Signed up for 13 day Best of Turkey after having to cancel the past 5 years.
Are any boat trips included in the tour? We didn’t see any.
We are wondering how the 3 days in Mustafapasa are spent. It seems like a long way from Cappadocia. Is there much to do in Mustafapasa for 3 nights?
How was Izmir at the end? We are not beach people. What else is there to do? Any boating?
Or sightseeing around Izmir before we head to the airport? Wish RS got us back to Istanbul as part of the tour.
Posted by
Massachusetts
1207 posts
In the "What's Included" section of the tour page, Bosphorus cruise is listed as an activity. https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/greece-turkey/turkey
To find out more about the tour, please check out the Tour Alum scrapbooks.
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/scrapbooks/tour-alum-scrapbooks
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2866 posts
There are quite a few questions about this tour in the forum - here's just one recent example that talks about post-tour options including how to get home from Izmir. You can also do a quick site search on "best of turkey tour" and get quite a bit of info https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/turkey/pre-post-best-of-turkey-tour-questions
You do a Bosphorus cruise with the group, it's lovely. If your tour details include it (read fine print), I also recommend taking the pre-tour foodie tour (offered the day prior to your official tour start date) that also includes ferry ride to the Asia side of Istanbul.
The tour stays in Mustafapaşa which is small, but you're off doing things during the day and really don't have much time to do things in the small town other than one night a free dinner I believe. Definitely splurge for the balloon ride - one of the best things I have ever done.
I will note that your tour guide may divert from the printed itinerary to address crowds or schedules of venues. You'll get everything promised on the itinerary but it might not be in the same order.
Posted by
Minnesota
592 posts
I went on this tour in October 2023. It was a fabulous tour!
We had lots of group activities that filled the time while in Mustafapaşa. I don’t remember being bored! The balloon ride was spectacular - worth getting up really early LOL.
The day in Antalya is a “vacation from your vacation” day, in other words, a free day. Our guide arranged an optional trip on a private boat for those who were interested. Besides sightseeing along the coast, we were able to swim off the side of the boat. Fun! You could ask your tour guide about setting up something like that.
Most of our group simply flew out of Izmir, but a few stayed there a night or two to sightsee. There were also some people who took ferries to various destinations.
The tour does not spend enough time in Istanbul, so adding time there before and/or after the tour is a good idea.
Have a wonderful time!