Steal my Turkish Delight Itinerary!
Turkish Delight - 9 Days
I've spent countless hours planning trips for with my two children and I'd love you to be able to experience these itineraries -please steal!
I've always dreamed of going to Turkey, but somehow thought it might be a bit, well, dangerous...I'm happy to report, nothing could be further from the truth (Cairo, on the other hand, was a different story - see my "Pyramids to Petra" itinerary). We met so many wonderful people who helped us make the best or our time in the country. From the mosques in Istanbul (Sultanahmet "Blue" Mosque above) to ballooning in Cappadocia and to one of the most beautiful beach settings on the Mediterranean Sea, I can confidently say that Turkey is a great (and safe) trip for adults and children!
Day 1 – Begin the Journey
- Depart US on a flight of your choosing to Istanbul
- Istanbul is the only city in the world located between two continents: Asia and Europe. We stayed at the (very reasonably priced) Neorion Hotel.
Day 2 – So Many Mosques, So Little Time
- Today is all about mosques - we visited the "big three": Blue (pictured at top), Hagia Sofia (left) and Suleymaniye - all are worth seeing!
- While Hagia Sofia (pictured) has not always been a mosque since its completion in 537 AD (it has also been a church and a museum), it was the largest building in the world for nearly 1,000 years.
Day 3 – Grand Bazaar & Spice Market
- Considered a medieval city within a medieval city, the Grand Bazaar is a 750-year-old microcosm of international trade in the heart of ancient Istanbul. Given short shrift by most guidebooks, it is, nevertheless, a fascinating place for travelers.
- The Spice Bazaar (Turkish: Mısır Çarşısı, meaning "Egyptian Bazaar") is one of the largest bazaars in the city. Located in the Eminönü quarter of the Fatih district, it is the most famous covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar.
Day 4 – Avoiding the Eyes of Medusa in the Basilica Cistern
- Walk to the back of the Basilica cistern to find two columns held up by heads of Medusa. One lays upside down, and the other lies on its side. No one is sure of reasons for this but a favored suggestion is that anyone who looked would turn to stone. The two roman Medusa statues are supports under two columns at the cistern’s northwest corner.
- The Basilica cistern itself was built by Justinian I, the Roman Emperor, and stretches for 140 meters and is 70 meters wide. Istanbul historians say that in 527, seven thousand slaves built the Basilica cistern covering 9800 square meters, with 336 columns and the capacity to hold 100,000 tons of water.
Day 5 – Travel to Cappadocia & Sleep in a Cave Hotel
- We stayed at the only Relais & Chateaux hotel in Cappadocia: The Museum Hotel - mainly because of the rooms basically caves that are built into the mountain.
- Based on a restoration of ancient ruins and caves, careful consideration was given to preservation of original features by Omar Tosun - a well-known collector of historic artifacts
- Steeped in thousands of years of history, there is a magical feel to the hotel. The unusual "restored ruin" concept means that cave rooms and specially restored traditional rooms are all decorated with priceless antiques and feature stunning views of Cappadocia.
Day 6 – Ballooning over Cappadocia
- This activity was yet another top ten activity that I've ever done in my lifetime - and I'm afraid of heights!
- Pictured is my daughter, Maddy, in the paraglider (safely tandem with an instructor)
- Take a train up to yet another beautiful town, Murren, where the paragliding instructors hitch you up and then you run until the air catches you and they take you on the ride of your life before setting you back down on the valley floor!
- We also took an ATV tour to a beautiful chalet high in the mountains to learn how to make authentic Swiss Cheese!
Day 7 – Hiking the "Fairy Chimneys" & Tombs Built into Cliffs
- The tombs carved into the cliffs along the Lycian Way are a sight to behold. The most impressive is Amyntas located in the base of the mountain. The impressive looking tomb was built in 350 BC and was named after the Greek inscription on the side of it which reads "Amyntou tou Ermagiou", which translated to English means "Amyntas, son of Hermagios".[
- Ancient volcanic eruptions blanketed this region with thick ash, which solidified into a soft rock— called tuff—tens of meters thick. Erosion, forced by wind and water, has formed caves, clefts, pinnacles, “fairy chimneys” (over 40 meters tall) and unusual folds in the soft volcanic rock turning into the unusual rock formations in Cappadocia we see today.
Day 8 – Exploring the hidden Underground City of Kaymakli
- The Kaymakli City is a narrow, underground maze of passageways and ancient homes and settlements that once housed over 3,500 people, from as far back as the 7th and 8th centuries BCE. It’s one of the most unique places to visit anywhere in the world and is a must-see attraction to add to your Cappadocia itinerary.
- Used by early Christians to hide from Roman armies, 200+ underground cities remain occupied to this day –underground villages and tunnel towns complete with hidden passages, secret rooms and ancient temples.
Day 9 – Water Skiing, Scuba or Side trip to Greece
- We used our last day to take advantage of the Hillside Beach Resort Club being the first official water-ski and wakeboarding school in Turkey. There is also an onsite Scuba program.
- Alternatively, you can take the Fethiye to Rhodes ferry which makes for a quick and easy day trip, boating over to Greece for the day.
Pyramids & Petra
Pyramids & Petra
Pyramids & Petra
If you’ve been dreaming of a trip to the either Petra or the Pyramids, this trip is for you! This 9-day adventure combines the history of both the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt and Petra in Jordan. The trip is full of wonder and discovery at both of these sights.
Roman Holiday
Pyramids & Petra
Pyramids & Petra
Italy is truly the country of dreams - I combined the history and awe inspiring sights of Rome and the Vatican with a beach holiday on the Amalfi Coast. This trip is great for kids as well - you can temper the museums and history with lots of fun activities and a beautiful beach to boot!
Turkish Delight
Pyramids & Petra
Turkish Delight
Turkey seems to still fly a bit under the radar with US tourists, but it's one of safest, most beautiful places we've been. We went to Istanbul for the history and mosques and then to Cappadocia for the underground cities and balloon rides and finished up in Fethiye at a beautiful beach resort.