10-Day Highlights of Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya & Cappadocia

Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), at your preferred time, our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international arrivals area, holding a sign with our agency code for easy identification. After meeting with our team, you will be swiftly transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to relax or explore on your own. Overnight in Istanbul.

Alternatively, you may choose to join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus, which offers a delightful evening with dinner and live entertainment while cruising along the Bosphorus. Please note, this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast at your hotel around 8:30 am, you will be picked up to start your full-day tour exploring the iconic sites of Istanbul. Your first stop will be the magnificent Hagia Sophia, a former basilica and mosque that now serves as a museum, showcasing breathtaking Byzantine architecture and mosaics. Next, you’ll visit the stunning Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), renowned for its beautiful blue İznik tiles and six towering minarets. Then, you’ll explore the ancient Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square), the former social and sporting center of Constantinople, where chariot races and political events once took place.

Afterward, enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in the heart of the city. In the afternoon, your tour continues with a visit to the opulent Topkapi Palace, the former residence of Ottoman sultans. Here, you can explore its lavish courtyards, rooms filled with precious artifacts, and panoramic views of the Bosphorus.

Your final stop will be the bustling Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with over 4,000 shops offering everything from handmade carpets and jewelry to spices and souvenirs.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at approximately 4:00 pm. The rest of the day is free for you to spend at your leisure, perhaps exploring more of Istanbul on your own or relaxing. Overnight in Istanbul.

You will be picked up from your hotel around 4:00 am for your transfer to the airport to catch your early morning flight to Izmir. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to Selcuk, where you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day Ephesus tour.

First, explore the ruins of Ephesus, a magnificent ancient Greek city that once served as a prominent center of culture and commerce. Here, you’ll encounter the Temple of Hadrian, adorned with elaborate carvings in honor of Emperor Hadrian, and the impressive Great Theater, designed to hold up to 25,000 spectators for grand performances and public gatherings. You’ll also admire the Trajan Fountain, a striking structure dedicated to Emperor Trajan, with beautifully crafted statues and detailed architecture.

Around midday, you’ll take a break to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, where you can sample traditional Turkish cuisine and relax before continuing with the tour.

After lunch, continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, a peaceful pilgrimage site on Mount Koressos, where it is believed Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her final years. Next, pass by the remnants of the Temple of Artemis, once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Although only a few columns remain, its significance and historical impact are evident. Finally, visit the Isa Bey Mosque, a beautiful example of 14th-century Seljuk architecture, known for its elegant stonework and intricate calligraphy.

After the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Kusadasi at your leisure. Overnight in Kuşadası.

After breakfast around 7:30 am, you will be picked up from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk where the full group will first meet. You will then begin the Pamukkale tour with a drive from Selcuk starting at 8:30 am to Pamukkale, which will be around 3 hours. En route to Pamukkale, after 1.5 hours, there will be a 10-minute stop for a restroom break. Upon arrival around 11:45 am, the group will be first taken to have lunch, and after lunch, at around 1:00 pm, you will begin your guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area with a professional licensed tour guide.

In Pamukkale, you’ll have the opportunity to see the iconic Cotton Cliffs, a natural wonder created by the accumulation of mineral-rich calcareous deposits forming white travertine terraces. Following this, you’ll explore the ancient City of Hierapolis, where you’ll discover historical structures such as the basilica, the grand theatre, and the remarkable Roman Baths. At the end of the guided portion of the tour, you’ll have some free time to further explore the area on your own. During this free time, if you wish, you can swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at your own expense), a unique experience in these thermal waters surrounded by ancient ruins. The tour guide will inform you of the exact meeting point and time to regroup.

At approximately 4:00 pm, you’ll be transferred to the main bus station in Denizli, where you’ll board an intercity coach to Antalya, with an expected duration of 5 hours. Upon arrival in Antalya, a representative will meet you at the bus terminal and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up around 8:00 am to begin your tour. The first stop is Perge, an ancient city originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC and one of the largest in the Pamphylia region. Here, you’ll explore the expansive ruins that reveal the grandeur of this historical site.

From Perge, you’ll continue to the Aspendos Ancient Theatre, a stunningly well-preserved structure built in the 2nd century A.D. With a seating capacity of 15,000, the theater remains a venue for festivals and concerts today, showcasing some of the best Roman theater architecture.

Following Aspendos, there will be a lunch break at a restaurant by a nearby river, offering a tranquil setting to enjoy local cuisine. After lunch, the tour heads to Side (pronounced “Seeday”), one of Turkey’s most well-preserved classical cities. Once a significant port city, Side also hosted the largest slave market in the region. During Roman times, important structures were built here, including the large theater, the Roman Baths, and the majestic Temple of Apollo.

In Side, you’ll have an hour of free time to explore the charming streets, discover additional ruins, or enjoy the seaside. On the way back to Antalya, there will be a stop at the picturesque Manavgat Waterfall, where you can relax, take photos, and enjoy the serene natural setting.

After the visit to the waterfall, you’ll be driven back to Antalya and transferred to your hotel for the evening. Overnight in Antalya.

Today is a free day for you to immerse yourself in Antalya’s stunning beaches and vibrant culture. You might enjoy wandering through the narrow, cobbled streets of the historic old quarter, discovering unique shops and cafes. Take time to visit Antalya’s impressive museum, marvel at Hadrian’s Gate, and explore the numerous historical landmarks in the city’s old town. Alternatively, you can unwind on one of Antalya’s charming beaches or experience a traditional Turkish bath for some relaxation.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Antalya. You will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to Antalya Airport for your flight to either Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. Once you check in, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your leisure. Overnight in Cappadocia.

For an additional experience, you can opt for an early morning hot air balloon ride, offering breathtaking aerial views of Cappadocia’s unique valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast, around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin a full-day tour of North Cappadocia. The tour starts with Devrent Valley, renowned for its surreal fairy chimneys and rock formations that resemble animal shapes. Next, you’ll visit Pasabag Valley, also known as Monks Valley, where you can see its distinctive mushroom-shaped pinnacles.

The tour then takes you to the town of Avanos, famous for its pottery and ceramics tradition, where you’ll also stop for lunch. After lunch, continue to the Zelve Open Air Museum, a site offering a deep look into the region’s monastic history with its ancient carved caves and rock-hewn churches.

Before heading back to your hotel, you’ll have a brief stop to capture panoramic views of Uchisar Castle from the outside, as entry to the castle interior is not allowed.

After the tour ends around 4:00 pm, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore at your own pace, or enjoy optional activities, which are available at an extra cost. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Options include a Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through Cappadocia’s valleys, or a Whirling Dervish show, a mesmerizing display of Sufi tradition.

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am, you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your guide will provide an overview of the day’s activities before starting the tour.

The first stop is the Red Valley, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore its remarkable rock-cut churches and enjoy a scenic 5 km hike through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you’ll visit Cavusin Village, known for its historic houses and churches of Christian clergymen, which showcase the area’s deep cultural heritage.

Around noon, the group will take a break for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, the tour continues to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), famous for its pigeon houses carved into the rocks. In the afternoon, you’ll visit one of Cappadocia’s fascinating underground cities: either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians sought refuge and built intricate networks of rooms and tunnels.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you’ll be taken to either Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your late evening flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, our representative will meet with you and assist with your transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel in Istanbul (hotel check-out is before 12:00 noon) and will then be transferred to the Istanbul International Airport according to your flight details. This will be the end of our tour and services.