Matrexx

I am working on planning my trip of a lifetime as an extended solo 10 month trip (I'm a 35 year old professional female).

Questions:
- Is 23 days in Turkey enough?
- What should I do with the 5 "Other" days in my plan below?

I know these are general questions. But I'm getting overwhelmed just planning the first few sections!

My schedule so far:

Germany - 9 days (family visit)
Russia - 19 days (just Western portion - again family reasons) with my 70 yo Mother!!
Morocco - 34 days
Turkey - 22 days
Then on to Egypt (Sinai Peninsula only as I've seen the main part of Egypt before but St Catherine's is a must) and then Jordan and Israel with my father. And then on to India and south-east Asia. I will go back to Europe later in spring 2014 to do the Camino (after Everest Base Camp in April 2014). I'm so excited!!

I've studied Byzantine history before and there is so much I want to see that I feel I could spend a lifetime in each of these places but I only have so much time. It's so depressing that 10 months seems so long, but I'm still feeling crunched for time!

My Turkey plan so far:
Istanbul - 7 days (includes some day trips) - I'm having issues not calling it Constantinople!
Travel - 1 day
Cappadocia - 4 days
Travel - 1 day
Ephesus area - 4 days
Travel - 1 day
Other - 5 days

Thank you so much for your help and expertise!

xyz99

When will you be in Turkey (what month)? Try the south Mediterranean / Lycean coast. It looks beautiful, with lots to see and do - we'll spend 6 days there in Oct.

But from what I read about Turkey, there are a lot of other places where you can spend a few days. Try Pamukkale as a day trip (I think) from Ephesus.

And wait for otherchelebi, kja, Croesus and a few other Turkey regulars to chime in, you will wish you had more than 5 "other" days

kja

Sounds like a wonderful trip!

Of course one could use more than 23 days in Turkey, but that is definitely enough time to see and experience some truly wonderful things.

You might find some ideas about what to do with your "other" days in my trip report - just click on my name to find it.

(xyz is being much too kind to me: I do NOT belong in the same category as otherchelebi or Croesus -- they are experts! I'm just someone who had a great time in Turkey.)

otherchelebi

Thanks xyz and kja, but I believe, responses and trip reports of previous travelers from similar backgrounds are as important as those of residents and more frequent travelers, if not more so, for the new traveler.

From what I know and heard from my daughter and friends, of Morocco, unless you are interested in desert camping or beaching, there is little there to interest the traveler for 34 days, especially for a student of Byzantine history.

I hope you will reconsider and add quite a large portion of those days to your Turkish trip.

Here are some ideas :

North of Capadocia (Galatia) ;
The Hittite sites, Hattusas, Yazilikaya, Alacahoyuk

Eastern Black Sea :
Sumela Monastery
Uzun Gol, Camlihemsin, Ayder, Ikiz Dere, Honey, waterfalls, mountains, high pastures, lush valleys, lakes
Borcka Black Lake
Artvin Georgian churches, Ferhatli castle, Hell Stream Canyon
Savsat, Black Lake, Savsat Castle

East :

- Kars, Russian architecture, Ani ruins
- Dogu Beyazit, Mount Ararat, Castle, Palace
- Van, Lake, Armenian church

- South East :

Mardin, Mesopotamian traditional hill city, with population from three sects of Christianity and three sects of Islam. Monasteries, traditional local architecture.

Urfa : Abraham's house and lake, Job's house, castle, 12,000 year old tamples at Gobekli Tepe,

Halfeti, Rum Kale

Zeugma

Gaziantep, Zeugma museum, best baklava and katmer, castle

Nemrut


- Mediterranean, West of Adana :

Mersin- Erdemli - Silifke - Aydincik - Anamur
terrific less known extensive antique and natural sites.

Side, Manavgat, Aspendos, Perge,
somewhat restored antique sites near resorts and a waterfall.

Antalya : Old port and castle

Northeast of Antalya : Termessos, possibly the most exciting Anatolian antique site requiring a long climb to reach the best view from a Greek theatre. Bushes, brambles, possibly snakes, uneven, sometimes steep climb if going off the main path.

Major Lycian sites West of Antalya :

Phaeselis
Chimera
Olympos
Arycanda
Myra
Church of Saint Nicholas (Byzantine)
Symena
Kekova
Patara
Xanthos
Letoon
Tlos
Pinara
Fethiye

Natural sites:

Goynuk canyon,
Saklikent canyon
Patara beach
Kas
Kekova
Butterfly Valley

Datca Peninsula and Cnidos

Bodrum and Karia
Herakleia

Sardis

Bithynia, Pergamom, Assos

Nicea (Iznik)

Please check my trip reports on Fodors Turkey forum and the lounge (reach from my profile) for many of these areas and our blogs for photographs as well as our slide shows on youtube :

http://www.youtube.com/user/esercelebiler/videos
http://www.blogger.com/profile/13777888122227948100

kja

Other, you are not only generous with your knowledge and experience, but also very gracious. Thanks on all counts!

Croesus

I agree that 34 days in Morocco and 22 days in Turkey is the wrong balance. Much more to see and do in Turkey.

xyz99

My Turkey planning would've been a nightmare without the knowledge shared on this forum. But with it, it was a true pleasure, building up the excitement.
Thank you!