Arrival to Istanbul

Istanbul - Welcome to Turkey. Arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). Our representative will greet you at the airport with a sign displaying your name and provide a private transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay in Istanbul.

Full Day Istanbul Tour (Breakfast)

Istanbul - 09:00 a.m. After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin our journey in Istanbul, the only city in the world located on two continents. Known as Byzantium, Constantinople, and now Istanbul, this city has a history spanning over 2600 years, with nearly 1600 years as the capital of two of the world’s greatest empires, the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.

Hippodrome - Our tour starts at Hippodrome Square, which was used for chariot races and Byzantine riots during the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Hagia Sophia Mosque - A short walk away is Hagia Sophia, built in 532 AD by Roman Emperor Justinian I.

Update for St. Sophia interior visit: Live guiding is not allowed in St. Sophia after January 15, 2024. Guests must have their smartphones and headphones during their visit. If guests do not have headphones, they can purchase them at the entrance for 3.5 USD. The system is similar to an audio guide system. Guests without smartphones will follow the signs and the information provided on them.

Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque is famous for its beautiful blue Iznik tiles.

Topkapi Palace - We will continue walking to Topkapi Palace, which was not only the residence of the Ottoman sultans but also the administrative and educational center of the state. It was constructed between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople. We will visit the Topkapi Palace, including the weapons section.

Kapali Carsi - After that, we will visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spices, and carpet shops.

Istanbul to Cappadocia by flight – Cappadocia Tour - Cave Hotel (Breakfast)

Cappadocia - Take a morning flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport just outside the arrivals gate with a sign bearing your name and transferred to Cappadocia.

Fairy Chimneys - Our first stop in Cappadocia is the Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup, which are the most popular and often seen in advertisements. People carved pigeon houses to keep them in certain places, and you will see that the houses for pigeons are similar to those for people.

Kaymakli Underground City - Then we descend into the center of the earth at the Kaymakli Underground City, one of the largest and deepest of the 200 underground cities in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia - At the end of the tour, we will drive to your hotel for an overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia Tour - Cave Hotel (Breakfast)

Devrent Valley - Hot air ballooning at sunrise (optional, extra). After breakfast, we will first explore the lunar landscape of Cappadocia with its unbelievable rock formations in Devrent Valley. We will walk in Pasabag, where the voice of the wind mixes with the “songs of fairies.”

Avanos - Lunch in Avanos, the center of terra cotta art since 3000 BC, followed by a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.

Goreme Open-Air Museum - In the afternoon, we will visit the famous Goreme Open-Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia, with rock-cut churches featuring frescoes and paintings from the 10th to 13th centuries.

Uchisar Castle - We will continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle for a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.

Cappadocia - At the end of the tour, we will drive back to your hotel for an overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia – Adıyaman (Breakfast-Dinner)

Karatay Han - After breakfast, check out and depart from your hotel in Cappadocia. We will drive to Karatay Caravanserai and visit the caravanserai.

Kahramanmaras - On the way to Adıyaman (Nemrut), we will stop at Kahramanmaras for lunch and a taste of its famous ice cream.

Adiyaman - Arrive at the hotel in Adıyaman. Evening at leisure and overnight in Adıyaman.

Mt. Nemrut – Urfa (Gobekli Tepe) (Breakfast-Dinner)

Mount Nemrut - In the morning, we will depart at 03:30 a.m. to hike to the summit of Mt. Nemrut, one of the most popular UNESCO world cultural heritage sites. Watch the sunrise and be amazed by the colossal heads and statues of ancient deities as you step into mythology. We will hire small minibuses to drive up the mountain. This extraordinary landmark rests at an elevation of 8000 ft. The mountain top complex is composed of two flattened areas strewn with statues and separated by a false peak of crushed rock. Antiochus built the entire complex approximately 2000 years ago as a monument to his divine ancestry.

Arsemia Antik Kenti - We will also visit the old castle, Arsemeia, cross the still-functioning Cendere Bridge (Septimius Severus bridge) dating back to the 3rd century, and the Tumulus Tomb of Karakus.

Sanliurfa Archeology and Mosaic Museum - We will also visit the Sanliurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museum.

Sanliurfa - At the end of the tour, check in to your hotel for an overnight stay in Sanliurfa.

Urfa (Gobekli Tepe) - Gaziantep (Breakfast-Dinner)

Göbeklitepe - After breakfast and checking out from the hotel, we will drive to Gobeklitepe, one of the world’s most important archaeological sites. At 12,000 years old, it was built before the advent of writing or pottery and is believed to be the world’s oldest temple.

Gaziantep - After visiting Gobeklitepe, we will drive to Gaziantep. After lunch, check in to the hotel. Overnight in Gaziantep.

Gaziantep to Izmir by Flights & Ephesus Tour (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Gaziantep - After breakfast and checking out from the hotel, we will drive to Gaziantep Airport for your flight to Izmir.

Izmir - Arrive at Izmir Airport. After landing, drive to Ephesus (a 45-minute drive).

The Temple of Artemis - Our first visit will be to the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World.

Ancient City of Ephesus - Continue to Ephesus and walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, including The State Agora, Odeon, Memnius Monument, the Temple of Domitian, Polio Fountain, Curetes Street, The Trajan Fountain, The Baths of Scholastica, Hadrian Temple, Latrina, Celcus Library, the gate of Mihridates and Mazues, Commercial Agora, and The Grand Theater. The Grand Theater was built in the 3rd century B.C. and was later expanded to hold 24,000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st century A.D.

Selcuk - After Ephesus, lunch will be served in the garden of a local handicrafts center. Here you can see some traditional carpet weaving techniques and enjoy viewing splendid displays of beautiful carpets.

Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - After lunch, visit the House of Virgin Mary, located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council of 431 in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared it a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed here.

Kusadasi - After the tour, we will drive to Kusadasi for an overnight stay.

Fly to Istanbul (Breakfast)

Izmir - After breakfast and checking out from the hotel, drive to Izmir Airport for your flight to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

Istanbul - After landing, transfer to your hotel. Free afternoon and overnight stay in Istanbul.

Home (Breakfast)

Istanbul - Transfer to the airport to connect to your international flight and leave Turkey. The end of our services.

• 9 nights accommodation in Boutique, Cave and 4 star hotels
• Private Professional Tour Guide
• 9 Breakfasts and 4 Dinners included
• Entrance Fees with skip-the-line access
• All Domestic flights included
• Private transportation by brand-new AC vehicles
• Accommodation in Kusadasi: Carina Hotel, Marina Suits or similar
• Accommodation in Gaziantep: Ali Bey Konagi Butik, The Green Park Gaziantep
• Accommodation in Urfa: Nevali Boutique, Hilton Garden Inn Sanliurfa
• Cave Hotel in Cappadocia: Yunak Evleri, Zeydem Suits, Gamirasu
• Boutique Hotels in Istanbul: Yasmak Sultan, Dosso Dossi Old City or similar
• Hotel in Adiyaman: Hotel Antiochos, Grand Isias Hotel or similar

• Tips for driver & guides
• Personal Expenses
• Meals not mentioned in itinerary