As soon as I got off the bus on a warm autumn evening, the mixed scent of grass and sea air hit my face; I still remember it. I went with my family, especially with my aging parents, and while paying for the tour, I was mostly wondering, "will we get our money's worth?" The so-called luxury vehicle was indeed comfortable, the space between the seats wasn't bad, but on the return trip, it felt a bit crowded, that's all. A one-night hotel stay was quite sufficient; the open buffet breakfast with olives, homemade jam, and hot pastries eased our minds. The inclusion of dinner in the price made budget planning easier with no unexpected extra expenses. The guide’s small anecdotes about the region and his straightforward explanations about where and how to collect the herbs made the tour more meaningful. We had made our calculations from the start since we knew that lunches and drinks were not included, so we didn’t experience any disappointment in that regard either. Overall, I think the balance of comfort, guidance, and the places visited for the price we paid makes it a sound choice, especially for those looking for a calm and organized program with family.
Alaçatı Herb Festival Tour / 1 Night Hotel Accommodation / Departure from Kocaeli
Izmir - Cesme - Alacati - Virgin Mary - Ephesus Ancient City - Sirince - Kocaeli
Day 1
- Night Journey
- 22:00 Yenibosna Airport Avm Parking Lot
- 22:30 Mecidiyeköy Torun Center Front
- 23:00 Kadıköy Marriage Office Front
- 23:10 Under Bostancı Bridge
- 23:20 Under Kartal Bridge
- 23:30 Under Pendik Bridge
- 23:40 In front of Çayırova McDonald's
- 23:50 In front of Gebze Center
- After picking up our esteemed guests from the designated points, we start our night journey with DGN Travel for the Alaçatı Herb Festival Tour.
Day 2
- Izmir – Çeşme – Alaçatı
- After our night journey, we take a breakfast break in Çiçekliköy with DGN Travel and then head to Çeşme. Our first stop in Çeşme will be Çeşme Castle, one of the most important castles in Western Anatolia, where we can see the architectural styles of the Genoese and Ottoman together. After receiving information from our guide about Çeşme Castle, we begin to explore the castle. After completing our castle tour, we view the Caravanserai built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1528 panoramically. Then we provide free time in Çeşme.
- After our free time, we board our bus and move towards Alaçatı. According to a legend, 1001 varieties of herbs are grown in Alaçatı, but no one can collect them alone. To solve the mystery of this legend, we participate in the Alaçatı Herb Festival organized by the Alaçatı Art and Culture Association in collaboration with Çeşme Municipality.
- The Alaçatı Herb Festival is organized to introduce the richness of Alaçatı’s magnificent nature, the variety of herbs, and to prevent traditional dishes made with these herbs from disappearing. Local herbs from Alaçatı are collected to create delicious dishes during the festival. Each year, there is a main theme herb that will be cooked. During the festival, dishes made from the herb of the year are competed. We will have the opportunity to taste dishes prepared by well-known gourmets and competitors participating in the festival, as well as dishes served at stands provided by the Festival Committee for a fee, while walking through the colorful streets that intersect with the Ottoman and Rum architecture on the narrow cobblestone paths of Alaçatı.
- In the evening, we meet at the time set by our guide. After our gathering, we head to our hotel. Dinner and accommodation will be at our hotel.
- Breakfast: Will be taken in Çiçekliköy. (Extra)
- Lunch:Will be taken as free time. (Extra)
- Dinner:Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Accommodation:Accommodation at selected hotels.
Day 3
- Virgin Mary – Ephesus Ancient City – Şirince – Istanbul
- On the last day of the Alaçatı Herb Festival Tour with DGN Travel, we depart for Selçuk after having breakfast at our hotel to visit the House of the Virgin Mary. We complete our visit by praying at the church located in the area believed to be where Mary lived for a period. After leaving the House of the Virgin Mary, we start our tour of Ephesus Ancient City, one of the most famous ancient cities in the world, entirely made of marble and from ancient times.
- We explore the Ephesus ruins, Agora, Ancient Theater, Terrace Houses, Odeon, Herakles Gate, Trajan Fountain, and Celsus Library with the guidance of our tour guide. After completing our visits, we take a break for lunch. After our lunch break, we head towards Şirince.
- Our journey continues among the olive groves until we arrive in Şirince, a charming Greek village, formerly known as "Çirkince." We visit the Wine House/Wine Museum, which holds some of the finest wines in the region. We then have free time to take beautiful photos and shop in the village. We explore the charming houses, streets, and people of Şirince Village, and then we start our return journey to Istanbul. We bid farewell to our guests by dropping them off at the points where we picked them up for our next DGN Travel event.
- Breakfast : Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour fee.
- Lunch : Will be taken as free time. (Extra)
- Dinner : Will be taken at a rest area along the route. (Extra)
- Accommodation : This is the return day. There is no hotel accommodation tonight.
What's Included
Not Included
• Breakfast on the first day as specified in the program
• Dinner on the last day as specified in the program
• Beverages taken during all meals
• Lunches
• All extra organizations specified
• Personal expenses
• Entrance fees for Museums and Historical Sites (valid for municipal and private enterprises)
• Museum Card (valid for museums affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism)
Comments
5 CommentsAs soon as I got off the bus in the cold evening air, the smell of fresh herbs and earth hit me; it felt like spring despite the winter. I came with a close friend, and it was very enjoyable to watch the sea and olive groves from the window along the way, especially at sunset when the glass fogged up; the view was fantastic. The open buffet breakfast at the hotel was better than we expected, and the dinner was quite filling. The guide's humorous narration made us forget the long journey, although the return trip took longer due to a few extra breaks, but overall it was definitely worth it for the scenery, weather, and atmosphere.
Great. We were looking for a comfortable program for my family, especially for my mom and dad, during the July heat, and this tour met our expectations. Since transportation with a luxury vehicle and the open buffet breakfast at the hotel were included in the price, we felt the money we spent was more worthwhile. Having the dinner included at the hotel as well was really relaxing, as we could sit down at the table without searching for extra options after wandering around the streets of Alaçatı all day. The guide calmly explained the story of the herb festival and what each herb in the area is used for, which especially pleased the elder members of the family. The only downside was the slight waiting during the process of getting off the vehicle and gathering again at some nearby tours, but we didn't mind much in the coolness of the summer evening. Overall, the convenience of having transportation, accommodation, and excursions bundled together makes budgeting very easy, especially for a summer trip with family.
The moment that stayed most in my mind was when I was walking among the herb stalls in the streets of Alaçatı, while the guide explained one by one where each herb was used. Walking under the summer sun with a large group was sometimes tiring, especially during the midday hours, but we recovered with short breaks. The open buffet breakfast at the hotel was quite sufficient, and the options for dinner weren't bad either. The vehicle provided for transportation was clean and the driver was careful. The guide's mastery of the region and good organization of the surrounding tours in the festival area made the trip enjoyable.
The journey was very pleasant with a light scent of oregano on the bus, the warm summer breeze coming through the window, and the guide's enjoyable narration. The vehicle was a bit crowded but comfortable and air-conditioned. The hotel's open buffet breakfast also made for a wonderful start to the day.
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