Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul
Your driver picks you up at the airport and takes you to your hotel in central Istanbul. Once you check in, you'll meet your guide and get oriented. That evening, there's an option to catch a Bosphorus dinner cruise if you're up for it, which includes traditional Turkish food, belly dancing, and a whirling dervish show. It's a good way to ease into your trip and see the city from the water.
- Start point
- Istanbul, Turkey (Airport)
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Traditional Turkish Food, Belly Dancing, and Whirling Dervish Show
Landmarks Dolmabahce Palace Ortakoy Mosque Rumelli Fortress 
- Day 2
Istanbul
This morning kicks off with Istanbul's major sites. You'll walk through Topkapi Palace, which was the Ottoman Empire's administrative center, then move on to Hagia Sophia. After that, you check out the Blue Mosque and the ancient Hippodrome with its obelisks. By late afternoon or early evening, you'll have time to wander the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest covered markets with countless shops and stalls to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Topkapi Palace tour
- Hagia Sophia visit
- Blue Mosque visit
- Hippodrome and Obelisks visit
- Grand Bazaar visit
Landmarks Topkapi Palace Hagia Sophia Blue Mosque Hippodrome Grand Bazaar 
- Day 3
Istanbul to Bursa to Ephesus
You head south toward Bursa, known locally as 'Green Bursa' because of all its parks and green spaces. There you'll see landmarks with beautiful Iznik tiles, including the Green Mosque and the Green Tombs that Sultan Mehmet I had built. After grabbing lunch in Bursa, you continue on toward Ephesus and settle in there for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Bursa), Dinner
Included Activities
- Green Mosque visit
- Green Tombs visit
Landmarks Green Mosque Green Tombs 
- Day 4
Ephesus to Pamukkale
Today focuses on Ephesus and its ancient Roman ruins, which are really well preserved. You'll walk down the marble main street and see the Library of Celsus, along with old latrines, baths, temples, shops, and houses that give you a real sense of how people lived back then. Before leaving, you visit the small house of the Virgin Mary just outside the city with its shrine and baptismal font. Then you drive to Pamukkale for your overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ephesus ancient city tour
- Library of Celsus visit
- House of the Virgin Mary visit
Landmarks Ephesus Library of Celsus House of the Virgin Mary 
- Day 5
Pamukkale to Cappadocia
Start early if you want to book the optional hot air balloon ride to see Pamukkale's white travertine pools from above. Down on the ground, you'll walk around the calcified white tiers and their natural thermal pools, which are meant to have healing properties. You also check out the ancient Roman city of Hierapolis perched above, where you can see theaters, temples, and a large necropolis. Later, you make the drive through scenic landscapes to Cappadocia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Pamukkale thermal pools visit
- Hierapolis ancient city tour
- Temple of Apollo visit
- Plutonium cave visit
- Hierapolis necropolis visit
Optional Activities
- Pamukkale Hot Air Balloon Flight at sunrise
- Pamukkale Paragliding
Landmarks Pamukkale Hierapolis Temple of Apollo Plutonium 
- Day 6
Cappadocia
Wake up early if you're interested in a sunrise hot air balloon flight with views over Cappadocia's unusual terrain. You'll explore the area including Devrent Valley with its fairy chimneys and catch the views from Goreme esentepe. Then head to Avanos, a charming town where you can see traditional handcrafted pottery being made along the cobbled streets and riverside clay collection spots. In the evening, there's an optional Turkish night show in a cave setting with folk dancing, belly dancing, fire dancers, and Caucasian performances plus homemade Turkish food.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Devrent Valley with fairy chimneys visit
- Goreme esentepe panoramic viewpoint visit
- Avanos handcrafted pottery workshop visit
Optional Activities
- Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight at sunrise
- Turkish Night Show and Dinner with Folk and Belly Dancing, Fire Dancers, and Caucasian Dance
Landmarks Devrent Valley Goreme Avanos 
- Day 7
Cappadocia to Istanbul
You start back toward Istanbul with an optional quad bike adventure across Cappadocia if you want something active. You'll stop at Lake Abant, surrounded by emerald green mountains and trees with nice photo spots where the forest meets the deep blue water. After that, you head back to Istanbul for another night there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lake Abant visit
Optional Activities
- ATV Quad Bike Safari in Cappadocia
Landmarks Lake Abant - Day 8
Departure from Istanbul
Your tour wraps up today. Your driver takes you to the airport for your departure flight back home.
- End point
- Istanbul, Turkey (Airport)
