Tour Plan
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul - Private Transfer to hotel-overnight in Istanbul
Upon arrival at The Istanbul International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Sultanahmet. There is no schedule on your programme today. Have a rest. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2: Istanbul (Breakfast) - Old City Tour-Overnight in Istanbul
Your guide will meet you after breakfast for Old town tour of Istanbul. A short walk takes you to;
Hagia Sophia:
The Church of Holy Wisdom was the largest church in the Christian world for a thousand yearsundoubtedly one of the greatest architectural creations in the world, was used as a mosque during Ottomans and now serves as a museum.
Byzantine Hippodrome:
The center for entertainment, amusement and sports in the city during the Roman and Byzantine Empires. The Egyptian Obelisk, the serpentine column and the German fountain of Willhelm II are sites to be visited.
Blue Mosque:
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is the most famous monument in both the Turkish and the Islamic worlds,is famous with its blue ceramic tiles and six minarets.
Grand Bazaar: The oldest and the largest covered market place in the world with more almost 4000 shops owing rich collection of handmade carpets, jewelery, leather and souvenirs.
Topkapi Palace:
Topkapi Palace is certainly the most important historical site to be visited in Istanbul. It is one of the most frequently visited museums of Europe and is the most visited one in Turkey. The former imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans and the oldest and the largest remaining palaces in the world. Today, it is used as a museum to exhibit works of art and many priceless artifacts. The harem section is extra fee to visit. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3: Istanbul (Breakfast) - Boshporus Tour - Overnight in Istanbul
Our second day in Istanbul you will see The most amazing and unforgettable attraction in Istanbul is Boshporus cruise tour.
Your guide will meet you at the hotel and start your tour.
Escape the city traffic and set sail on this 90 minutes boat ride that shows you the amazing sites of Boshporus. You will see the most beautifull atractions of Istanbul such as Topkapı Palace, Golden Horn, Ortakoy Mosque, Galata Tower and Maiden’s Tower(Kız Kulesi). You will take photo while passing under the Legendary Boshporus Bridge that connects Europe and Asia.
After Boat Ride you will experience one of the famous market called Spice Market (Mısır Carsısı) full of fantastic displays and tasty treats such as spices, dried fruits, nuts, seeds… Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4: Istanbul - Flight to Izmir – Kusadasi Free Day(Breakfast)-Overnight in Kusadasi
Enjoy the breakfast and has a rest morning, After you are transferred to Istanbul Airport for the flight to Izmir, then we take an hour’s transfer to our hotel in Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 5: Ephesus daily tour(Breakfast-Lunch)-Overnight in Kusadasi
You will be welcomed by your tour guide at the hotel reseption at 9.00 a.m.
After comfortable drive you will arrive to House of the Virgin Mary which is located in Selcuk town very close to Ephesus ancient city. This is believed to be the last house of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. The three Popes visited here as, Paul 6th in 1967, John 2nd in 1979 and finally Benedict 16th 2006. This House was later visited by Popes Paul VI and John Paul II, who confirmed its appropriateness as a place of pilgrimage. On November 29, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass here.
Following you will visit Ephesus Ancient City. You will walk about 1.5 km distance. Your Ephesus tour will start at the upper gate and finish at the lower gate of Ancient Ephesus City. You will have an extensive tour in this ancient site where you will see Domitian’s, Trajan’s and Hadrian’s Temples, the huge Roman bath, Harbour Street, Marble Street, the Gates of Mihridates and Mazues, Commercial Agora, Latrina, the Scolastica Baths, Curetes Street, Polio Fountain, Memnius’ Monument, the Prytaneion, Odeon, the State Agora, the Celsus Library and the biggest amphitheater in Turkey.
You will try one of the local restaurants and may stop by some local shops acording to your interests and time.
Finally you will visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis (Artemision), which was one of the Seven Wonders of the World and driving back to Kusadasi hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 6: Pamukkale daily tour(Breakfast)-Overnight in Kusadasi
We drive to Pamukkale village which takes about 3 hours driving by a private,A/C, luxurious vehicle to see Pamukkale one of the most important natural beauty in Turkey. Pamukkale means cotton castle and the name of Pamukkale comes from white calcium terraces. Pamukkale is very important for the tourists because of the its historical sites of Hierapolis Ancient city, Calcium Terraces and Mineral Water Spring Pool also called Cleopatra Pool.
After driving,you will start walking in the city Hierapolis which was founded on this site in the 2nd century B.C., "Hierapolis" means "sacred city", and according to Stephanus of Byzantium the city was given this name because of the large number of temples it contained. Today, the theatre, the Apollo temple and the necropolis are the most important places to see in Hierapolis.
You can get in the little White pools and take best pictures in Pamukkale while walking through the travertine without shoes, slippers and socks.
Your guide will give you some free time for swimming in Cleopatra pool which is optional and extra, and you need to have swimming suit in here.
Drive back to hotel and Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 7: Cappadocia flight(Breakfast)-Free Day in Cappadocia-Overnight in Cappadocia
After late breakfast you will head for the airport for flight to Cappadocia. You will be transferred to your hotel upon arrival. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 8: Cappadocia Tour(Breakfast-Lunch)-Optional extra Balloon Ride- Overnight in Cappadocia
Early Balloon Tour (optional-extra) Standard balloon flights offer the minimum of one hour’s flight time. You are picked up from your hotel early in the morning, before sunrise, and driven to the take-off site. After you have had a light breakfast, you can also see the inflation of the balloon and you get a brief instruction about the basic rules of balloon flights. After that you smoothly take off in your balloon. Having glided over the beautiful valleys of Cappadocia and taken hundreds of pictures, you land and celebrate your flight with champagne. After getting your flight certificates you are taken back to your hotel by 08:30 am, having still a full day for other activities ahead of you.
Starting from your hotel at 9:30, you will be greeted by your guide and the driver. The first stop is Devrent Valley.which has many animal-shaped rocks. Most commonly seen shapes are a camel, snake, seals, and a dolphin. If you use your imagination, you can find many others.
Then you go to the village Cavusin. The old part of the village was abandoned in the 1950s due to rock-falls caused by erosion.
Next stop is Pasabag Valley, also known as “Monks Valley” is one of the most popular fairy chimneys areas of Cappadocia, situated between Avanos and Goreme. Pasabag Valley is also one most popular places to see in Cappadocia that travelers may experience mushroom shaped fairy chimneys with multiple stems and caps.
Avanos,Famous for its pottery since Hittite times, more than 4000 years ago, we will see a kick-wheel pottery demonstration.
Goreme Open Air Museum is the highlight of Cappadocia.Your guide will explain the meanings of frescoes covering the walls of thousand-year-old cave churches as you explore this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site.
We take you back to your hotel.
Day 9: Cappadocia Tour(Breakfast)-Overnight in Cappadocia
Starting from your hotel at 9:30,The first stop is at the famous Tree beauties of Urgup, where you can see the mushroom-shaped rock formations and a panorama of the city of Ürgüp
After you will see the highest castle in Uchisar village which is called Uchisar Castle. Uchisar is the biggest rock-cut castle in the region, built during the Byzantine Empire.
We will continue to visit underground city. Your guide will explain how locals carved these multi-level underground cities and You can see traces of their daily lives in the stables, wineries, temples, etc. Right after the underground city,
You might have a nice and easy valley walking depends on your time and interest. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 10: Istanbul Flight-(Breakfast)-Free Day in Istanbul-Overnight in Istanbul
After breakfast,Transfer to Cappadocia Airport to board the flight to Istanbul. Free day in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 11: Transfer to Istanbul International Airport(Breakfast)
Transfer to Istanbul Airport with your driver to fly back Home. In Turkish we say to our Forever travel friend ‘GULE GULE’ ‘GO WITH A SMILE’.
What's Included?
Professional English Speaking tour guide (Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese speaking guides can be organised when request)
Private transportation with A/C non- smoking vehicles
Private driver
Domestic flight tickets as described in the itinerary
Accommodation including breakfast
Lunches as described in the itinerary
Entrance Fees to the scheduled museums
Local taxes and insurance
Parking fees
What's Excluded (Optional)?
Personal expenses such as Drinks and some meals
International flight tickets
Personal travel insurance
Tips
Optional activities such as Balloon Ride, Turkish Night, Turkish Bath…
Notes (Better to know before your trip)
Depends on Flight avaiblity,flights times might be changed.15 kg luggage is allowed, more kg will be charged extra.
Walking is aprox. 1.5 km for Some days so comfortoble shoes recommended.
Topkapı is closed on Tuesday. (replaced with Basilica Cistern)
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and Eid Holidays (replaced with the Handcraft Store)
Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are closed for Friday Pray.
Terrace Houses museum is extra fee. Entrance fee to the Ephesus is not including terraces houses museum.
Cleopatra Antique Pool is extra if you want to swim in it. It is open air mineral hot spring pool that you have to have swimming suits for the pool and please bring your own towel.
We should make reservation for Balloon Ride in Cappadocia as soon as possible to find the availability, please contact with us for reservation which is extra. If Baloon ride cancel due to bad weather our agency can not guarantee for next day ride.we will try our best.
In order to secure reservations for you, you should pay at least 40% of your total amount via payment link. You can pay your remaining balance when you arrive to Turkey.
Please be aware of that higher prices might be during the peak days such as eid,chrismas, national holidays,etc.
Tour Details
This is a private tour and the departure date can be any day.