Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul Arrival
You'll arrive at Istanbul airport and get picked up for your hotel transfer. That evening at 7:00pm, there's an optional dinner where you can meet your local guide and get briefed on what's ahead for the trip.
Optional Activities
- Dinner and tour briefing with local guide at 7:00pm
- Day 2
Istanbul Old City Tour
Your guided tour kicks off at 9:00am, taking you through historic Istanbul. You'll walk through the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Square, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar. After the tour wraps up, you can head back to your hotel or spend the rest of the day wandering the city center on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of historic Istanbul
- Blue Mosque visit
- Hagia Sophia visit
- Sultanahmet Square visit
- Topkapi Palace visit
- Grand Bazaar visit
Landmarks/POIs Blue Mosque Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque Sultanahmet Square Topkapi Palace Grand Bazaar - Day 3
Golden Horn & Bosphorus Cruise
Meet your guide at 9:00am for a 4-hour program starting with the waterfront shops near Eminonu. Later you'll board a private yacht for a Bosphorus cruise. If you want more activities, optional afternoon tours are available. By evening you'll return to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Golden Horn waterfront area
- Spice Bazaar visit
- Private yacht cruise on the Bosphorus
Optional Activities
- Optional afternoon tours
Landmarks/POIs Golden Horn Spice Bazaar Galata Bridge New Mosque (Yeni Cami) Bosphorus - Day 4
Istanbul to Cappadocia: Ihlara Gorge
After breakfast, you're transferred to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Cappadocia. Once there, you'll walk through Ihlara Gorge where a river cuts through volcanic rock formations. The day includes a stop at a traditional Anatolian village with belly dancing and folk performances plus Turkish food. You'll have the rest of the day to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Turkish food with drinks in traditional Anatolian village)
Included Activities
- Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia
- Half-day tour exploring Ihlara Gorge
- Visit to traditional Anatolian village
- Belly dancing shows and cultural folk dance performances
- Turkish food and drinks
Landmarks/POIs Ihlara Valley Ihlara Gorge - Day 5
Cappadocia: Fairy Chimneys & Open-Air Museum
If you booked the hot air balloon option, you're up at 5:00am for an early launch over Cappadocia's landscape, then back for breakfast. At 9:30am, you'll explore Goreme Open-Air Museum to see ancient cave churches and paintings. The afternoon takes you to the fairy chimneys, Devrent Valley, and Uchisar Castle for views across the region. You'll also meet local craftspeople working on traditional dolls and pottery before heading back to your hotel at 5:00pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Goreme Open-Air Museum visit with audio tour
- Fairy chimneys viewpoint
- Devrent Valley (Imaginary Valley) exploration
- Uchisar Castle visit
- Visit to local craftspeople making dolls and traditional pottery
Optional Activities
- Hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia (05:00 AM departure)
Landmarks/POIs Goreme Open-Air Museum Fairy Chimneys Devrent Valley Uchisar Castle - Day 6
Cappadocia to Kusadasi Beach Resort
You'll have breakfast and then transfer to Kayseri Airport for a short flight west to Izmir. From there, you're taken to your beachfront hotel in Kusadasi. After checking in, the day is yours to relax at the resort, and dinner is served by the pool.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner served by the pool at hotel)
Included Activities
- Flight from Kayseri to Izmir
- Transfer to beachfront hotel in Kusadasi
- Day 7
Ephesus Ancient Roman City
Following breakfast, your guide meets you at 9:30am to explore Turkey's important Roman and Biblical sites. You'll walk through Ephesus, one of the best-kept classical cities from ancient times. There you can see the grand theatre, the Celsus Library, the agora and baths. It's the same ground where St. Paul was around 60 AD.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Ephesus ancient city
- Theatre visit
- Celsus Library visit
- Agora exploration
- Baths exploration
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Celsus Library Grand Theatre of Ephesus - Day 8
Pamukkale & Hierapolis
After breakfast you head toward Pamukkale, driving through agricultural areas with cotton fields and orchards. You'll explore the white travertine terraces filled with mineral-rich thermal waters and visit Hierapolis, the ancient Roman spa city. There's the well-preserved theatre, a necropolis with sarcophagi, and the famous Antique Pool where Roman columns sit underwater. You're back at your hotel to rest before dinner from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at hotel 19:00 to 22:00)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Pamukkale
- Hierapolis ancient city tour
- Theatre visit
- Antique Pool visit
- Necropolis exploration
Landmarks/POIs Pamukkale Hierapolis Antique Pool - Day 9
Kusadasi to Istanbul Return
You'll have breakfast anytime between 7:00am and 10:00am before transferring to Izmir Airport for your 1-hour flight back to Istanbul. Once you arrive, you'll drop off your luggage at the hotel. If you want, there's an optional lift to the Grand Bazaar for last-minute shopping. The evening is free to relax and explore Istanbul.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast between 07:00 to 10:00)
Included Activities
- Flight from Izmir to Istanbul
- Transfer to hotel for luggage drop-off
Optional Activities
- Lift to the Grand Bazaar for last-minute shopping
Landmarks/POIs Grand Bazaar - Day 10
Departure
Your meeting time will be set for 4 hours before your international flight departs. You'll get a transfer to Istanbul Airport for your flight home.
