9 Days Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Konya and Cappadocia Tour

Day 1: Arrive and Overnight in Istanbul

Arrive at any time. Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport(IST) or Sabiha Gökcen Airport(SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international line of the Airport, holding a sign with your name written on it. After which, you will be transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to spend at leisure. Alternatively, you can join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day.
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Istanbul Old City Tour

Have breakfast in the hotel. Then our guide will lead you to explore the Istanbul Old City. We will firstly visit Sultanahmet Mosque. For walls there were decorated with more than 20,000 blue and white tiles, it has a more popular name – the Blue Mosque. Then we’ll continue our Turkey tour to go to the ancient Roman Hippodrome. Afterwards, We’ll also visit the Hagia Museum opposite the Blue Mosque, a building used to be a church during the period of the Roman Empire. It then was taken as a mosque for 481 years and changed into a museum until 1935. Therefore it is a rare religious architecture in the world as well as a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. After lunch, you’ll be guided to Topkapi Palace, the imperial palace like a small city within Istanbul; and Grand Bazaar, one of the largest fairs of the world. After the visits today, we will transfer you back to the hotel.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Bosporus Cruise – Fly to Izmir

After breakfast at the hotel, the guide will transfer you to the wharf for a two-hour Bosporus Cruise. It is a great way to enjoy the amazing views of European and Asian areas in Istanbul. You can see Dolmabahce Palace, Bosporus Bridge, Camlica Hill, and many Ottoman-style buildings on the cruise trip. After the cruise, we will send you to the airport for an afternoon flight to Izmir. On your arrival at Izmir Airport, you will be picked up and transferred by our driver to the hotel in Kusadasi. The rest of the day is on your own to explore Kusadasi, a beautiful and charming seaside town.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: Ephesus Tour

After breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 am, you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus. You will visit the ruins of Ephesus, the ancient Greek city that became an important centre of this time. Visit the Temple of Hadrian, Great Theater, and Trajan Fountain. After lunch, let’s visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last years. We will pass by the Temple of Artemis; there is little to see of this that was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards, you will visit the Isa Bey Mosque. Next, you will be taken to the Sirince Village; which is an old Greek village and is well-know for its quaint beauty and wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: Drive to Pamukkale, Visit Hierapolis ancient city

You’ll check out this morning, please pack your luggage in advance and prepare your swimsuit, because you will have the opportunity to swim today in the hot spring pool in Pamukkale. Our guide will drive you to Pamukkale in 2.5 hours, 224km. There are high-quality hot springs since ancient times. Clean hot spring waterfalls flow slowly and formed natural pools gradually with deposited calcium continually. Because the calcium ponds are as white as cotton, looking like a castle made from cotton in the distance, Pamukkale was named Cotton Castle. After lunch, we will visit Hierapolis’s ancient city on the mountain top of Pamukkale, where you’ll see a large number of cemeteries, beautifully carved Roman stone pillars, amphitheaters, and city gates. At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore the area on your own. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale antique pools (at your own expense) during this free time. Return back to the hotel and we’ll stay overnight in Pamukkale.

• Overnight in Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Accommodation: Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel OR Colossae Thermal Hotel OR Pam Thermal Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 6: Drive to Konya for a visit, then to Cappadocia

Early this morning we will leave for Konya, taking approximately 5 hours (400km). Upon reaching Konya, you will meet your private professional English-speaking local tour guide to begin your tour of Konya. Your tour will start with a visit to the Mausoleum of Mevlana. Mevlana is the most famous sage of Turkey, who was not only the founder of Whirling Dervishes but also the spiritual leader of Islam. Thus it is a holy temple for all Muslims. Then we’ll continue the private tours of Turkey to visit Sultanhani Caravanserai, a 13th-century caravan station that survived and is well protected on the ancient Silk Road. After lunch at a local Turkish restaurant, we’ll go on the drive to Cappadocia for about 2.5 hours, 165km.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 7: North Cappadocia Tour

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please be aware that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will be able to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at approximately 4:00 pm. The rest of the day will be at leisure.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 8: South Cappadocia Tour – Fly back to Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit Cavusin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. This will be the end of your full-day tour. At the end of the tour, you will be taken to either Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your late evening flight back to Istanbul. Upon arriving in Istanbul, you will be welcomed at the airport and provided with a transfer to your hotel, where you will stay overnight.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 9: Departure from Istanbul – End of Tour Service

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out from your hotel in Istanbul (hotel check-out is before 11:00 am) and will then be transferred to the Istanbul International Airport according to your flight details. This will be the end of our tour and services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Transfers from/to airport on arrival and departure.
• Domestic flight tickets (from Istanbul to Izmir and Kayseri to Istanbul) as per the itinerary.
• Tours and activities as indicated in the itinerary.
• 3 nights in Istanbul at Special Class or 4-star Hotels including breakfast.
• 2 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast.
• 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-star hotel including breakfast.
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast.
• Professional licensed English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner).
• All entrance fees are mentioned by the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• International airfare & airport taxes.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Drinks with meals.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation.
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation.
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation.
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation.
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation.
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed.
• On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.

WHEN TO BOOK?

• Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities.
• You can book up to 2 days before (Istanbul local time) if there are still places available. If less than 2 days before start of your requested tour date, please contact us by email or phone as it would be a last-minute booking that will need to be checked for availability before your tour reservation is confirmed.