Alaçatı Folk Festival Tour - 2-Night Hotel Stay
8 April 2027 – 12 April 2027
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4 Nights, 2 Days
Tour Departures
Alaçatı Folk Festival Tour 2-Night Hotel Stay
Departure
08 Apr, Thu
Return
12 Apr, Mon
Duration
5 Days
Tour details
🌿 Are you ready to experience the spring scent of the Aegean, the colorful streets of Alaçatı, and the festival spirit with a longer exploration?
With the arrival of spring, Alaçatı’s unique herbs, local flavors, and stone streets come together with festival excitement. In our enjoyable tour departing from Istanbul, featuring 2 nights of hotel accommodation; after visiting Çeşme Castle and Çeşme, we will head to Alaçatı to fully immerse ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the Alaçatı Herb Festival, discovering local herbs and the exquisite flavors of Aegean cuisine.
Continuing our tour, you will witness the thousands of years of history at the Ancient City of Ephesus, visit the House of the Virgin Mary, and embark on a pleasant exploration through the peaceful streets of Şirince, enchanted by its stone houses. Thanks to the extended stay duration, you will have the opportunity to experience the culture, history, nature, and flavors of the Aegean region without rushing.
In this colorful Aegean journey stretching from the herb-scented streets of Alaçatı to the majestic history of Ephesus, let’s welcome spring together! 🌿🌸
What's included
2 nights accommodation in hotels
2 buffet breakfasts at the hotel
2 dinners (buffet or set menu) at the hotel
Transportation via luxury vehicles (vehicle provided based on number of passengers)
Sightseeing tours as specified in the program
Professional guide service
Bottled water in the vehicle
Guaranteed by itctur.com
Mandatory Travel Insurance according to Tourism Law No. 1618
Not included
Breakfast on the first day as specified in the program
Dinner on the last day as specified in the program
Beverages included with all meals
Lunches
Night Tours
Virgin Mary
All extra activities specified
All personal expenses
Museum and archaeological site entrance fees (applicable to municipalities and private operators)
Museum Card (applicable to museums under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism)
Need to Know
Things You Need to Know About This Tour
- Tour duration: Our tour departing from Istanbul lasts 3 nights and 4 days and includes 2 nights of hotel accommodation.
- Transportation: Round-trip transportation is provided by bus. The first night involves overnight travel.
- Departure points: Departures are made at scheduled times from İncirli, Mecidiyeköy, Kadıköy, Bostancı, Kartal, Pendik, Çayırova, and Gebze.
- First day breakfast: After the overnight journey, a breakfast stop is made in Çiçekliköy. Breakfast is not included in the tour price.
- Çeşme: Çeşme Castle is visited, Kervansaray is seen panoramically, and free time is given in Çeşme.
- Alaçatı Herb Festival: Free time is spent in the festival area in Alaçatı. Producer stalls, local herbs, herb-based dishes, and festival activities can be explored. Food, drinks, and personal shopping within the festival are subject to extra charges.
- Alaçatí streets: Since walking will take place on the cobblestone streets of Alaçatí during the festival, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
- Accommodation: Within the program, 2 nights are spent at the 4-star Anemon Hotels in Kuşadası. Dinner on the first evening and breakfasts on subsequent days are included in the tour price.
- House of the Virgin Mary: On the third day of the tour, the House of the Virgin Mary is visited.
- Ephesus Ancient City: With a guide, important sites such as Ephesus' Agora, Ancient Theatre, Hillside Houses, Odeon, Heracles Gate, Traianus Fountain, and the Library of Celsus are visited.
- Şirince: After the Ephesus tour, free time is given in Şirince. You can stroll through the village's historic streets and discover local products.
- Meals: The first breakfast in Çiçekliköy and the lunch on the first day are extra. Evening dinners and breakfasts at the hotel are included in the program.
- Walking: Walking will be done in the festival area, Alaçatí streets, Ephesus Ancient City, and Şirince. Therefore, it is recommended to use comfortable shoes with non-slip soles.
- Weather conditions: Weather may be variable during this spring tour. It would be beneficial to have layered clothing, a raincoat, or an umbrella.
- Free time: There is free time for shopping, dining, and personal exploration in Çeşme, the Alaçatí Herb Festival, and Şirince.
- Extra expenses: Meals not included in the tour price, personal expenses in the festival area, entrance fees to museums/ancient sites, and other personal costs are borne by the guests.
- Program changes: Due to weather, road, and regional conditions, the guide may make changes to the order or timing of the program.
What to Bring?
Items to Bring When Joining the Tour
- Comfortable and non-slip shoes: For walking on the cobblestone streets of Alaçatı and during hikes at the Ephesus Ancient City.
- Season-appropriate layered clothing: In spring months, you may prefer clothes of different thicknesses to adapt to variable weather conditions.
- Raincoat or small umbrella: It will be useful to keep one in your bag in case of sudden rain.
- Hat and sunglasses: Especially for outdoor tours in Ephesus and the festival area.
- Small backpack: To comfortably carry items you need throughout the day.
- Water bottle: To meet your hydration needs during long walks.
- Personal items for the night bus journey: Items such as a neck pillow, headphones, and a light blanket can make the journey more comfortable.
- Phone or camera: To immortalize beautiful moments from Alaçatı streets, the Ot Festival, Ephesus, and Şirince.
- Power bank: To charge your phone during the day.
- Personal medications and any personal care products you may need.
- Cash or card: For festival shopping, meals, and personal expenses.
Tour Program
Day 1 Night Journey
Vehicle Departure Points and Schedules
22:00 Incirli Metrobus Stop - In front of Nevada Cafe
22:30 Mecidiyekoy Square - In front of Nevada Cafe
23:00 Kadikoy Marriage Office Front
23:10 Bostanci Bridge Underpass
23:20 Kartal Bridge Underpass
23:30 Pendik Bridge Underpass
23:40 Cayirova McDonald's Front
23:50 Gebze Center Front
After picking up our valued guests at the designated points, we begin our night journey with itctur.com for the Nergis Festival and Hidden Villages of Aegean Tour.
Day 2 Izmir – Çeşme – Alaçatı - Ot Festival
After our night journey, we depart for Çeşme following the breakfast stop at Çiçekliköy for the Alaçatı Herb Festival Tour with itctur.com. Our first stop in Çeşme will be Çeşme Castle, one of the most important fortresses in Western Anatolia, where we can observe both Genoese and Ottoman architectural styles. After receiving information about Çeşme Castle from our guide, we begin exploring the castle. Upon completing our castle tour, we view the Caravanserai built by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent in 1528 panoramically. Then, we have free time in Çeşme. After our free time, we board our bus and head towards Alaçatı. According to a legend, 1001 types of herbs grow in Alaçatı, but no one has ever been able to collect them all alone. To unravel the secret of this legend, we participate in the Alaçatı Herb Festival, organized by the Çeşme Municipality under the auspices of the Alaçatı Art and Culture Association. The Alaçatı Herb Festival is held to showcase the richness of Alaçatı's magnificent nature, the diversity of its herbs, and to preserve traditional dishes cooked with these herbs. At the festival, herbs unique to Alaçatı are collected to prepare delicious meals. Each year, the festival features a different herb as its main theme. During the festival period, dishes made from the year's main theme herb are competed. In the colorful streets of Alaçatı, built on narrow cobblestone paths where Greek architecture blends with Ottoman style, we will join the enthusiastic crowd, visit producers' herb stalls, and watch the parade procession. During the festival, we will have the opportunity to taste dishes prepared by renowned gourmets, dishes made by participants competing in the festival, and meals served for a fee at booths provided by the Festival Committee. In the evening hours, we gather at the time specified by our guide. After our meeting, we proceed to our hotel. Dinner and overnight accommodation will be at our hotel.
Breakfast: Will be taken at Çiçekliköy. (Extra)
Lunch: Will be taken as free time. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Izmir Region Hotels
Day 3: Virgin Mary – Ephesus Ancient City – Şirince
On the last day of the Alaçatı Wine Festival Tour with itctur.com, we depart for Selçuk to visit the House of the Virgin Mary after enjoying our morning breakfast at our hotel. In the area believed to be where Hz. Mary once lived, we visit the church and offer our prayers. Afterwards, we leave the House of the Virgin Mary and begin our tour of Ephesus Ancient City, one of the world-famous ancient cities renowned for its magnificence and being entirely built of marble from antiquity. Guided by our tour guide, we explore the ruins of Ephesus Ancient City, including the Agora, Ancient Theatre, Hillside Houses, Odeon, Heracles Gate, Trajanus Fountain, and the Celsus Library. After completing these visits, we take a break for lunch. Following our lunch break, we head towards Şirince. Our journey through olive groves leads us to Şirince, a charming Greek village formerly known as "Çirkince." In Şirince, we visit the Wine House / Wine Museum, which offers some of the region's finest wines. Then, we are given free time to take beautiful photos around the village and go shopping. We complete our tour of Şirince Village, known for its adorable houses, streets, and friendly people, before returning to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay will be at our hotel.Guests who wish may join the Kuşadası Night Tour at the time determined by the tour guide.(EXTRA)
Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken as free time. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Izmir Region Hotels
Day 4 Seferihisar – Sığacık – Urla - Germiyan Village - Barbaros Village - Bademler Village - Alaçatı – Istanbul
On the 4th day of the Alaçatı Folk Festival Tour with itctur.com, we will depart from our hotel in the morning towards Seferihisar, which has been awarded Turkey's first "Sakin Şehir" (Slow City) title. We arrive at Sığacık, a coastal town in Seferihisar that won the prestigious Cittaslow Slow City title in 2009 and has served as a filming location for numerous series and films. We visit the Ottoman Fortress built by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman and admire the original houses within the Inner Fortress that have retained their authentic structure, strolling through its streets. We are given free time to shop at the producer market set up inside the fortress. Afterwards, we head to Urla Bademler Village, where Turkey's first village theater was established. This village is one of the most valuable in İzmir and even in all of Turkey. With its natural beauty, stone houses, and market area showcasing local products, it offers a unique atmosphere. After our village tour, we board our vehicle and proceed to Urla. In Urla, we visit the famous poet and writer Necati Cumalı House. Then, passing through Sanat Sokağı (Art Street), composed of historic Greek houses, we step into a different era. We then visit the Urlalı Kadın Üretici Pazarı (Urla Women Producers Market), where women from Urla have formed a cooperative to produce and sell their goods, giving us free time for shopping. Next, we go to Barbaros Village, the host of Turkey's first Oyuk Festival (Scarecrow Festival). Beyond the festival, the scarecrows have become permanent residents of the village, adding employment and charm. As we stroll through the village streets accompanied by these scarecrows, you won't be able to resist the creative thinking and unique character they bring to the streets. Leaving the scarecrows behind, we head to Germiyan Village, the only village in Turkey to join the Slow Food movement. In Germiyan Village, we are given free time to capture beautiful views along streets decorated with flower motifs. After our free time, we board our bus and begin our return journey. Having dropped off our valued guests at their respective points, we bid farewell to them, looking forward to meeting again at another itctur.com event.
Morning Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken in Urla. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken at a rest facility (Extra)
Accommodation: No accommodation tonight.