16-Day Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ephesus, Antalya, Cappadocia
Overview
16-Day Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ephesus, Antalya, Cappadocia
Over 16 days this relaxed Turkey tour traces a wide loop from Istanbul to Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya and Cappadocia. It is meant for travellers who want the main western battlefields, the archaeology of legend, the ruins of the Aegean, Mediterranean Antalya and Cappadocia in one trip, without feeling hurried between transfers.
Guided sightseeing alternates with days off in Antalya and Istanbul. Intercity buses cover the legs where they work well, and domestic flights take care of the longest distances between regions. Your hotels, transfers, guided visits, the meals listed in the programme and the main transport links are all arranged as a single plan.
Leave the logistics to us and simply enjoy the journey.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul
Transfers: included. Overnight: Istanbul.
Our team greets you at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), depending on your flight. Your driver then takes you to your Istanbul hotel in comfort, so you can check in and enjoy a quiet first evening.
Day 2 – Free Day in Istanbul
Meals: breakfast. Free time. Overnight: Istanbul.
A day to rest or pick optional activities. Get over the flight, explore the streets near your hotel, take a walk beside the Bosphorus, see a museum, or ask us about optional evening experiences.
Ideas for the day: a ferry ride on the Bosphorus, shopping in the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, or a stroll around Karakoy and Galata.
Day 3 – Istanbul Old City & Bosphorus Cruise
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers: included. Overnight: Istanbul.
08:30 – After breakfast we collect you at your hotel and drive you to the tour area.
The morning, until midday, is spent in the historic heart of the city. The Hippodrome was the stage for state ceremonies in Byzantine Constantinople. The Blue Mosque is a fine example of classical Ottoman mosque design. Hagia Sophia unites the Byzantine, Ottoman and modern chapters of the city in a single remarkable building.
12:30 – A break of roughly 90 minutes starts.
14:00 – Departure for the cruise. We take you to the pier for a boat trip between the two shores of Istanbul, with lunch served on board.
- Bosphorus Cruise – the city seen from the water, gliding past palaces, bridges, waterfront mansions and districts on both the European and Asian shores.
- Golden Horn viewpoint – from here you look over the old inlet that shaped trade, defence and the skyline of Istanbul over many centuries.
17:30 – The cruise ends and we drive you back to your hotel.
Day 4 – Gallipoli Battlefields & Night in Canakkale
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers: included. Overnight: Canakkale.
06:30 - 07:00 – Pick-up at your Istanbul hotel for the drive to Gallipoli. The exact time depends on where your hotel is. The trip takes about 5 hours, with one stop along the way.
- Brighton Beach – a first feel for the coastal side of the battlefield and its awkward shoreline, ahead of the ridge visits.
- Beach Cemetery – a personal stop above the shore where thousands of young men first faced the war.
- ANZAC Cove – the tight landing beach at the centre of how Australians and New Zealanders remember Gallipoli.
- Ari Burnu – where the landing zone ends and sea, cliffs and ridges meet.
- Lone Pine – recalled for fierce fighting at close quarters, in a memorial setting full of emotion.
- Johnston's Jolly – trenches of both sides that show how cramped the front line became.
- Shrapnel Valley – a risky route inland, open to fire from the heights around it.
- Turkish Memorial – a tribute to the Ottoman soldiers that frames the campaign as a shared memory.
- The Nek – a slim ridge remembered for an attack that cost many lives.
- Chunuk Bair – one of the campaign's key high points, tied to both strategy and sacrifice.
17:00 – The Gallipoli tour finishes and we take you to your hotel.
Day 5 – Troy Morning Tour & Bus via Izmir to Kusadasi/Selcuk
Meals: breakfast. Transfers: included. Overnight: Kusadasi/Selcuk.
08:30 – We collect you at your hotel and take you to the site for the Troy tour.
- Troy Ancient City – a mound of many cities built one over another across thousands of years, where digging meets Homer's legend.
- Trojan Horse Movie Replica – the film horse gives the story a clear starting image before the ruins.
- Sacrificial Altars – they reveal the ritual life of Troy beyond its walls and wars.
- 3700-Year-Old City Walls – they show why people pictured Troy as a strong fortified town.
- Houses of Troy I – homes dated to 3000-2500 B.C. that show early daily life on the mound.
- The Agora of Troy – a reminder of later civic life, commerce and public spaces.
11:30 – The tour finishes and you are driven to Canakkale Bus Station.
13:30 – Board the intercity bus to Kusadasi/Selcuk, which travels via Izmir. The ride lasts about 6 hours, and the departure time can change.
20:00 – Our team meets you at the bus station and takes you to your hotel.
Day 6 – Ephesus Ancient City Tour
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers: included. Overnight: Kusadasi/Selcuk.
09:00 – Pick-up at your hotel after breakfast.
- Library of Celsus – the signature front of Ephesus and an emblem of its civic pride.
- Great Theatre – a venue for shows, assemblies and public announcements, with room for thousands.
- Temple of Hadrian – small but richly carved, full of imperial symbolism.
- Marble Road – it ties the main public spaces together like a Roman procession street.
- Odeon – a window onto the civic and cultural side of life in Roman Ephesus.
- House of Virgin Mary – a calm sanctuary on the hillside above Ephesus.
- Temple of Artemis – once counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
16:00 – The tour ends and we drive you to your hotel.
Day 7 – Pamukkale & Hierapolis, Bus to Antalya
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers: included. Overnight: Antalya.
07:30 – The Pamukkale tour begins at your hotel, where you meet your guide.
- Pamukkale Travertines – white terraces laid down by warm water rich in calcium.
- Hierapolis – a Roman spa town shaped by its hot springs, with a theatre, streets and holy areas.
- Cleopatra Pool area – warm spring water over fallen ancient columns; a swim is optional and paid for locally.
16:00 – When the tour ends, we take you to the bus station.
17:30 – Bus from Denizli to Antalya. The departure time can vary.
21:00 – You reach the bus station in Antalya, where we meet you at the exit and drive you to your hotel.
Day 8 – Free Day in Antalya
Meals: breakfast. Free time. Overnight: Antalya.
A day off for the beach, the old town or optional activities.
Ideas for the day: the harbour and old town of Kaleici, the beaches at Konyaalti or Lara, or a visit to the Duden waterfalls.
Day 9 – Antalya Old City, Duden Waterfalls & Boat Tour
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers: included. Overnight: Antalya.
09:30 – After breakfast we pick you up at your hotel and the tour begins.
- Upper Duden – the leafy inland part of the falls, with shaded paths and running water.
- Lower Duden – the water plunges from the cliff edge into the sea, a dramatic Antalya view.
- Kaleici – the old town of narrow lanes, Ottoman houses, small shops and paved alleys.
- Panoramic boat tour – Antalya seen from the sea: the coastline, cliffs, harbour and old city walls.
17:00 – End of the tour and drive back to your hotel.
Day 10 – Perge, Aspendos, Side & Manavgat Waterfall
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers: included. Overnight: Antalya.
08:00 – Pick-up at your hotel and drive to the tour area.
- Perge Ancient City – a leading city of Pamphylia, with streets lined by columns, city gates, baths and what is left of a stadium.
- Aspendos Ancient Theatre – among the best-preserved Roman theatres, known for its acoustics and its complete stage building.
- Side Ancient City – temples, the agora, theatre ruins and sea views in a historic port.
- Manavgat Waterfall – a cool natural pause after the ancient sites.
17:30 – End of the tour and drive back to your hotel.
Day 11 – Free Time in Antalya & Flight to Cappadocia
Meals: breakfast. Transfers: included. Overnight: Cappadocia.
Have breakfast and check out of your hotel. We drive you to Antalya Airport at a time that fits your flight.
Today you fly from Antalya to Cappadocia. If there is no direct service, we book a connecting flight via Istanbul.
Our team meets you at the airport in Cappadocia and takes you to your hotel.
Day 12 – Cappadocia Red Route: Devrent, Pasabag & Zelve
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers: included. Overnight: Cappadocia.
Optional early-morning add-ons:
- Hot Air Balloon Flight – rated the number one Cappadocia experience, with sunrise views over the valleys; our most booked activity.
- Balloon Watching Tour – sunrise photos from the top viewpoints in Cappadocia, with the best spots guaranteed.
You can add either one when you book, at the best prices available.
09:30 – We pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the tour area.
- Devrent Valley – volcanic rocks shaped like animals and figures.
- Pasabag – striking fairy chimneys, some topped with several caps.
- Goreme panoramic point – valleys, cave homes and volcanic forms in a single view.
- Avanos pottery workshop – clay from the Red River and a potting tradition that goes back thousands of years.
- Zelve Open Air Museum – a cave village and monastic community spread across several valleys.
- Uchisar Castle – a natural rock citadel rising over central Cappadocia.
16:30 – The tour ends and we drive you to your hotel.
Day 13 – Cappadocia Yellow Route & Flight to Istanbul
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers: included. Overnight: Istanbul.
09:30 – We pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the tour area.
- Rose Valley – warm pink and red rock with paths past cave rooms.
- Underground City – tunnels, storerooms, air shafts and stone doors for defence.
- Pigeon Valley – dovecotes carved into the rock and views toward Uchisar.
- Gulludere Valley – softly coloured rock, cave churches and walking trails.
- Cavusin Village – an old rock-cut village whose homes and chapels scale the cliff.
16:30 – The tour ends and we take you to the airport in Cappadocia.
21:30 – Flight to Istanbul. The time depends on the date and seat availability.
23:00 – Landing in Istanbul; the landing airport and time may differ. We meet you at the exit and drive you to your hotel.
Day 14 – Free Day in Istanbul
Meals: breakfast. Free time. Overnight: Istanbul.
A full day in Istanbul with nothing planned.
Ideas for the day: Taksim and Istiklal Avenue, a hamam (Turkish bath), or watching the sun go down from Galata Tower.
Day 15 – Last Free Day in Istanbul
Meals: breakfast. Free time. Overnight: Istanbul.
Your final free day, good for a last round of shopping, a museum visit or an optional experience.
Ideas for the day: a ferry ride on the Bosphorus, shopping in the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, or a stroll around Karakoy and Galata.
Day 16 – Departure from Istanbul
Meals: breakfast. Transfers: included.
Depending on your international flight, we drive you to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓15 nights hotel accommodation with breakfasts
- ✓Domestic flights Antalya-Cappadocia and Cappadocia-Istanbul with 15 kg checked baggage and 8 kg cabin baggage per person
- ✓Intercity buses Canakkale-Kusadasi/Selcuk and Denizli-Antalya
- ✓Airport, bus station, hotel, and tour transfers in the itinerary
- ✓Guided tours in Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya, and Cappadocia
- ✓Entrance fees and listed lunches
- ✓English speaking tour guide on the tours
- ✕Dinners and unmentioned meals
- ✕Drinks at lunch
- ✕Lunch on Troy tour day if not included by local operation
- ✕International flights
- ✕Personal expenses
- ✕Cappadocia hot air balloon flight or balloon watching tour
- ✕Optional swimming in Cleopatra Antique Pool
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16-day Turkey tour from Istanbul via Gallipoli, Antalya and Cappadocia: the key facts
This group tour makes a wide loop of western and central Turkey in 16 days and 15 nights. From Istanbul you go by road to the Gallipoli battlefields and spend a night in Canakkale. Then come Troy, an intercity bus to Kusadasi/Selcuk for Ephesus, and Pamukkale, followed by a bus to Antalya for four nights on the coast. After that you fly to Cappadocia for two guided routes and fly back to Istanbul for two free days. Buses cover the western legs, and two domestic flights cover the longest distances.
It suits travellers who want the First World War sites and Troy as well as the classic Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia stops, at an easy pace with free days in Antalya and Istanbul. The page shows no starting price at the moment, so ask us for a written quote for your dates. The tour runs every day with no minimum group size, and the guiding is in English.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 16 days / 15 nights |
| Route | Istanbul – Gallipoli – Canakkale – Troy – Kusadasi/Selcuk – Pamukkale – Antalya – Cappadocia – Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour, English-speaking guide on tours |
| Start / end | Istanbul airport pick-up (IST or SAW) on Day 1 / airport transfer on Day 16 |
| Included | 15 hotel nights with breakfast, 2 domestic flights (15 kg + 8 kg), 2 intercity buses, transfers, guided tours, entrance fees, listed lunches |
| Extra | Dinners, drinks at lunch, international flights, balloon or balloon watching, Cleopatra Pool swim, personal expenses |
How do the buses and the two flights fit together?
On Day 4 you are collected at your Istanbul hotel between 06:30 and 07:00 for a drive of about five hours to Gallipoli. On Day 5 the Troy visit runs from 08:30 to 11:30, and at 13:30 you board an intercity bus to Kusadasi/Selcuk via Izmir. The ride takes about six hours, and our team meets you at around 20:00. On Day 7 the bus from Denizli leaves at about 17:30 and reaches Antalya at around 21:00. On Day 11 you fly from Antalya to Cappadocia, direct or via Istanbul. On Day 13 the flight to Istanbul leaves at about 21:30 and lands near 23:00. All times can change.
What do we see at Gallipoli and Troy?
The Gallipoli tour on Day 4 covers Brighton Beach, Beach Cemetery, ANZAC Cove, Ari Burnu, Lone Pine, Johnston's Jolly, Shrapnel Valley, the Turkish Memorial, The Nek and Chunuk Bair, and ends at about 17:00. At Troy you see the film replica horse, the sacrificial altars, the 3,700-year-old walls, the Troy I houses and the agora. Around Anzac Day on 25 April, the peninsula is very busy with dawn services, so expect crowds if you travel then. Our Gallipoli destination guide and Gallipoli Peninsula page give the background.
Is lunch included on the Troy day?
Check this point in writing. Day 5 is marked with breakfast only. But the exclusions list "lunch on Troy tour day if not included by local operation", which suggests lunch is sometimes included. You leave Troy at 11:30 and spend about six hours on the bus, so ask us whether lunch is provided that day. If it isn't, buy food in Canakkale before the 13:30 bus. Lunch is marked as included on the Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ephesus, Pamukkale, both Antalya touring days and both Cappadocia days. Dinners are never included.
What happens during the four Antalya nights?
You arrive late on Day 7. Day 8 is free, and the page suggests Kaleici old town, the Konyaalti or Lara beaches, or the Duden waterfalls. Day 9 is a guided city day with Upper and Lower Duden Waterfalls, Kaleici and a panoramic boat tour along the cliffs. Day 10 runs from 08:00 to 17:30 to Perge, the Aspendos theatre, Side and Manavgat Waterfall. On Day 11 you have time in the morning before the flight to Cappadocia.
What do the Cappadocia days cover, and is the balloon included?
Day 12 follows the Red Route: Devrent, Pasabag, the Goreme panorama, an Avanos pottery workshop, Zelve and Uchisar Castle. Day 13 lists Rose Valley, an underground city, Pigeon Valley, Gulludere Valley and Cavusin. Rose Valley and Gulludere are usually two names for the same valley, so ask us to confirm the real list of stops in writing. The balloon is not included. It is an optional add-on on the Day 12 morning, with no price shown, and flights depend on the civil aviation authority's decision each morning. See our balloon price guide.
Which hotels do we stay in?
You spend 3 nights in Istanbul, 1 in Canakkale, 2 in Kusadasi/Selcuk, 4 in Antalya, 2 in Cappadocia and 3 more in Istanbul, all with breakfast. The day plan gives no hotel names. The FAQ says the Hotels section lists the options for each class, so pick a class and ask for the names before you pay.
How tiring is this tour, and what should we wear?
Days 4, 5 and 7 are the long ones: an early road trip to Gallipoli, Troy plus six hours on the bus, then Pamukkale plus about three and a half hours to Antalya. Day 13 ends with a late flight. The free days on Days 2, 8, 14 and 15 balance this out. At the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, cover shoulders and knees, women also cover their hair, and visits pause at prayer times. You walk barefoot on the Pamukkale travertines. Gallipoli and Ephesus mean a lot of walking in the open, so bring a hat and water.
Can we change the route or add nights?
Yes. The page says you can open the route in the AI trip planner to add days or swap cities and hotels and see the new price, or send us a message. If you have less time, the 14-day Gallipoli to Cappadocia tour, from $2,093 per person, follows a similar route. You can also see our Gallipoli tours from Istanbul if you only want the battlefields.
How do I book this 16-day tour?
Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, or write to us on WhatsApp, and ask for a price. We check the buses, flights and hotels for your dates and send you the full plan in writing, with the price, hotel names, travel times and the Troy-day lunch answered. You pay only after you have read and confirmed it. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the tour begin and finish?
How do we get from one city to the next?
Where will we spend the nights?
Does the price cover a hot air balloon ride?
What language does the guide speak?
Can I start the tour on any day?
Is it possible to adjust the route or extend the trip?
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