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Explore Istanbul, Pergamon, Pamukkale and Cappadocia on an 8-day, 7-night group tour that begins and ends in Istanbul. The opening days cover the old city with an English-speaking guide, entrance tickets and lunch: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar, followed by a morning Bosphorus Cruise with a stop at the Spice Market.
From Istanbul the route continues to the ancient city of Pergamon, then to the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale and the Roman spa city of Hierapolis, and finally to the rock valleys and cave churches of Cappadocia. You are met at Istanbul New Airport or Sabiha Gokcen on arrival, and free afternoons leave room to explore at your own pace.
Your first day in Turkey starts when your flight lands, whether that's at Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) across the water in Asia. Once you clear passport control and pick up your bags, head for the exit of the international arrivals hall. Our team will be waiting there with a sign showing our agency code, so keep an eye out for it.
From there you'll be driven straight to your hotel. Plan on roughly 45 minutes to an hour from IST, and longer from SAW if traffic is heavy across the Bosphorus bridges. Check-in times vary by hotel, so if you land early, the front desk can usually hold your luggage.
The rest of the afternoon is yours. If you've got energy left, the old city is walkable and you can get your bearings around Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, both of which you'll tour properly later in the week. Comfortable shoes matter here; the streets are cobbled and the hills are real.
There's also an optional Night Cruise on the Bosphorus Strait with dinner and a show, if you'd rather see the city from the water. It costs extra and can be arranged locally. Otherwise, take it easy and shake off the jet lag.
No meals are included today. Plenty of restaurants sit within a short walk of most hotels in Sultanahmet and Taksim, and dinner is at your own expense. Tomorrow we get started properly.
After breakfast, we'll pick you up from your hotel at around 8:30 AM for your guided tour of Istanbul. You'll explore with your English-speaking guide and fellow travelers, with attraction tickets included. First is Hagia Sophia, completed in 537 AD as a Byzantine church and now an active mosque.
Next, you'll visit the Blue Mosque, known for its blue Iznik tiles. Cover your shoulders and knees, and bring a headscarf if you're a woman. At the Byzantine Hippodrome, your guide explains the chariot races once held in today's Sultanahmet Square. You'll see surviving monuments, including the Egyptian obelisk and the bronze Serpent Column.
Around midday, you'll stop for an included lunch of traditional Turkish food at a central city restaurant. Then we'll explore Topkapi Palace, the former residence of Ottoman sultans. Its courtyards, rooms, and collections give you a closer look at life in the Ottoman court.
Your final stop is the Grand Bazaar, where covered lanes hold shops selling carpets, ceramics, and textiles. You'll have time to browse and bargain if something catches your eye. Expect substantial walking and standing throughout the day, including uneven paving and crowded passages. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, especially in hot weather.
We'll transfer you back to your hotel at around 5:00 PM, leaving the evening free. You can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense. You'll stay overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast, you'll meet your guide and fellow travelers at around 8:30 AM before setting out to explore the Bosphorus. We'll drive to the pier in Eminönü, with a brief visit to the nearby Spice Bazaar. Also called the Egyptian Bazaar, its stalls sell spices, dried fruit, and Turkish delight.
Next, you'll board a shared boat for a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait. This waterway separates Europe and Asia and connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. You'll see both shorelines from the water, lined with waterfront mansions and old fortifications.
Look out for Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace as you cruise. You'll also see the Bosphorus Bridge linking the two continents. Sightseeing is mostly from the boat, with short walks at the market and pier. Wear comfortable shoes and bring sunscreen and a light jacket for the breeze on deck.
We'll transfer you back to your hotel at around 12:30 PM, leaving the afternoon free. You can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense. Tonight, you'll stay overnight in Istanbul.
Your day starts early, with pickup from your Istanbul hotel for your transfer to the airport. You'll fly to Denizli, with departure scheduled between 6:00 and 7:00 AM; check your e-ticket for the exact time. On arrival, we'll transfer you to Pamukkale, where your guide will be waiting. You'll meet your fellow travelers here and begin your full-day tour.
First, you'll explore Hierapolis, an ancient city built beside thermal springs. Your guide will show you the Temple of Apollo, the Theatre, the Necropolis, and the Roman Baths. Expect substantial walking on uneven stone, with limited shade, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.
We'll stop for lunch featuring local Turkish cooking before continuing to Karahayit. Here, mineral-rich thermal water leaves reddish deposits around the springs. Then you'll visit the Pamukkale's Cotton Cliffs, where calcium carbonate deposits have formed white terraces and pools.
You'll remove your shoes wherever walking on the travertines is permitted; wet surfaces can be slippery. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you'd like an optional dip in the Cleopatra Antique Pools, subject to opening conditions and an additional charge.
Your tour finishes at around 4:00 PM, when we'll begin the roughly three-hour transfer to Kusadasi. You'll arrive at around 7:00 PM and check into your hotel for your overnight stay.
After breakfast, we'll pick you up from your hotel at around 8:30 AM for the trip to Pergamon. You'll explore this ancient city with your guide and fellow travelers.
At the Acropolis of Pergamon, you'll explore a major center of Hellenistic culture. Your guide will explain its library, government buildings, and the original site of the Altar of Zeus. Pergamon was also one of the Seven Churches addressed in the Book of Revelation.
Next, you'll visit the Asclepieion of Pergamon, an ancient healing center dedicated to Asklepios. Treatments here included baths, herbal remedies, and interpreting patients' dreams. Expect walking over uneven stone and sloping ground at the archaeological sites. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip, and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat for exposed areas.
Lunch is included during the tour day; the menu varies. After sightseeing, we'll transfer you to Izmir Airport for your domestic flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul. On arrival, a representative will meet you with a sign showing your name. You'll then transfer to your hotel for your overnight stay in Cappadocia.
After breakfast, we'll pick you up from your hotel at around 9:30 AM. You'll meet your guide and fellow travelers before setting out to explore North Cappadocia. If you'd like an earlier start, you can book an optional hot air balloon ride at extra cost, subject to weather.
Your first stop is Devrent Valley, where you can spot animal-like shapes in the eroded rock. Next, you'll explore Pasabag Valley, also called Monks Valley, with its capped fairy chimneys. Expect several walks over uneven ground today, rather than one continuous hike. Wear comfortable shoes with grip, and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat for exposed paths.
In Avanos, you'll visit a pottery workshop to watch artisans shape clay. The town's pottery tradition draws on clay from the nearby Kizilirmak River. Then we'll stop at a local restaurant for your included lunch of traditional Turkish food.
After lunch, you'll explore rock-cut dwellings and churches at Zelve Open Air Museum. People lived in this cave settlement until 1952. Your final stop is Uchisar Castle, a tall rock outcrop carved with rooms and passages. You'll have time to take photos of the castle and surrounding valleys.
We'll transfer you back to your hotel at around 4:00 PM, with the rest of the day free. You'll stay overnight in Cappadocia. For dinner, you can choose a local restaurant at your own expense.
After breakfast, we'll pick you up from your hotel at around 9:30 AM. You'll meet your guide and fellow travelers for a full-day tour of South Cappadocia. First, you'll walk through Red Valley, named for its reddish rock formations. You'll continue into Rose Valley, where pink-toned ridges line the trails.
Next, you'll explore Cavusin Village, with its cave houses and rock-cut churches. Around noon, we'll stop at a local restaurant for an included lunch of traditional Turkish dishes. The menu varies, so your guide can explain what's being served.
After lunch, you'll visit Pigeon Valley to see pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. Farmers collected the droppings to fertilize their vineyards. Your final stop is either Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, depending on local conditions. You'll explore rooms and connecting passages that sheltered communities during periods of danger.
Expect walking at several stops, including uneven valley trails and underground steps with low ceilings. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip, and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. Underground passages can feel cramped, so let your guide know if enclosed spaces bother you.
After the tour, we'll drive you to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your late-evening flight to Istanbul. On arrival, we'll welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. You'll stay overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast, you'll check out from your hotel in Istanbul before 12:00 noon. Keep your passport and flight details handy rather than packed in your checked luggage.
We'll then transfer you from your hotel to Istanbul International Airport according to your flight details. No sightseeing is scheduled today. Wear comfortable shoes, since reaching your gate may involve a long walk through the terminal.
END OF OUR SERVICE AND TOURS. Your airport transfer is timed according to your flight details, and our services end at the airport.
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Complete the online booking form for the 8-Day Highlights of Turkey Tour, selecting your preferred departure date and entering your traveler details. Once your booking is completed, you will receive instant confirmation.
You can pay by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express through our secure payment gateway. A deposit option is available; please review the payment terms shown when booking for the deposit and remaining balance requirements.
An instant confirmation email is sent once your booking is completed. Your final travel voucher will be provided 24–48 hours before the tour starts, with the confirmed arrangements for your trip.
The hot air balloon ride is optional and costs extra; it is not included in the tour price. The itinerary offers the opportunity to book a ride early on Day 6, before the North Cappadocia group tour. Flights depend on suitable weather and operating approval, so a departure cannot be guaranteed.
The package includes four nights in Istanbul at Special Class or 4-star hotels, one night in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel, and two nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel. Breakfast is included at each hotel. Specific hotel names are not listed in the itinerary, so please ask us about the proposed properties for your travel dates.
Domestic flight tickets are included for Istanbul to Denizli, Izmir to Kayseri, and Kayseri to Istanbul, together with the transfers specified in the itinerary. A fixed luggage allowance is not stated in the package description; your allowance depends on the airline and ticket issued. Check your e-tickets for both checked baggage and cabin baggage limits before packing.
For mosque visits during your Istanbul sightseeing, wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees; women should also bring a scarf to cover their hair where required. Follow posted instructions about removing shoes in prayer areas. Comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and a light layer are useful for Pergamon, Pamukkale, and Cappadocia's valley walks.
April–June and September–October generally offer comfortable conditions for Cappadocia's outdoor sightseeing and the visits to Pergamon and Pamukkale. Summer can be hot at exposed archaeological sites, while winter in Cappadocia can bring snow and freezing mornings. Balloon flights remain weather-dependent in every season.
Visa requirements depend on your passport nationality and, in some cases, your residency status or supporting documents. Before traveling to Istanbul, check Turkey's official e-Visa website or your nearest Turkish consulate for the rules and passport-validity requirements that apply to you. Booking this tour does not replace any required visa or guarantee entry.
If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, you must notify All Istanbul Tours at least 5 days before the tour starts. For a cancellation or date-change request received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from the paid balance. For a cancellation or date-change request received less than 5 days before the tour starts, the full amount paid is non-refundable. If a traveler does not appear for the booked service, the reservation is treated as a no-show and the full amount paid is non-refundable.
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