Overview
A guided route that links Turkey’s two great faces — the minarets and markets of Istanbul and the volcanic valleys of Cappadocia — this nine-day group tour also traces the country’s classical and wartime past along the Aegean coast. After an airport welcome in Istanbul and a day to settle in, you join fellow travelers to walk the marble courtyards of Topkapi Palace, step inside Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and browse the thousands of stalls inside the Grand Bazaar. A domestic flight carries the group to Cappadocia, where fairy chimneys rise over Pasabag, carved churches fill the Zelve Open-Air Museum, and you descend into the cool tunnels of an early-Christian underground city. The route then turns to the Aegean: the mineral-white terraces of Pamukkale beside the ruins of Hierapolis, the Library of Celsus and Great Theatre at Ephesus, and the hilltop temples of the Pergamon Acropolis. Heading north, the journey reaches Çanakkale for the legendary city of Troy and a ferry across the Dardanelles to the cemeteries and memorials of Gallipoli. With an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets, domestic flights, intercity drives, hotels, and daily breakfasts handled, the logistics stay off your plate. You travel with a small group, swap stories over included lunches, and end where you began — back in Istanbul for your departure flight home.
Trip Highlights
- Step inside Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul
- Wander the 4,000 stalls of the Grand Bazaar
- Watch fairy chimneys glow over Pasabag and Devrent Valley
- Descend into a carved Cappadocian underground city
- Stand barefoot on Pamukkale's white travertine terraces
- Walk the marble streets of ancient Ephesus
- Explore the hilltop Pergamon Acropolis and its theatre
- See the Trojan Horse replica at legendary Troy
- Cross the Dardanelles by ferry to Gallipoli's memorials
Day-by-day itinerary
Welcome to Turkey! Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), our representative will meet you at the international arrivals gate, holding a sign with our agency code for easy identification. After a warm welcome, you’ll be transferred to your hotel for check-in.
The rest of the day is yours to relax after your flight or explore the surroundings at your own pace. You’ll have the chance to meet fellow travelers joining the group before the days ahead.
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 can arrange your own accommodation during the tour. We will provide a new package tour price excluding the hotel accommodation cost. In this case, all other services included in the package tour will still be provided, except for hotel accommodation.
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, your guide will collect the group from your hotel to begin a full day exploring Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks. With an official English-speaking guide and all entrance tickets included, you’ll join fellow travelers to see the most remarkable monuments left behind by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires.
Step inside the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, a centerpiece of the old city, before admiring the elegant interior of The Blue Mosque Istanbul. Walk through the Byzantine Hippodrome at Sultanahmet Square, then tour the imperial halls and courtyards of Topkapi Palace Museum. A lunch at a central city restaurant is included before you explore the Grand Bazaar Istanbul, home to more than 4,000 shops.
Around 5:00 pm, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure.
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 can arrange your own accommodation during the tour. We will provide a new package tour price excluding the hotel accommodation cost. In this case, all other services included in the package tour will still be provided, except for hotel accommodation.
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.
This morning, you will be picked up from your Istanbul hotel and transferred to the airport for your early flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir, a journey of roughly 90 minutes. On arrival, a representative will meet you and drive you into the heart of Cappadocia, where you will join your guide and fellow travelers to begin the North Cappadocia tour.
The day starts at Devrent Valley, known for its unusual fairy chimneys, followed by the mushroom-shaped pinnacles of Pasabag Monks Valley. Continue on to the town of Avanos, where lunch is included. Afterward, explore the carved caves and ancient churches of the Zelve Open Air Museum, then take in the views around Uchisar Castle (interior not accessible). You will then be transferred to your hotel for check-in.
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, Zula Cave House, or Kismet 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 can arrange your own accommodation during the tour. We will provide a new package tour price excluding the hotel accommodation cost. In this case, all other services included in the package tour will still be provided, except for hotel accommodation.
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.
Following breakfast at your hotel, your tour guide will collect you around 9:30 am to begin a full day exploring South Cappadocia. After a short briefing, the group heads to the Red Valley, known for its rock-cut churches, where you will hike roughly 5 km through the rose-tinted landscape of the Rose Valley (Gulludere).
Next, visit Cavusin Village, famous for its old dwellings and the churches once used by Christian clergymen. The group pauses for lunch around noon before driving on to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik). In the afternoon, descend into the carved tunnels of Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians once sheltered.
This brings the tour to a close. You will then be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your flight to Izmir via Istanbul. Upon arrival at Izmir Airport, a representative holding a sign with your name will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Kuşadası.
Overnight in Kuşadası.
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 can arrange your own accommodation during the tour. We will provide a new package tour price excluding the hotel accommodation cost. In this case, all other services included in the package tour will still be provided, except for hotel accommodation.
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 7:30 am, you will be collected from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selçuk, where the full group gathers for the first time. The drive to Pamukkale begins at 8:30 am and takes roughly 3 hours, with a 10-minute restroom break after about 1.5 hours along the way.
Arriving around 11:45 am, the group heads first to a relaxed lunch before the guided tour starts at approximately 1:00 pm with a professional licensed guide. At Pamukkale, you will see the famous Cotton Cliffs, the dazzling white terraces formed over centuries by deposits of calcareous salts. The tour continues through the ancient ruins of Hierapolis, including its basilica, theatre, and Roman Baths.
At the end of the guided tour, you will have free time to explore at your own pace. As an option, you may choose to swim in the antique thermal pools (at your own expense); your guide will confirm the meeting point and time.
The day winds down around 4:00 pm, with the group returning to Kusadasi by around 7:00 pm.
Overnight in Kusadasi.
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 can arrange your own accommodation during the tour. We will provide a new package tour price excluding the hotel accommodation cost. In this case, all other services included in the package tour will still be provided, except for hotel accommodation.
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 at your hotel around 8:30 am, your guide will pick up the group to begin a full day exploring the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, once one of the most important centres of the classical world. Walk the marble streets to see the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theatre of Ephesus, and the Trajan Fountain alongside fellow travelers.
After lunch, visit the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her final years. You will pass by the Temple of Artemis, once among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, though little of it remains today.
Next, your guide leads the group to the Isa Bey Mosque before continuing to Şirince Village, an old Greek settlement known for its quaint charm and local wine production. Enjoy one hour of free time to wander the traditional shops and sample regional foods and wines on your own.
Around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
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 can arrange your own accommodation during the tour. We will provide a new package tour price excluding the hotel accommodation cost. In this case, all other services included in the package tour will still be provided, except for hotel accommodation.
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, your group will be collected around 10:30 AM from your hotel in Kusadasi for the drive north to Pergamon, one of the ancient world’s major centers of power. Following a lunch break, your guide will lead the group on a fully guided tour of the Pergamon Acropolis, set on a commanding hilltop.
Here you will explore the ruins of the Zeus Altar, known as the “Throne of Satan,” and the steep Hellenistic Theatre, which once seated 10,000 spectators. Your guide will share the story of the Library of Pergamon, said to have held 200,000 books, before walking the group through the terraced Gymnasium, the lower Agora, the Temple of Dionysus, the Temple of Athena, and the Temple of Trajan.
At the end of the tour, you will be transferred by road to your hotel in Çanakkale, gateway to the Gallipoli Peninsula and ancient Troy.
Overnight in Çanakkale.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Canakkale: Grand Anzac Hotel, Helen Hotel, or Akol 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 can arrange your own accommodation during the tour. We will provide a new package tour price excluding the hotel accommodation cost. In this case, all other services included in the package tour will still be provided, except for hotel accommodation.
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, your group will be picked up around 8:30 AM for the drive to Çanakkale and the legendary site of Troy, the city of Helen made famous in Homer’s Iliad. Your guide will lead the group to the reproduction of the Trojan Horse and explain the Trojan Wars as you explore the Sacrificial Altars, ancient city walls, houses dating back thousands of years, the Bouleuterion, Odeon, and the current excavations.
You’ll then cross the Dardanelles narrows by ferry to the fishing village of Kilitbahir, with its fort built by Mehmet the Conqueror. After lunch in Eceabat, the group continues to Gallipoli. Your visit covers Brighton Beach, the Beach Cemetery, Anzac Cove, Ariburnu Cemetery, the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly, the 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial, The Nek and the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.
At the end of the tour, at approximately 5:00 PM, you will begin your journey back to Istanbul by road. Upon arrival in Istanbul at approximately 11:00 PM, you will be transferred 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 can arrange your own accommodation during the tour. We will provide a new package tour price excluding the hotel accommodation cost. In this case, all other services included in the package tour will still be provided, except for hotel accommodation.
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 (hotel check-out time is 12:00 noon). According to your international flight schedule, you will be transferred to Istanbul Airport. Upon arrival at the airport, our tour and services will conclude.
Inclusions:
- 8 nights hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
- 7 lunches at local/city restaurants as per itinerary
- Arrival Meet & Greet Service & Departure Airport Transfer
- All intercity and hotel transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
- Domestic flight: Istanbul to Kayseri/Nevsehir (Cappadocia)
- Domestic flight: Cappadocia (Kayseri/Nevsehir) to Izmir via Istanbul
- Professional English-Speaking Local Tour Guides During Scheduled Tours
- All entrance fees and tickets as per itinerary
- Air-conditioned tour bus for all guided excursions
- Visits to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Gallipoli, Pergamon & Troy
- Local taxes and service charges
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Turkey e-Visa fee
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Drinks during meals (except water)
- Dinners and meals not mentioned in inclusions
- Optional activities (hot air balloon, Pamukkale antique pool swim, Turkish bath)
- Gratuities for guide and driver
- Anything not mentioned in inclusions
Important Information
- Domestic flights within Turkey (Istanbul to Cappadocia, and Cappadocia to Izmir) allow only 15 kg of checked luggage and one 8 kg carry-on per person. Excess luggage fees apply at the airport, so we recommend packing light and using soft-sided bags.
- Some tour days may require early morning airport transfers to catch domestic flights. Please be ready in the hotel lobby at the scheduled pickup time.
- This tour involves significant walking over uneven terrain, including a roughly 5 km hike through the Red and Rose Valleys in Cappadocia and steep ancient sites such as the Pergamon Acropolis and Ephesus. A reasonable level of fitness and sturdy, comfortable walking shoes are essential.
- A modest dress code is required when visiting the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Isa Bey Mosque: women should cover their head, shoulders, and knees, and shoes must be removed. Headscarves are usually available at mosque entrances, but bringing your own scarf is recommended.
- Mosques, including the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, are closed to visitors during prayer times, especially Friday midday prayers (approximately 12:00-14:00). Your guide will arrange the Istanbul itinerary to accommodate these closures where possible.
- Hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia are NOT included in this tour but can be arranged as an optional extra. They are weather-dependent and subject to aviation authority approval, so we recommend pre-booking for your first morning in Cappadocia to allow time for rescheduling if canceled.
- On Day 8, the tour crosses the Dardanelles by ferry between Çanakkale and Kilitbahir. Ferry schedules are subject to weather and operational conditions, which may slightly affect timings.
- Several touring days involve long drives, such as the 3-hour journey to Pamukkale and the transfers between Kusadasi, Çanakkale, and Istanbul. Bring water, sunscreen, and any travel-comfort items you may need for the road.
- Most travelers require an e-Visa to enter Turkey, which should be obtained online before departure. Please ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates.
- The Pamukkale travertine terraces must be walked barefoot to protect the calcium deposits. The surface can be slippery, so please take care, and bring a towel if you wish to wade in the thermal pools.
- Turkey uses Type C and F electrical outlets (European standard, 220V). Travelers from the US/UK should bring a suitable adapter. The Turkish Lira is the local currency, and we recommend carrying some cash for small purchases, tips, and rural sites where card payment may not be accepted.
- As this is a shared group tour, room assignments are based on twin/double sharing. Triple rooms are available at select hotels but may be limited, and single travelers are subject to a single supplement.
FAQs
General
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 15-25 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 Ella R.(Dunedin, New Zealand)June 20, 2026 Really enjoyed touring Turkey soloSerdar in Istanbul made the first day really easy, which helped a lot as I was travelling solo. The 9-day Turkey tour had heaps packed in, Cappadocia was my favourite with the hot air balloon and a bit of hiking around the valleys. Aylin was great there too. Some starts were very early and Gallipoli was a long day, but Kenan kept it interesting. Hotels like Antea Hotel Old City were clean and handy. I was tired by the end, but very happy.Date of Experience: June 07, 2026
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