7-Day Turkey Small Group Tour: Istanbul, Antalya, Pamukkale & Ephesus

Welcome to Turkey! Upon your arrival at Istanbul Airport, a One Nation Travel representative will be waiting to greet you and assist with your transfer to the hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Depending on your arrival time, you might take a relaxed walk through the historic Sultanahmet district, browse the colorful shops along its cobblestone streets, or settle into a traditional Turkish restaurant for your first taste of authentic local cuisine. Your guide will provide a brief orientation about the exciting days ahead, and you’ll have the chance to meet fellow travelers joining the group tour. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast at your hotel, join your guide and fellow travelers around 8:30 AM for a full day exploring Istanbul’s historic peninsula. Begin at the magnificent Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the iconic 6th-century structure that has served as a cathedral, mosque, museum, and mosque once again. Marvel at its massive dome and glittering Byzantine mosaics before walking to the nearby Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets and cascading domes adorned with over 20,000 blue Iznik tiles. Next, stroll through the Hippodrome, the ancient chariot-racing arena that once held 100,000 spectators, where you can still see the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant near Sultanahmet, then continue to the sprawling Topkapi Palace, the opulent residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries. Explore its courtyards, treasury, and harem quarters with your guide. By 3:30 PM, head to the legendary Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, with over 4,000 shops selling ceramics, spices, jewelry, and handwoven carpets. Around 5:30 PM, the group returns to the hotel with the evening free at your leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast at your hotel around 8:30 AM, join your guide and fellow travelers for a memorable half-day Bosphorus Cruise. Begin with a shared shuttle transfer to the pier at Eminönü, where you’ll first explore the aromatic Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar). Browse stalls brimming with colorful spices, dried fruits, Turkish delight, and fragrant teas — a sensory experience that captures Istanbul’s trading heritage.

From there, board a shared cruise boat and glide along the Bosphorus Strait, the legendary waterway separating Europe and Asia. As the boat passes beneath the Bosphorus Bridge, your guide will point out landmarks including the ornate Dolmabahçe Palace, the elegant Beylerbeyi Palace, and the imposing Rumeli Fortress. Enjoy views of historic waterfront mansions lining both the European and Asian shores.

The cruise concludes around 12:15 PM, after which the group returns to the hotel to collect luggage. In the afternoon, transfer to Istanbul Airport for your evening domestic flight to Antalya, approximately 1.5 hours in duration. Upon landing at Antalya Airport, a local representative will greet you and arrange your transfer to the hotel. After check-in, the remainder of the evening is yours to unwind or take a leisurely stroll. Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast at your hotel, around 8:30 AM your guide will lead the group east along the Mediterranean coast for a full day of ancient ruins and natural beauty. The first stop is Perge Ancient City, one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Pamphylian region. Walk through the massive Roman gate, the colonnaded street, and the well-preserved stadium that once seated 12,000 spectators. Continue to Aspendos Ancient Theater, widely considered the best-preserved Roman theater in the world. Your guide will explain how this 2nd-century structure still hosts performances today thanks to its remarkable acoustics. Join fellow travelers for lunch at a local restaurant around 12:30 PM.

In the afternoon, drive to Side, a charming coastal town where Greco-Roman ruins meet sandy beaches. Explore the Temple of Apollo standing dramatically against the sea, and stroll past the Side Ancient Theater. The final stop of the day is Manavgat Waterfall, where the wide cascade of the Manavgat River offers a refreshing end to the afternoon. By 5:30 PM, the shared shuttle will return the group to Antalya. Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast at your hotel, check out and join your fellow travelers for a morning transfer to Antalya’s main bus station. Around 9:00 AM, board a comfortable intercity coach bound for Denizli, the gateway city to Hierapolis-Pamukkale. The journey takes approximately five hours, winding through the scenic landscapes of southwestern Turkey — from the Mediterranean coastline through rolling hills and fertile plains. This is a relaxed travel day, so sit back, enjoy the changing scenery, and take advantage of a brief rest stop along the way for refreshments and a chance to stretch your legs. Upon arrival at Denizli bus station around 2:00 PM, a local representative will be waiting to greet the group and arrange your transfer to the hotel in Pamukkale, roughly 20 minutes away. After settling in, the remainder of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. Consider taking an early evening walk to catch your first glimpse of the famous white travertine terraces glowing in the late afternoon light, or simply unwind at the hotel before tomorrow’s full day of exploration. Overnight in Pamukkale.

After breakfast and check-out from your hotel in Pamukkale, your guide will gather the group around 10:30 AM for a full guided tour of this extraordinary natural and archaeological site. Begin at the Pamukkale Travertines, where brilliant white calcium terraces cascade down the hillside, shaped over millennia by mineral-rich thermal waters. Walk barefoot across the warm, shallow pools and take in the sweeping views of the valley below.

From the terraces, continue uphill into the ruins of Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded as a Greco-Roman spa city in the 2nd century BC. Your guide will lead the group through key landmarks including the remarkably preserved Hierapolis Theatre, the Apollo Temple, and the imposing Roman Baths. After the guided portion, enjoy approximately one hour of free time — many travelers opt to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (additional entrance fee), where warm mineral waters flow over submerged ancient marble columns.

Around 4:00 PM, join fellow travelers for the shared transfer by vehicle to Kusadasi, a scenic drive of approximately three hours through the Aegean countryside. Upon arrival by early evening, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the night at leisure — perhaps with a stroll along the waterfront or dinner at a seaside restaurant. Overnight in Kusadasi.

After breakfast at your hotel, around 8:30 AM your guide will gather the group for a full day exploring one of the ancient world’s most remarkable cities. Begin with a short drive to the Temple of Artemis, once celebrated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Though only a single column remains standing today, your guide will bring this once-magnificent sanctuary back to life with vivid descriptions of its original grandeur.

Continue to the Ephesus Ancient City, where you’ll spend the morning walking its marble-paved streets alongside fellow travelers. Marvel at the iconic Library of Celsus, with its elaborately restored façade, then take in the impressive Great Theatre, which once seated 25,000 spectators. Along the way, your guide will point out the Temple of Hadrian and the Trajan Fountain.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant around 1:00 PM before heading into the hills above Ephesus to visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a peaceful pilgrimage site believed to be where Mary spent her final years.

Around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport for your evening flight to Istanbul (approximately 1 hour). Upon arrival in Istanbul, this memorable journey comes to an end. End of Tour and Services.