Overview
Minarets rise over the Bosphorus as your Turkey story begins with a warm airport welcome in Istanbul and the easy camaraderie of a guided group. An guided start draws you into the city’s layered soul—Hagia Sophia’s vast dome, the Blue Mosque’s Iznik glow, Topkapi’s courtyards, the Grand Bazaar’s color, and a spice-scented cruise between Europe and Asia. From there, domestic flights carry you to Cappadocia, where your guide will lead the group through dreamlike valleys, pottery traditions in Avanos, cave-carved Zelve, Uchisar viewpoints, and underground cities that once sheltered entire communities. The journey softens into the mineral-white terraces of Hierapolis-Pamukkale, then deepens among the marble avenues of Ephesus, where the Library of Celsus and Great Theatre still command awe. With shared transfers, domestic flights, and an intercity bus connection handled, you continue to Troy and the moving battlefields of Gallipoli before returning to Istanbul with new friends, ancient stories, and Turkey’s most unforgettable landscapes etched into memory.
Trip Highlights
- Stand beneath Hagia Sophia’s soaring Byzantine-Ottoman dome
- Cruise the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia
- Browse Spice Bazaar stalls fragrant with teas and spices
- Marvel at Pasabag’s mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys
- Shape Cappadocia memories in Avanos’ pottery town
- Descend into Kaymakli or Ozkonak Underground City
- Walk Pamukkale’s gleaming white travertine terraces
- Trace Ephesus’ Curetes Street to Celsus Library
- Step into Troy’s legends beside the Trojan Horse
- Witness Gallipoli’s memorials at Anzac Cove and Lone Pine
Route: Istanbul (3 nights) → Cappadocia (2 nights) → Kusadasi (2 nights) → Canakkale (1 night) → Istanbul · Day trips: Izmir, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Gallipoli, Troy
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Welcome to Istanbul. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport, our representative will meet you at the international arrivals exit with clear identification and assist you with your group transfer to the hotel. After the drive into the city, complete check-in formalities, settle into your room, and take some time to rest after your journey. The remainder of the day is free, giving you the flexibility to explore at your own pace depending on your arrival time. You may choose to walk through the streets around Sultanahmet, enjoy a relaxed Turkish meal nearby, or simply unwind at the hotel before the guided touring begins the next morning. If you arrive earlier in the day, your tour documents and pick-up details for the following day will be confirmed by the local team. An optional evening dinner cruise on the Bosphorus may be available at an additional cost, subject to timing and availability. 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, meet your guide and join fellow travelers for a full-day exploration of Istanbul’s historic peninsula. Begin at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, one of the city’s most important landmarks, known for its vast dome and layered Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. Continue to the Blue Mosque, admired for its six minarets and elegant Iznik tiles. Your guide will then lead the group through the Byzantine Hippodrome, where you will see the ancient columns and monuments that once marked the heart of public life in Constantinople. Around 12:30 PM, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Topkapi Palace Museum, former residence of Ottoman sultans and home to impressive courtyards, collections, and imperial treasures. In the late afternoon, explore the Grand Bazaar, where thousands of shops sell carpets, ceramics, jewelry, and textiles. Return to your hotel around 5:00 PM, with the evening free. 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, join the group for a half-day Bosphorus program. Begin with a visit to the Spice Bazaar, where stalls are filled with Turkish delight, dried fruits, teas, and aromatic spices. Continue to the pier for a relaxing Bosphorus Cruise, sailing between the European and Asian shores of Istanbul. Along the way, enjoy views of waterfront mansions, historic fortifications, the Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and the Bosphorus Bridge. The cruise ends around 12:15 PM, and you will return to the hotel to collect your luggage. In the afternoon, transfer to the domestic airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir, usually taking about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Upon arrival, our local representative will meet the group and transfer you to Cappadocia, approximately 1 hour away. After check-in at your cave-style hotel, the evening is free to relax or enjoy dinner locally. 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.
An optional early morning hot air balloon ride may be arranged at an additional cost, subject to weather and aviation approval.
After breakfast, around 9:30 AM, your guide will lead the group through North Cappadocia’s most distinctive landscapes. Start at Devrent Valley, famous for rock formations that resemble animals and figures. Continue to Pasabag Valley, also known as Monks Valley, where mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys rise from the volcanic terrain. Around midday, drive to Avanos, a town known for pottery traditions linked to the red clay of the Kızılırmak River, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, an abandoned rock-cut settlement with cave dwellings, chapels, and community spaces. Before returning to the hotel, stop near Uchisar Castle for panoramic photos from the outside. The tour ends around 4:00 PM, leaving free time for optional ATV, horseback riding, or a cultural evening show. 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.
After breakfast and check-out, around 9:30 AM, begin your South Cappadocia tour with the group. Visit Red Valley and Rose Valley, where walking paths pass through colorful volcanic formations and rock-cut chapels. Continue to Çavuşin Village, known for its old cave houses and early Christian churches. After lunch at a local restaurant, stop at Pigeon Valley for photographs of dovecotes carved into the cliffs. In the afternoon, explore Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where tunnels, storage rooms, and ventilation shafts reveal how communities once sheltered below ground. Around 3:30 PM, transfer to Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your evening flight to Izmir, usually via Istanbul. On arrival, meet the local representative and continue to your hotel in Kusadasi for check-in, with a late evening arrival expected. 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, around 7:30 AM, depart from your hotel in Kusadasi and travel with the group toward Pamukkale, a drive of approximately 3 hours with a short comfort stop on the way. Arrive around 11:45 AM and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before beginning the guided visit at approximately 1:00 PM. Explore the bright white terraces of the Pamukkale Travertines, formed by mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down the hillside. Your guide will then lead you through Hierapolis-Pamukkale, an ancient spa city with well-preserved remains from the Roman and Byzantine periods. Key stops may include the Hierapolis Theatre, the Roman Baths of Hierapolis, and sections of the ancient streets. You will also have about 1 hour of free time to walk across designated terrace areas or swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools at your own expense. Depart around 4:00 PM and return to Kusadasi by approximately 7:30 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 the hotel, check out and join fellow travelers for your full-day guided group tour of Ephesus. You will be picked up around 8:30 AM, and your guide will lead the group through one of the best-preserved ancient cities of the classical world. Highlights include the Temple of Hadrian, Great Theatre, Trajan Fountain, Curetes Street, and the impressive Library of Celsus.
After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be her final residence. You will also visit the remains of the Temple of Artemis, once counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, before concluding with the Isa Bey Mosque, a fine example of Seljuk architecture. At the end of the tour, transfer to Kusadasi and continue to the bus station for your intercity bus to Canakkale, departing around 6:30 PM. The journey takes approximately 6 hours, with short breaks along the way. Upon arrival in Canakkale, you will be met at the bus station and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Canakkale.
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 and check-out, around 8:30 AM, depart for the legendary site of Troy. Your guide will lead the group through the ruins, explaining the different settlement layers from Troy I to Troy IX. See the replica Trojan Horse, the Sacrificial Altars of Troy, sections of ancient city walls, and the Houses of Troy I. Around 11:30 AM, continue to Eceabat and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before beginning the Gallipoli battlefield tour. In the afternoon, visit Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, Anzac Cove, the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly, The Nek, the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial, and the 57th Regiment Turkish Memorial. Depart for Istanbul around 6:00 PM, arriving at your hotel close to 11:00 PM. 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 at the hotel, check out by 11:00 AM unless a late check-out has been arranged in advance. Depending on your international flight time, you may have a short period at leisure for packing, a final coffee, or last-minute shopping near the hotel. At the confirmed pick-up time, our representative will meet you in the lobby and assist with your transfer to Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Please allow sufficient travel time, as Istanbul traffic can vary considerably throughout the day, especially during morning and evening rush hours. For international flights, we recommend arriving at the airport at least 3 hours before departure. Your guide and local operations team will confirm the transfer details one day prior, and hotel staff can assist with luggage until your vehicle arrives. This concludes your 9-day Turkey guided group journey through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy, and Gallipoli. End of tour services.
Inclusions:
- 3 nights in Istanbul at special class or 4-star hotels, including breakfast
- 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast
- 2 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast
- 1 night in Çanakkale at a 3-star hotel, including breakfast
- Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch)
- Shared airport transfers with meet & greet on arrival in Istanbul and departure transfer to Istanbul airport
- Domestic flight tickets (Istanbul → Cappadocia → Izmir)
- English-speaking group guide during the guided tours
- Air-conditioned tour bus for shared group sightseeing and transfers mentioned in the itinerary
- All entrance fees indicated in the itinerary, local taxes, and service charges
Exclusions:
- International flight tickets
- Visa to enter Turkey
- Travel insurance
- Cappadocia hot air balloon ride
- Optional tours and activities mentioned in the program
- Drinks and dinners
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Gratuities for guide and driver
- Services not mentioned in the program
FAQs
Yes. This itinerary is designed for first-time travelers who want to see Turkey’s key highlights in a structured group format. It includes Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy, and Gallipoli with guides handling the main logistics.
Yes, the domestic flights from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir and from Cappadocia to Izmir, usually via Istanbul, are included as described in the itinerary. Flight times may vary based on airline schedules and availability.
No, the hot air balloon ride is optional and available at an additional cost. It is highly recommended to pre-book, as spaces are limited and flights depend on weather approval.
This tour involves moderate walking on most sightseeing days. Ephesus, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Troy, Gallipoli, and Cappadocia all include uneven terrain, so comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended.
Yes. Free time is included on arrival day, some evenings in Istanbul and Cappadocia, and during the Pamukkale visit. Optional activities may be offered locally depending on timing and availability.
Accommodation is typically in standard quality boutique, special class, 3-star, or 4-star hotels depending on the city. Cappadocia accommodation is usually in a cave-style hotel, subject to availability at the time of booking.
Yes. The order of visits may be adjusted due to flight schedules, museum closures, traffic, weather, or operational requirements. The included sightseeing will be maintained as closely as possible.
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:
-
Verified Purchase
By Marlee C.(Bunbury, Australia)May 4, 2026 Great Turkey tour with One Nation Travel and our guideWe did the 9 day Turkey tour with One Nation Travel for our anniversary and had a really nice time. The planning made everything feel easy, and our guide was helpful without making things feel rushed. Our airport transfers showed up when they were supposed to, which we really appreciated. Hotels were clean and comfortable too. A smooth, fun trip overall.Date of Experience: May 04, 2026
Write a Review Cancel reply
Thank you. Your review will appear after admin approves it.
Please fill all the fields.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Featured Hotels
Hotel options associated with this itinerary; the selected tour page and written confirmation control the included hotel and category.
View Featured Hotels (13)- 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.
