9-Day Best of Turkey Tour from Chicago, USA (Flights Included)

Overnight Flight from Chicago to Istanbul

Your journey begins at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Please arrive at the airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled departure to allow enough time for check-in, baggage drop, passport control, and security procedures. Use your e-tickets to check in for your international flight from Chicago to Istanbul.

After boarding, settle into your seat for the overnight transatlantic flight, which typically takes around 10 to 11 hours depending on routing and weather conditions. In-flight meals, beverages, and entertainment will be provided by the airline, giving you time to relax and rest as you travel toward Turkey. Your arrival in Istanbul will take place the following day. Overnight in In flight.

Arrival in Istanbul - Welcome to Turkey

Welcome to Istanbul, the city where Europe and Asia meet. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST), proceed through passport control, collect your luggage, and meet our airport representative at the designated meeting point. Around your arrival time, you will be assisted to your scheduled transfer and taken to your hotel, with the drive usually taking 45 to 75 minutes depending on traffic. Hotel check-in is generally available from 1:00 PM; if you arrive earlier, luggage storage can be arranged while rooms are prepared. The rest of the day is free to relax after your international flight or take an easy walk near your hotel. Depending on your energy level, you may wish to enjoy a casual Turkish meal, browse nearby shops, or rest before the guided sightseeing begins tomorrow. Your tour documents will confirm the exact pick-up time for the following morning. Overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, around 8:30 AM your guide will lead the group on a full-day exploration of Istanbul’s historic peninsula. Begin at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, an architectural landmark shaped by Byzantine and Ottoman history. Continue to the Blue Mosque, admired for its domes, courtyards, and blue Iznik tiles. Nearby, visit the Hippodrome, where you will see the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpentine Column, and German Fountain. After time for lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Topkapi Palace Museum, the former residence of Ottoman sultans, with treasury rooms, courtyards, and imperial views. The day concludes at the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets. By approximately 5:00 PM, return to your hotel for an evening at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

Bosphorus Cruise and Flight to Cappadocia

After breakfast, check out and meet your guide around 8:30 AM for a half-day group tour focused on the waterways and markets of Istanbul. Start at the Spice Market, where stalls display Turkish delight, teas, dried fruits, spices, and local specialties. Continue to the pier for a scenic Bosphorus Cruise along the strait separating Europe and Asia. From the water, view notable landmarks including Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, and Ottoman waterfront mansions lining both shores. After free time for lunch, transfer to Istanbul Airport for your domestic flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport, meet the local team and continue by group transfer to your hotel, approximately 45 to 75 minutes away. Check in and enjoy a relaxed evening in this unique volcanic region. Overnight in Cappadocia.

North Cappadocia Tour - Valleys, Pottery and Rock-Cut Villages

Optional early morning hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia is available at additional cost and must be pre-booked; pick-up is usually before sunrise and depends on weather approval. 

After breakfast at the hotel, around 9:30 AM join fellow travelers for the North Cappadocia tour. Begin at Devrent Valley, often called Imagination Valley for its animal-shaped rock formations. Continue to Pasabag Valley, also known as Monks Valley, where tall fairy chimneys show the region’s distinctive volcanic landscape. Around midday, pause for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Avanos, a town known for pottery traditions using red clay from the Kizilirmak River. Continue to the Zelve Open Air Museum, where cave dwellings, chapels, and communal spaces are carved into the rocks. End at Uchisar Castle for panoramic views before returning by about 4:00 PM. Overnight in Cappadocia.

South Cappadocia Tour and Flight to Izmir

After breakfast, check out and depart around 9:00 AM for a full-day South Cappadocia tour. Your guide will lead the group first to Red Valley and Rose Valley, known for colorful rock layers, cave churches, and walking paths between volcanic formations. Continue to Çavuşin Village, where abandoned rock-cut homes and old chapels show daily life from earlier periods. After lunch at a local restaurant, stop at Pigeon Valley for photographs of dovecotes carved into the cliffs. The main underground visit will be Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where you will walk through tunnels, storage rooms, and living spaces used for protection. By late afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, continue to your hotel in Kusadasi and check in. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Pamukkale and Hierapolis Full-Day Tour

After breakfast, depart around 7:30 AM for Pamukkale, with a drive of approximately 3 hours from Kusadasi. Upon arrival, your guide will lead the group through the white terraces of the Pamukkale Travertines, formed over centuries by mineral-rich thermal waters. You will have time to walk barefoot along designated areas, so bringing a small towel is recommended. Continue into the UNESCO-listed Hierapolis-Pamukkale archaeological site, where the ancient spa city once welcomed Roman visitors. Visit the impressive Hierapolis Theatre, the Roman Baths of Hierapolis, and the extensive Necropolis of Hierapolis. After free time for lunch, guests may choose to swim in the Cleopatra Antique Pools at an additional cost. By approximately 6:30 PM, return to Kusadasi for an evening at leisure. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Ephesus Tour and Flight to Istanbul

After breakfast, check out and meet your guide around 8:30 AM for a full-day tour of the Ephesus region. Begin at House of the Virgin Mary, a peaceful pilgrimage site on Mount Koressos. Continue to the Ephesus Ancient City, one of the best-preserved classical cities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Walk along Curetes Street and see the Library of Celsus, Great Theatre, Temple of Hadrian, and Trajan Fountain. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Temple of Artemis, once counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the Isa Bey Mosque. By late afternoon, transfer to Izmir Airport for your evening flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and check in. Overnight in Istanbul.

Departure from Istanbul to Chicago

After breakfast, check out from your hotel by the standard check-out time (around 12:00 PM). Depending on your flight schedule, you may have some free time for a short walk, coffee, or last-minute shopping near your hotel.

Your departure transfer will be arranged approximately 4 hours before your flight, allowing enough time for traffic, check-in, passport control, and security procedures at Istanbul Airport.

Upon arrival at the airport, check in for your return flight to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) using your airline confirmation details. Most flights from Istanbul to Chicago arrive on the same day due to the time difference. End of tour services.