Day 1: By reserving this package, you will be greeted upon your arrival at Istanbul/Sabiha international airport in Istanbul. You will meet our driver, who will be waiting for you according to your flight date and time. Then, you will have a transfer to the hotel for check-in. Our agency representatives will meet you at the hotel and re-confirm your intended destinations. For the rest of the day, you will have the opportunity to spend your free time exploring the historic old city of Istanbul.
Day 2: One of the must-do tours during your visit to Türkiye is sailing on the Bosphorus Strait, which offers views of both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. Our guide and driver will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby between 8:00-8:45 AM to provide you with a transfer to the seaport. On this tour, you will be able to view the Rumeli Hisari, Meydan Tower, and many other important icons of Istanbul, as well as beautiful sceneries. In addition, you will enter Dolmabahce Palace on the European side and Kucuksu Palace on the Asian side of Istanbul. Our sailing tour will then return to the direction of the Golden Horn Water, where you will disembark and find our vehicles ready to take you to Pier Lotti Hill. There, you will have one hour of free time to enjoy lunch or drinks at the hill’s famous restaurants and cafes. Before the tour ends, you will have a cable car ride off the hill. The bus tour will then be ready to take you on a ride around Istanbul’s old city wall.
At the end of the tour, you will have a transfer to the nearest point of the hotel where you are staying.
Day 3: Embark on an unforgettable journey through the historic streets of Istanbul. Our driver will meet you at the lobby of your hotel between 8:30-9:15 am to take you to the meeting point of our tour group.
A knowledgeable and proficient English-speaking guide will accompany you throughout the day as you explore the must-see attractions of Istanbul’s Old City, also known as Constantinople.
You will have the opportunity to visit and enter:
The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), known for its six minarets and intricate blue tilework.
The Hagia Sophia Museum, a former church turned mosque, then converted to a museum showcasing the rich history of Istanbul, and recently turned into a Mosque again. The Topkapi Palace, the oldest and largest palace still standing today, and former residence of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries.
The Grand Bazaar, an ancient covered market dating back to 1461, where you can stroll through its narrow streets and discover traditional foods like Turkish Delight and a wide variety of handmade products, souvenirs, and rare antiques.
Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant and savor the flavors of delicious Turkish cuisine.
You will also see the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the Serpentine Column, and the German Fountain of Wilhelm II.
The tour will conclude between 4:30-5:00 PM, and transportation back to your hotel will be provided. However, be ready as our driver will return to pick you up for the Bosphorus Dinner Cruise around 7:30-8:00 PM. On this special evening, you will enjoy a variety of entertainment programs and a Turkish Night Show while indulging in an open buffet with unlimited soft drinks.
The Bosphorus Dinner Cruise will end around midnight, and our drivers will be on hand to take you back to your hotel in Istanbul.
Day 4: Experience the ancient wonders of Ephesus on this full-day tour. You will meet our representative between 5:00-6:00 AM at the hotel lobby. Our driver will then take you to either Ataturk or Sabiha Gokcen airport for your pre-booked flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our driver at the domestic flight exit gate and transferred to our office in Selcuk center. A knowledgeable and experienced guide will be waiting to take you on a tour of Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
You will visit the Artemis Temple, the ancient city ruins of Ephesus, the Celsius Library, the hammams, the theater, and take a stroll along the old harbor path. You will also visit the Isabey Mosque and feel the serene atmosphere of holiness. One of the highlights of the tour will be a visit to The House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent her final five years and is a popular destination for Christian pilgrimage. It has been visited by Pope Leo XII and Benedict XVI. You will enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.
At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your pre-booked hotel in Selcuk for an overnight stay.
Day 5: Begin your fifth-day adventure with a pickup from your hotel to Pamukkale at 8:30-9:00 AM. Once you arrive, you will have the opportunity to explore the following sites:
The natural hot springs of Pamukkale, boasting travertine terraces formed by centuries of carbonate mineral accumulation in the hot flowing water. These terraces, in the form of pools of varying sizes, have been used for relaxation and therapeutic purposes, offering a stunning view of the surrounding hills.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hierapolis, an ancient city.
The Necropolis, featuring sarcophagi, including the Sarcophagus of Marcus Aurelius.
The Cleopatra Swimming Pool, where you can take a dip.
You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.
At the end of the day, you will be transferred to the bus station for an overnight bus to Cappadocia, departing at 8:00 PM. You will arrive around 6:00-7:00 AM at our office, where you will have a break before starting your full-day Northern Cappadocia (Red Tour).
Day 6: On Day six, your tour will start with the panoramic view of Goreme, known for its fairy chimneys. You will then visit the Open Air Museum, featuring enormous cloisters. You will pass through Ortahisar Village, where you can see the Castle of Ortahisar, known for its food storage caves. You will also visit Dervent Valley, a lunar landscape with rock formations resembling animals, and the pottery town of Avanos, offering a glimpse of the longest river in Türkiye, the Red River. You will also visit Pasabag, Monks Valley’s fairy-colored mushroom-shaped chimneys, and Cavusin Village, known for its cut-rock dwellings, stone houses, and churches. You will have lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.
Tour ends between 4:00-4:30 PM. You will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Day 7: Be ready at dawn, between 4:00-5:00 AM, for a pick-up and transfer from the hotel where you’re staying to the location of the balloon flight departure. It’s an exciting day of adventure that includes a breathtaking one-hour ride. Your early morning will include soft drinks and a snack as you watch the balloons being prepared for flight and many of them will be flying right before your eyes! Once your balloon is ready to take off, you will be instructed on safety precautions, then you will take off to the sky where the views are different from every angle. Our team will follow your balloon in vehicles on the ground until it lands. At the end of your flight, you will receive a commemorative certificate and celebrate with a toast of champagne.
At the end of your balloon flight, you will be transferred back to the hotel for a break and breakfast before your second full day tour in Cappadocia starts around 9:00-9:30 AM.
On the second day, you will continue your tour in the beautiful landscapes of Southern Cappadocia, visiting sites such as:
Uchisar Castle, the largest fairy chimney, which was historically used as a fortress by numerous civilizations. Next, you will hike in the wonderful Red Valley for approximately 4 km towards Rose Valley, viewing the beauty of rock churches. Your next stop will be Cavusin village, a region with one of the oldest human settlements, where people still use caves as houses and churches. You will continue the day visiting more locations, including the fascinating Kaymakli Underground City, which was the largest shelter used by locals for several centuries and saved Christians from Roman persecution. Before your final stop, you will visit Pigeon Valley, where you can see beautiful pigeons living in their houses, and also see a special view of Uchisar Castle. Lastly, you will drive to Three Beauties Valley and admire its lovely sights, including a view from above of the famous Urgup town, which is widely known for its wine factories. Lunchtime will be at a local restaurant where you will taste delicious Turkish cuisine.
The Southern Cappadocia Tour ends between 5:00-5:30 PM. You will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Day 8: Free day in Cappadocia and a transfer from the hotel to the airport according to the schedule of your pre-booked flight to Istanbul.
Day 9: Rise early for a punctual pick-up between 6:00-7:00 AM from your hotel in Istanbul. Set off on a trip to the historical city of Troy, where a comfortable bus ride will take you to your destination in about 5 hours. Reach Troy by 11:00 AM and indulge in a delicious lunch at one of the region’s local restaurants. Begin your tour at 1:30-1:45 PM and uncover the famous Trojan Horse and the site of over 10 ancient cities dating back to 3500 BC. Investigate the Apollo Temple, fortified city walls and the battlefield of Hector and Achilles. Delve into the rich history of the Roman Theater, and the Greco-Roman Senate building, which once hosted the deputies of democracy.
Conclude your tour at 6:00 PM and return to Istanbul, expected to arrive before midnight. Enjoy a transfer back to your hotel.
Day 10: Take your time in Istanbul before your transfer to the airport for your international flight according to your scheduled flight ticket.
