Antalya – Cappadocia: Balloons, Mediterranean Sea and Ancient Turkey Motorcycle Tour

Book the tour - 13 Oct - 26 Oct 2024

• Tour dates 2024: 13-26 October
• Duration: 14 days
• Total mileage: 2750 km
• Tour level: Intermediate 
• Road description: 100% asphalt
• Price with Honda NC 750, Yamaha Tracer – 3850 Euro
• Price with Honda Africa Twin, BMW F800GS – 4250 Euro
• Price with BMW R1250GS – 4550 Euro
• Price with own bike 2250 Euro
• Extra price for the passenger: 1500 Euro
• Extra price for single occupancy: 800 Euro
• Deposit for the motorcycle 500 Euro

The price includes:

• Accommodation in 4-5 * hotels (double occupancy)
• Breakfasts
• Leading guide on a motorcycle
• Support vehicle
• Petrol 
• Excursions
• Technical support
• Welcome dinner
• Transfers

The price does not include:

• Lunches and dinners
• Air tickets to/from Turkey

Route: Antalya – Konya – Cappadocia – Mersin – Alanya – Kash – Fethiye – Datcha – Selcuk – Pamukkale – Antalya

Day 1. Antalya, arrival

Arrival, transfer to the hotel, briefing and signing all necessary documents, receiving motorcycles. Then we have a dinner.

Day 2. Antalya – Konya, 270 km

Today we ride to one of the oldest cities in Turkey – Konya. Before leaving the Mediterranean coast we’ll visit the Koprulu and Tazi canyons. In Konya we’ll see the Aziziye Mosque, built in the unique Ottoman Baroque style.

Konya has been known since Roman times, it was also the capital of the Seljuks for 300 years. Omar Khayyam lived here, but the main attraction of the city is the museum of the poet and philosopher Mevlana Rumi.

Day 3. Konya – Cappadocia, 240 km

From Konya we go to Cappadocia, a place with unique landscapes and unusual landscapes.

On the way we’ll pass along the foot of the Hasandag stratovolcano, which went extinct 8 thousand years ago. We’ll also visit two underground cities, once their population numbered a couple of tens of thousands of people. We’ll walk along narrow and winding corridors, see the local church, wells, kitchens and living areas, and try to learn a little about the life of the people who previously lived here.

Day 4. Cappadocia, rest day

Today we’ll devote the whole day to exploring Cappadocia. In the morning, those who want to fly in a hot air balloon (extra pay) will go to watch the sunrise from a bird's eye view, while others can admire hundreds of balloons in the sky with a cup of coffee from below. And then Goreme National Park awaits us - a cave city and the Valleys of Love.

Day 5. Cappadocia – Mersin, 320 km

We return to the Mediterranean coast. After having lunch along the way at the Kandilsirti pass, we’ll continue our trip towards the city of Tarsus, where we will make a stop at the largest mosque in the city. After resting and drinking a cup of Turkish tea, we’ill move to Mersin. In the evening we’ll have a walk along the embankment and, if desired, visit the naval museum.

Day 6. Mersin – Alanya, 360 km

Today our road lies along the coast to the city of Alanya. Along the way we’ll visit the caves and the Temple of Zeus, and after lunch we’ll ride to the Mamur Fortress in the southernmost city of Turkey, Anamur. The city is also called the banana capital. The fortress is located right on the seashore, so stunning views from its walls are guaranteed.

Day 7. Alanya – Kas, 360 km

Today we’ll visit the ancient city of Myra, here we will see the famous Lycian tombs, which are more than 2000 years old and a huge amphitheater built in the 4th century, and we’ll find out why it is called Greco-Roman.

Then we’ll reach the city of Kekova and go on a short boat trip to the flooded city to look at amphorae and jugs, stone stairs, destroyed streets, embankments, sunken columns, fragments of statues and the remains of buildings of the former great city. All this can be seen through the clean and transparent water of the Mediterranean Sea. We will stop for the night in the town of Kas.

Day 8. Kas – Fethiye, 200 km

In the morning we go to the Saklikent National Park, there is a beautiful canyon of the same name, about 1000 meters high, 18 km long. Saklikent Canyon is the second largest in Europe. A walk through the canyon will take about one hour.

In the afternoon we ride to the Mediterranean coast, stopping at the Valley of the Butterflies to take a beautiful and panoramic photo.

Then through the abandoned village of Kayakoy we’ll arrive in Fethiye. One of the most popular resorts in southwest Turkey. Fethiye has a large and beautiful marina, the city is considered an original English resort, regattas are often held here, and there is sunshine almost 300 days a year. By the way, today's Fethiye is located on the site of the ancient city of Telmess.

Day 9. Fethiye – Datca, 260 km

We continue our motorcycle trip around Turkey and go to Dalyan. In ancient times, Kaunos or Kavnos, an ancient city in Caria, was located here. Most of the city was located on the western bank of the Kalbis River, which served as the border between Caria and Lycia (in ancient times Lycia, Caria, and Lydia were nearby). The city is famous for its rock-cut tombs.

Next we will take a ferry across the river and ride secondary roads to Marmaris, where we’ll visit the fortress in the city center near the marina and have lunch. By evening we will arrive in Datca.

Day 10. Datca, rest day

Today we just relax by the sea, or if you wish, you can go to the ancient city of Knidos and visit the local winery.

Day 11. Datca – Seljuk, 330 km

Today we have two options for the road in the morning - a ferry towards Bodrum (in case of open navigation), where we will have a short walk. Or we will take secondary roads along the sea to the town of Akyaka, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch we’ll ride to Kusadasi to visit the pirate fortress on Bird Island.

Then we will continue our trip to Selcuk, where the main attraction of this region is located - the metropolis of Ephesus. Today's Selchuk is the seventh reincarnation of Ephesus, and there is also an ancient city, the third reincarnation of Ephesus, we will tell you more about each. So you don't get confused Selcuk = Ephesus.

Ephesus was once home to 300,000 people and was, and still is, home to the largest theater and library of antiquity. Influential in ancient times, the city remembers many great emperors, scientists, and philosophers.

Day 12. Seljuk – Pamukkale, 200 km

In the morning we have a walking tour with a guide around the ancient city and look at the excavations.

At noon we leave towards the town of Aydin; along the way we can stop by Sirinj - an interesting wine village.

We will spend the night in Pamukkale. This place was once called Hierapolis, the city was part of Phrygia (there was such a kingdom in Anatolia in ancient times). In the first century, being part of the Roman Empire, it became a popular resort due to its warm thermal springs and good climate. The city also played an important role in the spread of Christianity. The territory of the ancient city, which today is an open-air museum, is similar to Ephesus, even larger. It takes several hours to get around everything with a tour. The most interesting thing here is the largest necropolis in Turkey. Also on the territory of the museum is one of the largest Roman theaters for 12 thousand people, the temple of Apollo, the ruins of a pagan temple erected in honor of the god of the underworld of the dead, Pluto.

We will stay in a hotel with a spa and thermal springs.

Day 13. Pamukkale – Antalya, 250 km

Last driving day. SPA treatments in the morning and late check-out from the hotel. After everything that happened in the past days, the road to Antalya will be relatively calm.

On the way to Antalya, we can stop by the ancient city of Laodicea.

We arrive in Antalya and go to a farewell dinner, discuss the highlights of the trip, and share our impressions.

Day 14. Antalya, flight home