Turkey: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus 8-Day Private or Group Tour

Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul

1. Istanbul
   1h
   Welcome to Turkey. Arrive in Istanbul Airport ( IST ) or to Sabiha Gokcen Airport ( SAW ) , Our representative will meet you at the airport with your name sign and private transfer to the hotel for overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 2: Full Day Istanbul Walking Tour (Breakfast)

1. Hippodrome
   30m
   09.00 a.m. After breakfast pick up from hotel and our journey begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world situated on two continents. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul – its three names span more than 2600 years, nearly 1600 of them as the capital of two of the greatest empires the world has known, Byzantine and Ottoman. Our first stop is Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place.
2. TopkapI Palace
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Topkapi Palace, 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 weapons section.
3. Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
   1h
   Only a short walk away, reaches 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 the 15th January 2024. Guests have to have their smart phones and headphones during their visit. If guests do not have a headphone, they can buy at the entrance at the cost of 3,5-USD
   The system is similar to audio guide system. Guests who does not have smart phones will follow the signs and the given informations on the signs .
4. Blue Mosque
   30m
   Blue Mosque, has its fame from its beautiful blue Iznik tiles
5. Grand Bazaar
   1h 30m
   Grand Bazaar where is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, Grand Bazaar is our last stop before return back to our hotel for overnight

Day 3: Istanbul Fly to Cappadocia & Cappadocia Tour - Cave Hotel (Breakfast)

1. Cappadocia
   50m
   Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to airport for your flight to Cappadocia.
   Upon your arrival to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport, your guide will meet with you with your name sign. After greetings, you will continue to the Cappadocia region around 50 minutes.
2. Fairy Chimneys
   1h · Admission ticket included
   First meeting with Cappadocia, visiting Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup which are the most popular and seen on advertisements.
3. Pigeon Valley
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Then we head on to Pigeons Valley, Pigeons have been always important for cappadocian people. That’s why people carved some pigeon houses to keep them in certain places. You will see that the houses for the pigeons are like the houses for the people.
4. Ozkonak Underground City
   1h 15m · Admission ticket included
   Then we descend into the center of the earth in the Ozkonak Underground City. The city has many strata made up of volcanic granite. Its larger areas are connected to each other by tunnels, and it contains a pipe communication system reaching each of its levels. This feature is unique when compared to the Kaymaklı Underground City and the Derinkuyu Underground City. Each carved room had ventilation provided by further piping when the city was sealed during sieges.
5. Cappadocia
   30m
   After the tour program drive to your hotel for overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 4: Cappadocia Tour - Cave Hotel (Breakfast)

1. Pasabag Vadisi
   1h 15m · Admission ticket included
   Seeing the best examples of the fairy chimneys at Pasabag Fairy Chimneys Valley.
   Pasabağ contains some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia with twin and even triple rock caps - formations that are unique even for Cappadocia! Locals refer to them as the mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys.
2. Avanos
   1h 30m
   We drive further to Avanos Town, which is famous with tile and pottery workshops. We will have a lunch break here in Avanos.
3. Goreme Open Air Museum
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   After lunch our next stop is Goreme Open Air Museum where you will enjoy the fantastic rock churches and beautiful frescos from various centuries decorating the walls of the churches.
4. Uchisar Castle
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Then we drive to the Uchisar Rock Castle, which is the highest and the most dominant point, giving us a breathtaking panorama.
5. Cappadocia
   Pass by
   End of the tour, drive back to your hotel for overnight.

Day 5: Cappadocia – Konya – Pamukkale (Breakfast, Dinner )

1. Cappadocia
   Pass by
   After breakfast check out from your hotel and drive to Pamukkale.
2. Mevlana Muzesi
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Early departure for Pamukkale. Upon arrival to Konya visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic, Drive to Pamukkale.
3. Pamukkale
   Pass by
   Upon our arrival to Pamukkale, check in to your thermal hotel for overnight. You will have a chance to swim in thermal pools until 22.30.

Day 6: Pamukkale Tour & Kusadasi (Breakfast, Dinner)

1. Pamukkale
   Pass by
   After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Hierapolis and traverten terraces.
2. Hierapolis & Pamukkale
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis with the Theatre, Apollo Temple and magnificent Necropolis, the graveyard . We wil visit The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle).
   Then drive to Kusadasi for overnight.
3. Kusadasi
   Pass by
   After the tour, drive to Kusadasi around 3 hours. Upon our arrival to Kusadasi, check in to your hotel for overnight.

Day 7: Kusadasi – Ephesus – Istanbul by flight (Breakfast)

1. Kusadasi
   Pass by
   After breakfast, drive to Ephesus region around 25 minutes.
2. The Temple of Artemis
   20m
   First visit the Artemis Temple where is one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World
3. Ephesus Ancient City
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Continue to Ephesus, Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them 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 are two of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. Grand theatre was built in 3rd century B.C and it was later expanded to 24.000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st century A.D.
4. The House of the Virgin Mary
   50m · Admission ticket included
   After Ephesus, Visit House of Virgin Mary. This house is 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.
   After Ephesus tour Drive to Izmir airport for our flight back to Istanbul.
5. Izmir
   Pass by
   End of the tour, transfer you to Izmir airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
6. Istanbul
   Pass by
   Upon your arrival to Istanbul, our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer to the hotel for overnight in Istanbul.

Day 8: Home (Breakfast)

1. Istanbul
   Pass by
   After breakfast check out from the hotel and private transfer to Istanbul airport upon your flight time.
   The end of our services

Pickup details

Private pick up and transfer from Istanbul Airport ( IST ) and Sabiha Gokcen ( SAW )

• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• A dress code is required to enter places of worship such as churches, monasteries, mosques, synagogues and selected museums. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. Shoes are not allowed in mosques. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
• A minimum of 2 people per booking is required. Depends upon availabilties in domestic flight and public holidays, Tour operator can change the itinerary between Cappadocia airport on Day 3 to Izmir airport on Day 6 and do the reverse itinerary without changing any site visits, hotel accommodations and other service standards
• Depends upon flights/hotel availabilities, reverse (Istanbul-Capp.-Pamukkale-Ephesus-Izmir-Istanbul) can be organized.
• Saturday arrivals : Istanbul tour will be at the end of the tour on Friday. Istanbul to Izmir flight will be on Day 2.