Best Turkey Tour to Ephesus and Cappadocia from Istanbul

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul, Airport Pick-up

1. Istanbul
   1h
   Upon your arrival in Istanbul airport, a local representative will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. The rest of the day will be left for you to recover from jet lag.

Day 2: Istanbul Old City tour

1. TopkapI Palace
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   The guided sightseeing starts with the Topkapi Palace where shows the powers of Ottoman Empire.
2. Hippodrome
   45m · Admission ticket included
   Then the guide will lead you to visit the ancient Hippodrome, which is now a public square, and only three monuments still stand there.
3. Blue Mosque
   40m · Admission ticket included
   Next turns to the nearby Blue Mosque is named so because it is decorated by over 20,000 blue and white İznik tiles inside; this round-roof building is also a landmark of the city.
4. Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
   1h 30m · Admission ticket included
   In the afternoon, continue to visit Hagia Sophia Museum which is a unique example of religious architecture combining Christian and Islamic style.
5. Grand Bazaar
   1h 30m
   After, spend the rest time of this afternoon at the bustling shopping mart, Grand Bazaar. Dated to 1461, it is one of the world’s oldest markets. The commodities here mainly include jewelry, candies, lights, porcelains and carpets.
   
   After today's sightseeing, your guide will escort you back to the hotel.

Day 3: Bosphorus Cruise, Fly to Izmir & Transfer to Kusadasi

1. Bosphorus Strait
   2h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, you will embark on a boat for an amazing cruise on Bosphorus River, during which you will see the Dolmabahce Palace, churches, mosques, graveyards and Bosphorus Bridge along the river. It will last for about 2 hours.
2. Izmir
   4h
   After tour, transfer you to airport. Fly to Izmir. Upon landing, you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel in Kusadasi where you will spend two nights. The rest of day is free for you explore the charming coastal town.

Day 4: Full day tour of Ephesus

1. Ephesus Ancient City
   8h · Admission ticket included
   Today you will have a full day sightseeing in Ephesus. There, you will see quite a lot historical sites, such as Temple of Hadrian, Celsus Library, Roman Baths and Grand Theater. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to visit Artemis Temple. It is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. Sadly, only a column stands there nowadays, surrounded by some rocky ruins. Then, pay a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, where Virgin Mary spent her last time of life. When today's visits end, transfer you back to the hotel.

Day 5: Fly to Cappadocia

1. Cappadocia
   4h
   After breakfast, your driver will pick you up and send you to Izmir airport for you to take the flight to Cappadocia. If the direct flight is not available, we'll help you to transfer in Istanbul. Upon arrival, your local driver will be waiting for you at the exit of the airport, holding a welcome board with your name on, and send you to the hotel. The rest of the day is for your own plan.

Day 6: Northern Cappadocia Tour

1. Goreme Open Air Museum
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Today, your local guide will accompany you to explore the northern Cappadocia. The first stop will be Goreme Open Air Museum, which is a UNESCO World Cultural and Landscape Heritage with nearly 1,000 cave churches and monasteries.
2. Pasabag Vadisi
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Then, you will go to Pasabag, also called Monks Valley, to see the interesting rock formations looking like mushrooms and fairy chimneys.
3. Devrent Valley
   2h · Admission ticket included
   In the afternoon, drive through the Imagination Valley to visit the Devrent Valley, where many natural rocks in animal shapes lie.
4. 2h
   At last, on the way back to the hotel, pass through Love Valley for you to admire the incredible night views of Cappadocia.

Day 7: Southern Cappadocia Tour, Fly to Istanbul

1. Kaymakli Underground City
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast in hotel, the southern Cappadocia tour will begin with the visit to the Derinkuyu Underground City, one of the deepest underground cities of Cappadocia which can accommodate as many as 20,000 people.
2. Ihlara Valley
   2h · Admission ticket included
   The second stop of today will be the beautiful Lhlara Valley. There, your guide will escort you to hike for 3-4 km (1.9-2.5 mi) to explore the small rock-cut churches along the river. Around noon, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant in Belisirma, a small village along the Melendiz Stream.
3. Selime Monastery
   1h · Admission ticket included
   In the afternoon, get to Selime Monastery, the largest rock cathedral in Cappadocia.
4. Pigeon Valley
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Pigeon Valley will be our last stop today, where you will have a chance to take the wonderful photos of groups of caves like pigeon nests and unusual wind-erosion landform.
5. Istanbul
   1h
   Finally at the end of the day, you will be transferred to the airport to take the return flight to Istanbul. Arriving in the late evening, your local driver will pick you up and send you to the hotel safely.

Day 8: Departure from Istanbul

1. Istanbul
   1h
   According to the schedule of your leaving flight, your driver will transfer you to the airport by the private car and see you off.

Pickup details

Pick up all travelers from Istanbul Airport, Turkey.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required