15-Day Best of Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya & Cappadocia

Arrive in Istanbul at any time. Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international arrivals area, holding a sign with your name on it. You will then be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Istanbul.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the city at your leisure. Alternatively, you can choose to join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show at an additional cost. This optional activity offers a magical evening on the Bosphorus, featuring a delightful dinner, live entertainment, and stunning views of Istanbul’s illuminated landmarks.

After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel for a full-day guided tour of Istanbul’s most iconic Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks.

First, visit Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque Grand Mosque, a masterpiece that served as a cathedral, mosque, and now a museum, showcasing centuries of Christian and Islamic heritage.

Next, head to Blue Mosque, celebrated for its stunning blue Iznik tiles and six towering minarets, a hallmark of Ottoman architecture.

Continue with a stop at Hippodrome, once the heart of Byzantine social life. Here, admire the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and German Fountain, each steeped in historical significance.

After these explorations, enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant and savor traditional Turkish cuisine.

In the afternoon, discover Topkapi Palace Museum, the former residence of Ottoman sultans. Walk through its grand courtyards and treasuries, and optionally visit the Harem, the private quarters of the sultan and his family.

Conclude your day at the vibrant Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Explore its lively atmosphere and browse through an array of goods, from spices and carpets to jewelry and ceramics.

At the end of the tour, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel around 5:00 pm. The rest of the evening is yours to relax or explore more of Istanbul at your leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast at around 8:30 am, you will join the Half-day Morning Bosphorus Cruise. The tour begins with a drive to the Eminönü Pier, where you will have a short visit to the historical Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar). Following this, you’ll board a shared boat and cruise along the Bosphorus, a narrow strait between the continents of Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

During the cruise, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of iconic landmarks such as Dolmabahçe Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and the Bosphorus Bridge, along with centuries-old mansions, citadels, and the stunning European and Asian shorelines.

At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel around 12:15 pm. The rest of the day is free for leisure, shopping, or optional activities. 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 13:00, 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 Mehmetçik Statue. 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 and overnight.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel at 8:30 am to begin your fully guided Troy and Pergamon Tour. The first stop is the legendary ancient city of Troy Ancient City. During your visit, you will see the iconic Trojan Horse, the Sacrificial Altars, and the impressive 3,700-year-old city walls. You’ll also explore the Houses of Troy I (3000 B.C. – 2500 B.C.), the Bouleuterion (Senate Building), and the Odeon (Concert Hall). The tour includes viewing the remains from Troy I through Troy IX, showcasing the city’s rich stratified history. The Troy tour concludes at 10:30 am.

Next, you will depart for Bergama, arriving at 1:30 pm. After lunch, your afternoon tour of the Pergamon Acropolis will begin. This includes the impressive Great Library, which once housed over 200,000 scrolls, the Temple of Athena, the magnificent Temple of Trajan, and the site of the once-great Altar of Zeus, now housed in Berlin. You’ll also visit the terraced Gymnasium, the Lower Agora, the dramatically steep Theater of Pergamon, which seated up to 10,000 spectators, and the Temple of Dionysus.

After the tour, you will depart for Selçuk, arriving at 8:00 pm. Your journey then continues to Kuşadası, with arrival and hotel check-in at 8:30 pm. Overnight in Kuşadası.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up at 8:30 am and greeted by your professional guide to begin your full-day Ephesus Tour. The tour starts with a visit to the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved classical cities in the Eastern Mediterranean. While exploring, you will see the remarkable Temple of Hadrian, the grand Ephesus Ancient Greek Theatre which once hosted 25,000 spectators, and the elegant Trajan Fountain.

After the city visit, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon continues with a journey to the sacred House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be the final residence of Mary, mother of Jesus. On the way, you will pass by the historical site of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, now represented by a few remaining columns.

The tour concludes with a visit to the impressive Isabey Mosque, a fine example of 14th-century Seljuk architecture.

At the end of the tour, you will be returned to your hotel in Kuşadası by 4:00 pm. The rest of the day is free for you to relax at your hotel, enjoy the beach, or explore the town at your leisure. Overnight in Kuşadası.

After breakfast and check-out from your hotel in Kusadasi, around 7:30 am, you will be picked up and driven towards Pamukkale. The journey takes approximately 3 hours, with a short refreshment stop along the way. Upon arrival around 11:00 am, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before beginning your guided tour of Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis.

Your tour begins with the breathtaking Pamukkale Travertines, also known as the “Cotton Cliffs.” These striking white terraces, formed by natural hot springs rich in calcium carbonate, have created cascading pools that resemble frozen waterfalls. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a natural wonder and one of the most photographed places in Turkey.

Next, you will explore the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis, a Greco-Roman spa city founded in the 2nd century B.C. Highlights include the grand Theater of Hierapolis, which once seated 12,000 people and still stands remarkably well-preserved, the vast Necropolis with its hundreds of sarcophagi, the Roman Baths, the Domitian Gate, and Frontinus Street, the city’s ancient colonnaded main road.

You will also have free time to experience the famous Antique Pools of Pamukkale (optional, extra charge), also known as Cleopatra’s Pool. Here, you can swim among ancient marble columns that collapsed into the water centuries ago during an earthquake.

The tour ends around 4:30 pm. Afterward, you will be transferred to your hotel in Pamukkale for check-in and overnight stay in Pamukkale.

After breakfast and check-out from your hotel in Pamukkale, you will be transferred to the local bus station to board an intercity coach to Antalya. The journey takes approximately 4 to 5 hours, passing through scenic landscapes of southwestern Turkey.

Upon arrival at Antalya bus station, you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel in the city center for check-in. The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure.

You may choose to relax at your hotel, stroll through the charming narrow streets of Kaleiçi (Antalya Old Town), enjoy Turkish coffee in a traditional café, or visit the picturesque Antalya Marina. For those who prefer relaxation, you can spend time on the beautiful Konyaaltı Beach, just outside the city center.

After breakfast at your hotel, around 8:00 am, you will be picked up for a full-day guided excursion exploring some of the most important archaeological and natural highlights around Antalya.

The first stop is the ancient city of Perge, once a thriving Roman settlement. Here you will walk along its impressive colonnaded streets and see the ancient stadium, Roman baths, monumental gates, and the agora. Your guide will explain how Perge became an important center of art and culture in the Pamphylia region.

Continue to Aspendos, famous for its magnificent Roman theater, considered one of the best-preserved in the world. With a seating capacity of 15,000, the theater is still in use today for concerts and festivals, showcasing the brilliance of Roman engineering and acoustics.

After lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to the seaside town of Side. Once a major port city in antiquity, Side is home to remarkable ruins, including the Ancient Theater with a capacity of 20,000, the Roman Baths, and the beautifully located Temple of Apollo, standing dramatically by the sea.

The final stop of the day is the picturesque Manavgat Waterfall. Surrounded by lush greenery, the falls cascade into the Manavgat River, offering a peaceful and scenic end to the day.

After the tour ends around 5:30 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast at your hotel, the entire day is free for you to enjoy Antalya at your own pace.

You may choose to relax on the beautiful Konyaaltı Beach or Lara Beach, both known for their crystal-clear waters and long stretches of sand. For those who prefer exploring, you can wander through the charming streets of Kaleiçi (Old Town), where narrow cobblestone alleys are lined with Ottoman-era houses, boutique shops, and quaint cafés.

Another option is to visit the Antalya Archaeological Museum, one of Turkey’s most important museums, showcasing artifacts from the region’s ancient civilizations, including statues from Perge and treasures from surrounding archaeological sites.

If you enjoy nature, you might take an optional trip to the nearby Düden Waterfalls, located just outside the city, where cascading waters plunge dramatically into the Mediterranean Sea.

The day is yours to design — whether you prefer relaxation, culture, shopping, or sightseeing, Antalya offers something for everyone. Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Antalya. You will be picked up from the hotel lobby and transferred to Antalya Airport to board your domestic flight to either Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul. Upon arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport, you will be greeted by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, the remainder of the day is free at leisure. 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, you will check out of your hotel. At approximately 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 brief you on the day’s activities.

The tour starts with a visit to the Red Valley, where you can explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the stunning Rose Valley (Güllüdere Vadisi).

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

Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the beautiful Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi), known for its breathtaking scenery and dovecotes carved into the cliffs.

In the afternoon, you will explore either the fascinating Kaymakli Underground City or the Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians sought refuge from Roman and Byzantine persecution. These multi-level subterranean cities include tunnels, living quarters, kitchens, stables, and chapels carved deep into the earth.

The tour ends around 4:00 pm, after which you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel, and around 9:30 am, you will be picked up to begin your full-day South Cappadocia tour.

The first stop is the fascinating Derinkuyu Underground City, a vast subterranean settlement carved by early Christians to escape persecution. With its multi-level tunnels, living spaces, kitchens, storage rooms, stables, and chapels, this underground city gives you a vivid picture of how ancient communities lived in safety beneath the earth.

After exploring Derinkuyu, continue to the beautiful Ihlara Valley. Here, you will enjoy a scenic hike of about 4 km along the Melendiz River, passing by rock-cut churches adorned with centuries-old frescoes while surrounded by the valley’s lush greenery and dramatic cliffs.

On the way back, stop at Selime Monastery in Selime Village (Güzelyurt). This impressive rock-cut monastery complex includes a cathedral-sized church, monks’ quarters, and kitchens, offering yet another fascinating example of Cappadocia’s cave architecture.

The tour ends around 4:00 pm. You will then be transferred to either Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

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