8-Day Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Pamukkale & Cappadocia (Private Tour)

After breakfast you meet your guide for a full exploration of Istanbul's historic heart. The day begins in Sultanahmet, where most of the city's great monuments stand within walking distance of one another. You start at the ancient Hippodrome, once the arena of Byzantine chariot races, before entering the Blue Mosque, admired for its cascade of domes and the elegant blue Iznik tiles that give it its name. Next is Hagia Sophia, a building whose history spans the Byzantine and Ottoman eras and whose vast dome has impressed visitors for some fifteen centuries. The tour continues at Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans and the centre of an empire that once reached across three continents, with its courtyards, pavilions and treasured collections. The final stop is the Grand Bazaar, a maze of covered streets with thousands of shops selling carpets, ceramics, jewellery, spices, leather goods and traditional Turkish souvenirs. After the tour you return to your hotel, and the evening is at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out. At the appropriate time you are transferred to Istanbul Airport for your domestic flight to Izmir on the Aegean coast. On arrival, our local team meets you and drives you by private transfer to Kusadasi, a lively seaside town that makes an ideal base for exploring Ephesus and the surrounding region. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is yours. You can relax by the pool, take a walk along the waterfront promenade and harbour, browse the shops of the town centre or explore Kusadasi at your own pace as the sun sets over the Aegean Sea. Overnight in Kusadasi.

After breakfast you set out for one of the highlights of the whole journey, the ancient city of Ephesus, once among the most important cities of the Roman world. With your guide you walk along its marble streets and discover a remarkable sequence of monuments, including the Library of Celsus with its two-storey facade, the Great Theatre that once seated thousands of spectators, the Temple of Hadrian, the Roman baths and the ancient fountains that supplied the city with water. The ruins are so well preserved that it is easy to imagine daily life in the bustling city two thousand years ago. The tour continues to the peaceful House of the Virgin Mary on the wooded slopes of Mount Koressos, revered by tradition as the place where Mary spent her final years. Before leaving the area, you also stop at the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, where your guide brings its history to life. In the late afternoon you return to Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi.

Today you travel inland to one of Turkey's most extraordinary natural wonders, Pamukkale. Its name means Cotton Castle, a reference to the brilliant white terraces formed over thousands of years by calcium-rich thermal water flowing down the hillside. You have time to walk on the travertine terraces, following the designated paths, and to enjoy the unusual landscape and the views across the valley. The visit continues at the ancient city of Hierapolis, an important Greco-Roman spa town built around the hot springs. Your guide leads you through its archaeological remains, including the ancient theatre, the Roman baths, temples and one of the largest necropolises in Anatolia. If you wish, you can also bathe in the thermal water of Cleopatra's Antique Pool, an optional activity subject to opening conditions and an additional entrance fee. After the visit you drive back to the coast. Overnight in Kusadasi.

After breakfast you check out of your hotel and are transferred to Izmir Airport. Today you leave the Aegean coast behind and fly towards the volcanic landscapes of Cappadocia in central Anatolia. Depending on the domestic flight schedule on your travel date, the journey may include a connection in Istanbul, as direct flights between Izmir and Cappadocia do not operate every day. When you land at Kayseri Airport or Nevsehir Airport, our team meets you and drives you to your hotel in Cappadocia. After check-in, the evening is free to relax and enjoy your first views of the fairy chimneys and valleys that make this region one of the most unusual places in Turkey. Overnight in Cappadocia.

For those who want to see Cappadocia from the air, the day can begin before dawn with an optional hot-air-balloon flight, drifting over valleys full of fairy chimneys as the sun rises and hundreds of colourful balloons fill the sky. After breakfast you meet your guide and begin exploring the region. The first visit is the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a monastic complex of churches and chapels carved directly into the soft volcanic rock and decorated with centuries-old frescoes. You then travel through Cappadocia's extraordinary valleys to see the famous fairy chimneys up close, including Pasabag, also known as Monks Valley, with its multi-headed rock cones, and Devrent Valley, where erosion has shaped the stone into curious figures. In Avanos, a town famous for its pottery made from the red clay of the Kizilirmak River, you discover a craft passed down through generations. The day also includes panoramic views of Uchisar, crowned by its towering natural rock castle and surrounded by spectacular scenery. After the tour you return to your hotel for your last evening in Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Enjoy a final breakfast in Cappadocia and check out of your hotel. Depending on your flight time, you may have a little free time for last-minute shopping, photographs or one more Turkish coffee with a view of the valleys. At the scheduled time you are transferred to Kayseri Airport or Nevsehir Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. On arrival in Istanbul, our services come to an end. You leave Turkey with memories of Istanbul's historic streets, the ancient wonders of Ephesus, the white terraces of Pamukkale and the magical landscapes of Cappadocia. We look forward to welcoming you back on another journey through Turkey.