Topdeck

Turkey Explored

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH TOPDECK

Starting off and ending in the amazing city of Istanbul, this 12 day tour takes in all the best sites Turkey has to offer from Cappidocia, Ephesus and Gallipoli. Even if you only plan to visit some of the sites below, you are sure to find tips and ideas on what to see and do in that region. Scroll below to check out each day of the trip, or simple select a location on the map to read all about that part of the trip.

START HERE WITH DAY 01 TO ISTANBUL OR SCROLL FURTHER FOR MORE

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Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

DAY 01 – MELBOURNE TO ISTANBUL

After our group meeting we all headed out for our first included group dinner at a restaurant just a few doors down from the hotel, after dinner we all went out to a bar around the corner so that we could all meet each other a bit better. While we were at the bar a large crowd was gathered down at Sultanahmet Square for the live announcement of the host city for the 2020 Olympic Games.

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The Mausoleum of Atatürk, Ankara, Turkey

DAY 02 – ISTANBUL TO ANKARA

The plan was for everyone in the group to meet outside the AND Hotel in the lobby/breakfast area before heading off to our first stop the Blue Mosque and the surrounding areas. Firstly we checked out the Obelisk of Theodosius which is adjacent to the Blue Mosque and part of the greater hippodrome area which was used to stage ancient Roman chariot races.

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DAY 03 & 04 – ANKARA TO CAPPADOCIA

The land looks more and more baron without many trees in sight, old ancient caves can start to be seen dug into hillsides that are now unsafe to occupy and have been replaced with soaring apartment towers. On arrival we stop at a lookout to grab our first close glimpse at these caves and their famous fairy chimneys, this is as close as we get today as we will be having dinner inside the cave of a local family tonight and tomorrow morning most of us will take up the optional extra activity of Hot Air Ballooning over the region, the thing I’ve been looking forward to most.

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Konya, Turkey

DAY 05 – CAPPADOCIA TO KONYA

We arrived in Konya in the early evening and checked into the Hotel Selcuk which had only just been refurbished and been open for a few days, score new hotel! It was a pretty nice hotel and right in the centre of the city with the rooms being quite large and containing the best bathrooms of any hotel we stayed in on this trip.

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DAY 06 & 07 – KONYA TO FETHIYE

After a long day of travelling tonight was a pretty laid back affair with a number of people taking advantage of the the swimming pool playing volley ball. Dinner was at the hotel tonight with most people just sticking around in the bar or heading off to bed for an early night. In the morning some people have opted in for the optional extra activity of paragliding which starts early in the morning up in the hills overlooking the town and ending on the beach. I however have elected to sleep in and use this time by the sea to relax.

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DAY 08 & 09 – FETHIYE TO KUSADASI

Tonight was party night for the Topdeck crew with our tour leader Tarik making it clear to everybody that it was compulsory for everyone to come out tonight for a bit of fun. We were picked up from the hotel by a mini party bus which had music pumping as loud as possible as we navigated the streets of Kusadasi. We then arrived at a club where we would spend the next couple of hours.

READ MORE ABOUT DAY 08 & 09 TO KUSADASI