Turkey
Turkey is a magical country. From the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, to the salt pools in Pamukkale to paragliding in Fethiye, Turkey should be on your travel list. Turkey is a massive country with many places to visit. We visited Turkey in July 2015 for 11 days and Turkey definitely took me by surprise. The country is rich in history and culture with several fun activities to make it a memorable vacation.
Note: Turkey has been a victim of political unrest and acts of terrorism in the recent past. If going to Turkey, please check the current travel advisory https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/turkey-travel-advisory.html
Route Summary
Day 1 – 3 – Istanbul
Day 4 – 7 – AlaTurk Blue Cruise
Day 8 –Ephesus
Day 9 – Pamukkale
Day 10 –Cappadocia
Day 11 – Cappadocia
Day 12 – Fly Home
ISTANBUL
Split between two continents, Istanbul is truly a unique city. The Bosphorus River splits the city with Europe on one side and Asia on the other. This city has an old and new feel to it and you can see the history of the three empires, the Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans among the many landmarks in this city. You’ll spend more time exploring the European side where many of the top attractions are located.
The tourist area is divided into two major districts; the Old City or Sultananhmet where you will find most of Istanbul’s highlights including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace Museum etc. The Beyoglu district also called the New Town is a more modern and trendier area of Istanbul with Istiklal Street as its main road.There is so much to see and do in Istanbul; we visited the major landmarks in 3 days which gave us a good insight to this mesmerizing cosmopolitan city.
Museum Pass
we bought the museum pass which is a one-time payment card that provides access to several historical museums in Istanbul. The museum pass is valid for 5 days after you first use it at a museum for admission. In 2015, we bought the museum pass for 85 TL (Turkish lira) which is about $14. In 2020, the price for a museum pass is 295 TL. Please check the museums included in the pass and if you are only going to visit a few; it might not make sense to buy the Museum Pass.
We stayed at the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus, a great hotel in a good location with very welcoming staff and an amazing breakfast spread. Being a Hilton Honors Diamond member, we were upgraded to the Bosphorus View room and had access to the Executive Lounge. They even welcomed us with champagne and cake for my husband’s birthday.
Day 1 – Istanbul
After an overnight flight from NY, we arrived in Istanbul around 10AM. Immigration was fast and we had a pick-up arranged through Efendi Travel to get us to the hotel.
Dolmabahce Palace
Dolmabahce Palace is Turkey’s biggest and most extravagant palace spread out over 11 acres and containing about 285 rooms, 46 halls and 6 hamams. The palace consists of the Selamik (men’s quarters and the place for official business) and the Harem (housed all the wives and concubines). Used by the Sultans of the Ottomon Empire, it was later used by the Turkish Government.
No photos are allowed inside the palace and you are not allowed to tour the inside areas on your own. We took a 45 minutes guided tour of the Palace (Administrative area), Harem and the Servants Quarters.
From here we took a ferry to Galata Bridge and crossed the bridge to visit the Beyoglu district.
Galata Bridge
Galata Bridge is a very busy bridge with cars and pedestrians that spans the Golden Horn, a naturally protected harbor of Bosphorus River that is filled with fishing boats and ferries. On the upper level you will find several locals fishing in the water below. On the lower levels, there are several cafes and restaurants. The docks at the base of the bridge has several floating kitchens/boats where you will find freshly grilled fish sandwiches. A walk across the Galata Bridge is interesting as you can experience the local flavor of Istanbul.
Galata Tower
Galata Tower a 15 minutes’ walk from the bridge, the stone tower was built in 1348 and served as a watchtower, a prison and a fire lookout post. Now it is just a tourist attraction. You can take an elevator to the top to get panoramic view of the old town; though there were long lines when we were there and decided to skip it.
IstiklalStreet
IstiklalStreet is about a 10-minute walk from the tower and is the heart of the city where you will find tons of restaurants, shops and night clubs.It is a nice blend of the traditional and modern. We took a brief stop at Mavi café for Turkish coffee and hookah and then walked to the end of the street which meets Taskim Square. This has been an important venue for public demonstrations and rallies.The Republic Monument; commemorating the 5h anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 is located here. Today it is a major transportation hub and a popular hangout place for tourists and locals.
Dinner reservations were at 360° Istanbul; a rooftop restaurant with a club like atmosphere and live shows. The restaurant provides panoramic view of the city and the food and drinks were really good. A little expensive; it is a perfect place for a special dinner with great ambience, music and views.
Day 2 – Istanbul
We started this day at the Sultanahmet Square; located in the old historical quarter of the city which is surrounded by the major landmarks. A fountain in the middle of the square is a good viewpoint to get photos of Hagia Sophia as well the blue mosque.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia – is Istanbul’s most famous monument. Built as a church by the Romans in 325AD, the original church was completely burned down during a riot in 404. It was reconstructed in 415 and survived until 532, as the greatest church in the city. It was rebuilt by Emperor Justinian I; but was converted into a mosque when the Ottomans conquered Turkey (this is when the four Islamic minarets were also added). It remained as a mosque until 1935 when it was converted into a museum by the Turkish Government. Entrance to this museum is included in the Museum Pass.
Istanbul Archaeological Museums
Istanbul Archaeological Museums–this is a group of three buildings consisting of the archaeological museum, Museum of Ancient Orient and Museum of Islamic Art. There are a lot of exhibits here and is a good place to visit if you are a history fan. Entrance to this museum is included in the Museum Pass.
Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace – is a vast palace with several pavilions and huge courtyards that was the royal residence of the Ottoman sultans. It was converted into a museum by the Turkish government after the fall of the Ottoman rulers. The various rooms and the displays are amazing in addition to the garden and the view of the Bosphorus from the palace. Entrance to this palace is included in the Museum Pass.
SemazenDoner&Café
SemazenDoner&Café– had Turkish lunch of falafel, doner kabab and chicken in clay pot (testitavukkebap) at this small café near the Palace. It was different how they serve this chicken. They heat the clay pot that contains the chicken casserole on open flames in a metal tray. They then crack the bottom of the pot and pour the casserole in the plate served with rice pilaf. The chicken was delicious.
That evening we had reservations for the Orient Bosphorus Tourwhich was is a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus with Turkish night show. It was one of the worst cruise experiences we had with the cruise being extremely crowded, the food was low quality and the entertainment (which included a Dervish followed by a belly dancer) was very poor. The only saving grace was the open upper deck where we enjoyed the cool breeze and the lighted sights along the way. I would not recommend this tour and try to look for a better option.
After a disappointing evening, we went bar hopping on Istiklal Street which was a lot of fun. We went to RitimBar which was amazing with good drinks and great music and people. The DJ even played an Indian song for us; definitely a nice place to relax and dance. Next, we went to Araf Café & Bar which was a little quieter and had more like a lounge feel to it. On our way back to the hotel, we had some amazing mussels at Midyetik followed by the best baklavas at Mado.
DAY 3
Today we bought the Golden Horn Hop On Hop Off Boat which is a nice way to visit the Boshorus. The boats are comfortable and there is a speaker that tells you the description of each place. We did not get off at all locations but visited the Minaturk, Chora Church and Pierre Loti. These three places are not easy to get to; but were still cool sites to visit.
Miniaturk – is a miniature open-air park that’s contains 122 models in 1:25 scale of several historic structures from Turkey. The place is very well organized and all the models are created nicely showing minute details. While the mini versions might not be as exciting as seeing the actual sites, it is still an interesting place as you will probably not see all these sites on your trip.
Chora Church
Chora Church–Originally built as a church, it was converted to an Ottoman mosque before being turned into a museum in 1948. There are several mosaics and frescoes on its wall and ceilings. The church was under renovation when we visited and the main body of the church was closed. Entrance to this museum is included in the Museum Pass.
Pierre Loti
Pierre Loti–we took a cable car ride to the top of Pierre Loti hill which presented fabulous views of the Golden Horn. There is a small café area where you can relax and enjoy the views while sipping tea. We took a walk back down the hill which has a huge old historic graveyard where tombs of several famous sultans and pashas are located.
The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque – located opposite the Hagia Sofia, the blue mosque is another beautiful landmark in Istanbul. This massive mosque was built in 1616 on the former grounds of Emperor Constantine’s Grand Palace. The intricate tile design in all shades of blue on the inside of this mosque gives it the name. Since this is a place of worship, proper dress code is required to visit the mosque.
The Hippodrome
The Hippodrome – right next to the blue mosque is the Hippodrome, a large square dominated by two Egyptian obelisks.
The Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern – is an ancient water reservoir that was built for the purpose of suppling water for the Great Palace. The cisterns roof is supported by 336 marble columns; among which there are two Medusa heads, one positioned upside down and the other tilted on the side. There are supposedly hundreds of such ancient cisterns hidden underneath the streets of Istanbul.
The Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar – is a large market which reflects the soul of Istanbul. This is a maze of stores, booths, restaurants and cafes where you can spend hours shopping. The main area of the bazaar includes a total of 64 streets and 22 entrances; getting lost in this bazaar is a part of this wonderful experience.
We took a tram to the Spice Market, a colorful and fragrant market with heaps of vibrant Turkish spices and other products including dried fruits, fruit teas, Turkish coffee and much more. Prices here could be a little higher than in spice shops around the city considering it is a tourist spot but a little bargaining definitely helps.
Our last meal in Istanbul was at Pizza Trio, a rooftop place which was gorgeous with beautiful views. The pizza was really delicious.
Day 4 – 7
The next 4 days/3 nights we were Blue Cruising from Olympos to Fethiye. Blue Cruising means going on a gulet and sailing along the gorgeous turquoise coastline of Turkey.
A gulet is an all wooden motor sailing yacht built in the coastal towns of Southwest Turkey. Gulets come in many different sizes, types, number of cabins and level of luxury and prices are based on these qualities. There are a few cruise companies that do the same Olympus to Fethiye route; we booked ours through AlaTurka Cruises and these 4 days were definitely a highlight of our trip.AlaTurka Cruises were very easy to communicate with and the price was good too. There are several routes for these cruises lasting from 3-8 days and some also include the Greek islands nearby.
We left early from Istanbul to catch a flight to Antalya. It was a short flight on Pesagus Airlines without any issues. At Antalya, we had a taxi pick us up and drive us to Demre port. The drive was very scenic along the coast.
We reached Demre port around 11 AM and were taken to a Café in town prior to leaving for our cruise. A smaller boat took us to our gulet where lunch was ready. We were shown around the gulet and were assigned to our rooms. The rooms were SMALL and the bathrooms even smaller; but everyone on the gulet slept on the deck underneath the stars which was a great experience. There were 4 crew members and 15 passengers on the cruise with a family from Spain, a couple from France, a couple from Australia and one from Turkey.
Food on this cruise was also very delicious. All the meals are served buffet style on the deck. Mornings started with a typical Turkish breakfast followed by lunch which included traditional Turkish foods like eggplant and peppers cooked in tomato sauce, various dips served with fresh veggies and rice and bread. Every afternoon we were served tea and coffee with some cookies and pastries followed by BBQ dinners which included freshly caught fish, octopus, chicken.
During the entire journey we stopped at various places of attractions be it historic ruins, stunning beaches and gorgeous bays. The major stops are listed below:
Simena Castle
Simena Castle–located in the fishing village of Kekova; this is castle built upon a hill overlooking the Gokkaya bay. It’s a steep walk up a winding, cobbled path but the panoramic view of the bay was worth it. The castle itself is in very poor condition but you can still explore the ancient walls and small amphitheatre inside.
Sunken City
Sunken City– also located in Kekova; this site is remains of a once flourishing city dated 2000 years back that was destroyed during an earthquake and is now underwater. Since this is a protected site, no one is allowed to swim here and our gulet slowly sailed through this ruin.
Gokkaya Bay
Gokkaya Bay– also part of the Kekova region, it is a beautiful bay where the boat anchored for the night. The bay is surrounded by rugged hills coated with thick green shrubs and trees. We spent the afternoon swimming and kayaking in the clear warm waters.
Smugglers Inn Bar
Smugglers Inn Bar – this is a bar shack in the middle of nowhere where people from all theboats come for a night out. Small service boats will pick up passengers from the various gulets and take you to this local pub. It was a very busy place with a lot of younger crowd drinking and dancing.
Kas
Kas – is a very popular tourist town and its harbor is filled with fishing boats, yachts and gullets. We walked around the palm lined trees looking at historic houses and checking out the various souvenir shops. We only spent a few hours here but it was a cute town with a very laid-back feel to it.
Kalkan Bay
Kalkan Bay–this is where our boat anchored for the second night. We enjoyed swimming and snorkeling in the water for a few hours.
Butterfly Valley
Butterfly Valley– is a canyon with steep cliffs and a beach at the bottom which is accessible only by boat. This valley is home to a variety of butterflies. This was the one place throughout the trip where the water was very choppy and I was so sick I had to get off the boat. I just relaxed on the beach while the rest of my group went to explore the valley.
Oludeniz Beach/Blue Lagoon
Oludeniz Beach/Blue Lagoon – this is Turkey’s most famous and also most popular beach. Boats are not allowed to moor in Oludeniz, but it will park as close as possible and you have to swim to the beach area. The water color was spectacular though the beach was crowded. We spent a few hours here swimming and relaxing at the beach.
One of the most popular activities to do in Oludeniz is paragliding. We had arranged this throughGravity Tandem Paragliding and their staff was great. We departed from the town center in a van and it was a long and winding drive to the top of Badadag Mountain which was pretty scary. Once you reach the top, you get into your gear and attach the parachute. You then run down a short runway with your paragliding pilot and before you know it you are in the air. It was an epic experience for me (especially as I am scared of heights) but my pilot Faith was awesome and he made me feel safe while gliding through the air. The view of the blue lagoon from up above were absolutely spectacular. It is an approximately 30-35 minutes flight and the entire tour was very well organized. The pilot takes lots of photos and videos of the flight which we purchased back at their office. The bus then drove us to St. Nicholas Island where we met our gulet and this is where we anchored for our third and last night.
St Nicholas Island
St Nicholas Island – also known as Gemiler Island has remains of several churches built between the fourth and sixth centuries AD. Archaeologists believe it was the location of the original tomb of St. Nicholas also known as Santa Claus. All that remains on the island is ruins but the scenery is stunning and we were able to watch the sunset.
In the morning, there was an elderly woman and a man rowing towards our gulet and they made us fresh Turkish pancakes (Gozleme). We had the chocolate pancake which was delicious.
Samanlik Bay
Samanlik Bay – This was our last stop on the cruise before we got off at Fethiye Harbor. We spent a few hours swimming and snorkeling at this beautiful beach with crystal clear water and had lunch at the beach too.
The blue cruise with AlaTurka is definitely one of my favorite travel experiences. It was an unforgettable journey along the Turkish coastline visiting small towns along the way. Sleeping on the deck and jumping into the water from the gulet was so refreshing. The crew was very friendly and the food was delicious. I don’t think there is a better way to explore the amazing coastline than from the decks of a gulet.
Around 1PM we left for Fethiye harbor where we had a car and driver arranged through Andilfi waiting at the port. This car and driver were with us for the next few days while we visited Ephesus and Cappadocia and it was a definitely gave us a lot of flexibility in our travel plans. The ride from the port to Ephuses was nice and we stopped at a local place Mehmet Zengin for a quick lunch of kofte and lavaash.
We had made reservations at the Ephuses Lodge, this lodge is located in Kirazli, a small farming village about 15 mins drive from Kusadasi. We spent 2 nights here in the Harem Room. The lodge has only 8 rooms each with a different layout. The lodge is essentially a farm converted into a lodge with a small pool and dining area situated in the middle of a charming, flower-filled garden. The lodge has its own garden and they grow a variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs there. The owner, Otum was always around and provided an amazing service. The lodge was an oasis of calm, peace and tranquility in the middle of nowhere.
That evening we spent a relaxing day at the pool followed by a nice quiet dinner in the garden.
DAY 8 – EPHESUS
Today was a busy day exploring the town of Selcuk which has several attractions making it for a busy day.
Ancient City of Ephesus–is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world and is definitely a highlight of this town. Ephesus was once an ancient Greek City and later became a Roman City.Excavations first began in 1863 and it is a strange feeling to walk among the remains of the houses, temples, churches and various buildings. The important places to visit here include:
Street of Curetes
Fountain of Trajan
Library of Celsus
Temple of Hadrian
Meryem Ana Evi
Meryem Ana Evi – meaning Mother Mary’s House is said to be the last place where Virgin Mary supposedly lived. The house, which is now a chapel is a single room where there is an altar with a statue of Virgin Mary. There is a Wishing Wall here where pilgrims from across the world tie their prayers or notes.
Basilica of St. Johnand Citadel
Basilica of St. Johnand Citadel– this was built in the 6th Century AD over the believed burial site of John the Apostle. John preached about Christianity in Ephesus, where he lived his final days.
Isabey Mosque
Isabey Mosque – this mosque was built in 1375 and is one of the major tourist attractions in this area. The beauty of this mosque is that it was built asymmetrical on purpose, with its doors and windows not matching up. This mosque is free to enter but visitors have to be properly dressed.
Temple of Artemis
Temple of Artemis – this is one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World and only one pillar out of 127 pillars remain stating today. It was built as a shrine to the goddess Artemis.
Ephesus Archaeological Museum
Ephesus Archaeological Museum– this is a small museum that has a good collection of artifacts excavated from the nearby Roman ruins.
Firca Quartz Ceramic
Firca Quartz Ceramic – this is a factory and a showroom where they show you how the ceramic art work is made and will answer any questions you have. They have a lot of products on display as well which you can purchase.
Turkmen Carpet Weaving Center
Turkmen Carpet Weaving Center – Turkey is very famous for its silk carpets and we visited this weaving center which was a great place to see the traditional art form of carpet weaving. In 1985; the Turkish Government set up several women’s co-operative workshops with the aim to train and provide supplies to the women in the art of carpet making. There are two different knotting techniques and Turkish carpets are made using the double knotting technique. There are three types of carpets manufactured (wool on wool, wool on cotton and silk on silk). At the Center, they show you the entire process from obtaining the silk thread from silk worms to dying the thread to weaving. All these carpets are woven by hands and some of the large silk carpets take years to finish. We bought a beautiful rug from here which was shipped to our home within a few weeks.
We had lunch at BizimEvHanimeli; an authentic Turkish restaurant. The food was excellent and so was the service.
Sirince
Sirince – this small hill town close to Selcuk is famous for its olive oil, fruit wines and other natural products. A hilly town connected by cobblestone pathways with winding streets and an old world feel; there were several souvenir shops and restaurants here. Fruit wine being the specialty of this area, we went to a wine cellar for wine tasting. Blackberry, melon, peach, apple, cherry; they had a wine for almost every fruit.
There was a wedding in the village that day and the lodge owner invited us to attend it. We stopped by for a little bit; it was a grand affair with lots of people; a different experience which we will always remember.
DAY 9 –Pamukkale
Pamukkale is a about a 3-hour ride from Selcuk, we left early and Otum had packed vegetable sandwiches for the drive. We reached the World Heritage Site of Hierapolis-Pamukkalearound 9 AM and entered through the Southern Gate. Access to both the Hierapolis and the travertines is through the same gate and the ticket price includes both.
Hierapolis
Hierapolis is an ancient city located on top of the travertine pools. After arriving in the city of Hierapolis, we quickly walked through the city. It is not as developed or reconstructed as Ephesus but stillhas several ruins to admire. There is an amphitheatre which sits on a slope and is definitely worth a visit.
We then made our way to the sacred Antique Pool aka Cleopatra Pool; a calcium laden hot pool where you can go for a swim. A separate fee is to paid to swim here; we decided not to go for a dip as we had a long drive to Cappadocia.
Next, we headed to the travertines; white limestone terraces. Pamukkale which translates to “Cotton Castle” is one of the most extraordinary natural wonders of the world which has been around since the Roman era. These white terraces are mineral deposits from the hot springs at the top of Cal Mountain. The water from these springs range from 95-212°F and have been used as a spa. Over time, these terraces have formed basins that retain water in the pools. The turquoise water is said to have healing properties.In order to protect the unique surface, visitors are prohibited from wearing footwear and have to follow a set pathway, along which there are shallow pools where you can dip your feet. We only put our feet in the pools, but saw several people coating themselves in mud from head to toe. They were an incredible sight and definitely a must-see when you are in Turkey.
After a few hours, we got back in the car for a long drive to Cappadocia (approximately 7 hours). The drive though long was smooth with no traffic and well-maintained roads. Saw several farms and fruit stands on the way.
We stopped at KardeslerEtliEkmek in Sultanhani and had amazing Turkish pizza (pide) for lunch.
We reached our hotel KarlikEvi at around 7:30PM. One of the most unique experience in Cappadocia is staying in a cave hotel. Many of the cave hotels have been restored from old homes. Located in Uchisar, this boutique hotel has 20 spacious rooms decorated with antique furniture and artwork. Each room is unique, and many have balconies with fabulous views of the mountains. They have a beautiful garden area with pool and swinging hammocks.
Dinner was at an Indian restaurant called Rasoi in Gerome. The restaurant was very enticing and romantic built into a huge cave house; perfect for husband’s birthday dinner. The menu was pretty limited but overall the food and service were good.
DAY 10 – CAPPADOCIA
Cappadocia has the most unique rock formation as a result of the surrounding volcanic mountains which is the beauty of this region. Sites in Cappadocia are far and you will require either a car to get to those places or book an organizedtour. There are two basic tours offered by several companies in Cappadocia; the Red Tour and The Green Tour. We had a car and driver with us which allowed us to create our own itinerary. Today was a busy day with an early start for the Hot Air Balloon Ride followed by several wonderful places.
Hot Air balloon
Cappadocia hot air balloon rides are very popular and is a must-do attraction here. You should plan this for your first morning because they do get cancelled sometimes and then you have another 1 or 2 mornings to do it. There are several companies that you can book your balloon ride. We had our balloon ride reserved through Voyager which included transfers, breakfast, a 60-minute balloon ride, champagne and a flight certificate. We were on the Comfort flight (max 12-16 people) and our basket had five compartments – one of the pilot and four for the passengers. These rides are a little pricy but definitely worth every penny. There are two flights daily with a total of 100 balloons allowed in the morning sunrise flight and 50 balloons in the second flight.
My experience floating over the fairy chimneys was memorable. Watching the sun rise over Cappadocia’s amazing landscape and watching the sky slowing changing colors was incredible. Landing is on a trailer; so, they can haul us away for a round of champagne before we head back to the hotel.
A hot air balloon ride equates to an early morning (we left at 4AM); so we took a nap at the hotel and had breakfast before heading out for some sightseeing.
Uchisar Castle
Uchisar Castle- the rock castle in Uchisar is the highest point in Cappadocia; you can explore the many caves in this area.
Pasabag Valley
Pasabag Valley– also called Monks Valley contains some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia. Here you will see rock sitting on top of the chimney balancing its way. You will also find several cave dwellings here many multiple stories that you can explore.
Avanos
Avanos – is a small-town set on the banks of the Kizilirmak (Red) River; is known for its pottery made from the red clay found near the banks. We spent some time here walking on the drawbridge that overlooks the mosque.
Urgup
Urgup–this is a more upmarket town in Cappadocia with nice cafes in the town center. We visited an art center where the lady was painting on water and she then transferred her art to paper.
Mustafapasa Village
Mustafapasa Village – another nice village in Cappadocia where we visited the Mustafapasa Palace which is now converted to the Old Greek House (now used as a hotel and restaurant). The mansion was beautiful.
Gerome Open Air Museum
Gerome Open Air Museum – is one of the most visited sites in Cappadocia where you will find ruins from the 4th century including remains of monasteries, churches and homes which were carved into rock. An audio guide is provided which will take you on a journey through the ancient churches and cave homes. There is a cobblestone pathway that will guide you to the many churches here some with very beautiful frescoes.
Cappadocia has several panoromic viewpoints and we went to OrtahisarPanoramic and Gerome Panoramic which provides outstanding view of the landscape.
Lunch was at Kebapzade Restaurant in Gerome, they had some amazing traditional kebabs. We also visited the Kelebek Cave Hotel which was a truly spectacular hotel. We had drinks at the rooftop bar which provided stunning view of Gerome.
Dinner was at the Gourmet Restaurant in Gerome. The food was really nice and the staff was extremely friendly. They had an extensive menu and the food was reasonably priced as well. We tried Raki, the traditional Turkish drink made from grapes. This is traditionally consumed with chilled water mixed in which gives it a milky-white color.
Day 11 – CAPPADOCIA (Underground Cities and Rock Monasteries)
DerinkuyuUnderground City
There are two main underground cities in Cappadocia, Derinkuyu and Kaymakli. Both of them are supposed to be incredible and will give you an insight into life underground. We decided to visit Derinkuyu. Opened to visitors in 1969, only 10% of the city is accessible to visitors. At a maximum depth of 85 meters (280 feet) below ground level, this multi-level city could fit 20,000 people. There are no signs inside the caves, so a guided tour is recommended so you can understand the places and rooms better. Note: if you are claustrophobic, these underground cities are not for you. I was tricked by my tour guide into entering these not knowing what I was getting into. I was fine and am glad I visited this amazing place.
People would live here for years cooking, sleeping and hiding from the invaders above ground. The underground city contained churches, food stores, wine cellars, schools etc. There was also a ventilation system and irrigation system here. Visiting this underground city shows the challenges faced by the people during that time.
There were many areas in the underground city where we had to crouch while walking through alleys and tunnels. There were certain areas so narrow, only one person could walk at a time. I loved visiting this underground city and would definitely recommend it.
Ihlara Valley
Ihlara Valley–is a gorge with a river running right through it. This is a 4-mile hike throughthe valley though its relatively flat and can be done quickly and the entire hike is along the river. Along the way you will see several churches. There are four entrances and ticketing offices to enter the Valley. We had our driver drop us off at the second Ilhara entrance (IlharaVadisiTuristikTesisleri) and pick us up at the Belisirma Village entrance. This was a 3.7 km hike and we saw a few churches on the way most notably the Church of St. George. At the Belisirma Village, there are a series of restaurants located on the river which is a good option for a quick lunch.
To end this amazing trip; we had reservations at the Kelebek Cave Hotel for a Hamam aka Turkish bath. The place was very clean and inviting and the people were very professional as well. We had a private bath session just for hubby and me. It is a different experience than the usual massage treatments where you are on a large heated marble slab in the middle of the room with marble wash basins that line the walls. The masseur will then soap you from head to toe and wash all that dead skin away. It was a very relaxing and rejuvenating feeling; one we will cherish forever.
Back at the hotel, we packed our bags followed by a lovely dinner in the garden for our last night in Turkey.
Day 12
We had an early morning flight from Keyseri airport (about an hour away from Cappadocia) to Istanbul and from there back to New York.
Cappadocia was truly a magical experience. Hot air balloon rides in the morning, to rock formations to the underground cities; Cappadocia was like being on another planet.