Turkey Aegean Blue Cruise: 12 Days — Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Fethiye Sailing & Cappadocia

Tour Overview

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1-2: Istanbul

Two days exploring the imperial city: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, and Bosphorus cruise.

Day 3: Istanbul to Kuşadası — Ephesus

Fly to Izmir. Full day at Ephesus: Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, Terrace Houses, House of the Virgin Mary.

Day 4: Pamukkale — Cotton Castle & Hierapolis

The white travertine terraces, Cleopatra’s Pool (swim among Roman columns), Hierapolis Roman theatre, necropolis, and the Plutonium. Drive to Fethiye.

Day 5-7: Blue Cruise — Fethiye to Olympos

Board a traditional Turkish gulet (wooden sailing yacht). The Blue Cruise (Mavi Yolculuk) is Turkey’s quintessential Mediterranean experience — three days sailing the Turquoise Coast (named for a reason: the water genuinely has an impossibly vivid turquoise color due to limestone geology). The gulet has private cabins with en-suite bathrooms, a sundeck with cushions, and a crew that includes a chef preparing fresh Turkish meals from local ingredients.

The route: Day 5 — Fethiye to Butterfly Valley (a canyon with a waterfall and beach accessible only by boat, home to 80+ butterfly species including the Jersey Tiger — spectacular), St. Nicholas Island (sunset over the Byzantine ruins — named for the original Santa Claus, who was bishop of nearby Myra). Day 6 — Kaş (a charming town built on ancient Antiphellos, with a well-preserved Lycian sarcophagus in the main street), Kekova (the Sunken City — a partially submerged Lycian city destroyed by an earthquake in the 2nd century AD, visible through the crystal-clear water — you can snorkel over the submerged walls, staircases, and harbor structures), and Simena Castle (a tiny village accessible only by boat, with a hilltop Crusader castle and ancient Lycian sarcophagi scattered among the houses). Day 7 — Olympos (arrive by morning, with time to explore the ancient Lycian city ruins in a river valley overgrown with laurel and oleander — temples, baths, a theatre, all romantically decayed). Visit the Chimaera (Yanartaş) — eternal flames burning from vents in the mountainside, fueled by natural methane gas that has been burning for thousands of years. In Greek mythology, the Chimaera was a fire-breathing monster (lion’s head, goat’s body, serpent’s tail) slain by Bellerophon on Pegasus. Disembark at Olympos/Çıralı. Overnight in Olympos treehouse or Antalya.

Day 8: Antalya — Turkish Riviera

Transfer to Antalya. Full day exploring: Kaleiçi Old Town, Hadrian’s Gate, Düden Waterfalls, Konyaaltı Beach. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 9: Antalya to Konya — City of Rumi

Drive to Konya via the Taurus Mountains. Visit the Mevlana Museum (Rumi’s mausoleum), Karatay Medrese (Seljuk tile museum), and attend a Whirling Dervish Sema ceremony. Overnight in Konya.

Day 10: Konya to Cappadocia

Drive via Sultanhanı Caravanserai. Afternoon: Göreme Open-Air Museum (UNESCO), Pasabag fairy chimneys. Overnight in cave hotel.

Day 11: Cappadocia — Balloons & Underground Cities

Optional sunrise balloon flight, Derinkuyu Underground City, Rose Valley hike, Avanos pottery. Farewell dinner. Overnight in cave hotel.

Day 12: Cappadocia to Istanbul & Departure

Fly back to Istanbul. Connect to your international flight. Twelve days — the blue of the Mediterranean, the white of Pamukkale, the ochre of Cappadocia, the gold of Byzantium — Turkey is a palette of civilizations.

Included

• 11 nights (hotels + cave + 3 nights gulet cabin)
• Daily breakfast + full board on gulet + 6 dinners on land
• 3-night gulet Blue Cruise (private cabin, en-suite)
• Domestic flights: Istanbul-Izmir, Kayseri-Istanbul
• English-speaking guide throughout
• All transfers
• All entrance fees
• Whirling Dervish ceremony
• Airport transfers