Help with Itinerary
 

I'm going to Turkey for 18 days in May/early June with my husband and two young adult children. We're excited about the historical sites, love beauty, hiking, and culture/people. Don't care for nightlife and love beaches for views though not looking for a resort/beach vacation. We tend to stay in moderately priced small hotels/pensions.Don't like organized tours. Typically prefer to rent cars.


Have read through lots of reports and want some advice. I'm thinking of:

1. Istanbul for 6-7 days. Set here with ideas.
2. Fly to Cappadoccia for 3 days. rent car.

Then maybe to Antalya How do you get there? by bus? How long? Planes seem to take you back to Isanbul.

Drive seems too long but if it's really interesting guess we can try it.
3. Rent care and drive from Antalya to Selcuk along coast. Stopping at small villages (any ideas?)
Six or seven days This is the most iffy. I'm attracted to the beautiful pictures of this coast (though not looking to stay in resorts), but definitely want to see Epheus too.

I'm open to nixing the Mediterranean and staying on the Aegean coast if that is preferable.

4. Bus/fly from Ismir to Istanbul

The problem is there is too much to see. Any help will be appreciated.

One thing to consider is splitting Istanbul up into two 3-day stays, one on arrival and one before departure. This will allow you to make adjustments to your schedule if you end up falling in love with some other area you are visiting. We had some transportation issues, too, that necessitated this and we're glad we did.

Three days in Cappadocia is the minimum I would do - there is so much to see and do. You mentioned hikes - they are fantastic here and I highly recommend Rose Valley and Red Valley. I'm not into tours either, but we took a $40/person all-day tour on our first day that allowed us to sample all the very best, and used the next few days to explore the places we liked in detail. Your pension can set you up with one. Great value.

I though Antalya was pleasant enough, but not sure I'd go back. The area around it is nice, and do not miss the spectacular Termessos - bring food for a picnic and be sure to head up past the ruins to see the massive and tumbling sarcophagi.

Coming back up the coast, we loved our stay in Kekova. Lots of nice hikes, but be sure to hop on a boat tour of the sunken cities and environs. There are some nice little villages tucked away in the bays.

If traditional villages are your thing, stay in Sirince when visiting Ephesus. Don't miss the Isa Bey Camii while you're there. You'll see plenty of Ottoman mosques, but take the time to see this gem of a Seljuk one.

And I second your idea of dropping off your car in Izmir and taking public transpo back to Istanbul. We did similar (Kutahya).

Have a great trip.

Regards, Bruce
Turky Travel Images -- http://www.brucegcollier.com/galleri...level2_all.htm

Thanks for your advice. It confirms some of my thoughts. We are firming up our plans and would love some more input. One of my questions is how much do we need to book ahead. We're starting to lean toward leaving much of the trip more open. Here's our new plans:
Istanbul 4nights
Fly to cappadocia 3 nights
Drive to coast (antalya?) but if need time to hike Ihlara valley only go to Konya.
1 or 2 nights Antalaya. We defnitely want to hike up to Termesso. So if we don't stay in Antalya where would we stay?
2-3 nights along the coast. Where did you stay in Kekova? That's an island right?

We are then driving to Selcuk/Sirince for 1 or 2 nights. 've read Sirince is a bit difficult to get to. Is it?

How long did it take for you to drive from the coast to Selcuk?

Fly from Ismir to Istanbul for 3 more nights.

What do you think?
thanks

Unless you're arriving during a Turkish or Islamic holiday, I don't think you'll need to book in advance for that time of year - it's a bit before the peak season. However, for peace of mind, you may want to book your initial stay in Istanbul. BTW, take the hotel shuttle if staying in Sultanahmet as it's a lot cheaper than a cab.

From Goreme using public transpo and a 9 am departure, it took us well into the late afternoon to get to Antalya - are you sure you want to hike Ihlara on that same day?

We stayed in Antalya's old quarter, rented a car, and left for Termessos to arrive as the park opened. It's only about an hour away, maybe less. We spent a good 5 hours there, then continued on to Kekova, arriving early evening.

Kekova is coastal, not an island, but you have to travel maybe 45 mins on windy roads to get there. We stayed in Kekova Pension right on the water - highly recommended. Kalekoy, a nearby village is also quite charming.

We didn't go straight to Selcuk, instead stayed a few days in Dalyan. I remember the drive from Dalyan to Selcuk being 3-ish hours, can't really remember. Sirince isn't difficult to get to if you have your own car, but do take care driving up the little windy road, especially around the blind curves. It's a few miles outside of town. My first visit, I stayed in Selcuk which is convenient for the sites, but this trip it was nice to stay in a small village.

Your trip sounds fantastic and the only tweak I'd suggest is to find a way to add a day, maybe two to Cappadocia - it is unique to this planet.

Regards, Bruce
www.brucegcollier.com -- Fine-art Travel Photography

Thanks Bruce. I've been thinking about adding a day in Cappodocia (BTW why do we spell it the Greek way?) I'm booking in Istanbul (first four nights; last 3 nights) and Cappadocia (3-4 nights). I have made contact with the Giramasu Cave Inn in Ayvali. May want to stay in another village too. We will pick up a car in Keiseri Airport and drop off in Ismir. So hopefully drive to Antalya will be shorter for us. But still will be 6 hours at least so will have to think about doing any hiking. We may do the hiking and stop in Konya.

Was concerned about having a car in Antalya. Do you think it will be a problem? Thanks so much for recommendation for Kekova Pension. Will look into it. Have to admit I usually feel better if I have booked myself in. Though I'm just starting to figure out days/places between Cap and Selcek. I If I spend 3 nights in Cap 7 days to drive to Antalya, along cost, and then up to Selcuk. At this point, my thoughts are:
1. Fourth day in Cap do Ilhara Valley and go back to Cap OR
Do valley on way to staying Konya (3 hours drive)
2. Drive to Antalya. 3 hours. Stay in old quarter if okay do that with a car.
3 Visit Termessos (the real reason I want to go) drive to med coast. Stay Kekova?
4 Kerova
5-6 Dalyan ??
7 drive to Selcuk

How does that sound? Where would you suggest in Dalyan?

Regarding your itenerary, you might want to skip Kekova or Dalyan and try and maximize a stay in one of the other. You're spending a lot of time in the car and may wish to sit for awhile.

Driving in Antalya was a challenge, but that's partly because it was Day 1 of having a car and I was unfamiliar with just about everything. We picked up the car within the old quarter so I did drive through there. Your pension owner can help you navigate (ours came to the rental shop and rode back with us). The area is gated off, so your host will have to get you a pass I believe. I really didn't have too much of a problem in there as I did in the modern city. It wasn't bad, just that I was nervous and it is a big city. We stayed at Senem Family Pension which was fairly nice and in the thick of it. The owners are a delight and will help you with anything. The lady will be tres disappointed if you don't see Antalya while you're there. :)

In Dalyan, it was Adem's Pension right on the river. Has a great view across to the tombs in the hillside. Easy walk into town.

If I had to choose, I would go with Kekova, rest the legs, and go for a swim. Dalyan was nice, and more historical, but Kekova was just about perfect. Be sure to purchase fresh baklava from the gentleman who sells it out of the back of his station wagon.

Glad to hear you're staying another night in Cappadocia.

Regards, Bruce
www.brucegcollier.com -- Fine-art Travel Photography

If you want to visit Ihlara and next day drive to Antalya, you may as well stay in Guzelyurt next to Ihlara, saves you 140 kms. and 2 hours.
Happy travelling,
Muat

You guys are great! I'm going to take lots of notes and then book when I get to Turkey (for my week on the med).
Murat is the 2 hour "save" in driving round trip? Or does it take 2 hours one way.

I'm still a little confused on where exactly you're talking about Bruce. Are there places to stay in Kalekoy? I love your pictures!

Hi Millie64, Each way would take about an hour to or from Ihlara.

Kalekoy is a great village and yes there are pensions on the hill with breathtaking panorama.Not to mention restaurants with a quay dining over the water!!!! mmmmmmm I miss it myself to be in kekova too :-)

Happy travelling,
Murat