1 WEEK AROUND ADANA
DAY 1
TARSUS-MERSİN-NARLIKUYU
Tarsus, which is bigger than many Anatolian cities, is a district of Mersin. Tarsus, which has a history of 8000 years, was named after the city god Sandon. There were walls in Tarsus during the Byzantine period. The walls had 3 gates. Mountain Gate, Adana Gate and Sea Gate. The Egyptian İbrahim Pasha demolished the city walls in 1835. Only one gate remains. In fact, there are 13 queen Cleopatra in history, but the most known is VII. Cleopatra. At that time, the Mediterranean Sea reached Tarsus and Cleopatra's Gate was used as a Sea Gate. Those arriving by ship would enter Tarsus through this gate. If you come here, definitely visit Cleopatra Gate, which is one of the places to visit in Tarsus. Sahmeran Bath, Ulucami (Grand Mosque) and Tarsus Waterfall are also worth seeing.
DAY 2
CAPPADOCIA
We are having a breakfast at Yörük tables above Narlıkuyu by the sea and heading for Cappadocia. We are there in 3 hours. After Cappadocia, which emerged 60 million years ago when the soft layers formed by lava and ashes sprayed by Erciyes, Hasandağı and Göllüdağ were eroded by rain and wind for millions of years, we stop by Derinkuyu underground city and Ihlara valley. Then we visit the Göreme Open Air Museum. Our recommendation for accommodation is of course one of the charming cave pensions in Goreme.
DAY 3
POZANTI-KAPIKAYA-VARDA KÖPRÜSÜ
We are waking up before the first lights of the day arise. Because you need to see the magnificent Cappadocia from the air with a balloon. If you want, you can amuse yourself for a few more hours and stop by Avanos or attend wine tastings. Then our route is south! In two hours at noon, we have a feast of cutlets in Pozantı Şekerpınarı next to historical Akköprü. Instead of following the highway from here, we follow the road of Çakıt Valley, stop by Kapıkaya and the magnificent Varda Bridge. We are finally in Adana at night!
DAY 4
ANAVARZA KARATEPE ASLANTAŞ
We take a short break in Misis and Yılankale in the morning and reach Anavarza Wrecks at noon. In the afternoon, we visit Karatepe-Aslantaş National Park and Open Air Museum and Kastabala Ancient City. For the evening feast, you can choose one of the two famous cuisines in the south. Antakya or Gaziantep! Both are 90 minutes from our last visit point!
DAY 5
ANTAKYA OR GAZIANTEP
If you chose Antakya, you can visit the Archeology and Mosaic Museum, St. Pierre Church and the Grand Mosque (Ulucami). If you are in Gaziantep, Gaziantep Mosaic Museum, Bakırcılar Bazaar, and Zincirli Bedesten are among the places you can visit. If you have enough energy, you can go to Şanlıurfa and return to Adana the next day. However, we are in Adana in the afternoon. Because in the afternoon, we will have a fish break in Yumurtalık and go to Adana after that.
DAY 6
ADANA AND ORANGE BLOSSOM CARNIVAL
The big day has come. We take a tour around the lake in the morning, have our breakfast, and appreciate the unique combination of the lake and the river with the city. In the afternoon, it's time to go to the city center because the carnival enthusiasm should have already surrounded the city. In the afternoon, we attend the Carnival parade, enjoyed between various musical and cultural events in the city until late at night, and the delicious Adana cuisine.
DAY 7
ADANA AND KARATAŞ