13-Day Turkey Discovery Tour: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Antalya, Ankara, Cappadocia & Konya Tour

Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul, Airport Transfer and Free Day

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) at your scheduled time, you will be met by our representative at the international arrivals exit, holding a sign with our agency code for identification. Following a brief meet-and-greet, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. You may choose to rest after your journey or explore the city independently.

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.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Istanbul Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Tour

After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day guided tour of Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman treasures.

The tour will start with a visit to the grand Hagia Sophia, a majestic structure that began as a cathedral, later served as a mosque, and is now a museum, showcasing centuries of history from both Christian and Islamic cultures.

Next, visit the iconic Blue Mosque, famous for its striking blue tiles and six towering minarets. This impressive building remains an active place of worship and a hallmark of Ottoman architecture.

From there, you’ll explore the Hippodrome, which was once the center of Byzantine public life and the venue for chariot races and other social events. Here, you’ll see important monuments, including the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and German Fountain.

After visiting these key historical sites, you’ll enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant, where you can sample traditional Turkish cuisine and take a moment to relax.

Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the stunning Topkapi Palace, the lavish residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. You’ll explore the palace’s vast courtyards, jewel-filled treasuries, and, optionally, the Harem, the private quarters of the sultan’s family.

The final stop of the day will be at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With over 4,000 shops, the bazaar offers a wide range of goods, from spices and carpets to jewelry and ceramics, providing an exciting experience for both shoppers and culture enthusiasts.

After the tour ends around 5:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure—whether you choose to explore more of Istanbul on your own or simply relax.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Fly to Izmir – Ephesus Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Izmir, departing between 6:00 and 8:00 AM. Upon arrival in Izmir, you’ll be transferred to Selçuk, where you’ll meet your guide to begin your full-day Ephesus tour.

Your first stop will be the ancient city of Ephesus, where you’ll explore its fascinating ruins, including highlights like the Temple of Hadrian, the impressive Great Theater, and the beautiful Trajan Fountain. After lunch, the tour continues to the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her final years. You’ll also visit the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the stunning Isa Bey Mosque, a remarkable example of Seljuk architecture.

After the tour ends at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore the area at your leisure.

• 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 4: Pergamon Tour

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kuşadası around 10:30 am for a scenic drive to the ancient city of Pergamon. Known as a significant cultural hub of the ancient world, Pergamon promises a fascinating journey through history.

Your tour begins at the Acropolis of Pergamon, situated on the city’s highest point. Here, you’ll first visit the famous Library of Pergamon, one of the greatest libraries of antiquity. Next, you will explore the Temple of Athena, dedicated to the goddess of wisdom and war, and the Temple of Trajan, an impressive monument honoring the Roman Emperor Trajan, blending Roman and Greek architectural elements beautifully.

Following this, you’ll admire the Altar of Zeus, a monumental structure adorned with intricate friezes depicting mythological scenes. Afterward, you’ll take a break to enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch at a local restaurant, where you can relax and savor local flavors before resuming the tour.

The afternoon continues with a visit to the Gymnasium, an ancient training ground for athletes, and the Lower Agora, the bustling marketplace of ancient Pergamon. One of the highlights is the Hellenistic Theater, built on a steep hillside, offering breathtaking views and an impressive example of ancient theater architecture. Your last stop will be the Temple of Dionysus, dedicated to the god of wine and festivity, showcasing the religious and cultural richness of ancient Pergamon.

After the tour, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel in Kusadasi to relax at your leisure.

• 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 5: Pamukkale Tour – Travel from Pamukkale to Antalya by Bus (238.8 km)

After breakfast around 7:30 am, check out from your hotel in Kusadasi. You will be picked up and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk, where the group will gather to begin the journey. From Selcuk, depart at approximately 8:30 am, for the scenic drive to Pamukkale, which takes about 3 hours. About halfway, there will be a brief 10-minute restroom stop. You’ll arrive in Pamukkale around 11:45 am, and lunch will be served upon arrival.

At approximately 1:00 pm, start your guided tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis with a licensed professional guide. Discover the stunning Cotton Cliffs, a natural wonder formed by calcium-rich mineral deposits. You will also explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, where you’ll visit the Roman Baths, and the Pamukkale Theatre, all remarkable examples of ancient Roman architecture.

Following the guided tour, you’ll have some free time to explore the area on your own. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (entry at your own expense), which are said to have therapeutic properties.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to the main bus station in Denizli. From there, you’ll board an intercity coach to Antalya, with an approximate 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
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 6: Full Day Tour to Perge, Aspendos, Side and Waterfall

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up around 8:00 AM to begin your tour. The first stop is Perge, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC and one of the largest ancient cities in the Pamphylia region. From there, you will depart for the Aspendos Ancient Theatre, an exceptionally well-preserved structure built in the 2nd century A.D. With a capacity of 15,000, the theater is still used for festivals and concerts today.

Afterwards, there will be a lunch break at a restaurant by a nearby river before heading to Side (pronounced “Seeday”). Side is one of Turkey’s best-preserved classical ancient cities, known as a port city that once hosted the largest slave market in the region. During Roman times, significant construction occurred here, including the large theater, Roman Baths, and the Temple of Apollo.

You will have 1 hour of free time in Side to explore the city and enjoy the sea. On the return trip to Antalya, there will be a stop at the Manavgat Waterfall. Afterward, you’ll be driven back to Antalya, where you will be transferred 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 similar (Standard quality)

Day 7: Fly from Antalya to Ankara

After breakfast check out of the hotel in Antalya. You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Antalya airport to take your flight to Ankara. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Check into your hotel in Ankara and the rest of the day is free.

• Overnight in Ankara
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Best Western Plus Center Hotel OR Holiday Inn Ankara OR The Wings Hotels Neva Palas or similar (Standard quality)

Day 8: Ankara Tour – Intercity Bus Transfer from Ankara to Cappadocia (299 km)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the city and some of its most interesting landmarks, such as the Mausoleum of Ataturk, dedicated to the founder of the Turkish Republic, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with exhibitions from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Hittite, and Phrygian Urartu past of central Anatolia. After the tour, you will be transferred to Ankara’s main bus station, where you will board an intercity day coach to Cappadocia/Göreme (approximately 4 hours). Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in.

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

Day 9: 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 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 the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles.

Afterward, you will drive to the town of Avanos, known for its pottery and ceramics, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Zelve Open Air Museum. This museum offers an insightful look into the region’s monastic history, featuring carved caves and ancient churches.

Finally, before returning to your hotel, you will have about 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of Uchisar Castle from the outside, as entry to the interior of the castle is not permitted.

After the tour ends at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore the city at your own pace, or participate in optional activities.

For additional activities, you can choose a Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through Cappadocia’s valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show, where you can witness the enchanting Sufi tradition. All these activities are available at an extra cost.

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

Day 10: South Cappadocia Tour

After breakfast, at approximately 9:30 am, your tour guide will pick you up to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. The guide will provide a briefing on the day’s activities before starting with a visit to the Red Valley, where you’ll explore renowned rock-cut churches and enjoy a scenic 5 km hike through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi).

Next, you will visit Cavusin Village, renowned for its historic houses and churches once home to Christian clergymen. Afterward, you’ll take a break for lunch around noon.

Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), known for its breathtaking landscapes. In the afternoon, you will explore either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians sought refuge.

At the end of the to

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

Day 11: Cappadocia to Istanbul via Konya

After breakfast, check out from your hotel in Cappadocia. Around 7:30 am, our driver will pick you up in a private car and transfer you to Konya. Upon arrival, meet your professional local guide for a captivating half-day city tour.

Your first stop is the spiritual heart of the city, the Mevlana Museum, where the tomb of the great Sufi poet Rumi lies. Next door stands the impressive Sultan Selim Mosque, an elegant Ottoman-era mosque. Enjoy lunch at a traditional Turkish restaurant, savoring Konya’s famous local dishes.

Continue your journey along Mevlana Caddesi to reach the historic Alaeddin Mosque atop Alaettin Hill, a thousand-year-old site where Rumi often prayed. In its courtyard, explore the tombs of several Seljuk sultans. Walking downhill, pass the remnants of the ancient Seljuk palace and view the stunning stone portal of the nearby Karatay Madrasa.

The final stop is the Mosque and Tomb of Şems-i Tebrizi, Rumi’s spiritual mentor and the inspiration behind much of his poetry.

After the tour ends around 2:00 pm, enjoy free time in Konya city center. Your guide will confirm the meeting point and time for your airport transfer. Later in the evening, you will be transferred to Konya Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul, scheduled around 8:25 pm (flight duration: ~1 hour 25 minutes). Upon arrival in Istanbul, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 12: Bosphorus Cruise

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up around 8:30 am by our professional guide for a half-day Bosphorus Cruise. Your day commences with a scenic drive to the Eminonu pier, where you’ll briefly visit the aromatic Spice Market, a living testament to Istanbul’s trading past.

From there, you’ll join a shared boat cruise along the Bosphorus, a strait that serves not only as a link between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara but also as a bridge between the continents of Europe and Asia. During the cruise, soak up the sights of the Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and the Bosphorus Bridge, as well as numerous historic fortresses and stately mansions set against the beautiful European and Asian shorelines.

At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel around 12:30 pm and the rest of the day for leisure in Istanbul.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 13: Departure from Istanbul – End of Tour Service

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.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers mentioned in the itinerary, including arrivals and departures.
• Domestic flights and intercity bus tickets.
• English-speaking guide during the tours.
• 4 nights accommodation at a 4-star or special-class hotel with breakfast in Istanbul.
• 2 nights accommodation at a 4-star hotel with breakfast in Kuşadasi.
• 2 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 Ankara.
• 3 nights accommodation at a cave hotel with breakfast in Cappadocia.
• Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch)
• 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.
• Beverages and dinners.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• 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.
• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• 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
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed.
• 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.