9-Day Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadocia & Ankara

When your flight arrives at Istanbul Airport, our representative will greet you for your transfer. We'll take you to your hotel in Istanbul, where you'll check in.

The rest of your day is free to rest or explore at your own pace. There's no scheduled sightseeing, so you can keep walking light with a short look around your hotel's neighborhood. Wear comfortable shoes for uneven sidewalks, and bring a light layer if you're heading out.

You can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense, perhaps trying köfte, Turkish meatballs. You'll spend the night at your hotel 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 explore Istanbul with your guide and fellow travelers. You'll start at Hagia Sophia, completed in 537 AD, with its vast central dome.

Next, visit the Blue Mosque, known for its Iznik tiles and six minarets. At the Byzantine Hippodrome, your guide will explain how chariot races shaped Byzantine public life. Expect several stretches of walking and standing today, with crowds at the main sights.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant, with the menu determined on the day. Then you'll explore Topkapi Palace, home to Ottoman sultans for centuries. Its courtyards help show how the palace separated public business from royal life.

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

At around 4:30 PM, we'll transfer you back to your hotel after the tour. You'll stay overnight in Istanbul.

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

After breakfast, you'll check out of your Istanbul hotel, with pickup at around 8:30 AM. You'll begin your half-day tour with your guide and fellow travelers at the Spice Bazaar. Here, stalls sell spices, loose-leaf teas, and Turkish delight.

Next, you'll board a cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, between Istanbul's European and Asian shores. Watch for Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace along the waterfront. You'll also see Rumeli Fortress (Rumeli Hisarı), Maiden's Tower, and the Bosphorus Bridge. These landmarks are viewed from the boat, with no interior visits.

Expect some walking through the market and between transport points, with seated time aboard the boat. Market aisles can get crowded, so wear comfortable shoes and keep your belongings close. Bring a light layer for the breeze on the water, plus sun protection.

When the cruise ends, at around 1:00 PM, we'll transfer you to Istanbul Airport. You'll fly to Denizli, then transfer on arrival to your hotel in Pamukkale. You'll check in here for your overnight stay.

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

After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel in Pamukkale, with pickup at around 10:30 AM. You'll set out with your guide and fellow travelers for a full day of sightseeing.

Visit the Pamukkale Travertines, white terraces formed by mineral-rich thermal water. You'll walk barefoot in designated terrace areas, where the surface can be slippery. Expect plenty of walking today, including uneven ancient paths, so bring comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a hat.

At Hierapolis, your guide will explain how thermal springs shaped this ancient city. Explore the Theatre, Necropolis, and Roman Baths. You'll also visit the Temple of Apollo and Plutonium, associated with ancient beliefs about the underworld.

We'll stop for an included lunch at a local restaurant. Later, you'll have free time at the Antique Pools (Cleopatra’s Pool), with swimming subject to current access. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you'd like to swim, and check the separate swimming charge before entering.

At around 4:00 PM, you'll leave by road for Kusadasi, a drive of approximately three hours. On arrival, you'll check in to your hotel for your overnight stay.

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

After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel in Kusadasi, with pickup at around 8:30 AM. You'll begin your full-day guided tour of Ephesus with your guide and fellow travelers.

You'll see the Library of Celsus, with its reconstructed Roman facade, and the tiered Great Theatre Ephesus. Your route also includes the Temple of Hadrian at Ephesus and Trajan Fountain. Expect substantial walking over uneven marble, with limited shade along the ancient streets. Wear shoes with good grip, and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.

After your included lunch, you'll visit the House of the Virgin Mary, traditionally associated with Mary's final years. Dress modestly for this active place of pilgrimage. Next, you'll see the remains of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only fragments remain, so your guide will help you picture its original scale.

At around 4:00 PM, the tour ends and you'll transfer to Izmir Airport. You'll fly via Istanbul to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, we'll meet you and transfer you to your hotel for your overnight in Cappadocia.

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

After breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel at around 9:30 AM to explore Cappadocia with your guide and fellow travelers. If you'd like an earlier start, you can book an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride at an additional cost, weather permitting.

You'll begin at Devrent Valley, where you can spot animal-like shapes in the naturally eroded rock. Next, we'll visit Pasabag Valley to see fairy chimneys topped with broad stone caps. Expect walking at several stops over uneven paths and steps, so wear comfortable shoes with good grip.

We'll continue to Avanos, a pottery town beside the Kızılırmak (Red River). Your guide will explain how the river's clay supports the town's pottery tradition. You'll also stop for lunch, which is included; the menu varies.

In the afternoon, explore Zelve Open Air Museum, with rock-cut dwellings and churches spread across three valleys. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat, as exposed paths can get hot. Your final stop is Uchisar Castle, a towering rock fortress overlooking valleys dotted with fairy chimneys.

At around 4:00 PM, we'll transfer you back to your hotel, 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.

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

After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel in Cappadocia, with pickup at around 9:30 AM. You'll meet your guide and fellow travelers before setting out to explore South Cappadocia.

You'll visit Red Valley, then hike through Rose Valley, named for its pink-toned volcanic rock. Next, you'll continue to Cavusin Village to see its old rock-cut dwellings. Expect a valley hike plus walking at the other stops, with uneven paths and steps. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat for exposed stretches.

You'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant, at your own expense, before visiting Pigeon Valley. Look for pigeon houses carved into the rock faces. Then you'll explore either Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City. Underground passages can be narrow with low ceilings, so tell your guide if enclosed spaces concern you.

The tour ends at around 4:00 PM, when we'll transfer you to the bus terminal. You'll take a local intercity bus to Ankara, a journey of approximately four hours. Upon arrival in the evening, we'll meet you and transfer you to your hotel. You'll stay overnight in Ankara.

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

After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel in Ankara>, with pickup at around 9:00 AM. You'll meet your guide and fellow travelers before setting out on your full-day city tour.

Your first stop is the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, with pottery, sculpture, and objects from Anatolia's ancient settlements. Your guide will help connect the exhibits to the people who made and used them. Continue to the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the resting place of the Turkish Republic's founder.

You'll pause for lunch before exploring Ankara Castle and its old citadel district. Expect uphill walking, steps, and uneven paving around the castle, plus time on your feet in the museum. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip, and bring water and sun protection for the exposed areas.

At around 3:00 PM, we'll transfer you to Ankara Airport for your evening flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, we'll take you to your hotel, where you'll stay overnight.

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

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 according to your flight schedule.

There’s no scheduled sightseeing 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 concludes your tour and our services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast