Tour Code: 27TUR
Tour Manager: Dan Brubaker
Group Size: 12 - 16
Activity level: Moderate

Absorb the magical splendors of Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Sleep in a cave hotel and take a hot air balloon ride in the Cappadocia. Sail on a gulet under the sun and stars from Olympos to Fethiye. Explore the hot springs and travertines at Pamukkale. Marvel at the Roman city ruins of Ephesus. Haggle like mad in the Grand Bazaar.

Monday, September 6
Arrival into Istanbul in the morning, or the day before. Transfer to hotel. After lunch, we visit Topkapi Palace with its 4 courtyards and hundreds of rooms including the Harem. Welcome dinner. Stay in Istanbul for 2 nights. 

Tuesday, September 7
Highlights of Istanbul: the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), Hippodrome of Constantinople, the 1,482 year old Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia). After lunch, we explore and haggle at the Grand Bazaar. 

Wednesday, September 8
Travel 6 hours to Ankara. Visit Ankara Citadel with a sweeping 360-degree view of the city below, and Hamamonu, a beautiful restored area with many 1920s and 1930s houses now filled with cafes, restaurants and art galleries. Overnight in Ankara. 

Thursday, September 9
Visit Anitkabir (Ataturk's Mausoleum) in the morning. Then travel 5 hours to Goreme. Stay in a cave hotel in Göreme for 2 nights. 

Friday, September 10
Optional hot air balloon ride in the early morning. Explore the rock cut rooms, stairs and passageways at Uchisar Castle. Other sights include: the monastic complex composed of several rock cut churches at Goreme Open Air Museum; the mushroom shaped fairly chimneys at Pasabag and Zelve Open Air Museum, which once housed a large cave dwelling community.

Saturday, September 11
Optional 2-to-3-hour hike at Pigeon or Rose Valley in the morning. Travel about 4 hours to Konya. Visit Mevlana Museum and local bazaar. Learn about the Whirling Dervish sect of Islam. Overnight in Konya. 

Sunday, September 12

We travel 9 hours from Konya to Antalya. Take a stroll at Kaleiçi, which is the old town harbor and historic city center of Antalya. Stay in Antalya for 2 nights. 

Monday, September 13
Morning visit at the world’s best preserved Roman theatre at Aspendos, then Antalya Archeology Museum. Free time on your own in the late afternoon and evening to explore Kaleici.

Tuesday, September 14
Drive 2 hours to Demre in the morning before starting out on a 4 day, 3 night wooden gulet cruise. Visit the Sunken City, an ancient Lycian period town that was destroyed by the earthquake in the 2nd century. Anchor down near Kekova Island. Go over to Kalekoy to visit Simena Castle as well as walk through the town’s cobbled streets.

Wednesday, September 15
Cruise from Gokkoya Bay to Kas, a small fishing village where we will have time to explore shops and cafes. Cruise past Kalkan and moor at Aquarium Bay for the night.

Thursday, September 16
Going north on the coastline, we will wake up to the amazing views of Butterfly Valley. After breakfast, we can opt for sunbathing, swimming or hiking up to the waterfall.  Moor at the Blue Lagoon for lunch. Go on an optional paragliding over Oludeniz. Anchor at St. Nicholas Island for the evening where we walk up through the island ruins to witness the sunset. 

Friday, September 17
Enjoy breakfast at St. Nicholas Island. Then cruise to Samanlik Bay or Taran’s Bay for swimming and lunch. Disembark at Fethiye after lunch. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Fethiye.

Saturday, September 18
We travel 4 hours inland to Pamukkale to see the fascinating chalky white travertine pools. Visit Hierapolis Museum and Necropolis. Then 4 hours to the port city of Kuşadasi. Overnight in Kuşadası. 

Sunday, September 19
Spend the day in Ephesus, the former capital of Eastern Roman Empire. See the ruins of Temple of Artemis. Visit Ephesus Museum and Basilica of St. John. Overnight in Izmir. 

Monday, September 20
Travel 5.5 hours from Izmir to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Optional traditional hammam experience. Overnight in Bursa. 

Tuesday, September 21
Travel 4 hours from Bursa to Istanbul. After lunch, we explore the underground Basilica Cistern with 336 columns. Late afternoon cruise on the Bosphorus Strait. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.

Wednesday, September 22
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for your flights back home. 

Updated as of 01/02/2025

Dan has been to 92 countries including Bolivia, Cuba, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, North Korea and Uzbekistan. He has also presented at Deaf Youth Leadership Camps in Germany and Thailand as well as team-coordinating an exchange program between two deaf schools in Kentucky, USA and Kamensk, Russia.

• 13 nights in 3-star or 4-star accommodations.

• 3 nights on a wooden gulet cruise in double cabins with private bathrooms.

• 23 meals: Breakfast (16), Lunch (3), Dinner (4)

• Services of a deaf Tour Leader on call 24 hours a day.

• Services of local deaf guides.

• All transportation expenses.

• All city and/or tourist taxes. 

• Airport transfers at beginning and end of tour.

• All admission fees for attractions and museums mentioned in the itinerary.

• Informative travel preparation packet.

• $100 Repeat Customer Discount per person on your next regular tour.

• Domestic and/or international airfares.

• All other meals not mentioned in the itinerary and personal expenses.

• Travel Insurance.

• All types of transit and tourist visas (if applicable) - e.g. ETIAS.

• Tips for your Tour Leader, Tour Assistant(s) and/or Local Guides

• Tour begins and ends in Istanbul.

• Tour will be confirmed when we meet the minimum number of participants

• When the tour is confirmed, additional deposits or payments may be required

• Significant walking is expected during the tour, and moderate physical fitness is required

• Hands On Travel recommends purchasing a travel insurance plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected

• Last but not least, please read Hands On Travel's Terms & Conditions.

We're here to help you plan the perfect adventure! For any inquiries or assistance, feel free to reach out:

Email: dan@handson.travel

With this tour confirmation, your $500 deposit is now non-refundable in any event you need to back out. However, it may be transferable to a future tour.