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One among my favorite adventures to this point is an epic 10 day highway journey by Turkey that was full of bucket record experiences and otherworldly locations.
That is my full itinerary for ten days in Turkey, together with our 5 day self-drive tour from Marmaris to Cappadocia and again right down to the south of the nation.
As we carved our approach by the patchwork panorama on our Turkey highway journey, we handed makeshift honey stalls and spectacular mosques at what felt like hundred metres intervals.
There have been balconies strung with chilli peppers left to dry within the solar exterior of Konya, big swathes of land suffering from pumpkins in Cappadocia, and acre upon acre of farmland and greenhouses in Antalya, the place a few of Turkey’s tastiest produce is grown.
Our Turkish highway journey highway was by no means boring, and every of our locations have been bewilderingly lovely.
This journey gave me so many unimaginable reminiscences. I’m glad that having by accident let ten years cross since my final go to to Marmaris, I lastly took the time to discover Turkey’s true delights.
Throughout our ten days in Turkey, we stopped at well-known vacationer points of interest like Pamukkale, Cappadocia and the Düden Waterfalls in Antalya.
We concluded our journey with a number of days of downtime in sleepy Dalyan, which is near Dalaman airport and due to this fact a sensible place to finish any Turkey itinerary.
Learn on for extra details about visiting every of those wonderful Turkish locations!
Our Turkish journey was jam-packed with jaw-dropping sights, sunshine and numerous çay and gözleme stops in institutions which ranged from crude roadside shacks to spectacular riverside eating places.
I believed I’d share my itinerary for ten days in Turkey and the precise route we took on our highway journey from Marmaris to assist anybody planning a visit to Turkey who, like myself, needs to see the perfect bits in lower than two weeks.
My journey itinerary for 10 days in Turkey
Watch my full-length Cappadocia video on Youtube
You possibly can tailor this complete ten day Turkey itinerary to go well with you – pack the highlights right into a busy seven day Turkey journey or stretch it out and spend two and even three weeks in Turkey, you fortunate factor!
In case you have got extra time to play with, I’ve talked about the perfect locations to go in Turkey the place you would possibly like to increase your keep, and the way lengthy to spend in every place.
After all, in the event you’re simply planning a seashore getaway and dashing across the nation appears a bit too strenuous for you, you’ll be able to nonetheless see a few of these Turkish locations throughout your vacation.
The stops on this Turkey journey itinerary embody a few of the finest journeys to do in Turkey for holidaymakers and I’ve included hyperlinks for excursions to a few of the hottest sights, in case you gained’t be driving in Turkey.
On the backside of this information, I’ve shared all of my Turkey journey suggestions and important data.
I travelled with locals, so I’ve acquired a great deal of insider tricks to share.
Days 1 – 3: Stress-free for 3 days in Marmaris (with a cultural day journey if you would like it)
Earlier than we set off on our highway journey by Turkey, we spent a while unwinding in Marmaris.
For those who’ve acquired ten days in Turkey, a brief seaside vacation right here is a good way to begin your journey.
Situated on the assembly place of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, Marmaris is among the hottest vacation locations within the nation.
Whereas we have been there, we did a blissfully enjoyable boat journey.
I’ve been to Marmaris a number of occasions, and a day trip on the ocean is at all times the spotlight of my keep.
You possibly can ebook your boat journey prematurely and look ahead to a terrific day on the water with limitless drinks and a BBQ lunch.
I positively suggest having fun with a number of lazy days in Marmaris earlier than you start a giant journey in Turkey.
You are able to do a jeep safari, get an genuine Turkish tub or spend a day at Atlantis Water Park.
For those who’d wish to pursue tradition throughout your keep in Marmaris, ebook a day journey to the Historical Metropolis of Ephesus.
There are a great deal of eating places in Marmaris and also you’ll discover pulsating nightlife, but it surely’s a really household pleasant vacation spot.
Marmaris has a plethora of all-inclusive inns, a few of the finest being Inexperienced Nature Diamond and Hawaii Resort.
It’s low-cost sufficient to eat out in Marmaris, so I’d counsel choosing self-catering lodging or Mattress and Breakfast there.
Some good choices are Membership Aida, Grand Azur and Grand Pasa.
The one factor that lets Marmaris down is its seashore so when you’re there, soar on a bus to İçmeler seashore and spend the day there in your sea and sand repair.
Let me know if you want a separate submit on stuff to do in Marmaris!
Discover inns in Marmaris
Day 4: Hitting the highway – Marmaris to Pamukkale
The drive from Marmaris to Pamukkale takes round three hours. For those who’re occurring a highway journey from Marmaris, you would possibly as effectively cease right here!
Pamukkale, actually “Cotton Citadel” in Turkish, is essentially the most visited attraction in Turkey because of its Instagram-worthy snow white calcite travertine terraces stuffed with thermal water.
The traditional spa metropolis is a captivating place to discover, so it’s price spending a little bit of time right here to be sure you see every little thing.
Pamukkale is wonderful, but it surely will get very busy so it’s finest to do your analysis earlier than you go with the intention to get pleasure from it absolutely.
For a really unforgettable expertise in Pamukkale, ebook a scorching air balloon experience over its glowing white panorama.
Discover inns for Pamukkale
As soon as we had drank in every little thing we may at Pamukkale, we hopped again within the automobile and started the 5 hour drive to Konya, the place we stopped for the evening.
We stayed at a implausible lodge referred to as Gherdan Gold Resort.
It has a spa with a hammam, the rooms are very comfy and the breakfast buffet affords a number of conventional Turkish favourites.
Since we had solely devoted 5 of our ten days in Turkey to our highway journey, we left Konya early the following morning.
When you have extra time than we did, you may spend a day in Konya earlier than persevering with in your journey in direction of Cappadocia.
Konya is a really spiritual metropolis and among the many prime points of interest there are Mevlana Muzesi, which is the mosque the place the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic is positioned.
You possibly can see the whirling dervishes there in the summertime months.
Discover inns in Konya
Day 5: Driving from Konya to Göreme, Cappadocia
The drive from Konya to Göreme takes roughly three hours.
Whether or not you are planning on doing quite a lot of sightseeing otherwise you simply need to see the enduring scorching air balloons, Göreme is the perfect space to remain in Cappadocia.
We have been in Cappadocia for simply 24 hours and managed to squeeze lots in to that point.
Fortunately, the recent air balloons flew the morning we have been there – which was additional lucky as a result of they hadn’t been in a position to fly for 3 days earlier than our keep!
We stayed at Arch Palace Resort, which I might 100% suggest in the event you’re not sure the place to remain in Cappadocia. The situation was good.
When you have a bigger finances, strive Sultan Cave Suites for some critical photograph alternatives (it is the lodge the place these beautiful breakfast pictures throughout Instagram are taken).
Outdoors of Göreme, Museum Resort in Uçhisar has a swimming pool overlooking the valleys.
For extra details about visiting Cappadocia, you will must learn my devoted weblog submit as a result of this magical vacation spot warrants an area of its personal.
Discover inns in Cappadocia
At this level, lots of people would most likely proceed on from Cappadocia to Istanbul, however we had different plans.
We wished to start and finish our 5 day Turkey tour within the south of the nation, as we had booked return flights by way of Dalaman.
If you are going to Istanbul from Cappadocia, the gap is round 750km and the drive takes 8-9 hours.
Day 6: Cappadocia to Antalya
I used to be reluctant to depart Cappadocia so quickly, however we had deliberate to be in Antalya so we started the drive shortly after the final scorching air balloon landed on our second day in Göreme.
We have been in Antalya just for the evening earlier than we continued our journey additional southwest however by this level the automobile was getting a bit tiring, so travellers with extra time ought to positively pause to get pleasure from Antalya earlier than they get again behind the wheel.
It had been cooler up in Cappadocia so the Antalya sunshine was very welcome!
Lara has some beautiful inns, together with Liberty and Asteria Kremlin Palace. I like to recommend staying in Belek, in the event you’re seeking to social gathering in Antalya.
Discover inns in Antalya
Day 7: Exploring Antalya en path to Dalyan
Our native guides took us to some shock stops on the drive from Antalya to Dalyan. I am so glad we had their insider information, as a result of these are locations we most likely would not have discovered ourselves.
We began out early within the morning and have been fortunate sufficient to go to the magnificent Düden Waterfalls whereas the park that the higher waterfall is positioned in was utterly empty.
It is a beautiful, tranquil place and can be the proper spot to munch on a picnic within the shade.
For those who go to Antalya, you’ll be able to’t miss this place. I’ve discovered a guided tour that may take you there, plus different must-see websites in Antalya.
As we crawled alongside the Turkish Mediterranean coast, which can be aptly often known as the Turquoise Coast, we handed paradise-like sandy coves.
Drained and in dire want of a lift throughout our lengthy journey, we have been happy to occur upon Kaputaş Seashore, a small seashore between Kaş and Kalkan.
The proper place to spend a number of hours exterior of the automobile on a protracted, scorching afternoon!
There was another unscheduled cease on our self-drive Turkey tour once we acquired to Muğla: a fast dip at Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon in Fethiye.
It is a common spot for paragliding.
Discover inns & excursions in Oludeniz
Days 8 to 10: Dreamy Dalyan
Lastly, we poured again into the automobile for the drive from Ölüdeniz to Dalyan, which takes round 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Dalyan was the best place to sit back after a reasonably hectic Turkey journey!
It is a quiet city on the river, with a a lot slower tempo and barely older crowd than Marmaris attracts.
We selected it as a result of my mum and her husband have holidayed there a number of occasions and it’s extremely near Dalaman Airport, which made the journey dwelling to the UK that little bit faster.
Throughout our keep in Dalyan, we rented a beautiful condominium in a fancy referred to as Manuela Residences. Every of their 4 residences sleeps six and we principally had the shared swimming pool to ourselves.
I am already planning one other journey to Dalyan and I hope to remain at this condominium once more.
Discover inns & excursions in Dalyan
Take a look at my information to what to do in Dalyan in the event you’re planning a visit!
Our 5 day Turkey highway journey route
Planning to drive round Turkey? This is a have a look at the route we used.
I did not really do any of the driving myself (I am nonetheless not very assured behind the wheel so driving on the best would have been too daunting), however I discovered the roads on our journey to be very effectively maintained and surprisingly quiet.
When is the perfect time to go to Turkey?
The summer season season is the busiest time to go to Turkey on vacation, and we intentionally prevented the summer season months as a result of we did not need to cope with crowds and searing warmth throughout our highway journey.
We did this journey in October, and I believe it is the perfect month to journey in Turkey.
Cappadocia particularly was lots much less crowded than I feared it could be and we nonetheless had blazing sunshine – it was just a bit cooler after darkish in Cappadocia.
Sometimes, visiting Turkey in Spring or Autumn is the easiest way to beat the crowds and nonetheless get pleasure from good climate.
What’s the easiest way to journey round Turkey if in case you have 10 days?
We rented a automobile in Marmaris for our ten days in Turkey. Our native drivers did the final leg from Dalyan again to Marmaris by themselves. For those who decide up from the airport, that might clear up this drawback!
Test automobile rent costs for Turkey right here
The liberty having our personal automobile gave us actually made this journey what it was.
We handed tour buses at a few of the predominant vacationer points of interest and felt relieved we weren’t on one!
I’ve heard that at Pamukkale particularly, excursions are very rushed and you do not get a lot time to benefit from the place.
Whereas we have been in Marmaris, we used the native buses to get round. They’re low-cost and also you simply pay the motive force earlier than you get off at your vacation spot.
What number of days ought to I spend in Turkey?
For this journey, ten days in Turkey felt sufficient, however I’d have positively favored to have spent extra time in Cappadocia and maybe just a little time in Konya – it isn’t tremendous touristy however I believe it could have been an attention-grabbing place to discover.
If you are going to proceed on to Istanbul after Cappadocia, I might suggest extending your keep in Turkey to 2 weeks no less than.
The journey could be very lengthy and whereas I’ve but to go to Istanbul myself, I do know the town requires no less than three days.
Easy methods to get to Marmaris
I flew direct from Newcastle to Dalaman Airport with Jet2. In an effort to get the bottom doable value for my flights, I at all times use Skyscanner’s value alert operate to ebook when the worth drops.
I booked a shuttle from Dalaman Airport to Marmaris. The drive takes about two hours they usually normally cease for a break midway by.
After all, the shuttle stops at numerous inns so if you would like a faster switch from Dalaman airport to your lodge, it is best to ebook a personal switch.
Helpful journey recommendation for Turkey
Travellers in Turkey want to hold their ID and visa with them always, however this rule is just actually enforced exterior of vacationer resorts.
We have been requested for ours as soon as, at a police checkpoint close to Konya.
Journey insurance coverage is important for visiting Turkey as medical care is pricey there.
My brother needed to get an X-ray in Marmaris about 10 years in the past and even then, it was extortionate!
Travellers all around the world use World Nomads as they provide the perfect stage of safety. Use the field beneath to get a quote in your Turkey journey.
For those who’re travelling round Turkey, studying a number of phrases of Turkish will go a great distance, particularly in eating places or in the event you’re pulled over by the police (we have been as soon as, however we drove by many police checkpoints).
Locals respect vacationers who make an effort.
Arm your self with a Turkish phrase ebook and begin making native mates.
The Lonely Planet Turkey information is sure to turn out to be useful too!
Our ten day Turkey tour is a visit I will always remember. I had been to Marmaris a handful of occasions in my early teenagers so it was good to return and really see a few of the nation as an grownup.
I hope you have discovered my Turkey tour itinerary useful, however please do not hesitate to shoot me a message if in case you have any questions. I will do my finest to reply them, or I will hit up mum’s husband and get his native enter!
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