10-Day Turkey Family Tour – Istanbul, Ephesus, Sirince & Cappadocia

After breakfast you are collected at around 08:30 for a guided tour of the historic peninsula. You begin at Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th century, where the Imperial Treasury, collections of porcelain, crystal and silver, royal costumes, miniatures and the sacred relics of the Holy Mantle await. Across the square you enter the Sultanahmet Mosque, known worldwide as the Blue Mosque for the thousands of Iznik tiles that cover its interior. Nearby lies the Hippodrome, once the stage for chariot races, where three monuments still stand: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. After a lunch break at your own expense, the tour continues to the Spice Bazaar, a lively covered market full of spices, herbs, baklava, Turkish delight, Turkish coffee, nuts, ceramics, olive oil soaps and evil-eye charms. Please note that Topkapi Palace closes on Tuesdays; on that day the Basilica Cistern is visited instead. The evening is free. Overnight in Istanbul.

Following breakfast, you set off at around 09:00 for Isfanbul (formerly known as Vialand), Turkey's first modern theme park, located in the Eyup district of Istanbul. Spread over some 600,000 square metres, the park offers more than 50 attractions, including a launched roller coaster reaching 110 km/h, a water coaster, a family coaster, a rapid river ride, a drop tower and a dark ride. Younger children have their own areas with a carousel, playgrounds, mini cars and 3D cinema, while the park's design recalls daily life in old Istanbul. A large shopping centre sits right next door if anyone prefers a quieter break. The park is laid out in themed zones so every age group can easily find its favourite rides. You are brought back to your hotel at about 16:30. Overnight in Istanbul.

After a leisurely breakfast you leave at around 09:30 for the Sea Life Istanbul Aquarium, the first large modern aquarium in Turkey. Inside, 29 themed tanks present marine life from the Mediterranean, the Aegean and oceans around the world, including sharks, giant stingrays, piranhas and octopuses. The largest tank holds about five million litres of water and is crossed by an 80-metre acrylic underwater tunnel, so the fish glide right over your head. Do not miss the huge observation area with its 270-degree underwater views. It is a calm, fascinating day that children and adults enjoy equally, and a pleasant contrast to the busy sightseeing of the old city. You return to your hotel at around 16:00. Overnight in Istanbul.

Enjoy a free morning in Istanbul after breakfast, perhaps for last-minute shopping or a stroll along the Bosphorus. At the appropriate time you are transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Izmir. On landing, our driver meets you and takes you south along the Aegean coast to Kusadasi, a seaside resort with a lively harbour and long promenade. After checking into your hotel, there is time to relax by the pool or the sea before dinner, which is served at the hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.

At 08:30 you leave the hotel for a fully guided visit to Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world. On the way you stop at the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and then walk down Curetes Street past the Roman baths to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. Around 13:00 there is a lunch break, followed by a visit to a carpet weaving centre where one of Turkey's oldest crafts is still practised. In the afternoon you continue to Sirince, a hillside village of whitewashed houses built by Anatolian Greeks and renowned for its fruit wines; here local winemakers explain how the wines are produced, and you can test your new knowledge with a tasting. On the way back you visit a leather production centre, where you can shop at factory prices without the pressure of the bazaars. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Today is dedicated to a horse riding adventure in the countryside around Kusadasi. After breakfast you are picked up from the hotel and taken to the stables, where experienced staff match each rider with a suitable horse, whether you are a complete beginner or already confident in the saddle. Apart from the hotel transfers, the whole programme takes place on horseback, with the instructors riding alongside the group the entire time to keep everyone safe and comfortable. It is a memorable family day in nature, followed by a relaxed evening back at the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

After breakfast you check out and drive to Izmir Airport for your domestic flight to Kayseri. On arrival our driver transfers you to your cave hotel in Cappadocia, where rooms carved into the soft volcanic rock give children and adults alike a taste of the region's unique way of life. The rest of the day is free to settle in, admire the surrounding valleys and fairy chimneys, or wander through the nearby village. Dinner and overnight at your cave hotel in Cappadocia.

Between 08:00 and 09:30 you are collected from your hotel for a full guided day in Cappadocia. The first stop is Ozkonak Underground City, one of the best preserved subterranean refuges in the region. You then climb up to Uchisar Castle, the highest point of Cappadocia, before visiting the Goreme Open Air Museum, famous for rock-cut churches with frescoes from around the 10th century depicting the life of Christ. Next comes Cavusin, an abandoned village of old Greek cave houses, followed by lunch at a restaurant in Avanos and a visit to a pottery workshop to watch master potters at the wheel. The afternoon continues in Love Valley with its tall, unusual rock pillars, a carpet and kilim workshop, and Devrent Valley, also called Imagination Valley, where the rocks resemble animals. After a wine tasting in Urgup, the last stop is the Three Beauties, the trio of capped fairy chimneys that has become the symbol of Cappadocia. You are back at the hotel at around 18:00. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

After breakfast there is some free time for souvenir shopping in Cappadocia. At the agreed time you are transferred to Kayseri Airport for your domestic flight back to Istanbul, where you connect with your international flight home. Our services end here, and we hope your family returns home with wonderful memories of Turkey. Before leaving, you may want to pick up a few last souvenirs such as hand-painted Avanos pottery, onyx pieces or local dried fruits and wines. Your driver collects you from the hotel at the agreed time, so there is no need to rush breakfast or packing. On landing in Istanbul you can connect directly with your international flight.