Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and use the airport pick-up service to reach your hotel. After checking in, spend the rest of the day relaxing and getting settled before your sightseeing begins tomorrow.
- Start point
- Istanbul, Türkiye ( Please provide us with your departure flight information 30 days before departure to arrange the pick-up service.)
- Day 2
Istanbul
Breakfast at the hotel kicks things off, then you're heading into Sultanahmet District to see the major sites. The Blue Mosque with its 30 domes and 6 minarets is first, followed by Hagia Sophia where Byzantine and Islamic architecture blend together. After that, you'll walk through the Egyptian Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar, checking out Sultanahmet Square's Obelisk of Theodosius, Spiral Column, and Constantine Column along the way. Later you'll head down into the Basilica Cistern to see the famous Medusa sculptures in person. Dinner wraps up the day at Nusr-Et steakhouse.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Dinner (Dinner at Nusr-Et, Salt Bae's acclaimed Steakhouse)
Included Activities
- Visit Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Visit Egyptian Bazaar
- Visit Grand Bazaar
- Walk around Sultanahmet Square
- Visit Basilica Cistern
- Dinner at Nusr-Et Steakhouse
Landmarks Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) Hagia Sophia Egyptian Bazaar Grand Bazaar Sultanahmet Square Obelisk of Theodosius Basilica Cistern - Day 3
Istanbul to Safranbolu
After breakfast, you're traveling 410km to Safranbolu, a UNESCO site that was an important stop on the Silk Road. The town has well-preserved Ottoman architecture with red-roofed buildings, old mosques, bathhouses, and stone streets dating back centuries. You'll climb Hidirlik Hill to get panoramic views of the area, then enjoy a traditional Turkish dinner to finish the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch, Dinner (Turkish dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Safranbolu UNESCO World Heritage site
- Ascend Hidirlik Hill for views of Safranbolu
- Turkish dinner
Optional Activities
- Traditional Turkish bath - U$125/person
Landmarks Hidirlik Hill Safranbolu Old Town - Day 4
Safranbolu to Ankara to Cappadocia
You'll eat breakfast and then head 230km to Ankara, Turkey's second-largest city. The day includes visiting Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey. On the drive toward Cappadocia, there's a stop at Lake Tuz, which has a distinctive pink color from salt content. By evening you're in Cappadocia experiencing the unusual lunar-like landscape. Dinner happens in a cave restaurant with traditional folk dance and belly dance performances.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch, Dinner (Traditional Turkish specialties at Dede Efendi Kaya Restaurant with traditional folk dance show and belly dance performance)
Included Activities
- Visit Anitkabir mausoleum
- Stop at Lake Tuz
- Dinner at Dede Efendi Kaya Restaurant with folk dance and belly dance performances
Landmarks Anitkabir Lake Tuz 
- Day 5
Cappadocia
Early risers can do an optional hot air balloon ride at sunrise to see Cappadocia's volcanic rock formations from above (it's ranked in the world's top three balloon destinations). After breakfast, you'll explore Goreme National Park with its valleys like Guvercinlik, Devrent, Fairy Chimneys, Love Valley, Rose Valley, Pasabag, and Three Beauties. Uchisar Castle, a 60-meter-high fortified rock with a hollow interior, is on the agenda. An optional 4X4 jeep tour can take you into hidden canyons if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast (or after hot air balloon activity if participating in optional balloon ride)), Lunch
Included Activities
- Explore Goreme National Park UNESCO site
- Visit Fairy Chimneys
- Visit Love Valley
- Visit Rose Valley
- Visit Pasabag
- Visit Guvercinlik Valley
- Visit Devrent Valley
- Visit Three Beauties
- Visit Uçhisar Castle
Optional Activities
- Morning hot air balloon ride at sunrise - U$280/person (or more if booking on site subject to availability)
- 4X4 Jeep ride through Wonders of Goreme - U$90/person
Landmarks Goreme National Park Fairy Chimneys Love Valley Rose Valley Pasabag Guvercinlik Valley Devrent Valley Three Beauties Uçhisar Castle - Day 6
Cappadocia to Konya
Following breakfast, you'll tour Derinkuyu, an underground city built in the 7th century that goes down 40 meters and once held 1,500 people. Then it's a 270km drive to Konya, one of Turkey's oldest cities and former capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate. The Mevlana Museum with its green conical dome is the main stop, dedicated to the 13th-century philosopher who founded the Whirling Dervishes. Classic Turkish kebab dinner ends your day.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch, Dinner (Classic Turkish Kebab at Devtat)
Included Activities
- Tour Derinkuyu underground city
- Visit Mevlana Museum
- Turkish Kebab dinner at Devtat
Optional Activities
- Evening Whirling Dervishes Performance - U$109/person
Landmarks Derinkuyu Underground City Mevlana Museum - Day 7
Konya to Pamukkale
After breakfast, you're traveling 390km to Hierapolis at Pamukkale, a UNESCO site with ancient Greco-Roman ruins including a theater, church, bathhouse, and necropolis. Pamukkale itself features white mineral terraces created by thermal springs since the 2nd century BC, which is why it's called 'Cotton Castle.' You'll also visit the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum to see statues and artifacts. Roasted lamb dinner concludes the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch, Dinner (Turkish roasted lamb at Kebapci Dursun)
Included Activities
- Visit Hierapolis UNESCO World Heritage site
- Visit Pamukkale hot springs and terraces
- Visit Hierapolis Archaeology Museum
- Turkish roasted lamb dinner at Kebapci Dursun
Landmarks Hierapolis Pamukkale Hierapolis Archaeology Museum - Day 8
Pamukkale to Kusadasi
Breakfast at the hotel, then a full-day trip to Ephesus, often called 'the Pompeii of Turkey' with 3,000 years of history and UNESCO designation. Once a major cosmopolitan city and one of Rome's five great rivals, Ephesus has well-preserved structures like the Temple of Hadrian, the world's first water-flush toilet, an early advertisement sign from a joy house, an amphitheater, and the Celsus Library (world's third-largest). You'll visit the Ephesus Museum in Selçuk and the House of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage destination. Turkish-Mediterranean seafood at Mezgit Restaurant wraps things up.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch, Dinner (Turkish-Mediterranean seafood cuisine at Mezgit Restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Ephesus archaeological site UNESCO World Heritage
- Visit Temple of Hadrian
- Visit Celsus Library
- Visit Amphitheater at Ephesus
- Visit Ephesus Museum
- Visit House of the Virgin Mary
- Turkish-Mediterranean seafood dinner at Mezgit Restaurant
Landmarks Ephesus Temple of Hadrian Celsus Library Ephesus Museum House of the Virgin Mary 
- Day 9
Kusadasi to Pergamon to Troy to Canakkale
You'll have breakfast, then travel 196km northeast to Pergamon, an ancient Greek city from the Pre-Hellenistic period. The Theater of Pergamon on the Upper Acropolis is one of the world's steepest ancient theaters, and you can take a cable car to the top for panoramic views. From there, it's 195km to Troy, the legendary site of the Trojan War from Homer's stories. The UNESCO site has 9 layers of remains spanning 3,400 years from Bronze Age to Byzantine times. You'll see the famous Troy Horse replica, city walls, theater, and temple ruins.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Pergamon UNESCO site with Theater of Pergamon
- Cable car ride to Upper Acropolis
- Visit Troy Archaeological Site UNESCO World Heritage
- View Troy Horse replica
Landmarks Pergamon Theater of Pergamon Upper Acropolis Troy Archaeological Site of Troy - Day 10
Canakkale to Istanbul
After breakfast, you're heading back to Istanbul on a scenic 310km bus ride. Once you check into your hotel, you'll board a dinner cruise on the Bosporus, the waterway that separates Europe and Asia.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch, Dinner (Dinner cruise on the Bosporus)
Included Activities
- Dinner cruise on the Bosporus
Landmarks Bosporus - Day 11
Istanbul
Following breakfast, you'll visit Topkapi Palace, the massive royal compound built by Muhammad II and expanded by Suleiman I. It includes residences, a library, mosque, school, hospital, and gardens, with enough space for 4,000 people where 30 sultans ruled the Ottoman Empire. Then you're moving to the European side to see Dolmabahce Palace, where the last 6 sultans lived. It's inspired by the Louvre and Buckingham Palace and overlooks the Golden Horn and Sea of Marmara. Later, you'll stroll Istiklal Avenue, a lively pedestrian street connecting Galata Tower and Taksim Square, lined with boutiques, bookstores, cafes, restaurants, music pubs, galleries, cinemas, and libraries featuring Classical, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast)
Included Activities
- Visit Topkapi Palace
- Visit Dolmabahce Palace
- Stroll Istiklal Avenue
- Visit Galata Tower area
- Visit Taksim Square
Landmarks Topkapi Palace Dolmabahce Palace Istiklal Avenue Galata Tower Taksim Square Golden Horn Sea of Marmara - Day 12
Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight home.
- End point
- Istanbul, Türkiye ( Please provide us with your return flight information 30 days before departure to arrange the drop-off service. )
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast)
