This 8-day Turkey tour takes you from bustling Istanbul to the Mediterranean at Kusadasi and then inland to the beautiful scenery of Cappadocia. The itinerary is designed to combine some of Turkey's classic highlights in a week's visit, balancing bustling cities, beautiful scenery, ancient ruins and modern Turkey. You'll stay in a mix of 4-star and boutique style properties along the way.
Starting in Istanbul, the beating heart of Turkey and historically a vitally important connecting point between the continents of Europe and Asia, we visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Spice Bazaar, Hippodrome and take a cruise on the Bosphorus before flying south to the Mediterranean coast at Kusadasi. We have two nights here, and a tour to the nearby ruins at Ephesus. One of the best preserved ancient Greek & Roman sites in the whole of the Mediterranean region, this is a spectacular site with a fascinating history. We'll also visit a village famous for producing local fruit wines, and learn about the importance of carpet making in Turkey. Our next stop is at the stepped calcium travertines and hot pools at Pamukkale, before we continue into the centre of Turkey along the ancient Spice Route, passing old caravanserais and visiting the Mervlana museum at Konya on the way. This brings us to picturesque landscape of Cappadocia where we visit the strange rock formations, cave chuches and 'fairy chimneys' in the Goreme valley and venture down into one of the labarynthine underground cities built by Christians centuries ago to hide from persecution. The tour then finishes with a drive (or optional flight) via Ankara back to Istanbul where extra nights are available to spend more time exploring the city.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
8-95 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Istanbul, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, K
Istanbul, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia, Cape Town
Turkey is a truly magical destination. Steeped in history and filled with important ancient sites and historical landmarks, it offers a deeply captivating experience.
This 11-day tour takes you from Istanbul, the grand capital, to many of the country’s best destinations, before ending again in Istanbul.
See the ruins of ancient cities and visit the resting places of important men in history. You explore the unique and bizarre natural landscapes of Cappadocia and Pamukkale.
We then travel down the ancient Silk Road, just as the ancient traders did before returning to modern life feeling as through you had journeyed through time!
City sightseeingLocal culture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
8-95 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Ko
Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Sagalassos, Hierapolis, Ephesus, Pergamum
"Thanks for making this trip memorable with my family. Well organised trip great services. Great team coordinator who is in constant contact with us. Well-experienced drivers with comfort cars. All tour guides were very professional with fluent English speaking with history knowledge."
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
1-85 yrs
Operated in
English
Destinations
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, P
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Kusadasi, Şirince, Laodicea, Ankara
Glories of Türkiye 15 day tour
This small group (in our case just 8 people) tour was excellent and provided a perfect introduction to this country. The first thing that stands out is how clean everywhere is. Not so much as a candy wrapper anywhere, city streets or country by-ways. The Turks are hospitable, polite and friendly people, eager to please everywhere you go. English is spoken in many places and commnication is never a problem. Our escort and guide, Fatih, was both knowledgeable and informative about the many sights; but also thoughtful and concerned for the well-being of his group members. Highly organized and experienced, he had everything under control. Our fellow travelers were all delightful company.
Istanbul is a vibrant city with a history dating back thousands of years. Divided by the Bosphorous, it is both in Europe and in Asia. The Kadikoy district, on the Asian side, is not part of the tour but should be. If possible try to spend a couple of additional days there.
The ancient sites are all interesting and cover thousands of years of history, including Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and many associated with biblical writings. This is also a good opportunity for non Muslims to learn about the Islamic faith.
Dining was always a pleasure. Although the Turkish population is almost entirely of the Muslim faith, it is politically secular. As a result, alcoholic beverages are widely but not universally available. Tap water is generally avoided, but bottled water is available everywhere.
Prices in stores and dining establishments were significantly cheaper than Europe or North America.
There was no sense anywhere of a threat to personal safety. Indeed we saw no signs of homelessness or drug or alcohol abuse or criminality. Toilets were clean and fresh everywhere.
In summary, Turkey was a wonderful vacation experience, and the Glories of Türkiye 15 day tour met and exceeded our expectations.
Art and architecture
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Istanbul, Pamukkale, Ankara, Ant
Istanbul, Pamukkale, Ankara, Antalya, Cappadocia, Canakkale, Izmir, Ephesus, Bodrum
Great itinerary around Turkey, made better by an excellent guide Osman who's very professional and knowledgeable. We spent 10 days visiting different parts of Turkey all very interesting. The tour included many dinners and all of them were very good. I loved the hotel in Capadoccia, vey unique and pretty even though it has a lot of stairs.
We had a great time in Turkey.
Want to see the real Turkey with a small group of likeminded travellers? On this 15-day adventure, you'll discover the cultural melting pot of the landscape that straddles both Europe and the Middle East. Indulge in some incredible local bites (and maybe some shisha, too), explore ancient ruins and walk in the footsteps of Marc Antony and the Trojan army, making strong connections along the way. Wander Istanbul at your own pace, then hit the coast to swim and sunbake in the Dardanelles Strait, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, sailing along the south coast. Learn about the practices of Sufism and the art and performance of the whirling dervish, then spend a few days getting to know otherworldly Cappadocia. Wander the fairy chimneys, get up early to see the iconic sight of hot air balloons floating along the city’s skyline and maybe even treat yourself to a ride at sunrise!
Adventure
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
The tour pace was a bit intense, but with so many natural and historic sites to see, it felt worthwhile. I focused on gathering memories, taking tons of photos along the way. Our guides felt like travel companions, knowledgeable and warm.
Sightseeing ToursCruise
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
6-80 yrs
Operated in
english, spanish
Destinations
Istanbul, Athens, Mykonos, Santo
Istanbul, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Ankara, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Izmir, Samos
Embark on a captivating 5-day journey through Turkey! Begin in Istanbul, exploring the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the vibrant Grand Bazaar, plus a scenic Bosphorus cruise between continents. Then, fly to Cappadocia to marvel at its unique fairy chimneys and ancient cave dwellings, with an optional hot air balloon ride offering breathtaking views. This tour is perfect for experiencing Turkey's iconic historical and natural wonders.
Join this 11-day adventure in Istanbul, visiting iconic sites like Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. Then, venture to the captivating landscapes of Cappadocia, where you'll embark on an exhilarating jeep safari adventure. Explore the underground city, Open Air Museum, and natural fortress. Your journey continues with stops in Konya and Pamukkale, home to the impressive Hierapolis, and then to Izmir. Discover the ancient city of Ephesus, explore the legendary Troy, Gallipoli, and return to Istanbul.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Tent
Age Range
18-80 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Izmir, Canakkale
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Known for its unique rock formations (fairy chimneys) that provided refuge to persecuted Christians, Cappadocia is one of the most popular destinations in the world. Cover the highlights of Cappadocia in just two days with this private, guided tour.
Your journey starts from Istanbul, Turkey's capital, where our driver will meet you and transfer you to the airport in the city. Hop on a flight to Cappadocia and, on reaching there, drive to your hotel in the city. See the highlights of Cappadocia on the second day. Marvel at its lunar landscape and visit the Devrent Valley that is home to countless fairy chimneys. See the mushroom-shaped pinnacles of Paşabag and visit Göreme's open-air museum.
Catch a flight back to Istanbul at the end of this tour.
Join us on this guided trip and discover some of the most popular highlights located in the western and central parts of the country. Fly from Istanbul to Ephesus on the second day of this trip and discover the highlights of this ancient city. Then continue your journey to Pamukkale and Cappadocia before returning back to the capital city at the end.
Land transport during this trip will be provided by comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles. Simply sit back and enjoy discovering the highlights of Turkey. The flights from and to Istanbul that we generally use are listed below. However, this may vary due to availability reasons.
From Istanbul: Departure between 07:00 am & 07:30 am, landing in Izmir between 08:00 am & 08:30 am.
From Cappadocia: Departure between 19:00 to 21:30 and landing in Istanbul between 20:30 & 23:00.
Please scroll down to the itinerary section for more details.
My spouse and I wanted to go on a second honeymoon, which we humorously called our "honeymoon in old age." Along the way, we met wonderful, kind-hearted people, saw beautiful places, and enjoyed delicious meals. The hotels were always comfortable and cozy. We were just as happy and excited on the last day of the tour as we were on the first. Thank you so much for everything!