Mira Chugh's 9-Day Memorable Turkey Trip with Thrillophilia
Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKDX6ZQPNZ9
Rating: ★★★★★
Travellers: Mira Chugh & Her Husband
Trip Duration: 9 Days | 8 Nights
Date of Travel: 15 Oct 2022 to 23 Oct 2022
Package Booked: Turkey Trip for 8N 9D
Mira Chugh and her husband spent nine days across Antalya, Cappadocia, and Istanbul in October 2022, covering three very different parts of Turkey in one well-structured trip. "It was overall a great experience, and we look forward to travelling with your team in future," Mira said in her review. Short and clear, and coming from someone who also noted the specific things that worked well, it covers the important parts.
The Trip Started in Antalya
They arrived at Istanbul airport and flew straight to Antalya, checking into Sherwood Lara, a five-star all-inclusive resort on the Mediterranean coast, for the first three nights. Starting a Turkey trip at a five-star all-inclusive on the Turkish Riviera is a very comfortable way to begin, and the first evening was for settling in and getting a feel for the resort before the sightseeing started.
Day two was the full-day Pamukkale and Hierapolis tour with lunch. Pamukkale is about a three-hour drive from Antalya and worth every minute of it. The white calcium terraces stepping down the hillside with warm water pooling in each level, and the ancient city of Hierapolis sitting above with its theatre and necropolis, make for a day that covers both natural wonder and ancient history in one sweep. For a couple visiting Turkey for the first time, Pamukkale tends to be one of the most talked-about days of the trip.
Day three was the full day Antalya Old City and Waterfall Tour with lunch, covering the Roman harbour, the old town Kaleici with its narrow streets and Ottoman-era houses, and the Duden Waterfalls where the river drops into the Mediterranean below. The transfer to Antalya Airport for the flight to Kayseri came in the afternoon, bringing them into Cappadocia that evening.
Then Came the Beautiful Cappadocia
They checked into Harman Caves, a four-star cave hotel, for two nights in Cappadocia. Day four was a leisure day, which in Cappadocia is never really a wasted day. The landscape around the hotel, the fairy chimneys visible from every direction, and the option of wandering through the valleys on foot or by horse made it a genuinely enjoyable free day.
Day five was the full day Cappadocia South Tour with lunch, covering Rose Valley, Kaymakli Underground City, and Pigeon Valley. Kaymakli is the underground city carved multiple levels deep into the volcanic rock, used by early Christians as shelter and large enough to have housed thousands of people. Walking through its narrow tunnels and low-ceilinged rooms with stables, storage areas, and churches all underground is an experience that stays with you.
The Last Three Days in Istanbul
The flight from Kayseri to Istanbul on day six brought them into the city in the evening, and a Bosphorus Cruise with dinner and soft drinks was arranged for the same evening. A private cruise on the Bosphorus at night, the city's bridges and minarets lit up on both sides of the water, is one of the best possible introductions to Istanbul.
Day seven was a leisure day in the city, which gave them time to explore at their own pace. Istanbul rewards unstructured time, the Grand Bazaar, the street food around Eminonu, the ferry crossing to the Asian side, none of these need a guide or a schedule.
Day eight was the full-day Istanbul Ottoman Relics and Byzantium Tour with lunch, covering Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Square, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern. Eight and a half hours of guided sightseeing through the layers of Byzantine and Ottoman history that Istanbul holds in such close proximity to each other. Day nine was the transfer to the airport and the flight home.
How did Thrillophilia Make the Experience Better
Mira's review covered the practical specifics that matter most on a trip like this. "All airport transfers were on time with good vehicles. All the tours were covered and of good value for money. Staff were understanding, supportive, and efficient. All the recommended hotels were excellent locations."
Each of those lines covers something specific. On-time transfers across a nine-day itinerary that involved three domestic flights and multiple inter-city transfers is a logistics achievement. Tours covered as per the itinerary means nothing was dropped or substituted without notice. Hotels in excellent locations across three cities meant the couple had the option to step out and explore independently in the evenings, which in a city like Istanbul makes a significant difference to how much you actually see.
The hotel choices across the three destinations were well matched to the trip's character. Sherwood Lara's all-inclusive setup in Antalya meant the resort days were genuinely restful. Harman Caves in Cappadocia put them inside the landscape rather than just near it. Avantgarde Taksim in Istanbul placed them in the heart of the city with Taksim Square and Istiklal Street right outside.
"We look forward to travelling with your team in future," Mira said.
Also Read: Dr. Sandeep's 7-Day Turkey Holiday With Thrillophilia
