10-Day Wonders of Turkey: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Ephesus & Cappadocia

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Istanbul. After check-in, the rest of the day is free for you to rest or explore the city at your own pace. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, around 8:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel for a full-day guided tour. Visit the magnificent Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque Grand Mosque, the stunning Blue Mosque, and the historic Hippodrome, once the center of Byzantine life.
After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Topkapi Palace Museum, residence of Ottoman sultans for centuries, and end the day at the colorful Grand Bazaar.
At the end of the tour, around 4:30 PM, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up around 6:30 AM for your departure to Eceabat. The drive takes approximately 5 hours. Upon arrival, lunch will be served before starting the tour.

At around 1:00 PM, your fully guided Gallipoli Tour begins, visiting key sites that played significant roles during the Gallipoli campaign. These include Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, the ANZAC Commemorative Site, and the Respect to Mehmetcik Monument.

You will also visit the Lone Pine Monument, Johnston’s Jolly — where you can explore Turkish and Allied trenches and tunnels — the Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment Cemetery, The Nek, and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.

After the tour ends around 4:30 PM, you will be transferred to your hotel in Çanakkale for check-in. Overnight in Çanakkale.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel around 8:30 AM for a fully guided Troy and Pergamon Tour.

The tour begins with a visit to the Trojan Horse, followed by stops at the Sacrificial Altars and the 3,700-year-old city walls. You will explore the Houses of Troy I (3000 B.C. – 2500 B.C.), the Bouleuterion (Senate Building), and the Odeon (Concert Hall). The remains of various cities from Troy I through Troy IX will also be part of your visit.

After concluding the Troy tour around 10:30 AM, you will depart for Bergama. Upon arrival at 1:30 PM, lunch will be served before starting the fully guided Pergamon Acropolis tour.

In Pergamon, you will visit the ancient Acropolis, the Pergamon Library which once held 200,000 books, the Temple of Athena, the Temple of Trajan, and the famous Altar of Zeus, now located in Berlin. You will also see the Gymnasium situated on terraces, the Lower Agora, the Pergamon Theatre with a seating capacity of 10,000, and the Temple of Dionysus.

After the tour ends around 5:30 PM, you will depart for Selçuk, arriving at 8:00 PM, and then continue to Kuşadası, arriving by 8:30 PM. Upon arrival, you will check in to your hotel. Overnight in Kuşadası.

After breakfast at around 7:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kuşadası and taken to the meeting point in Selçuk, where the full group will gather. Your Pamukkale Tour will begin with an 8:30 AM departure from Selçuk. The drive to Pamukkale takes approximately 3 hours, including a 10-minute restroom break after 1.5 hours.

Upon arriving in Pamukkale around 11:45 AM, you will first enjoy lunch. After lunch, at approximately 1:00 PM, your guided tour of Pamukkale and the Hierapolis area will begin, led by a professional licensed tour guide. In Pamukkale, you will witness the breathtaking Cotton Cliffs, a natural wonder formed by calcareous salt deposits.

You will also explore the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis, including its Basilica, Theatre, and Roman Baths. At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore on your own. As an optional activity, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at your own expense) during this free time. Your tour guide will inform you of the exact meeting point and time.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kuşadası, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM. Overnight in Kuşadası.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel around 8:30 AM. You will be picked up for an enriching full-day tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities and once a major Greek port and cultural center.

Your tour begins with a walk along Curetes Street, the main avenue of Ephesus, leading you to some of its most remarkable sites. One of the first stops is the Temple of Hadrian, a beautifully preserved structure with intricate reliefs depicting the city’s founding myths. Continuing on, you’ll reach the impressive Ephesus Ancient Greek Theatre, which could seat up to 25,000 people and is still known for its outstanding acoustics. Here, your guide will share stories about the theater’s role in hosting gatherings, dramas, and even gladiatorial contests.

Next, you’ll see the Trajan Fountain, where you can admire its detailed carvings and learn about its significance in the city’s water system.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the tour continues to the House of the Virgin Mary, a sacred site nestled on a hillside. This modest stone house is believed to be where Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her final years. It remains an important pilgrimage destination and a place of peace and reflection.

The journey then takes you to the Temple of Artemis. Although only a few columns remain, this once-grand structure was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and a symbol of the city’s ancient prominence.

Your final stop will be the Isa Bey Mosque, a stunning example of 14th-century Seljuk architecture, featuring elegant courtyards and detailed tile work that reflect the fusion of cultures in the region.

After the tour, at approximately 4:00 PM, you will be driven to İzmir Airport for your evening flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir via Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a representative holding a sign with your name and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

For an optional extra to start your day, consider booking an early morning hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia’s extraordinary valleys. Drifting above the fairy chimneys and rock-cut settlements as the sun rises is a truly spectacular experience. Please note that this activity comes at an additional cost and is subject to weather conditions.

After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will gather the group at approximately 9:30 AM for a full-day exploration of North Cappadocia’s most remarkable landscapes. The first stop is Devrent Valley, where wind-sculpted rock formations take on the shapes of animals and mythical figures — a striking introduction to the region’s extraordinary geology that sets the tone for the day ahead.

By 10:15 AM, the group continues to Pasabag Valley, famous for its towering mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. Some of these remarkable formations were hollowed out and used as hermit shelters by early monks, and their unusual multi-capped silhouettes make them among the most photographed sights in all of Cappadocia.

Around 11:00 AM, the group arrives in Avanos, where you’ll visit a traditional pottery workshop. Artisans demonstrate techniques passed down through generations, shaping clay drawn from the banks of the Red River — a craft that has defined this town for centuries.

At approximately 12:00 PM, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Avanos with your fellow travelers. After the meal, the group sets off for the afternoon’s explorations.

By 1:15 PM, join fellow travelers at a panoramic viewpoint overlooking Göreme, where a sweeping vista reveals the valley’s cave dwellings and rock-cut churches from above, offering a sense of just how deeply human history is carved into this landscape.

Around 1:45 PM, your guide will lead the group to the Zelve Open Air Museum, an abandoned rock-cut village that once supported a thriving community. Wander through ancient cave dwellings, churches adorned with faded frescoes, and a mosque carved directly into the stone — all offering a vivid picture of daily life in Cappadocia’s volcanic terrain.

By 3:00 PM, the group makes a final stop at Uchisar Castle, the tallest point in Cappadocia. Admire this towering rock fortress from the outside, its honeycomb surface riddled with rooms and tunnels that once served as both homes and defensive lookouts. By 3:30 PM, your guide will return the group to the hotel by approximately 4:00 PM, leaving the rest of the evening free to relax. Overnight in Cappadocia.

After breakfast, around 9:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin your full-day South Cappadocia Tour. The tour begins with a visit to the stunning Red Valley, where you’ll enjoy a scenic 5 km hike through the Rose Valley (Güllüdere Vadisi), known for its remarkable rock formations and ancient rock-cut churches.

Next, you will explore Çavuşin Village, famous for its historical stone houses and churches once inhabited by Christian clergymen. After exploring the village, you will take a break for lunch around 12:00 PM.

Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi), named after the many pigeon houses carved into the soft volcanic rocks. In the afternoon, you will discover one of Cappadocia’s fascinating underground cities — either the Kaymaklı Underground City or the Özkonak Underground City — where early Christians once took refuge to escape persecution.

After the tour ends around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your leisure. Overnight in Cappadocia.

After breakfast, check out from your hotel. Around 9:30 AM, you will be picked up to join the full-day Green Tour of Cappadocia. The day begins with a visit to Esentepe, offering a stunning panoramic view of Göreme and its captivating valleys — the perfect spot to photograph Cappadocia’s enchanting landscape.

Next, the tour takes you to the fascinating Derinkuyu Underground City, a remarkably well-preserved subterranean complex that dates back to the Hittite era and was later used by early Christians. This ancient multi-level city features stables, kitchens, living areas, and chapels — providing a rare glimpse into the underground life of ancient civilizations.

Following this, you will explore the beautiful Ihlara Valley, where you’ll embark on a scenic 4 km hike through lush greenery and along a tranquil river. The valley is dotted with ancient cave churches adorned with frescoes from the early Christian period. After your hike, enjoy a relaxing lunch in Belisirma Village, charmingly situated by the riverside.

After lunch, continue to visit the impressive Selime Monastery, the largest religious complex in Cappadocia, carved directly into volcanic rock. The tour concludes with a visit to Yaprakhisar, offering breathtaking panoramic views — and famously known as one of the filming locations for Star Wars.

After the tour ends around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to either Kayseri Airport or Nevşehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

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

Looking to extend your vacation? If you wish to add extra leisure days in Istanbul, Cappadocia, or Kusadasi, you can easily customize your itinerary. Simply indicate your preference for additional nights using the booking form when making your reservation.