10-Day Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus Tour with Flights

Q: Will I travel with the same group and guide throughout the tour?

Our multi-day Turkey packages are regular group/shared tour arrangements, not fully escorted tours with one tour leader and the same guests from arrival to departure. Sightseeing tours are shared and usually operate with about 15-20 guests, but group size and participants may change by city or day as travelers join or leave different scheduled tours. Licensed English-speaking guides lead scheduled sightseeing visits only. Guides do not travel with guests on domestic flights, intercity buses, airport transfers, hotel transfers, or free-time periods unless this is specifically stated in the itinerary. For flights, buses, and transfers, guests are met by our driver or local representative at airports, bus terminals, or hotels and assisted with the planned transfer. One Nation Travel coordinates the full itinerary, hotels, domestic tickets, transfers, local guides, and support throughout the trip.

Q: How many nights do you stay in each city?

You spend five nights in Istanbul, three nights in Cappadocia, and one night in Kuşadası. Your Istanbul stay is split between three nights at the start of the tour and two nights after your return flight from Izmir, before your departure day.

Q: How long are the guided sightseeing days?

The Istanbul sightseeing days run about eight hours each. Cappadocia tours generally run about seven hours, while the arrival day in Cappadocia takes about 12 hours including the flight and transfers, and the Ephesus day takes about 14 hours including the flight and transfers.

Q: How much walking should I expect?

You walk during the city visits and on uneven paths in Cappadocia. The South Cappadocia tour includes an approximately 5-kilometer hike, and the Green Cappadocia tour includes an approximately 4-kilometer hike in Ihlara Valley, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Q: What should I wear for the sightseeing days?

Wear comfortable walking shoes, especially for the Cappadocia hikes, underground passages, and Ephesus’s marble streets, and choose clothing suitable for the weather. For mosque visits, wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees; women should bring a scarf to cover their hair. Follow the mosque staff’s visitor instructions at each entrance.

Q: How do airport and hotel pickups work?

For your Istanbul arrival, a representative meets you at the designated point at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport and arranges your hotel transfer. Hotel pickups are scheduled at about 8:30 AM for the Istanbul tours and Ephesus tour, and about 9:30 AM for the Cappadocia tours; your Cappadocia flight day pickup is about 3:50-4:00 AM. Representatives also meet you at the listed domestic arrival airports and assist with the planned transfers.

Q: Which domestic flights are included, and what about luggage?

The tour includes flights from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir, from Kayseri or Nevşehir to Izmir, and from Izmir to Istanbul. The Cappadocia-to-Izmir flight may connect through Istanbul; flight schedules and airports depend on confirmed transport arrangements. The baggage allowance listed for this tour is 15 kg of checked baggage and one carry-on bag weighing up to 8 kg per person.

This 10-day guided tour visits Istanbul (5 nights), Cappadocia (3 nights) and Kusadasi (1 night). Prices start from $1,750 USD per person, based on two travelers sharing. Operated by One Nation Travel, a TÜRSAB-licensed (No. A-6073) local tour operator founded in Istanbul in 2008.

Overview

Ihlara Valley‘s riverside trail sets the scene for this 10-day tour, with nine hotel nights: five in Istanbul, three in Cappadocia, and one in Kuşadası. Domestic flights and air-conditioned vehicles connect the cities, so you can cover the route without long overland transfers between regions.

You spend your first three nights in Istanbul, then fly to Cappadocia for three nights in a cave hotel. After one night in Kuşadası, you visit Ephesus and fly back to Istanbul for your final two nights. Scheduled guided tours are balanced with a full free day in Istanbul, giving you time to revisit a neighborhood or explore at your own pace. Expect early starts on travel days and full sightseeing days.

In Istanbul, your visits include Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, and the Bosphorus. Cappadocia’s itinerary takes you through valleys and rock-cut sites; in Ephesus, you walk past the Library of Celsus and Great Theatre. A daytime Bosphorus cruise is included. A hot air balloon flight is optional, arranged separately, and paid locally; it requires suitable weather and official approval.

Highlights

Visit Hagia Sophia’s upper visitor gallery and admire its Byzantine mosaics and architecture.
Enter the Blue Mosque and look up at its domes and blue İznik tiles in Istanbul’s historic center.
Cruise the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia, passing waterfront palaces, fortresses, and Ottoman mansions.
Walk among Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys and see how wind and water shaped the region’s volcanic rock.
Consider an optional Cappadocia hot air balloon flight, arranged separately and paid locally, subject to suitable weather and official approval.
Follow Ephesus’s marble streets to the Library of Celsus and the city’s Roman-era Great Theatre.
Explore the ancient city of Ephesus and visit the House of the Virgin Mary on a guided day tour.

Your journey at a glanceTour RouteFollow the overnight stops, flights and included road connections. 3 Stops · 9 Nights

Travel between stops

Flight ~560 km · ~1 hr 15 min Istanbul Cappadocia

Flight ~670 km · ~1 hr 15 min Cappadocia Kusadasi

Flight ~380 km · ~1 hr Kusadasi Istanbul

Route: Istanbul (5 nights) → Cappadocia (3 nights) → Kusadasi (1 night) → Istanbul · Day trips: Ephesus

Day-by-Day Itinerary

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You begin in Istanbul with guided visits, a Bosphorus cruise, and time to settle in before an early flight to Cappadocia. Three consecutive sightseeing days there bring valley walks, cave sites, and underground-city visits, with free evenings and an optional balloon flight. A domestic flight then takes you to Kuşadası for an overnight stay before a full day at Ephesus and an evening flight back to Istanbul. The final stretch is lighter: one full day at leisure, then an airport transfer for departure.

Day 1 :

Arrival in Istanbul, Airport Transfer & Free Time

When you arrive at Istanbul International Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), a representative will meet you at the designated arrival point and arrange your transfer to your hotel in central Istanbul.

After check-in, the rest of the day is free. You can relax or take a walk around Sultanahmet. An optional Bosphorus dinner cruise with a Turkish night show is available at an additional cost.

Overnight in Istanbul.

2 hours

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 2 :

Istanbul Classics: Byzantine & Ottoman Highlights

After breakfast, pickup from your hotel is scheduled for approximately 8:30 AM. Visit Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the Blue Mosque, and the Hippodrome of Constantinople, including its historic monuments. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, explore Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. The tour returns you to your hotel at approximately 5:00 PM, leaving the evening free. Overnight in Istanbul.

8 hours

Overnight in Istanbul

Breakfast + Lunch

Day 3 :

Bosphorus Cruise & Istanbul's Asian Side

After breakfast, pickup from your hotel is scheduled for approximately 8:30 AM. Begin at the Spice Bazaar, then travel along the Golden Horn and see sections of the Byzantine City Walls. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

Board a shared sightseeing boat for a Bosphorus Cruise, passing waterfront landmarks, Ottoman mansions, fortresses, and bridges. Continue to Istanbul’s Asian side to visit Çamlıca Hill and Beylerbeyi Palace.

The tour ends at approximately 4:00 PM, followed by a transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

8 hours

Overnight in Istanbul

Breakfast + Lunch

Day 4 :

Flight to Cappadocia – North Cappadocia Tour

An early breakfast or a breakfast box is provided for this early departure. Pickup from your Istanbul hotel is scheduled for approximately 3:50–4:00 AM, followed by an airport transfer for your domestic flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir, generally departing between 6:00 and 7:30 AM. On arrival, a local representative will meet you and transfer you to Cappadocia for the guided North Cappadocia tour.

Visit Devrent Valley, Paşabağ Valley, and Avanos, where you will see a local pottery workshop. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Zelve Open Air Museum, then stop near Uçhisar Castle for views and photos.

At approximately 4:00 PM, transfer to your cave hotel for check-in. Overnight in Cappadocia.

12 hours

Overnight in Cappadocia

Breakfast + Lunch

Day 5 :

South Cappadocia Tour

Before breakfast, you may join an optional sunrise Cappadocia hot air balloon ride, arranged separately and paid locally. The flight requires suitable weather and official approval.

After breakfast, pickup from your hotel is scheduled for approximately 9:30 AM. Visit Red Valley and Rose Valley, with an approximately 5-kilometer hike, then continue to Çavuşin Village. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit Pigeon Valley and Özkonak Underground City. The tour ends at approximately 4:00 PM, followed by a transfer to your hotel. Optional Turkish Night Dinner Show or Whirling Dervish ceremony is available in the evening at an additional cost. Overnight in Cappadocia.

7 hours

Overnight in Cappadocia

Breakfast + Lunch

Day 6 :

Green Cappadocia Tour

After breakfast, pickup from your hotel is scheduled for approximately 9:30 AM. Start at Esentepe (Göreme Panorama), then explore Derinkuyu Underground City, including its tunnels, chambers, kitchens, and living spaces.

Continue to Ihlara Valley for a guided hike of approximately 4 kilometers along the Melendiz River, passing rock-cut churches. Lunch is at a riverside restaurant in Belisırma Village.

Visit Selime Monastery and Yaprakhisar before returning to your hotel at approximately 4:00 PM. Overnight in Cappadocia.

7 hours

Overnight in Cappadocia

Breakfast + Lunch

Day 7 :

Flight to Izmir & Transfer to Kuşadası

After breakfast and checkout, transfer to Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your domestic flight to Izmir. Depending on airline schedules and availability, the flight may connect through Istanbul.

At Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB), a local representative will meet you and arrange your transfer to Kuşadası. The drive generally takes approximately one hour, depending on traffic. After hotel check-in, the rest of the day is at your leisure, depending on your flight arrival time.

Flight and transfer timing depends on confirmed transport schedules. Overnight in Kuşadası.

5 hours

Overnight in Kusadasi

Breakfast

Day 8 :

Ephesus Tour – Evening Flight to Istanbul

After breakfast and hotel checkout, pickup from your Kuşadası hotel is scheduled for approximately 8:30 AM. Tour the Ancient City of Ephesus, walking its marble streets and seeing the Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, Curetes Street, Great Theatre, and Fountain of Trajan. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the remains of the Temple of Artemis, and İsa Bey Mosque. At approximately 4:00 PM, transfer to Izmir Airport for your evening domestic flight to Istanbul. On arrival at Istanbul Airport, a representative will meet you and arrange your hotel transfer. Overnight in Istanbul.

14 hours

Overnight in Istanbul

Breakfast + Lunch

Day 9 :

Free Day in Istanbul

After breakfast, enjoy a full day at leisure in Istanbul. There are no scheduled guided sightseeing activities. You can explore independently, revisit places you have seen, shop, or relax. Sultanahmet, Karaköy, Galata, and the streets around İstiklal Avenue are suggested areas to explore.

An optional Bosphorus dinner cruise with dinner and entertainment is available in the evening at an additional cost.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Overnight in Istanbul

Breakfast

Day 10 :

Istanbul Airport Transfer & Departure

After breakfast, check out of your Istanbul hotel before 12:00 noon. According to your international flight departure details, a representative will arrange your transfer to Istanbul International Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW).

This is the end of the tour.

2 hours

Breakfast

Frequently Asked Questions

Group Travel

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Will I travel with the same group and guide throughout the tour?

How many nights do you stay in each city?

Daily Pace

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How long are the guided sightseeing days?

How much walking should I expect?

What should I wear for the sightseeing days?

Flights & Transfers

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How do airport and hotel pickups work?

Which domestic flights are included, and what about luggage?

Featured Hotels

Hotel options associated with this itinerary; the selected tour page and written confirmation control the included hotel and category.

View Featured Hotels (10)

Duration	10 Days / 9 Nights
Destination	Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus
Tour Type	Shared Group Tour with Local Guides
Price	From $1,750 USD /person; request a dated written quote for final price and availability
Guide	Local guide service applies only where listed for this package; assignments may vary by day or segment
Add-ons	Bosphorus Dinner Cruise+$80 USDCappadocia 1-Hour Balloon Ride+$360 USDTurkish Night & Dinner Show+$80 USD
Best Time	📅 Istanbul • 📅 Cappadocia • 📅 Ephesus • 📅 Izmir

10-Day Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus Tour with Domestic Flights