10-Day Turkey Tour from Istanbul with Cappadocia & Ephesus

Travel from Istanbul and back on a shared, English-guided journey combining walking tours, overland travel and domestic flights. Balance historic sites with coastal old-town streets and meals in local restaurants. Domestic flight tickets are included only with the flight-inclusive option; historical-site admission costs extra with either option.

• Walk the ancient roads of Ephesus, a Greco-Roman city, and visit the nearby House of the Virgin Mary
• Explore Cappadocia’s rock-cut churches and underground spaces once used as kitchens and storerooms

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul

   Arrive at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport and transfer to your hotel. You can arrive at any time during the day; no activities are scheduled.

   Your overnight stay is listed from 14:00 at Celal Sultan Hotel Special Class or similar.

2. Day 2: Explore Istanbul on foot

   Start with a 1-hour breakfast at your hotel.

   Take a 6-hour guided walking tour of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar.

   Enjoy a 1-hour lunch at a local restaurant. Drinks are not included.

   Return for your overnight stay at Celal Sultan Hotel or similar, listed from 16:00.

3. Day 3: Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus cruise, and Izmir

   Have a 1-hour breakfast at your hotel.

   Explore the Spice Bazaar and cruise the Bosphorus during a 4-hour guided outing that includes walking.

   Continue by bus, then fly from Istanbul to Izmir on Turkish Airlines flight TK2332, departing at 17:00 and arriving at 18:00. The flight ticket lists a baggage allowance of 25 kg plus 8 kg of cabin baggage; flight tickets are included only with the Including Flight Tickets option.

   Stay overnight at Efe Boutique Hotel or similar, listed from 19:30.

4. Day 4: Ephesus and nearby historic sites

   Start with a 1-hour breakfast at your hotel.

   Explore Ephesus Ancient City, the Temple of Artemis, and the House of the Virgin Mary on a 6-hour guided tour.

   Enjoy a 1-hour lunch at a local restaurant. Drinks are not included.

   Stay overnight at Efe Boutique Hotel or similar, listed from 16:00.

5. Day 5: Pamukkale and Hierapolis

   Have a 1-hour breakfast at your hotel.

   Visit Hierapolis Ancient City and the Pamukkale travertines, then drive to Antalya during an 11-hour guided outing.

   Stop for a 1-hour lunch at a local restaurant.

   Stay overnight at Best Western Plus Khan Hotel or similar, listed from 19:30.

6. Day 6: Discover Antalya

   Start with a 1-hour breakfast at your hotel.

   Visit the Tünektepe cable car and the upper and lower Düden waterfalls, walk through Kaleiçi, explore Antalya Castle, and see Hadrian's Gate during a 6-hour guided tour.

   Enjoy a 1-hour lunch at a local restaurant.

   Stay overnight at Best Western Plus Khan Hotel or similar, listed from 16:30.

7. Day 7: Travel to Cappadocia

   Have a 1-hour breakfast at your hotel.

   Visit the Mevlana Museum, stop for a 1-hour lunch at a local restaurant, and explore Sultanhanı Caravanserai before continuing to Cappadocia. The guided outing lasts 12 hours.

   Your overnight stay is listed from 19:30: Fresco Cave Suites & Mansions or similar with the Including Flight Tickets option, or Angels Evi Cave Hotel with the Excluding Flight Tickets option.

8. Day 8: Explore Cappadocia

   Start with a 1-hour breakfast at your hotel.

   Visit Göreme Open Air Museum, Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley, Paşabağ, Avanos, and Uçhisar Castle.

   Enjoy a 1-hour lunch at a local restaurant.

   Stay overnight at Fresco Cave Suites & Mansions or similar, listed from 16:30.

9. Day 9: Valleys, an underground city, and Istanbul

   Have a 1-hour breakfast at your hotel.

   Explore Red and Rose valleys, Çavuşin, Pigeon Valley, Kaymaklı Underground City, and Ortahisar Castle on an 8-hour guided tour.

   Fly from Kayseri to Istanbul, then transfer to your hotel. With the Including Flight Tickets option, flight TK2021 departs at 20:30 and arrives at 22:30; with the Excluding Flight Tickets option, flight TK2019 departs at 18:15 and arrives at 20:00.

   Your overnight stay in Istanbul is listed from 22:30, at Celal Sultan Hotel or similar with the Including Flight Tickets option, or Arden City Hotel with the Excluding Flight Tickets option.

10. Day 10: Finish in Istanbul

    Enjoy a 1-hour breakfast at your hotel.

    The Including Flight Tickets option also includes a return shuttle at 14:00.

What's Included

• English-speaking guide
• Breakfast and tour lunches
• Round-trip airport transfers
• Parking and fuel fees
• Nine nights of 4-star accommodation with the flight-inclusive option

Important details

• Bring a passport with at least 6 months of validity.
• This tour is not wheelchair-accessible. The Istanbul sightseeing tours are walking tours.
• Historical-site admission is not included in the listed price. Your guide carries prepaid skip-the-line tickets; you’ll reimburse the guide for tickets used in cash in Turkish lira, US dollars or euros.
• Drinks with meals are not included in the listed price.
• The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. On Fridays, the Blue Mosque visit is from the garden because of Friday prayers. Other historical sites may close during religious or national holidays.
• Pickup times are assigned in advance. Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled departure.