10-Day Best of Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Pamukkale, Pergamon, Ephesus and Cappadocia

When your flight arrives at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), we'll meet you at the international arrivals exit. Our representative will hold a sign with our agency code so you can identify them. After a brief welcome, we'll transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

The rest of the day is yours, with no scheduled sightseeing or required walking. You can rest after your flight or explore Istanbul independently. If you head out, wear comfortable shoes for uneven sidewalks and bring water.

For an optional evening outing, you can join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus Strait at an extra cost. You'll see Istanbul's waterfront from the water, with dinner and live entertainment aboard. Bring a light layer for the breeze on deck.

No meals are included in today's tour; dinner is part of the optional cruise package only. If you stay ashore, you can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense. You'll spend the night in Istanbul.

• Overnight in Istanbul.
• Included Meal(s): None

After breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel at around 8:30 AM to begin your guided tour of Istanbul. Your first stop is Hagia Sophia, completed in 537 AD as a cathedral and now an active mosque. Your guide will explain its Christian and Islamic features beneath the great dome.

Next, visit the Blue Mosque, known for its blue Iznik tiles and six minarets. At the Byzantine Hippodrome, you'll walk across the former setting for chariot races. Look for the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and German Fountain. Expect several stretches of walking and standing throughout the day, with crowds at the main sights.

We'll stop at a local restaurant for your included lunch of Turkish cuisine. Then explore Topkapi Palace, home to Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. You'll see its courtyards and treasury displays, with an optional visit to the Harem, the family's private quarters.

Your final stop is the Grand Bazaar, where covered lanes hold shops selling carpets, ceramics, and gold. Wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for mosque visits. Women should bring a scarf to cover their hair, and everyone should carry water.

The tour ends at around 5:00 PM, followed by your transfer back to your hotel. Your evening is free, and you'll stay overnight in Istanbul. You can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense.

• Overnight in Istanbul.
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, you'll meet your guide and fellow travelers at around 8:30 AM before setting out to explore the Bosphorus. Your guide will pick you up from your Istanbul hotel for the drive to Eminönü pier. Before boarding, you'll briefly visit the Spice Bazaar, where stalls sell spices, dried fruit, and Turkish delight.

You'll board a shared boat for a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, between Istanbul's European and Asian shores. From the water, look for Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and the Bosphorus Bridge. Waterfront mansions and historic fortresses line stretches of both shores.

Walking is mostly limited to the market, pier, and airport, with steps when boarding the boat. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a light layer for the breeze on the Bosphorus. Keep sun protection handy, especially if you plan to sit on the open deck.

After the cruise, you'll return to your hotel to collect your luggage. We'll then transfer you to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Denizli, lasting approximately 1.5 hours. On arrival at Denizli Airport, our representative will meet you for the transfer to your hotel. You'll check in and stay overnight in Pamukkale.

• Overnight in Pamukkale..
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

After breakfast, check out of your hotel for pickup by your guide at around 10:30 AM. You'll set out with your fellow travelers to explore Hierapolis, part of the UNESCO-listed Pamukkale-Hierapolis site.

Your guide will show you the Temple of Apollo and the tiered Pamukkale Theatre. You'll also explore the Necropolis and Roman Baths. Expect substantial walking on uneven stone paths, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.

We'll pause for lunch before heading to Karahayit in the afternoon. Here, mineral-rich thermal water leaves reddish deposits around the springs. Your guide will explain how these deposits differ from Pamukkale's white terraces.

Next, visit Pamukkale's Cotton Cliffs, formed by calcium carbonate deposited by flowing thermal water. You'll remove your shoes on designated travertine walking areas, where wet surfaces can be slippery. If open during your visit, the Cleopatra Antique Pools offer an optional swim for an additional fee. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you'd like to swim.

Your tour ends at around 4:00 PM, when you'll begin the transfer to Kusadasi. The drive takes roughly three hours, with arrival expected by 7:00 PM, depending on traffic. You'll spend the night at your hotel in Kusadasi. For dinner, you can choose a local restaurant at your own expense.

• Overnight in Kusadasi.
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel in Kusadasi for the drive to Pergamon. You'll begin your guided tour at the hilltop Acropolis of Pergamon, overlooking the modern town of Bergama.

With your guide and fellow travelers, you'll explore the remains of the Library of Pergamon, once a major center of ancient scholarship. Next comes the Temple of Athena, dedicated to the goddess of wisdom and war. You'll also see the marble columns of the Temple of Trajan, built to honor the Roman emperor.

At the Altar of Zeus, you'll see the foundations, rather than the sculpted friezes now held in Berlin. Your guide will explain how those carvings depicted battles between gods and giants. Then we'll stop at a local restaurant for your included Turkish lunch; the menu varies.

After lunch, you'll explore the Gymnasium, where athletes trained, and the Lower Agora, once a marketplace. Next, you'll see the Hellenistic Theater, with seating descending sharply down the hillside. Your last stop is the Temple of Dionysus, dedicated to the god of wine and theater.

Expect substantial walking over uneven stone, with slopes and steps between the ruins. Wear shoes with good grip, and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat for exposed sections. After the tour, we'll transfer you back to your hotel in Kusadasi for the night. Your evening is free, so you can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense.

• Overnight in Kusadasi.
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel in Kusadasi for pickup at around 8:30 AM. You'll meet your guide and fellow travelers before setting out to explore Ephesus. Expect plenty of walking on uneven marble, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.

Your walk begins along Curetes Street, lined with remains of the ancient city's public buildings. At the Temple of Hadrian at Ephesus, look closely at the carved architectural details. Continue to the Great Theatre Ephesus, where your guide explains its use for performances and public gatherings. You'll also see the Trajan Fountain and learn how water reached the city's fountains.

You'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the House of the Virgin Mary. This hillside pilgrimage site is traditionally associated with Mary's final years. The modest stone building offers a change of pace after the exposed streets of Ephesus.

Next, visit the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Little remains today, so your guide will help you picture its original scale. Your final stop is Isa Bey Mosque, built in 1375. Bring a shoulder covering and wear clothing covering your knees; women should also carry a headscarf.

At around 4:00 PM, we'll drive you to Izmir Airport for your late-evening flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul. On arrival, a representative will greet you with a sign bearing your name. You'll then transfer to your hotel for an overnight in Cappadocia.

• Overnight in Cappadocia..
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, you'll meet your guide and fellow travelers at around 9:30 AM before setting out to explore North Cappadocia. Pickup is from your hotel. If you'd like an earlier start, you can book an optional hot air balloon ride at extra cost, subject to weather.

We'll start at Devrent Valley, where erosion has shaped rocks into animal-like forms. Next, you'll see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles at Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley). Expect walking on uneven paths throughout the day, with some steps at the cave sites. Wear comfortable shoes with grip, and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat for exposed stretches.

We'll drive to Avanos, a town known for pottery made with local clay, for your lunch stop. After lunch, you'll explore Zelve Open Air Museum. Its rock-cut homes and churches show how people lived and worshipped within these valleys.

Your final stop gives you about 15 minutes to photograph Uchisar Castle from outside. This is an exterior photo stop only, with no entry to the castle. The tour ends at around 4:00 PM, followed by your transfer back to the hotel.

The rest of your day is free, with optional activities available at extra cost. You can choose a Turkish Night show with dinner or a two-hour ATV or horseback riding tour. A one-hour Whirling Dervish show is another option. You'll stay overnight in Cappadocia.

• Overnight in Cappadocia..
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, you'll meet your guide and fellow travelers at around 9:30 AM before setting out to explore South Cappadocia. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and explain the day's route.

We'll start in Red Valley, exploring churches cut into the volcanic rock. You'll then follow a 5 km hiking route through Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Expect uneven paths, so wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.

Next, you'll visit Cavusin Village to see its old houses and churches associated with Christian communities. We'll stop around noon for your included lunch, though the menu varies. After lunch, we'll continue to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), named for the pigeon houses carved into its cliffs.

In the afternoon, you'll explore either Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City. These underground spaces sheltered Christian communities during periods of danger. There are low ceilings, narrow passages, and steps, so tell your guide if enclosed spaces trouble you.

We'll transfer you back to your hotel at around 4:00 PM, leaving the rest of the day free. You can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense. You'll spend the night in Cappadocia.

• Overnight in Cappadocia..
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel in Cappadocia. We'll pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Kayseri Airport. You'll fly to Istanbul in the morning or afternoon, depending on flight availability.

When you arrive, we'll greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of your day is free, with sightseeing time depending on your flight schedule.

If time allows, you could explore Istiklal Avenue independently, looking out for its red heritage tram and covered shopping passages. Walking is entirely optional today, so you can keep your outing short or stay at the hotel. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water if you head out, as the avenue can get crowded.

Your evening is yours, with an overnight stay in Istanbul. You can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense, perhaps trying grilled köfte.

• Overnight in Istanbul..
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel in Istanbul before 12:00 noon. We'll pick you up from your hotel for your airport transfer, scheduled according to your flight details.

There’s no sightseeing scheduled today. Walking is mainly through the airport, where reaching your gate can mean a long walk. Wear comfortable shoes, and keep your passport and flight details handy in your carry-on.

END OF OUR SERVICE AND TOURS. Your transfer to Istanbul International Airport marks the end of our tour and services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast