Itinerary Details

Day 1 (Arrival to Istanbul)

Upon your arrival at either Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), our team will be waiting to welcome you just outside the international arrivals terminal with a personalized sign displaying your name. From there, we will transfer you comfortably to your hotel located in the historic Sultanahmet district. Depending on your arrival time, you’ll have free time in the afternoon to explore or relax. If you arrive early in the day, we can also organize optional tours for you. You’ll spend the night in Sultanahmet.

Day 2 (Full-Day Guided Group Tour of Istanbul, includes breakfast and lunch)

The day will begin at 9:00 AM when you’ll meet our tour guide at a central location, which will be confirmed during the booking process. Your first stop will be the majestic Topkapi Palace, the former royal residence of Ottoman Sultans, located on the historic Sarayburnu peninsula. This grand palace showcases a blend of architectural styles and houses significant artifacts such as the imperial treasury, ceremonial clothing of the sultans, and sacred Islamic relics. Please note, the Harem section is not part of the standard tour and requires an additional ticket for entry.

Following the palace visit, the tour continues with a stroll through the historic Hippodrome of Constantinople, which once served as a center for chariot races, public celebrations, political uprisings, and imperial ceremonies during both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. This walking portion will last approximately 45 minutes. This marks the conclusion of the morning segment of the tour.

Our journey will pause for a break at a local restaurant where lunch will be served, offering a delightful selection of authentic Turkish dishes. The afternoon portion of the tour will begin around 13:30, starting with a visit to the iconic Hagia Sophia (St. Sophia) Museum. This architectural wonder reflects a fusion of Christian and Islamic elements. Originally constructed in 537 AD by the Roman Emperor Justinian, it was later converted into a mosque in the 15th century. During the visit, which will last about an hour, you'll explore the courtyard, entrance area, main hall, and upper gallery.

Next, we will visit the magnificent Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque), renowned for its exquisite Iznik tile work — a masterpiece of Turkish ceramic art. Built in the 17th century, the Blue Mosque has become an enduring symbol of Istanbul, located at the very center of the Old City. The final destination of the day will be the bustling Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with over 4,000 shops offering everything from textiles to jewelry. After exploring the bazaar, our guide will assist you in finding your way back to your hotel by around 17:00. You will spend the night in Sultanahmet.

Day 3 (Group Cappadocia Tour, breakfast and lunch included)

The day will begin with an early morning hotel pick-up around 05:00 AM, followed by a transfer to either Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport for your domestic flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, our driver will be waiting to greet you at the airport and transfer you directly to your hotel, where a delicious breakfast will be served.

After breakfast, your exploration of enchanting Cappadocia begins with a visit to its most iconic site — the Goreme Open Air Museum, a remarkable complex recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Here, you'll discover the region’s finest rock-carved churches, featuring ancient frescoes and cave chapels. Next, you’ll head to the historic village of Cavusin, once home to both Greek and Turkish residents until 1924. This abandoned settlement was inhabited until the 1950s, when the government relocated residents due to rockfall hazards. The tour continues to Pasabag (Monks Valley), famous for its mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. The formations in Pasabag are among the most well-preserved in the region, offering the perfect example of how fairy chimneys are formed.

We will enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant in Avanos, a town known for its artistic heritage. Following lunch, you’ll witness a kick-wheel pottery demonstration, an art form that has been practiced here for nearly 4,000 years, dating back to the Hittite civilization. The journey then takes you to the impressive Zelve Open Air Museum, a site that illustrates the importance of Christian monastic life in the region. While it may not feature the colorful frescoes found elsewhere, Zelve offers an intricate maze of cave dwellings, tunnels, and chambers. You’ll also see numerous pointed fairy chimneys rising up to 40 feet, creating a dramatic skyline.

The final stop of the day is the surreal Devrent Valley, renowned for its fantastical rock formations that resemble various animals and objects — most famously the camel-shaped rock. After soaking in the surreal scenery, we will return to your hotel at approximately 4:00 PM. Overnight stay in Goreme.

Day 4 (Group Cappadocia Tour, breakfast and lunch included)

Optional Hot Air Balloon Flight in the early morning can be a good start the day with sunrise.

Your day will begin at 09:30 AM with a hotel pick-up from your accommodation in Goreme. After a short 5-minute drive, we’ll arrive at the Goreme Panorama Point, offering stunning elevated views of Goreme Town and the surrounding valleys. Here, your guide will share fascinating insights into the historical and geological significance of the region. From there, we’ll continue with a 40-minute journey to explore the Derinkuyu Underground City — the deepest subterranean city in Cappadocia. This vast underground complex includes all the elements of daily life and descends to an incredible depth of 60 meters below the earth's surface.

Our next destination is one of Turkey’s most breathtaking natural wonders: the Ihlara Gorge. We will enjoy a scenic 3 km trek through the canyon, lasting approximately 1 hour. As we follow the riverbank trail, you’ll pass by Byzantine-era cave churches adorned with beautiful frescoes. The hike ends near the charming Belisirma village, where we’ll pause for a relaxing lunch at a peaceful restaurant by the riverside.

After lunch, we’ll take a short 15-minute drive to explore the impressive Selime Monastery, the largest religious complex in the region. Following a climb to the top, you'll tour its various sections, including the monastery chambers, kitchen, cathedral, and chapels. Later, we’ll set off on a 1.5-hour drive back toward Uchisar, where you will enjoy a demonstration of traditional Cappadocian stone carving and take in the views of the picturesque Pigeon Valley. At the end of this full day of exploration, we will return you to your hotel at approximately 17:30. Overnight stay in Goreme.

Day 5 (Flight to Ephesus, leisure day)

On this day, you’ll be picked up from your hotel approximately two hours prior to your flight and transferred to either Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport. You will board a direct* flight to Izmir Airport. Upon arrival, our driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Selcuk. The remainder of the day is yours to spend at your own pace. If you wish, you may explore nearby landmarks such as the St. John’s Basilica or the Selcuk Archaeological Museum, both of which are within walking distance of your hotel. Overnight stay in Selcuk.

Day 6 (Ephesus Group Tour – Flight to Istanbul, breakfast and lunch included)

We will begin the day by picking you up from your hotel in either Selcuk or Kusadasi around 09:00 AM. The first stop will be the sacred House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be the final home of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This holy site was identified in 1812 by Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich, a German nun, through a series of vivid visions. During her mystical experiences, she described a journey from Jerusalem to Ephesus by St. John and the Virgin Mary, where they settled in a stone house built by St. John. You’ll have time to explore this spiritual site and absorb its peaceful atmosphere.

After exploring this spiritual site, we’ll head just 10 minutes away to the Ephesus Ruins — one of the largest archaeological digs in the world. Here, you’ll walk through the remains of this magnificent ancient city, visiting landmarks such as the Odeon, Trajan Fountain, the baths of Scholastica, and the temples of Hadrian and Domitian. The highlight of the site is the Library of Celsus, one of the finest structures in the ancient world. We'll also stop by the Great Theatre of Ephesus, where St. Paul once delivered his sermons. This grand structure was the largest of its kind in antiquity, with a capacity of up to 24,000 spectators. The guided tour through Ephesus will last about 2 hours, after which we’ll break for lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, our next destination will be the Temple of Artemis, once considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Though only a few columns remain today, the historical significance of the site is immense. From there, we’ll drive for about 15 minutes to reach Sirince Village. Once a Greek Orthodox settlement, the village was affected by the 1924 population exchange agreement between Turkey and Greece, which saw Greek citizens in Turkey relocated to Greece and vice versa. The tour concludes around 4:30 PM, and you’ll be transferred to Izmir Airport for your return flight to Istanbul. Upon landing, our driver will meet you and take you back to your hotel in the historic Sultanahmet area. Overnight stay in Sultanahmet.

Day 7 (Transfer to airport for flight back home)

On the final day of your journey in Turkey, you'll have some free time at your leisure until your scheduled airport transfer. When the time comes, we’ll take you to either Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport for your departure flight back home.

*Please note that direct flights to Izmir may not operate during the winter months, or the available flights might be scheduled in the afternoon. In such cases, we will provide connecting flight alternatives. Additionally, package prices may vary slightly depending on the time of booking, as airfare rates fluctuate based on availability and season.

We offer three separate pricing tiers depending on your preferred accommodation type. Kindly refer to the Pricing section above for full details of the package costs.

For more details, feel free to email us or reach out via WhatsApp. We’ll be happy to assist you as soon as possible.