Days 6 and 7 – Taurus Mountains

Turkish culture is rich in the villages of the Taurus Mountains.  Your family will have a great time exploring this picturesque region.  You will also visit Sultanhan Caravanseri and the Museum of Rumi, hike the Grotto of the Golden Cradle, and watch a soccer game, a favorite pastime here in Turkey.

Days 8 and 9- Antalya

Where the Taurus Mountains recede from the shore, set high up on the cliffs, you’ll find the picturesque seaside town of Antalya.  You’ll stop at Koprulu Canyon National Park for some wonderful white-water rafting. 

The Koprulu River has crystal clear waters and towering canyon walls that reach up to 1,300 feet high.  These two days will also incorporate a hike to Termessos, and time to just relax and enjoy nature.

Days 10 to 13 – Yachting along the Mediterranean Coast

Over the next four days, you can take a yacht along the Turquoise Coast, dropping anchor at quiet coves, sheltered beaches and small harbor towns.

Your family will have many opportunities to swim, snorkel, hike, and explore.  There is fun for the whole family as you hike to a Crusader Castle and Roman Ruins, visit the Church of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus), and explore Gemiler Island and Kayakoy.

Days 14 and 15 – Istanbul

You can see the great dome for miles and miles; it has been rebuilt three times in 200 years and it is the last relic of Constantinople.

You will visit the Hagia Sophia museum, which remains Turkey’s most incredible landmark, and your family can explore this marble masterpiece inside and out.

Make sure you soak up the local markets and finish up any last minute shopping.

Day 16- Depart Istanbul, with loads of souvenirs and memories that will last a lifetime.

This once-in-a-lifetime vacation will be remembered for years to come.  Ensure that you have the proper documentation such as passports, Visas, before you go.  Also check to determine if you need any vaccinations for this trip depending on time of year and which part of the country you will be touring.

If you are planning a two-week vacation during the cooler months in the USA and want to head somewhere warm and interesting, there is no better family destination than Istanbul, Turkey.  Here is a sample itinerary you may like to consider.

Days 1, 2, 3- Arrive Istanbul, start your sightseeing

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, where your Turkey family vacation begins. Get accustomed to the hotel, heat and food, and begin touring the city.

You will get a chance to breathe in some of the flavorful culture at the famous Spice Market, where you can buy countless kinds of spices, seasonings, teas and candy, including the succulent rose-flavored or lemon-flavored Turkish Delight.  Also included are tours to The Blue Mosque, the Spice Market, and Topkapi Palace.  You can visit the great domed mosque now, or later in your trip when you return to Istanbul.

Days 4 and 5- Cappadocia

Located in a region that was once volcanic, Cappadocia is known for its exceptional rock formations and valleys.  As unusually beautiful as these are above ground, the limestone rock formations are even more impressive below the surface, as you and the family will discover when you climb down four stories into one of the largest underground cities ever built, known as Kaymakli.

In addition, the following are also highly recommended:  Hike the Valley of the Spears, visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, and see the Terracotta Pottery Workshop.

There are many guidebooks available for your trip to Istanbul, but the one that stands out the most as evidenced by ratings and reviews is the Knopf Guide: Istanbul.

Each page is a rich palette of several illustrations, most colored, scattered throughout the text. There are sketch maps, portraits of famous people, cutaway views of buildings, street scenes, and works of art, plus depictions of the money used, buses, telephone booths, wildlife, and virtually everything else that can be explained visually.

The Istanbul volume, for example, has sketches displaying Turkish body language. The text is t intelligent and informative, with practical information put at the end.

The indexing is excellent, and the bibliographies are thoughtfully chosen. All this is packaged in flexible covers and in a convenient carrying size.

Comments ranging from awesome to the most useful guide ever written are just some of the reviews made by customers who purchased this book at Amazon.

Its small size and wonderful insight makes it a must-read. When you take this book with you to Istanbul, here are some recommendations on its use:

* Skim through it and look for points of interest as well as other locations near by. This is great to do the night before or the morning of your excursion, so that you can plan your day.

* Since the best way to travel in Istanbul is by public transportation, take every opportunity to look at the maps and trace your route while traveling to your locations.

* Explore the locations using the approach from the guide.

* Once you have finished your day, you will find that it is wonderful to re-read the guide find out more about the locations you visited.

* After reviewing where you had been, pick your next locations for the following day.

This guidebook to Istanbul is the most detailed and well-illustrated of all guidebooks found on this country.

Especially interesting is the historical information on the Ottoman Empire.

Having this guidebook along will enhance your travel experience to Istanbul, and it is certainly worth the price!

Knopf Guide: Istanbul

At Amazon, you can purchase this guide used from $2.35 and up.