Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
Your English-speaking transfer consultant meets you at Istanbul International Airport's International Arrivals Terminal and takes you to your hotel. Once there, you can settle in and relax after your journey.
Landmarks/POIs Istanbul International Airport - Day 2
Istanbul - Bursa
After breakfast, you'll start with Istanbul's most iconic landmarks. First up is the Roman Hippodrome, then the Blue Mosque with its handmade Iznik tiles. You'll tour Topkapi Palace to see the Imperial Treasures, including the Spoonmaker's Diamond. Following lunch, you check out Hagia Sophia before heading to Bursa via the Osmangazi Bridge.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Delicious breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch filled with local flavors), Dinner (Dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Roman Hippodrome
- Visit Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
- Tour Topkapi Palace and Imperial Treasures
- Visit Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)
- Guided city tour with English-speaking guide
Landmarks/POIs Roman Hippodrome Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) Topkapi Palace Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) Osmangazi Bridge - Day 3
Bursa - Kusadasi
The day starts with breakfast before traveling by bus to Kusadasi via Bergama. On the way, you'll visit Thyateira Church in Manisa, one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. You take a cable car up to the Pergamum Acropolis UNESCO World Heritage Site and see Pergamum Church. Later you'll stop at the ancient City of Smyrna in Izmir before arriving in Kusadasi for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit City of Thyateira (Akhisar) and Thyateira Church
- Visit Pergamum Acropolis via cable car
- Visit Pergamum Church
- Visit Ancient City of Smyrna (Izmir)
- Guided tour with English-speaking guide
Landmarks/POIs Thyateira Church Pergamum Acropolis Pergamum Church Ancient City of Smyrna - Day 4
Kusadasi - Ephesus
After breakfast at the hotel, you head to the ancient city of Ephesus to see the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You'll visit the church founded by St. Paul and Virgin Mary's House in the Solmissos Mountains, which has a sacred spring. St. John's Basilica is also on the agenda before you return to Kusadasi for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ancient City of Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Artemis
- Visit Virgin Mary's House
- Visit St. John's Basilica
- Guided tour with English-speaking guide
Landmarks/POIs Ancient City of Ephesus Temple of Artemis Virgin Mary's House St. John's Basilica - Day 5
Kusadasi - Pamukkale
Following breakfast, you travel to Sardis, the capital of the Lydian Kingdom and birthplace of money, to see Bin Tepe mound. Then you'll explore Philadelphia (Alasehir) with the Church of St. Jean, followed by Laodicea and its ancient church. Later, you walk through Hierapolis with its Great Theatre, Roman Baths, and temples before arriving at Pamukkale with its white limestone terraces formed by natural hot springs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Sardis
- Visit Bin Tepe
- Visit Philadelphia (Alasehir)
- Visit Church of St. Jean
- Visit Laodicea
- Visit Laodicean Church
- Visit Ancient City of Hierapolis
- Visit Great Theatre of Hierapolis
- Visit Roman Baths
- Visit Temple of Apollo
- Visit Temple of Pluto
- Visit Pamukkale (Cotton Castle)
- Guided tour with English-speaking guide
Landmarks/POIs Sardis Bin Tepe Philadelphia (Alasehir) Church of St. Jean Laodicea Laodicean Church Hierapolis Great Theatre of Hierapolis Roman Baths Temple of Apollo Temple of Pluto Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) - Day 6
Pamukkale - Konya - Cappadocia
After breakfast, you travel to Konya. Following lunch at a local restaurant, you explore this ancient city in the Lykaonia region with its historical significance. Then you continue to Sultanhani Caravanserai on the ancient Silk Road, a restored 13th century Seljuk structure that once housed traveling merchants. The day ends with dinner and accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Ancient City of Konya
- Visit Sultanhani Caravanserai
- Guided tour with English-speaking guide
Landmarks/POIs Konya Sultanhani Caravanserai - Day 7
Cappadocia
After breakfast, you explore Cappadocia's fairy chimneys at the Goreme Open Air Museum, seeing rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes. You then discover how ancient Christians survived in the Underground Cities. Later, following lunch with local specialties, you spend time in Pigeons' Valley with its ancient pigeon nests and visit Uchisar Castle. You'll learn traditional Turkish ceramics in Avanos and explore Turkish weaving before returning for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant with local delicacies), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Goreme Open Air Museum
- Explore Underground Cities
- Visit Pigeons' (Guvercinlik) Valley
- Visit Uchisar Castle
- Learn Turkish Ceramic and Iznik Tiles making at master potter's workshop in Avanos
- Learn Turkish Weaving Art
- Guided tour with English-speaking guide
Optional Activities
- Hot Air Balloon ride - $285 per person (early morning flights with sunrise views, reaching 500 meters altitude)
- Dinner in the Sky - $180 per person (culinary experience at 50 meters altitude with landscape views)
- Pottery Workshop - $50 per person (hands-on pottery wheel experience with master potter guidance)
- Jeep Safari - $120 per person (1.5 hours)
- Wine Tasting in Cappadocia - $70 per person (vineyard and wine production facility tours with tasting)
Landmarks/POIs Goreme Open Air Museum Cappadocia Underground Cities Pigeons' (Guvercinlik) Valley Uchisar Uchisar Castle Avanos Goreme - Day 8
Cappadocia - Ankara - Istanbul
After breakfast, you drive two hours to Ankara, Turkey's capital. Salt Lake, the second largest lake in Turkey, is your first stop where white salt crusts create striking scenery during dry summer months. You pay respects at Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum, to learn about modern Turkish Republic history. By evening, you transfer to your hotel and start your journey back toward Istanbul.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Salt Lake
- Visit Anitkabir (Ataturk's Mausoleum)
- Guided tour with English-speaking guide
Landmarks/POIs Salt Lake Anitkabir (Ataturk's Mausoleum) - Day 9
Istanbul
After breakfast, you head to Ortakoy on the Bosphorus edge where Europe and Asia meet. You stroll through local vendor streets and join a Bosphorus Cruise. Later, you explore the Grand Bazaar with its 4,000 shops selling gold, jewelry, rugs, and carpets. You then discover Taksim and the Istiklal pedestrian avenue from Taksim Square to Galata Tower, lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops. The trip ends with a farewell dinner with your travel group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Ortakoy
- Join Bosphorus Cruise
- Explore Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi)
- Explore Taksim Square
- Explore Istiklal Street and Pera Promenade (Beyoglu)
- Guided tour with English-speaking guide
Optional Activities
- Private Bosphorus Tour in Istanbul - $60 per person (Minimum 10 passengers, VIP yacht or invitation boat)
- Turkish Traditional Hammam - $75 to $225 per person (steam bath, exfoliation with traditional kese mitt, skilled attendant services)
Landmarks/POIs Ortakoy Bosphorus Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi) Taksim Square Istiklal Street Galata Tower - Day 10
Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel, you're transferred to the airport for your departure. It's time to say goodbye and head home with memories from your Turkey journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Istanbul International Airport
