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Overview

This travel package is ideal for the first time visitor to Turkey. Includes guided day tours covering major highlights of Istanbul (historical area), Cappadocia (Goreme along with fairy chimneys & valleys), Ephesus Ancient City & the natural travertens of Pamukkale.

Available on a daily basis and fully flexible so you can add/decrease number of days or even add other areas of Turkey that may be of interest to you. Various optional adventure activities like hot air balloon rides or horse rides etc can also be added. Let us know what you would like to accomplish and we will put together the best itinerary for you! Sightseeing arranged using regular group day tours, option to upgrade to private guided basis also available.

Tour itinerary

DAY 01 - Arrival to Istanbul:
Meet on arrival to Istanbul Airport and transfer on to the hotel. Remainder of the day/evening is then free for you to relax or begin to explore your surroundings. Overnight in Istanbul
meals: none

DAY 02 - Sultanahmet Sightseeing Tour:
After breakfast meet in hotel lobby to begin exploring some of the most amazing sights that the historical area has to offer. Guided tour includes the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, Hippodrome and Obelisk, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace (excluding optional extra entrance to Harem room). Evening free at leisure to stroll around and enjoy dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul.
meals: breakfast & lunch included.

DAY 03 - Bosphorous Cruise, flight to Cappadocia:
This morning enjoy a cruise on the Bosphorous during which you have views from the vessel of various historical sights that line its shores. The guided tour also includes a visit to the famous Spice Bazaar & Rustempasha Mosque. Then some free time at leisure until transfer to airport for departure on domestic flight to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia
meals: breakfast included

DAY 04 - Cappadocia Tour with Goreme:
*Optional: very early morning 1 hour hot air balloon ride, amazing views over valleys & vineyards
Today emmerse yourself in the beautiful natural setting of Cappadocia. During this full day tour explore Devrent Valley and Monk's Valley (Pasabagi) where you find the world famous fairy chimneys; break for lunch in Avanos, a village famous for its pottery; then visit Goreme Open-Air Museum and explore the numerous churches and monasteries with their frescoes. These churches and monasteries where carved from the soft volcanic stone and decorated by Medieval Orthodox Christian Monks around 1000-1200AD. Also view Uchisar Natural rock castle. Overnight in Cappadocia.
meals: breakfast & lunch included

DAY 05 - Cappadocia Valleys & Underground City:
After breakfast join on another full day tour this time starting with a 4km (medium grade) hike in Red Valley exploring rock-cut churches and colorful fairy chimneys along the way. Visit Cavusin (old Greek village) then time for lunch before heading on to delve down into Kaymakli Underground City. The day also includes panoramic views at Pigeon Valley with its famous dove cotes & Ortahisar. Then a little free time until transfer to bus station for departure on overnight intercity bus to Pamukkale.
meals: breakfast & lunch included
*If you do not wish to travel by overnight bus we can instead arrange by flight, please advise preference
*If you would prefer to visit Derinkuyu Underground City & hike in Ihlara Valley please advise preference

DAY 06 - Pamukkale & Hierapolis ruins:
Arrival early morning (if by overnight bus) to Pamukkale and meet for transfer to a small hotel where a day room is provided for you to have a shower and breakfast. Then meet up with tour visiting the natural formation of the travertens (cotton cliffs/cotton castle) in Pamukkale along with the ruins of Hierapolis. End of day with arrival to hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.
meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner included

DAY 07 - Ephesus Sightseeing Tour:
Last but definately not least, depart on full day tour visiting the Ancient City of Ephesus. Here you have the chance to walk down marble streets, view the magnificent Celsius Library and the Grand Theatre, just a few of the many buildings and fountains that can be found in this open air museum. Also visit the House of Virgin Mary & remains of Artemis Temple. Overnight in Kusadasi.
meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner included
*If you need to head back to Istanbul on this evening that is possible, just note your preferences

DAY 08 - Departure:
Breakfast, check out and transfer to Izmir Airport for departure on most suitable 1 hour domestic flight to Istanbul. Arrive and proceed to international departures - end of services.
*Should you have more time available we can arrange travel on to any other area of Turkey you might prefer
*If you are planning to head to Greece we can make alternative arrangements - just let us know

What's included?

  • Hotel accomodation (BB and/or HB basis)
  • Noted sightseeing day tours on regular group basis (private on request)
  • Main entrance fees to sights visited
  • Lunches during full day tours, drinks extra
  • Domestic land/air transport between each area
  • Transfers to/from hotels on all arrivals & departures
  • Taxes and handling services

Notes

  • Available year round on a daily basis, January to December
  • Very flexible, can be tailored to suit your requirements
  • Extra days/nights and additional tours can be added
  • Suitable for individuals and groups
  • Please note that this is not a set departure tour with the same persons all travelling together from start to end. What we do is arrange all accommodation & transport per your travel dates and then combine this with the noted sightseeing day tours in each area. This gives you the flexibility to then tailor the itinerary to better suit your dates & "wish list".
  • Cappadocia offers many adventure style excursions such as horse riding, hot air balloon rides, atv safaris, bicycle safaris, canoeing & hiking. If you are interested in any of these please note which when completing "get quote" form.

Create a tailormade package

Feel free to ask our professional travel planners any questions you might have so far. Receive reply as quickly as possible (max. 24 hours).

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From our past customers

We are now back in Canada and very much missing the hustle and bustle of Turkey and its people. Thank you very much for all your assistance with coordinating and booking our travel arrangements and making all the various decisions involved with such a unique tour easy for us. We were so impressed with your attention to details, your support during our time there and valuable suggestions that made a big difference in our enjoyment. Please thank all the people involved with making this trip wonderful for us, especially Ebrahim and Huseyin, and we know we will be back some day soon! Warm regards, Zaynab

-Zaynab

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