someone else is behind the wheel!
How much driving experience do I need to join an expedition?
Drivers must be a minimum 25 years old. We expect you to be a confident and competent driver, with plenty of driving experience. You should normally have held your driver’s license for a minimum of two years. Please also note that most of our expeditions include
sections of gravel or dirt roads, as stated in the Expedition Summary. We never travel offroad; it is simply that there are sections where the road is not paved.
Our expeditions call for all participants to be good team players, who are flexible and adaptable when things do not go as planned and will muck in as requested by the Expedition
Leader. Self sufficiency is important and being able to manage yourself – your well being, hygiene & health – is vital, together with having a good sense of humor. Overland
travel can be challenging and bring up the most unexpected of situations. This means that you will all be expected to work together as a team to resolve any problems we may encounter, but always subject to the authority of the Expedition Leader.
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