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LUXURY EDITION

Explore The Aegean Coast

Bodrum to Istanbul

Starting in Bodrum and ending in Istanbul, this 8-day tour offers travelers with a mix of rarely visited sites and popular destinations on the coast like Ephesus, Pamukkale, Pergamon, and Troy. 

Best for: History-focused travelers, Diversity 
Driving style: Long distances across multiple regions
Overall feel: Culturally and historically immersive

Highlights


  • 6 Legendary UNESCO Sites 
  • Wide arrays of ruins from 6000 BC to the WW1 Memorials 
  • Hiking in the Latmos Mountains 
  • Scenic drives 
SEASON

March through November

Duration

8 Days, 7 Nights

MEALS

7 Breakfasts

Rental Car

Automatic SUV, unlimited milage

Distance

Approx 1460 km of total driving

AIRPORT

Arrival: Bodrum
Departure: Istanbul or Sabiha Gokcen

1 Person

2960

Per Person

2 Person

2030

Per Person

4 Person

1785

Per Person

Tour Details

8 day luxury driving trip starting in Bodrum and finishing at İstanbul, passing through 6 UNESCO heritage sites. Sceninc hikes, rural drives and charming villages provides a great perspective of the country. 

Itinerary

Day 1. Arrive in Bodrum.

Arriving in the Bodrum/Milas Airport, you’ll pick up your car and head to the city of Bodrum. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit some of the nearby sites, the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum, or the old streets of Bodrum.

Overnight at Mavilu Hotel, Bodrum

Driving Distance: 36 km

Day 2. DRIVE TO KARAHAYIT. HIKE KARAHAYIT – KAPIKIRI (9 KM)

Today is a journey into history, from Byzantine Period frescoes to Neolithic wall paintings, from Hellenistic city walls to Roman period ruins. Kapıkırı, is an authentic village full of traditional Aegean culture scattered among ancient ruins. Short drive to your rural accommodation.

Overnight in Kairos Farmhouse

Driving Distance: 90 km

Day 3. DRIVE TO SIRINCE. VISIT EPHESUS AND SURROUNDINGS.

A day in the Roman Capitol of Asia Minor, visiting the important sites around Ephesus, including St Jean Basilica, İsa Bey Mosque, the House of Virgin Mary, and the ruins of Ephesus themselves.

Overnight stay in Nisanyan Houses

Driving Distance: 125 km

Day 4. Drive to and visit Aphrodisias. Continue to Pamukkale.

First on today’s route is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aphrodisias, known for its spectacular marble sculptures and structures. Then you’ll continue on to Pamukkale, leaving you with enough time to explore the ancient city of Hierapolis and the famous travertines.

Overnight in Melrose Hotel, Pamukkale (upgraded room).

Driving Distance: 246 km

Day 5. Drive to Birgi. Visit Sardis. Continue to Pergamon.

First you’ll drive to and stroll around the village of Birgi, its quaint architecture and friendly locals a nice break from so many ancient sites. Next, visit the city of Sardis, capital of ancient Lydia, before carrying on to another UNESCO Heritage Site, the popular ruins of Pergamon.

Overnight at Attalos Suites, Bergama (upgraded room).

Driving Distance: 352 km

Day 6. Visit Pergamon. Drive to Adatepe and Yesilyurt. Continue to Assos.

Start the morning by visiting the hilltop ruins of Pergamon before driving to the villages of Adatepe and Yesilyurt, where you’ll visit an olive oil museum and wander through narrow streets, enjoying traditional stone architecture. The day ends as you drive to your hotel in Ahmetce Village.

Overnight in Momos Hotel, Ahmetce.

Driving Distance: 157 km

Day 7. Drive to Assos. Assos HIKE (6.5 km). VISIT Troy. Drive to Canakkale.

Today’s hike traverses the ruins of Assos, from the theater to the acropolis. Then an hour-long scenic village drive takes you to the legendary city of Troy. Before exploring the site, take a walk through the Troy Museum. The day finishes as you drive to Caeli winery and hotel at countryside Eceabat.

Driving Distance: 126 km

Day 8. Visit Gallipoli War Memorials. Continue to Istanbul.

First, you will take a morning ride on the ferry across the Dardanelles, then a 20 min drive will take you to the Gallipoli War Memorials. A usual tour around the Peninsula visits Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Conkbayırı. Then a long drive (approx 5-6 hrs) takes you to Istanbul.

Driving Distance: 330 km

Activity Level

What’s Included

  • 24 hr Concierge Level Support 
  • Car Rental Automatic transmission SUV with basic insurance 
  • Support Car with an English-speaking driver/mechanic.
  • Meals – 7 Breakfasts
  • Accommodation Upgraded rooms in boutique hotels.

Excluded

  • Entrance Fees 
  • Lunches and Dinners 
  • Drinks at hotels or restaurants 
  • Flight Tickets 
  • Travel Insurance 
  • Tips 

Extensions

This tour can easily be combined with our 4 day hiking tours like the Datça Peninsula or bike tour from Dalyan to Bodrum along the Carian Coast. 2-3 day guided or self guided tour, balancing sightseeing with activities in Istanbul would also be a nice addition. 

Equipment

Bikes: Orbea Kemen SUV 10 E-Bikes or Full Carbon Orbea Terra 1x gravel bikes with electronic shifting.  

Safety Equipment: POC helmets and gloves. Phone holders.

Tripbook: Detailed e-book outlining your tour program, with lots of pictures and relevant information.

GPS Coordinates: We provide a link to RideWithGPS app through which you can follow GPS coordinates

Hotels

We picked the best price and comfort level hotels for your trip, seeking not just luxury but also authenticity. 

  • Mavili Bodrum
  • Kairos Farmhouse 
  • Nisanyan Houses 
  • Melrose Hotel 
  • Attalos Suites 
  • Momos Hotel 
  • Caeli Hotel

Mavilu Hotel

Kairos Farmhouse

Nisanyan Houses

Melrose Hotel

Momos Hotel

Caeli Hotel

Good to Know

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a self-guided tour?

A self-guided tour provides holiday makers with the chance to escape the stress of booking hotels and planning a vacation without the need for a group tour or a guide. Think of all the ease of a standard tour, without the obligatory schedule that comes with traveling with a guided group. After prearranging our customers’ transfers and hotel reservations, we prepare a detailed digital tripbook full of historical facts, important phone numbers, and hiking or driving directions, and more to provide you with all the information you’ll need along the way. You will also receive a link to Wikiloc app (free to use for our customers) through which you can follow our GPS coordinates. We provide 24/7 phone support via WhatsApp, Skype or any other phone line. In addition to dropping you off at trailheads when necessary, one of our drivers will pick up your luggage and transfer it to your next hotel during you’re daily hikes or excursions. Since everything has been prearranged for you, and there’s no guide or group you have to keep up with, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your holiday at your own pace.

Is it possible to make changes to a program?

Absolutely! When feasible, we are always happy to tailor any program to suit your schedule and wishes. Whether you want to add a couple days, extend some hikes, combine multiple tours, or come up with your own program entirely, we’ll try our best to make sure your tour is perfectly suited to you.

What type of a car do you provide?

The cars that we rent for the tour are usually latest models of Renault, Hyundai or Dacia with manual transmission. Upon request, it could be possible to provide a automatic transmission car as well. 
For groups larger than 4, it is possible to rent a Ford Custom that has a maximum capacity of 8 people. 

Can I use my foreign license to drive in Turkey?

Yes, all foreigners are allowed to drive for six months in Turkey without a Turkish license.

When is the best time to travel to Turkey?

The Turkish coast is best visited outside the heat and crowds of July and August and the rains of January and February. While the best times to hike on the coast are March-May and Late September-Early December, our self-drive tours are also great options all through the summer. Cappadocia is best visited May- Mid November.

When is the best time to hike the Lycian Way?

The best time to hike the Lycian Way is either in Spring (March-May) or Autumn (Late September-Early December). There’s is only a small chance of rain during these two seasons and temperatures are cool enough to warrant an enjoyable hike. The months of January and February are quite rainy, and the summer months can get unbearably hot. The only hiking we can recommend during summer is 1-2 hour hikes in the early morning or evening, no full day hikes.

Are the tours available any time of the year?

Yes, our tours are available any time. Since our tours are self-guided, there are no set dates, you can choose any time that suits your schedule. During the off-season some of the hotels we usually work with may be closed, so the hotels you stay in may be different than those listed on our website.

What equipment do you provide?

We provide a link to Wikiloc app through which you can follow GPS coordinates, a detailed e-book outlining your tour program, with lots of pictures and relevant information, hyper-links for google maps locations etc. Participants are responsible for bringing their own hiking equipment such as boots, poles, hat, and backpack.