This ten-day guaranteed-departure road trip strings the classic landmarks of western and central Turkey into one unbroken overland adventure, from the minarets of Istanbul to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia by way of the Aegean coast, the Mediterranean and the Seljuk city of Konya. Travelling with a professional English-speaking guide and comfortable private vehicle, you follow a scenic route that balances great monuments with the pleasure of the journey itself.
The road trip begins in Istanbul with a guided tour of the old city — the UNESCO-listed Hippodrome, the German Fountain, the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column and the Column of Constantine, the Blue Mosque and the incomparable Hagia Sophia — followed by a cruise up the Bosphorus past the Dolmabahce, Yildiz, Ciragan and Beylerbeyi palaces, the Ortakoy waterfront and the Rumeli Fortress. After a domestic flight to Izmir you base yourself in Kusadasi and spend a full day at Ephesus, walking Curetes Street past the Roman baths, the Celsus Library and the Grand Theatre to the House of the Virgin Mary, then tasting homemade fruit wines in the nineteenth-century village of Sirince.
Turning inland, you reach Pamukkale for its world-famous calcite terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis, before driving to the Mediterranean city of Antalya, where the old quarter of Kaleici gathers Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman layers around Hadrian's Gate, the Yivli Minaret, Karaalioglu Park, the Hidirlik Tower and the cascading Duden Waterfall. The route then crosses the plateau to Konya, where the Mevlana Museum and the green-tiled mausoleum of Rumi evoke the world of the Whirling Dervishes, and on to Cappadocia for an underground city, the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum and its rock churches, the cave village of Cavusin, the pottery workshops of Avanos, Love Valley, Devrent Valley and the Three Beauties — with the option of a sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the valleys.
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Your greeter meets you at Istanbul International Airport and transfers you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or begin exploring the city at your own pace — the old city, the bazaars and the waterfront are all within easy reach. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast your guided city tour begins in the Old City. You visit the Hippodrome, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the German Fountain, the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column and the Column of Constantine; the Blue Mosque with its breathtaking tiled interior; and Hagia Sophia, often called the eighth wonder of the world. After a lunch break there is time for shopping. This evening you may join an optional dinner cruise on the Bosphorus with unlimited local drinks, belly-dance and Turkish folklore shows. Overnight in Istanbul.
Following breakfast you set out on a Bosphorus boat tour, passing old wooden mansions, the Dolmabahce, Yildiz, Ciragan and Beylerbeyi palaces, the Ortakoy waterfront and the Rumeli Fortress. After lunch at a Turkish restaurant and a visit to the Grand Spice Bazaar you transfer to Istanbul airport for a domestic flight to Izmir, continuing to Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
Today you explore Ephesus, an ancient city whose history stretches back thousands of years and whose great Temple of Artemis was one of the wonders of the ancient world. You walk Curetes Street past the Roman baths, the Celsus Library and the Grand Theatre, and visit the House of the Virgin Mary. In the hillside village of Sirince you admire its nineteenth-century architecture, taste homemade fruit wines and browse local handicrafts and a leather-production centre. Overnight in Kusadasi.
This morning you travel to Pamukkale to see its world-famous travertine terraces of white calcite and the ruins of Hierapolis, with the chance to swim in the warm travertine pools. After a lunch break there is time to browse a textile outlet before returning to your hotel. Optional tandem paragliding and an early-morning hot-air balloon flight are available. Overnight in Kusadasi.
After a leisurely breakfast you depart around 10:00 for Antalya, a drive of roughly four hours with coffee stops along the way, arriving in the Mediterranean city in the late afternoon. The evening is free to relax. Dinner and overnight in Antalya.
Antalya is a city where sea, sun, beach and forest meet. Today you explore the old quarter of Kaleici, layered with Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman history: Hadrian's Gate, the Yivli Minaret complex, the Giyaseddin Keyhusrev and Seljuk madrasahs, the Zincirkiran and Nigar Hatun tombs, the Karatay Madrasa, the historic marina, Karaalioglu Park and the Hidirlik Tower, finishing at the dramatic Duden Waterfall. Overnight in Antalya.
After breakfast you drive across the plateau to Konya, pausing for a coffee break en route. In Konya you take a lunch break and visit the Mevlana Museum, whose striking green-tiled mausoleum of Rumi opens a window onto the peaceful world of the Sufi order known as the Whirling Dervishes. You then continue to Cappadocia, arriving in the early evening. This evening you may join an optional Turkish night show in a cave restaurant with traditional dishes, belly dance and folklore. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Today you descend into an underground city carved from the region's dense volcanic tuff, then visit the Goreme Open Air Museum — the heart of Cappadocia and a UNESCO World Heritage site — with its rock-cut churches of the Virgin Mary, Tokali, the Dark Church, St Barbara and St Basil. You explore Cavusin, enjoy lunch in Avanos with a pottery workshop, and admire Love Valley and Devrent Valley with its Three Beauties. An optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the fairy chimneys, ending with a champagne celebration, is available. Overnight in Cappadocia.
After breakfast you have free time in Cappadocia before this remarkable road trip ends with your transfer to Cappadocia airport for a domestic flight to Istanbul and your onward journey home. End of our services.
Handpicked 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels along your route. Choose your category — the price adapts.
Exact hotels are confirmed on booking based on availability and your chosen category; equivalent alternatives may be offered.
Istanbul → Istanbul, Izmir, Kusadasi → Ephesus, Sirince → Pamukkale → Antalya → Konya, Cappadocia → Cappadocia → Cappadocia, Istanbul
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Istanbul, Istanbul, Izmir, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Sirince, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia, Cappadocia, Cappadocia, Istanbul.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!