Best of Turkey Tour Package, 13 Days: Istanbul to Bodrum by Air

We meet you at Istanbul airport and drive you to your hotel. Nothing else is planned today, so you can rest after your journey. Your guide will collect you the following morning at 09:30 AM.

Today is a full day on foot through the historic core of Istanbul, where Byzantine and Ottoman history sit side by side.

• 09:30 AM – Pick-up: Your guide meets you at the hotel.
• 10:00 AM – Topkapi Palace (optional): Tour the home of the Ottoman sultans, known for its long history and fine architecture.
• 11:30 AM – Blue Mosque: See the famous mosque named after its delicate blue tiles and admire its grand design.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch break (not included): Choose a local restaurant for a midday meal.
• 1:30 PM – Hippodrome: Walk the old chariot-racing ground and see the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain.
• 2:30 PM – Hagia Sophia (optional): Step inside this UNESCO World Heritage Site to see its Byzantine architecture and vast interior.
• 3:30 PM – Grand Bazaar: Lose yourself in the world's oldest covered market and shop for spices, textiles and souvenirs.
• 5:00 PM – Drop-off: You are driven back to your Istanbul hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

A slower day of markets and water views between two continents.

• 08:30 AM – Breakfast: Start with breakfast at your hotel.
• 09:30 AM – Egyptian Spice Bazaar: Wander past stalls piled with spices, Turkish delight and local specialities, and take in the scents and bustle of the old market.
• 11:00 AM – Bosphorus Cruise: Board a boat and relax as you sail between Europe and Asia, with Istanbul's mix of architecture lining both shores.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch break (not included): Stop for a meal at a local restaurant.
• 2:00 PM – Cruise continues: Back on the water, you pass grand Ottoman palaces such as Dolmabahce Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace.
• 4:00 PM – Hotel transfer: After the cruise you return to your hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

An early start takes you from Istanbul to the Mediterranean coast for a day of ancient cities and a waterfall.

• 05:30 AM – Hotel pick-up: We collect you for an early direct flight to Antalya.
• 08:00 AM – Arrival in Antalya: Your guide meets you and the sightseeing begins.
• 09:00 AM – Perge: Walk through this ancient city, with its large theatre, its street lined with columns and its many ruins.
• 11:00 AM – Aspendos Theater: Visit one of the best-preserved ancient theatres in Turkey, admired for its architecture and acoustics.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch break (not included): Try regional dishes at a local restaurant.
• 2:00 PM – Side: Explore the old streets of Side, its amphitheatre and the well-known Temple of Apollo.
• 4:00 PM – Manavgat Waterfall: Relax by the falls and enjoy the green, peaceful setting.
• 6:00 PM – Return to Antalya: You are driven to your hotel in central Antalya to rest.

Overnight in Antalya.

If you choose the optional boat trip, today is spent on the water along Antalya's Mediterranean shore.

• 09:00 AM – Pick-up: A driver takes you from your hotel to the boat dock.
• 09:30 AM – Set sail: Cruise along the coast on a comfortable boat, past cliffs, small coves and golden beaches.
• 10:30 AM – Swim and snorkel: Jump into the clear water for a swim, or snorkel to look at the sea life.
• 12:00 PM – Lunch on board (included): Skilled cooks serve a meal of local dishes while you sit back on the wide deck.
• 1:30 PM – Free time on deck: Sunbathe, relax and take photos of the coastline.
• 3:30 PM – Back to shore: The boat returns to the dock and you are driven back to your hotel.

Today you cross inland Anatolia, stopping in Konya on the way to Cappadocia.

• 06:00 AM – Leave Antalya: Set off early by private vehicle or guided transfer. You can stop for breakfast on the road if you wish.
• 10:30 AM – Konya: On arrival, your first visit is the Mevlana Museum.
• 12:15 PM – Alaeddin Mosque and Hill: See this historic mosque and enjoy the calm views from Alaeddin Hill.
• 01:00 PM – Lunch at a local restaurant: Taste Konya specialities such as etli ekmek or fırın kebabı.
• 02:15 PM – Karatay Madrasa: Look closely at the fine Seljuk tilework and learn about the architecture of the region.
• 04:00 PM – On to Cappadocia: After the tour we drive for about 3.5 hours to Cappadocia and check you into your hotel.

The guided day usually runs from about 09:00 until 16:00 at the latest.

• Göreme Esentepe viewpoint: The first stop is a lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme. Fairy chimneys spread out below you, along with the small town of Esentepe.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum: Monks and Christian scholars once lived and studied here. Their monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-kept frescoes that show how the valley looked in the past.
• Paşabağ (Monks Valley): Also called Pasha's Vineyard, this valley is known for fairy chimneys with three heads, among the most striking rock shapes in all of Cappadocia.
• Devrent Valley: After a short drive you reach a moon-like valley of small, pointed chimneys. Many of the rocks look like animals or mythical creatures.
• Avanos pottery workshop: Potters in Avanos have shaped clay from the Red River since 3000 BC. In a traditional workshop you watch local craftsmen make their ceramics by hand.
• Love Valley: Millions of years of erosion have left cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys here, some as tall as 40 metres. It is one of the most photogenic and unusual corners of the region.

In the evening you return to your cave hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

• 05:00 AM – Hot air balloon ride (optional): Float over the fairy chimneys and rock formations as the sun rises.
• 07:00 AM – Champagne and return: Toast your landing with champagne, then transfer back to your hotel.

The guided tour sets off at around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.

• Meskendir Valley (4.4 km trek): The day opens with a 4.4 km walk through this valley near Ortahisar. On the way you step inside Meskendir Church, decorated with bold red geometric patterns and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling.
• Rose Valley: Tucked away behind Ürgüp, this quiet valley is full of unusual rock shapes and churches cut into the stone. Its footpaths link small villages through vineyards and gardens, and local people sometimes offer walkers fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
• Red Valley: Much like its neighbour, Red Valley has striking rock formations and old cave churches. Its winding paths spread like a spider's web, joining remote villages and farmland, and show both the nature and the history of Cappadocia.
• Çavuşin Village: One of the region's oldest settlements, Çavuşin is a maze of cave houses cut into the rock. It also holds the 5th-century Church of John the Baptist, the biggest cave church in the region.
• Underground City: Early Christians dug 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to hide from persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them, which goes down eight levels, and walk through old wineries, kitchens and living rooms.
• Pigeon Valley: On the edge of Göreme, the cliffs are dotted with pigeon houses carved over many centuries. Farmers once collected the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today the valley is a favourite place for wide views and photos.
• Uçhisar Castle panorama: The final stop is Uçhisar, the highest spot in Cappadocia. Its rock castle once served as a fortress, and from the top you can see the whole region as far as Erciyes Mountain.

After a full day of walking and sightseeing, you are back at your hotel at around 16:00 for the night.

You check out of your Cappadocia hotel at around 10:00 AM and board the 12:00 PM flight to Izmir.

On landing, a vehicle drives you about 1.5 hours to the coastal town of Kuşadası. The rest of the day is yours: walk its lively streets, look around the historic sites, or sit down to local food by the sea.

Today your guide leads you through the ruins of Ephesus. Main stops:

• Library of Celsus: Admire its bold facade and fine architectural detail.
• Temple of Hadrian: See the well-kept remains of a temple honouring the Roman emperor Hadrian.
• Hercules Gate: Walk through this monumental entrance, decorated with reliefs and sculptures.
• Grand Theatre: Stand inside a huge theatre that once seated thousands of spectators.
• The Snake Cult of Asklepios: Hear about the old snake cult linked to healing and see the ruins of the Asklepion, an ancient medical centre.
• Herm (Marker) of Hermes: A stone marker devoted to Hermes, the Greek god of travellers and boundaries.
• Relief of the goddess Nike: A carefully carved image of Nike, symbol of victory and triumph.
• Fountain of Trajan: An ancient fountain built for Emperor Trajan and decorated with ornate sculptures.
• Ruins of Artemis Temple: What remains of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the ancient world's Seven Wonders.
• St. Mary's House (optional): If you wish, visit the holy site believed to be the Virgin Mary's home in her last years.

03:30 PM – Return to hotel: After the tour you are driven back to your hotel for the night.

• 07:00 AM – Pick-up: An early start from your hotel for Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis.
• 10:00 AM – Hierapolis: Visit the Necropolis, the Theatre and the famous Cleopatra Pool. A swim in the pool costs an extra admission fee.
• 11:30 AM – Pamukkale Travertines: Walk on the white, cotton-like terraces and see the pools of mineral-rich water from above.
• 01:00 PM – Lunch (not included): Take a break at a local restaurant.
• 02:30 PM – Lake and park: Spend time at Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park, a green and scenic spot.
• 04:30 PM – Drive to Bodrum: After the tour you are transferred to Bodrum.
• 07:00 PM – Check-in: Arrive at your Bodrum hotel for the night.

The morning in Bodrum is free. Walk along the busy marina, visit Bodrum Castle and its Museum of Underwater Archaeology, or browse the local bazaar for souvenirs. If you would rather rest, head to one of Bodrum's beaches or order a coffee at a café by the sea.

In the afternoon we take you to the airport for your flight to Istanbul, and on arrival you are driven to your hotel for the night.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Our representative takes you to the airport for your departure, and this is where our services end.

Want more time in Istanbul? You can add extra nights to the end of your trip.

Optional extras

• Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (Göreme): $310
• One extra hotel night in Istanbul, before or after the tour: $65
• Upgrade to a private tour: $650