Day 1: Welcome to Türkiye! This economical and comprehensive 8-day package will take you to some of the most famous cultural and historical sites in the country. After arriving at Istanbul’s international airport, you will be greeted by our driver, who will be meeting you as you exit the gate of international arrivals, ready to take you to your hotel for check-in. During your first say in Istanbul, if the time schedule allows, our agency representatives will then meet you to go over the details of your itinerary. You will have the rest of the day to explore the charming old city of Istanbul at your own pace.
Day 2: After breakfast at your hotel, our guide and driver will meet you in the lobby between 8:00-8:45 am to give you a transfer to the seaport. You will embark on a Bosphorus cruise tour, where you will be able to see the beautiful sceneries of Istanbul, including Rumeli Hisari, Meydan Tower, and many other important icons of the city. In addition, you will have the opportunity to visit Dolmabahce Palace on the European side and Kucuksu Palace on the Asian side of Istanbul.
After the boat tour, you will have a transfer to the famous Pierre Loti Hill, where you can enjoy lunch or some drinks at one of the hill’s famous restaurants and cafes. Before the tour ends, you will have a cable car ride off the hill, followed by a scenic drive around Istanbul’s old city wall.
At the end of the tour, you will have a transfer back to your hotel to spend the rest of the evening at your leisure.
Day 3: Rise and shine early in the morning to begin your journey to Troy with a pick-up and transfer from your Istanbul hotel at around 6:00-6:30 am. You’ll make a stop for breakfast and a break along the way and have lunch at one of the local restaurants in the region around 12:00 pm. Once you arrive at Troy at 1:30-1:45 pm, your tour will begin. You’ll start by seeing the famous Trojan Horse and then visit the site of over 10 ancient cities built one on top of the other dating back to 3500 BC. The tour continues with a visit to the Apollo Temple, fortified city walls, and the battlefield where Hector and Achilles fought for power. You’ll also get to see the Roman Theater and the roundly shaped Greco-Roman Senate building that hosted deputies of democracy.
After the Troy tour ends around 6:00 pm, you’ll take an overnight bus to your next destination, Ephesus. Upon arrival, you’ll check-in to your pre-booked hotel in Selcuk or Kusadasi for a one-night stay.
Day 4: After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be picked up by our driver around 9:00-9:30 am to join the Ephesus tour group. You’ll visit a number of fascinating historical sites, including the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. You’ll also see the city ruins of Ephesus, Hadrian Temple, the Celsus Library, the hammams, and the impressive Amphitheater. As you make your way through the old seaport, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the unique ambiance of the Isabey Mosque. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant in the region. The tour will conclude with a visit to the House of Virgin Mary, where she spent her last five years and which the Vatican considers a place of pilgrimage for Christians.
The Ephesus tour ends at 4:30 pm, and you will then be transferred back to the hotel for a second night stay in Ephesus.
Day 5: Get ready for a new day and a different location with a famous site to tour. Our driver will pick you up from your hotel for Pamukkale at 8:30-9:00 am. Once you arrive, you will enjoy visiting the following sites in Pamukkale:
The magnificent natural hot springs and travertine terraces, formed by the accumulated carbonate minerals through hot flowing water in a temperate climate all year round for centuries. These beautifully created terraces of several sized pools have been used for relaxation under the sky in hot water, and visitors treat many of their ailments while enjoying a breathtaking view above the hills.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site in the ancient city of Hierapolis.
The Necropolis that contains sarcophagi, including the Sarcophagus of Marcus Aurelius.
Cleopatra Swimming Pool, where you have an opportunity for swimming.
Lunchtime will be during the tour at one of the region’s local restaurants.
The Pamukkale tour ends at 4:30 pm. After the tour, you will have a transfer to the bus station for your intended trip to Cappadocia. The duration of the trip to Cappadocia is approximately 8 hours. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, you will check in to your pre-booked hotel room and have your first overnight stay.
Day 6: Start your day with breakfast at the hotel and get ready for the first tour in Cappadocia. Our driver will pick you up from the lobby for the Northern Cappadocia tour (Red Tour). You’ll begin by visiting the Goreme Panorama, which offers a breathtaking view of fairy chimneys. Next, you’ll visit the Open Air Museum, an enormous cloister. During the tour, you’ll pass by the Castle of Ortahisar Village, where food was stored in caves. You’ll also have the chance to visit Dervent Valley, a red lunar landscape where you can spot animal shapes in the rock stones, and the old city of Avanos, known for pottery and providing a view of the Red River, the longest river in Turkey. Lunch will be at one of the local restaurants in the region. After lunch, you’ll visit Pasabag, Monks Valley’s fairy-colored mushroom-shaped chimneys, and finally, Cavusin Village with its cut-rock dwellings, stone houses, and churches.
The tour will end between 4:00-4:30 pm, and you’ll be transferred back to your hotel for another overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Day 7: Good morning, Cappadocia! Be ready at dawn between 4:00-5:00 am for a pick-up and transfer from your hotel to the location of the balloon flight departure. It’s an exciting day of adventure with a breathtaking experience that will keep you amazed for a full hour ride. You can watch the balloons being prepared to fly and enjoy soft drinks and snacks as you gaze up at the sky. Once your balloon is ready to take off, you will be given safety instructions and then you’ll take to the skies to view the stunning landscape of Cappadocia 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 the joy with a toast of champagne.
After your balloon flight, you will be transferred back to the hotel for a break and breakfast before your full-day tour begins.
After breakfast at the hotel, our driver will meet you in the lobby for a pickup at 9:30 am to join the group and start visiting the following sites at Southern Cappadocia (Green Tour): Uchisar Castle, which is the largest fairy chimney historically used as a fortress by numerous civilizations. On our next stop of the tour, you will hike through the stunning Red Valley for approximately 4 km, towards Rose Valley, where you’ll see the beauty of rock churches. Then, you will arrive with us at Cavusin village, a region with one of the oldest human settlements, where the populace still uses caves as houses and churches. You won’t miss the fascinating Kaymakli Underground City, which was the biggest shelter used by locals for several centuries and had saved Christians of that time from Roman persecution. Before our final site, you will be visiting Pigeon Valley, where you can see the beautiful pigeons living in their houses until now, and also take in the special view of Uchisar Castle. The final site will be at Three Beauties Valley, where you can take in the lovely sights and have a panoramic view of the famous Urgup town, widely known for its wine factories.
Southern Cappadocia tour ends at 5:00-5:30 pm.
At the end of the tour, you will have a transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport to board the flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will find our driver waiting for you for a pick-up and a transfer to the hotel you reside.
Day 8: This day is set to be free for your convenience, your transfer from the hotel to Istanbul airport will be scheduled according to the time of your flight. If your schedule allows, you may take this opportunity to explore Istanbul further and visit any sights you may have missed earlier in the trip or indulge in some last-minute shopping. We hope you have had an enjoyable and memorable trip with us, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Türkiye in the future.
