turkey - jan/feb

turkey.textile

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul
- Transfer to the hotel
- Afternoon cruise along the Bosphorus
- Egyptian/Spice Market
Overnight : Istanbul

Day 2: Istanbul
- Byzantine Hippodrome
- Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar
Overnight : Istanbul

Day 3: Istanbul – Ankara – Cappadocia
- Istanbul to Ankara
- Anatolian Civilisations Museum
- Mausoleum of Ataturk
- Ankara to Cappadocia
Overnight : Cappadocia

Day 4: Cappadocia
- Local sightseeing : Goreme Open-Air Museum, Caves in Byzantine frescoes
- Kaymakli Underground City
- Natural citadel of Uchisar
Overnight : Cappadocia

Day 5: Cappadocia – Konya – Pamukkale
- Cappadocia to Konya (13th century Selcuk caravanserai “Sultanhan” enroute)
- Mausoleum of Mevlana
- Konya to Pamukkale
- Cotton fortress
Overnight : Pamukkale

Day 6: Pamukkale – Aphrodisias – Kusadasi
- Ruins of ancient Hierapolis
- Pamukkale to Kusadasi (visit Aphrodisias)
Overnight : Kusadasi

Day 7: Kusadasi
- Ruins of Ephesus
- The temple of Artemis
- St. John Church
Overnight : Kusadasi

Day 8: Kusadasi – Pergamon – Troy – Canakkale
- Visit Pergamon
- Kusadasi to Troy
Overnight : Canakkale

Day 9: Canakkale – Istanbul
- Canakkale to Istanbul (Dardanelles Strait)
Overnight : Istanbul

Day 10: Istanbul
- Ferry to Princess Islands
- More local sightseeing?
Overnight : Istanbul

Day 11: Istanbul – India
- Last few hours to spend in Istanbul
- Head back home in the evening

what is the best way to travel around the country? bus? train? by air?

Bus is pretty awesome. i don't belive trains are that good.

I'd say skip ankara completely. You don't want to go to mausoleums during your honeymoon. It's middle of turkey but otherwise no good.
I'd say skip troy and stuff there is nothing other than a mud wall to see in the name of for.
I'd say spend a lot more time in Istanbul you;d love it. Taksim square is the heart of the city and
you'd love to hangout at the bars and coffeshops and discos there. I spent a whole week there.And i still had not gone to interesting places

I'd say add Van(basically east turkey) to your iternary. the best baglava's i've had very picturesque and less touristy.
But van also had a recent earthquake...

In cappadocia do the hot air balloon... There is no better place to do balooning than cappadocia. I went cycling in cappadocia...
too much fun.
https://picasaweb.google.com/109424555593620921607/Cappadocia#5472500259582289394

Stay at kose pansion if you can... i need to return a book to the lovely owner.
They have a very pretty dog called spotty, i used to take him on the long walks in the valley.
https://picasaweb.google.com/109424555593620921607/Cappadocia#5473993647741536562

Pamukalle is pretty, kusadasi is good. I'd say add anatalya + anatakya to your schedule. Nice beaches.
You should be on the beaches there. not doing archeological survey.

good points, duly noted.

which area would you recommend for staying in istanbul? i am thinking of pitching in istanbul for the duration of the trip (9-10 days), and taking 2-3 day trips on the days we are not exploring istanbul. that a bad idea?

you might want to see this -> http://www.kosepension.com/en/p/27/spotty.html