10-Day Turkey Highlights Tour from Istanbul: Konya, Cappadocia, Antalya, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy and Gallipoli

Day 1: Flight from Istanbul to Konya, Tour of Konya, Bus to Cappadocia (235 km)

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 AM and transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Konya, scheduled between 6:00 – 8:00 am. Upon arrival at Konya airport, you will be picked up and escorted to the city to meet your professional tour guide and commence your half-day tour of Konya.

The tour starts at the Mevlana Museum, where the tomb of Rumi, a significant pilgrimage site, is located. Next, you will visit the Sultan Selim Mosque. Following the mosque visit, enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch at a local restaurant.

Your journey continues along Mevlana Caddesi towards Alaettin Hill, notable for the Alaaddin Mosque. This mosque, over a thousand years old, was frequented by Rumi and houses the tombs of Seljuk sultans who sought Rumi’s spiritual guidance.

As you descend from Alaettin Hill, you’ll glimpse the remnants of the Seljuk sultan’s palace before admiring the intricate portal of the Great Karatay Medrese. The tour culminates at the Mosque and Tomb of Shams-i Tabrizi, Rumi’s closest companion and spiritual mentor.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to the Konya bus station to catch the intercity coach to Cappadocia, a journey of approximately 4 hours. Upon your arrival at Goreme, Cappadocia, our representatives will greet you at the bus station and facilitate your transfer to the hotel.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Romantic Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: North Cappadocia Tour

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please be aware that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally, towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will have around 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm. You will have the rest of the day free to relax, explore the city on your own, or take part in any optional activities that are offered.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Romantic Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: South Cappadocia Tour – Flight to Antalya

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 tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit Cavusin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived.

At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to either Kayseri or Nevşehir airport for a late evening flight to Antalya, with a connection in Istanbul. You are expected to arrive at Antalya airport around 1:15 AM, where a representative will meet you, displaying a sign with your name. From there, you will proceed to your Antalya hotel for check-in.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: Perge, Aspendos, Side & Waterfall Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. You will be picked up from your hotel around 8.00 am. First place you will visit is Perge, which was originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC and was one of the largest ancient cities in the Pamphylia region. Then you will depart for the Aspendos Ancient Theatre. This incredibly well preserved ancient theatre was built in the 2nd century A.D., it has a capacity of 15,000 people and it is still being used for festivals and music concerts.

We will have a lunch break at a restaurant on a nearby river then depart for Side (pronounced Seeday). Side is one of the best classical ancient cities in Turkey, it was a port city that served the largest slave market in this region. During Roman times much construction took place in Side including a large theatre, Roman Baths, and the Temple of Apollo.

Guests will have 1 hour of free time here to enjoy the sea and the city. You will stop at the Manavgat Waterfall on the way back, then drive back to Antalya where you will be transferred back to your hotel.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel OR Aspen Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: Free Day in Antalya

Today is your free day to relax and explore Antalya at your leisure, with an overnight stay planned in the city. You have the freedom to roam the historic old town, engage in shopping, or visit the beach among other activities.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 6: Travel from Antalya to Pamukkale by Bus (180 km)

After breakfast in the morning, you will be transferred to Antalya’s main bus station. From here you will board the intercity day coach to Pamukkale (duration 5 hours). On your arrival at the Pamukkale bus station, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel in Pamukkale. The rest of the day is on your own to explore Pamukkale.

• Overnight in Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Accommodation: Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel OR Colossae Thermal Hotel OR Hierapark Thermal & Spa Hotel Deluxe or similar (Standard quality)

Day 7: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour, then Transfer to Kusadasi

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel. On this tour, you will visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, which is home to the Temple of Apollo, the Theater, the Necropolis, and the Roman Baths where St. Philip was martyred. After exploring these sites, you will take a lunch break. In the afternoon, you will travel to Karahayit, known for its red water and healing thermal springs. You will then visit the famous Cotton Cliffs, also known as the Cotton Castle, in Pamukkale. These beautiful terraces and pools are formed from calcified mineral deposits, and you will have the opportunity to swim in the Cleopatra Antique Pools for an additional cost. At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will begin your drive to Kusadasi (approximately 3 hours). We will drop you at your hotel in Kusadasi.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 8: Ephesus Tour

After breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 am, you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus. You will visit the ruins of Ephesus, the ancient Greek city that became an important centre of this time. Visit the Temple of Hadrian, Great Theater, and Trajan Fountain. After lunch, let’s visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last years. We will pass by the Temple of Artemis; there is little to see of this that was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards, you will visit the Isa Bey Mosque. Next, you will be taken to the Sirince Village; which is an old Greek village and is well-know for its quaint beauty and wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops. After the tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel at approximately 4:00 pm.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 9: Pergamon Tour, then Transfer to Canakkale (424 km)

After breakfast, you will be picked up around 9:00 am from your hotel in Kusadasi to travel to Pergamon. After the lunch break, the tour will start a fully guided Pergamon Acropolis Tour. At Pergamon, the ancient world’s major power, you will visit the Acropolis, the ruins of Zeus Altar, the Throne of Satan, the Hellenistic Theatre which had a seating capacity of 10,000 people, the Great Library which held 200,000 books, and Trojan, the Gymnasium situated on terraces, the lower Agora, Temple of Dionysus, Temple of Athena and Temple of Trojan. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Canakkale.

• Overnight in Canakkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Anzac Hotel OR Grand Anzac Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 10: Troy and Gallipoli Combination Tour, then Transfer to Istanbul (307.2 km)

After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel in Canakkale and will be picked up from your hotel in Canakkale at around 8:30 am. Today in the morning, we will begin with the Troy Tour where you will visit the Trojan Horse, Sacrificial Altars, 3700-year-old City Walls, Houses of Troy I, 3000 B.C. – 2500 B.C., Bouleuterion (Senate Building), Odeon (Concert Hall), and the Remains of the various cities from Troy I through to Troy IX. At the end of the Troy Tour at around 11:30 am, you will be taken to Eceabat and will have free time in Eceabat until 1:00 pm. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in Eceabat. After lunch, we will begin the Gallipoli Tour. You will visit Brighton Beach; the intended landing place, Beach Cemetery on the southern tip of Anzac Cove; the landing place of the first wave of Australian and New Zealand troops and home to up to 30,000 troops during the campaign, Ariburnu Cemetery, Anzac Commemoration Site, Lone Pine Australian Memorial; site of the successful attack and capture of Turkish trenches by the Australians during the August offensive, Johnston’s Jolly where you will visit the original Allied and Turkish trenches and tunnels, 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, The Nek, and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. At the end of the tour around 6:00 pm, you will head to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul around 11:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick-up from city center hotels on the European side of Istanbul and transfer to the airport.
• Domestic flight tickets as per the itinerary, including flights from Istanbul to Konya, and Kayseri to Antalya.
• Intercity coach ticket from Konya to Göreme/Cappadocia.
• Intercity coach ticket from Antalya to Pamukkale.
• Professional licensed English-speaking guide during the tours.
• 2 nights accommodation at a cave hotel with breakfast in Cappadocia.
• 3 nights accommodation at a 4-star or special-class hotel with breakfast in Antalya.
• 1-night accommodation at a 4-star hotel with breakfast in Pamukkale.
• 2 nights accommodation at a 4-star hotel with breakfast in Kuşadasi.
• 1-night accommodation at a 3-star hotel with breakfast in Çanakkale.
• Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
• Visits and entrances fees as indicated in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• International Flight Tickets.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Drinks with meals.
• Escorting tour guide.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.