Highlights
Istanbul, coastal town of Kusadasi, Ancient Greek & Roman ruins at Ephesus & Hieropolis, Pamukkale calcium travertines, Sultanhani Caravanserai, Cappadocia underground churches & fairy chimneys.
Itinerary
Discover Turkey’s vibrant blend of history, culture, and stunning landscapes on the 'Discover Turkey' tour—a captivating 8-day group journey ideal for travelers seeking a well-rounded introduction to this fascinating country. Starting and ending in Istanbul, this tour takes you through the enchanting regions of Cappadocia, Konya, and Kusadasi.
Begin with Istanbul’s iconic sights: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Spice Bazaar, Hippodrome, and a Bosphorus cruise. Continue south to Kusadasi on the Mediterranean coast, using this lively town as a base to explore the spectacular ancient city of Ephesus and a local wine-producing village. Discover the importance of Turkish carpet making and visit the surreal, white travertines of Pamukkale.
Journey inland along the ancient Spice Route, stopping in Konya to learn about Sufi traditions before arriving in Cappadocia. Here, explore whimsical rock formations, cave churches, the Goreme Valley, and labyrinthine underground cities. The tour concludes with a scenic drive (or optional flight) to Ankara and back to Istanbul—where you can extend your stay to further explore the city.
What sets this trip apart is its balance of bustling cities, historic sites, and unique landscapes, all complemented by stays in 4-star and boutique hotels. This is the perfect tour package for travelers who want to experience the essence of Turkey in just one week.
day 1 - Arrive into Istanbul. Transfer to hotel
Upon arrival our staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Istanbul for the start of your trip.
day 2 - Istanbul city tour, fly to Kusadasi
Our trip begins this morning with a full day tour of Istanbul. Lying across two continents this historically important city played an integral role in the development of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. We visit the 17th century Blue Mosque, the Aya Sofya museum Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum and the Hippodrome. In the afternoon we transfer to the airport for a flight to Izmir, from where we transfer to the coastal Mediterranean town of Kusadasi, our base for the next two nights.
day 3 - Kusadasi. Ephesus Greek & Roman ruins
After breakfast we drive to the Roman site of Ephesus. The city at one time housed 250,000 people and is regarded as one of the best preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean. We visit the Temple of Artemis, and explore the ancient marble streets of this ruined Greek & Roman city. This afternoon we visit the fruit wine growing village of Sirince and learn about the history of carpet weaving in Turkey.
day 4 - Drive to Pamukkale and Hieropolis
We travel east this morning to Pamukkale, site of the well known white calcium terraces known as Travertines. Pamukkale translates as ‘cotton castles’ and the naturally occuring geology here has created cloud like formations unlike anywhere else. We then head to the ancient city of Hierapolis to enjoy a dip in the hot thermal pools lodged amongst ancient columns left by the Romans who used the pools for their therapeutic powers.
day 5 - Drive the Silk Road to Konya
Travel back in time today as we follow the ancient Silk Road towards Konya. We learn more about the history of this important trade route with a stop at the Sultanhani Caravanserai before arrivingin Konya where we include a visit to the Mevlana museum – the former home of the original Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes. A fun and entertaining Turkish Folklore evening is available tonight (paid locally).
day 6 - Cappadocia. Full day tour
Today we set out to explore the beautiful and surreal landscape of Cappadocia. Unlike nowhere else on earth, this bizarre setting creates a fairytale view full of improbable rock formations and underground villages. Often described as the jewel of Turkey we have a full tour here to explore the subterrenean churches and fortresses used by Christians to avoid persecution over a thousand years ago.
day 7 - Return to Istanbul via Ankara
We leave early this morning for the drive to Ankara, Turkey’s modern day capital city. We visit Anitkabir – mausoleum of the famed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk before returning to Istanbul by road. This is a long day's drive, and we can arrange an upgrade to an internal flight from Kayseri in Cappadocia if you prefer (please ask for current times & prices).
day 8 - Istanbul. Free time. Transfer to airport
Your time is free in Istanbul today for some last minute sightseeing and shopping before we transfer you to the airport for departure.
Get Trip Brochure & Exclusive Discount
Download a detailed PDF brochure and unlock an exclusive discount for this tour
What's Included
What's Excluded
Customer Reviews
This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a good tour as it is run by a trusted travel specialist who has received 7 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6rating.
Request a Private, Customizable Departure
By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Travel within your own bubble.
Tour Availability
Select your preferred departure date and secure your spot
Loading availability...
Good to Know
Do you need help from our trip consultants?
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Our travel experts are ready to help.
Why Book with Bookmundi
Earn USD 67+ in travel credits.
Best price guaranteed.
No credit card or booking fees.
100% financial protection.
Carbon neutral tours.
25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
What are customers saying about Bookmundi
