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Certainly one of my favorite adventures so far is an epic 10 day highway journey via Turkey that was full of bucket listing 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 all the way down to the south of the nation.
As we carved our means via 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, large swathes of land affected by 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 stunning.
This journey gave me so many unimaginable reminiscences. I’m glad that having unintentionally let ten years go 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 sights like Pamukkale, Cappadocia and the Düden Waterfalls in Antalya.
We concluded our journey with just a few 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 assumed 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, desires to see one of the best bits in lower than two weeks.
My journey itinerary for 10 days in Turkey
Watch my full-length Cappadocia video on Youtube
You’ll be able to 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 may have extra time to play with, I’ve talked about one of the best locations to go in Turkey the place you would possibly like to increase your keep, and the way lengthy to spend in every place.
In fact, for those who’re simply planning a seashore getaway and dashing across the nation appears a bit too strenuous for you, you may nonetheless see a few of these Turkish locations throughout your vacation.
The stops on this Turkey journey itinerary embody a few of the greatest 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 received a great deal of insider tricks to share.
Days 1 – 3: Enjoyable for 3 days in Marmaris (with a cultural day journey if you need it)
Earlier than we set off on our highway journey via Turkey, we spent a while unwinding in Marmaris.
Should you’ve received ten days in Turkey, a brief seaside vacation right here is an effective way to begin your journey.
Positioned 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 just a few occasions, and a time out on the ocean is at all times the spotlight of my keep.
You’ll be able to e-book your boat journey prematurely and look ahead to a terrific day on the water with limitless drinks and a BBQ lunch.
I positively advocate having fun with just a few 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 bathtub or spend a day at Atlantis Water Park.
Should you’d prefer to pursue tradition throughout your keep in Marmaris, e-book a day journey to the Historic 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 resorts, a few of the greatest being Inexperienced Nature Diamond and Hawaii Lodge.
It’s low-cost sufficient to eat out in Marmaris, so I’d recommend 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, bounce on a bus to İçmeler seashore and spend the day there to your sea and sand repair.
Let me know if you need a separate put up on stuff to do in Marmaris!
Discover resorts in Marmaris
Day 4: Hitting the highway – Marmaris to Pamukkale
The drive from Marmaris to Pamukkale takes round three hours. Should you’re occurring a highway journey from Marmaris, you would possibly as properly cease right here!
Pamukkale, actually “Cotton Fortress” in Turkish, is probably the most visited attraction in Turkey due to its Instagram-worthy snow white calcite travertine terraces full of thermal water.
The traditional spa metropolis is an interesting place to discover, so it’s price spending a little bit of time right here to be sure you see the whole lot.
Pamukkale is wonderful, but it surely will get very busy so it’s greatest to do your analysis earlier than you go as a way to take pleasure in it absolutely.
For a really unforgettable expertise in Pamukkale, e-book a scorching air balloon trip over its glowing white panorama.
Discover resorts for Pamukkale
As soon as we had drank in the whole lot we might at Pamukkale, we hopped again within the automobile and started the 5 hour drive to Konya, the place we stopped for the night time.
We stayed at a unbelievable resort known as Gherdan Gold Lodge.
It has a spa with a hammam, the rooms are very comfy and the breakfast buffet provides numerous 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 possibly can spend a day in Konya earlier than persevering with in your journey in the direction of Cappadocia.
Konya is a really spiritual metropolis and among the many high sights there are Mevlana Muzesi, which is the mosque the place the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic is situated.
You’ll be able to see the whirling dervishes there in the summertime months.
Discover resorts 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 plenty of sightseeing otherwise you simply need to see the enduring scorching air balloons, Göreme is one of the best space to remain in Cappadocia.
We have been in Cappadocia for simply 24 hours and managed to squeeze so much in to that point.
Fortunately, the new air balloons flew the morning we have been there – which was further 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 Lodge, which I would 100% advocate for those who’re uncertain the place to remain in Cappadocia. The placement was excellent.
When you have a bigger finances, strive Sultan Cave Suites for some severe photograph alternatives (it is the resort the place these attractive breakfast photographs throughout Instagram are taken).
Outdoors of Göreme, Museum Lodge in Uçhisar has a swimming pool overlooking the valleys.
For extra details about visiting Cappadocia, you may have to learn my devoted weblog put up as a result of this magical vacation spot warrants an area of its personal.
Discover resorts 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 space 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 night time 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 take pleasure in 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 attractive resorts, together with Liberty and Asteria Kremlin Palace. I like to recommend staying in Belek, for those who’re seeking to occasion in Antalya.
Discover resorts in Antalya
Day 7: Exploring Antalya en path to Dalyan
Our native guides took us to a couple 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 situated in was utterly empty.
This can be a attractive, tranquil place and can be the right spot to munch on a picnic within the shade.
Should you go to Antalya, you may’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 also be aptly often called 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 just a few hours exterior of the automobile on an extended, scorching afternoon!
There was yet another unscheduled cease on our self-drive Turkey tour after we received to Muğla: a fast dip at Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon in Fethiye.
This can be a fashionable spot for paragliding.
Discover resorts & 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 somewhat 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 just a few occasions and it’s totally 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 known as Manuela Flats. Every of their 4 flats 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 resorts & excursions in Dalyan
Try my information to what to do in Dalyan for those who’re planning a visit!
Our 5 day Turkey highway journey route
Planning to drive round Turkey? Here is a take 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 fitting would have been too daunting), however I discovered the roads on our journey to be very properly maintained and surprisingly quiet.
When is one of the best 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 deal with crowds and searing warmth throughout our highway journey.
We did this journey in October, and I believe it is one of the best month to journey in Turkey.
Cappadocia particularly was so much much less crowded than I feared it will be and we nonetheless had blazing sunshine – it was just a bit cooler after darkish in Cappadocia.
Usually, visiting Turkey in Spring or Autumn is the easiest way to beat the crowds and nonetheless take pleasure in 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. Should you choose up from the airport, that might remedy this downside!
Verify 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 fundamental vacationer sights and felt relieved we weren’t on one!
I’ve heard that at Pamukkale particularly, excursions are very rushed and you aren’t getting 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 enough, however I’d have positively favored to have spent extra time in Cappadocia and maybe a bit time in Konya – it is not tremendous touristy however I believe it will have been an fascinating place to discover.
If you are going to proceed on to Istanbul after Cappadocia, I would advocate extending your keep in Turkey to 2 weeks at the least.
The journey could be very lengthy and whereas I’ve but to go to Istanbul myself, I do know town requires at the least three days.
How one can get to Marmaris
I flew direct from Newcastle to Dalaman Airport with Jet2. To be able to get the bottom potential value for my flights, I at all times use Skyscanner’s value alert operate to e-book when the value drops.
I booked a shuttle from Dalaman Airport to Marmaris. The drive takes about two hours they usually normally cease for a break midway via.
In fact, the shuttle stops at varied resorts so if you need a faster switch from Dalaman airport to your resort, it is best to e-book 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 crucial for visiting Turkey as medical care is dear there.
My brother needed to get an X-ray in Marmaris about 10 years in the past and even then, it was extortionate!
Travellers everywhere in the world use World Nomads as they provide one of the best stage of safety. Use the field under to get a quote to your Turkey journey.
Should you’re travelling round Turkey, studying just a few phrases of Turkish will go a good distance, particularly in eating places or for those who’re pulled over by the police (we have been as soon as, however we drove via many police checkpoints).
Locals respect vacationers who make an effort.
Arm your self with a Turkish phrase e-book and begin making native pals.
The Lonely Planet Turkey information is sure to come in useful too!
Our ten day Turkey tour is a visit I am going to always remember. I had been to Marmaris a handful of occasions in my early teenagers so it was good to return and truly 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 am going to do my greatest to reply them, or I am going to hit up mum’s husband and get his native enter!
I am making a journey vlog about this Turkey journey, so subscribe to my Youtube channel to make sure you do not miss it.
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