This 7-day guided tour visits Kusadasi (2 nights), Cappadocia (2 nights) and Istanbul (2 nights). Prices start from $1,325 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
Step off the plane on the sun-warmed Aegean coast and let Turkey unfold like a tapestry of marble, mineral, and myth. This week-long journey carries you from the palm-lined promenades of Kusadasi into the heart of antiquity at Ephesus, where you’ll wander the same marble streets Romans once walked and stand before the soaring façade of the Library of Celsus. Trace the dazzling white travertines of Pamukkale, dipping bare feet into thermal pools that have cascaded for millennia, then fly inland to the lunar valleys of Cappadocia — a landscape of fairy chimneys, hidden cave churches, and underground cities carved by early Christians seeking refuge. Watch potters spin red clay along the Kizilirmak in Avanos, glimpse Rose Valley blushing at golden hour, and descend into the silent corridors beneath Kaymakli. Your journey crescendos in Istanbul, where domes, bazaars, and Bosphorus breezes converge at the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. With domestic flights, guided sightseeing, and comfortable hotels handled by your team, you simply travel — collecting impossible vistas and stories that linger long after the journey home.
Trip Highlights
- Wander Ephesus' marble streets past the Library of Celsus
- Walk barefoot across Pamukkale's cotton-white travertine terraces
- Explore Hierapolis' ancient theatre and sprawling necropolis
- Pause at the peaceful House of the Virgin Mary
- Marvel at Cappadocia's fairy chimneys in Pasabag Valley
- Watch potters spin red clay on the banks of Avanos
- Descend into the multi-level Kaymakli Underground City
- Step inside Istanbul's Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
- Tour the opulent courtyards of Topkapi Palace
- Lose yourself in the colourful lanes of the Grand Bazaar
Route: Kusadasi (2 nights) → Cappadocia (2 nights) → Istanbul (2 nights) · Day trips: Izmir, Pamukkale, Ephesus
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Welcome to Turkey! Upon arrival at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, our representative will greet you and assist with your transfer to your hotel in Selcuk or Kusadasi (approximately 1 hour drive). After check-in, the rest of the day is at leisure to recover from your journey.
Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to take a stroll along the Aegean coast, browse the charming streets near your hotel. The Selcuk and Kusadasi region is the perfect gateway to ancient Ionia, with a welcoming atmosphere, palm-lined promenades, and an array of local restaurants where you can sample fresh Aegean seafood and meze. Overnight in Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Kusadasi: Efe Boutique Hotel, Derici Hotel, Neopol Hotel Deluxe, or Marina Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After an early breakfast, around 7:30 AM depart from your hotel for the scenic drive to Pamukkale (approximately 3 hours). Famously known as the “Cotton Castle,” Pamukkale is celebrated for its dazzling white travertine terraces formed by calcium-rich thermal waters cascading down the mountainside for thousands of years.
Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before exploring the Travertines of Pamukkale, where you can walk barefoot along the warm mineral pools. Continue to the adjoining ancient city of Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the 2nd century BC. Walk through the impressive Necropolis of Hierapolis, admire the well-preserved Hierapolis Theatre, and learn about the legendary Cleopatra Antique Pool (optional swim, extra fee). By late afternoon, around 4:00 PM, begin the return drive to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Kusadasi: Efe Boutique Hotel, Derici Hotel, Neopol Hotel Deluxe, or Marina Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 8:30 AM meet your guide for a full day exploring one of the world’s most remarkable archaeological sites. Begin at the House of the Virgin Mary, a peaceful mountain shrine believed to be the final residence of Mary, mother of Jesus, and a place of pilgrimage for Christians and Muslims alike.
Continue to the magnificent Ephesus Ancient City, once the second largest city of the Roman Empire. Walk along marble streets to admire the iconic Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre of Ephesus which once seated 25,000 spectators, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Trajan Fountain. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Isabey Mosque and stop at a traditional leather workshop. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Izmir Airport for your flight to Kayseri via Istanbul. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Cappadocia: Heaven Cave House, Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel, or Zula Cave House.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
Optional early morning hot air balloon ride over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia (available at additional cost, must be pre-booked). After breakfast, around 9:30 AM meet your guide for the North Cappadocia tour.
Begin at Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley, where erosion has sculpted volcanic ash into whimsical animal-shaped formations. Continue to Pasabag Monks Valley to see remarkable mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys that once sheltered hermit monks in carved cells. Stop at an Avanos pottery workshop for a demonstration of clay preparation and traditional wheel throwing along the red clay banks of the Kizilirmak River. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before exploring the Zelve Open Air Museum, a fascinating abandoned cave village carved into three valleys with churches, dwellings, and a rock-cut mosque. End the day with photo stops at the Goreme Panoramic Viewpoint and the exterior of Uchisar Castle. Around 4:00 PM, return to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Cappadocia: Heaven Cave House, Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel, or Zula Cave House.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast and hotel check-out, around 9:30 AM begin the South Cappadocia tour. Start with a panoramic stop at Red Valley and Rose Valley, named for the soft pink and crimson hues that glow across the cliffs at sunset. A short walk along the trail leads to ancient rock-cut chapels with faded Byzantine frescoes.
Continue to Cavusin Village, where Byzantine-era cliff dwellings, an old church, and modern village houses sit side by side. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the area. Stop at Pigeon Valley to admire the thousands of carved pigeon houses dotting the cliff walls. Descend into Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, one of the multi-level subterranean refuges where early Christians once hid from invading armies. After the tour, transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your evening flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Istanbul: Antea Hotel Oldcity, Muyan Suites, or Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 9:00 AM meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a full day exploring the historic heart of Istanbul. Begin at the Hippodrome, the ancient Byzantine chariot-racing arena adorned with the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column.
Walk to the magnificent Blue Mosque, famed for its cascading domes and 20,000 hand-painted Iznik tiles. Cross the square to the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and one of the most significant monuments in the world. After lunch at a local restaurant, tour the opulent Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years, where you can view the imperial treasury, sacred relics, and lush courtyards overlooking the Bosphorus. Conclude with a stroll through the colorful Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest covered markets. In the evening, enjoy an optional Bosphorus Dinner Cruise (extra cost) with Turkish music and traditional dance performances. Overnight in Istanbul.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Istanbul: Antea Hotel Oldcity, Muyan Suites, or Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel in Istanbul. Please note that the standard hotel check-out time is before 12:00 noon. Depending on your flight schedule, you will be transferred to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). This will be the end of our tour and services.
Inclusions:
- 2 nights in Kusadasi or Selcuk at a comfortable 4-star or boutique hotel
- 2 nights in Cappadocia at a traditional cave-style hotel
- 2 nights in Istanbul at a comfortable 4-star or boutique hotel
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- 4 lunches at local restaurants during touring days
- All airport and intercity transfers
- Domestic flight: Izmir to Kayseri/Nevsehir (via Istanbul)
- Domestic flight: Kayseri/Nevsehir to Istanbul
- Professional English-speaking guide on touring days
- All entrance fees as per itinerary
- Air-conditioned touring vehicle
- Local taxes and service charges
Exclusions:
- International flights to Izmir and from Istanbul
- Turkey e-Visa fee
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Drinks during meals
- Optional activities (hot air balloon, Bosphorus dinner cruise, Cleopatra Pool entrance)
- Gratuities for guide and driver
- Anything not mentioned in inclusions
Important Notes
With your inquiry, please send your travel dates, number of travelers, preferred room setup, hotel class preference, and whether your dates are flexible by a day or two.
Before domestic flight tickets can be issued, we need each traveler’s full name exactly as printed in the passport, date of birth, passport number, and nationality. The name on the ticket is checked against the passport at the gate.
For pickup arrangements, send your hotel name and address, or your arrival flight number and landing time.
Tour Notes
- The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
- 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.
- Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
- Hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia are weather-dependent and may be canceled by the aviation authority. We recommend booking for your earliest available morning in Cappadocia. Refunds or rescheduling will be arranged if canceled due to weather.
- Mosques are closed to visitors during prayer times, especially Friday prayers (approximately 12:00-14:00). The itinerary is planned to avoid conflicts at the Blue Mosque, but timing may shift slightly.
- Comfortable walking shoes are essential — Ephesus, Hierapolis, and Cappadocia valleys involve uneven terrain, cobblestones, and natural rock paths.
- A modest dress code is required when visiting mosques: women should cover their head, shoulders, and knees. Headscarves are usually available at mosque entrances.
- Pamukkale travertines must be walked on barefoot to protect the natural formation — bring a small bag for your shoes.
- Underground city visits involve low ceilings, narrow passages, and steep stairs. Travelers with claustrophobia or mobility issues should advise the guide in advance.
- Room assignments are based on twin/double sharing. Triple rooms are available at select hotels but may be limited. Single supplements apply for solo travelers.
- Turkey uses Type C and F electrical outlets (European standard, 220V). Travelers from the US/UK should bring an adapter.
Room Allocation
- 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.
Flights & Transfers
- 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.
- We recommend arriving in Izmir at least one day before the tour begins to account for jet lag and potential flight delays.
FAQs
The deposit or full-payment requirement, currency, balance due date and any disclosed payment-processing charge vary by booking and are stated on the current booking page and in the written confirmation before payment. Flight and bus tickets are issued only under the confirmed booking terms and, once issued, are non-refundable. If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, notify One Nation Travel at least 5 days before the tour starts. For requests received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from your paid balance. For requests received less than 5 days before the tour starts, and for no-shows, the full amount paid is non-refundable.
If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, notify One Nation Travel at least 5 days before the tour starts. For requests received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from your paid balance. For requests received less than 5 days before the tour starts, and for no-shows, the full amount paid is non-refundable.
Most nationalities, including US, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens, require a Turkey e-Visa, which can be obtained online before arrival at evisa.gov.tr. The process takes only a few minutes. Please check your specific nationality’s requirements before traveling.
No, the hot air balloon ride is an optional activity at additional cost (approximately USD 360-400 per person depending on the operator). It must be pre-booked, and flights are weather-dependent. We recommend booking it on your first morning in Cappadocia to allow rescheduling if canceled.
April through June and September through October offer the most pleasant weather across all destinations. July and August can be hot, especially in Ephesus and Pamukkale, while winter (December-February) brings cold weather and occasional snow in Cappadocia, which many travelers find magical.
Yes, both internal flights (Izmir to Cappadocia via Istanbul, and Cappadocia to Istanbul) are included in the package price, along with all transfers between airports and hotels.
Accommodation is arranged at comfortable 4-star or boutique hotels in Istanbul and Kusadasi. In Cappadocia, guests stay at a traditional cave-style hotel, offering a unique local experience. Upgrades to 5-star hotels or premium boutique cave hotels may be available upon request for an additional fee.
Yes, this tour is family-friendly. Children especially enjoy the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, the underground cities, and walking the travertines of Pamukkale. Please note that some sites involve significant walking, and children must be supervised at all archaeological and natural sites.
Expect 3-5 hours of walking on touring days, often on uneven surfaces. Ephesus, Hierapolis, and the Cappadocia valleys all involve outdoor walking. The tour is suitable for travelers with average fitness; please advise us in advance if you have mobility concerns.
Absolutely. We can arrange additional nights in Istanbul, day trips to destinations such as the Princes’ Islands or Bursa, or extensions to other Turkish destinations like Antalya or Bodrum. Just let us know your preferences at the time of booking.
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.
Overall Trip Rating:
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Verified Purchase
By Camille W.(St. John's, Canada)May 27, 2026 Great week exploring TurkeyI did the 7 days and 6 nights Turkey tour solo and had such a fun week. The hot air balloon in Cappadocia was the big one for me, totally worth the early wake up. I also loved the hikes around the valleys and the weird rock formations. Transfers were always on time, which made moving from Izmir toward Istanbul way less stressful. Our guide kept the group moving but still gave us free time. Great mix of history and active stuff.Date of Experience: May 27, 2026
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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)- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel for an additional cost, which is added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Hotels are subject to availability; alternatives of an equal standard may be provided.
