9-Day Turkey History Tour: Istanbul, Konya, Cappadocia, Nemrut

On arrival at Istanbul airport, a driver is waiting to bring you to your hotel.

The day has no planned activities. You meet your guide the following morning at 09:30 AM.

Today is a full guided day on foot through the Ottoman and Byzantine heart of Istanbul.

• 09:30 AM – Hotel pick-up: Your guide meets you at the hotel to start the day.
• 10:00 AM – Topkapi Palace (optional): The former home of the Ottoman sultans, known for its history and fine architecture.
• 11:30 AM – Blue Mosque: The famous mosque with its detailed blue tiles and grand structure.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch break (not included): Time to eat at a local restaurant.
• 1:30 PM – Hippodrome: The old chariot-racing track, with the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain.
• 2:30 PM – Hagia Sophia (optional): A UNESCO World Heritage Site with Byzantine architecture and a vast, grand interior.
• 3:30 PM – Grand Bazaar: The world’s oldest covered market, busy with stalls selling souvenirs, spices and textiles.
• 5:00 PM – Return to the hotel: You are driven back to your Istanbul hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

Today you check out of the hotel, see more of Istanbul and then fly on. The tour usually begins around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.

After breakfast at the hotel, the first stop is the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. The air is full of scents, and the busy stalls sell spices, Turkish delight and other local goods.

Next comes a relaxing Bosphorus Cruise between Europe and Asia. From the water you see the city’s mix of buildings and pass grand Ottoman palaces, including Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi.

After the cruise, a transfer takes you to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Konya. On arrival in Konya, we drive you to your hotel, where breakfast is included.

• 09:30 AM – Mevlana Museum: The day starts at the Mevlana Museum.
• 12:15 PM – Alaeddin Mosque and Hill: Visit the historic mosque and enjoy the calm views from the hill.
• 01:00 PM – Lunch at a local restaurant: Try Konya dishes such as etli ekmek or fırın kebabı.
• 02:15 PM – Karatay Madras: See fine Seljuk tilework and learn about the architecture of the region.
• 04:00 PM – Transfer to Cappadocia: The road trip to Cappadocia begins after the tour.
• 06:30 PM – Arrival: Check in at your hotel in Cappadocia.

The tour usually begins around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest. These are today’s highlights:

• Goreme Esentepe – Panoramic View: The day opens at the Esentepe lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme, with wide views over the fairy chimneys, the wider Cappadocian landscape and the small town of Esentepe.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum: Zelve was once home to monks and a centre of Christian learning. Its old monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-kept frescoes that show how people here lived and worshipped.
• Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, also known as ‘Pasha’s Vineyard’, is famous for its three-headed fairy chimneys and has some of the most striking rock shapes in the region.
• Devrent Valley: A short drive brings you to a valley that looks like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed chimneys invite you to spot animals and mythical creatures in the stone.
• Avanos Pottery Workshop: Potters in Avanos have shaped clay from the Red River since 3000 BC. In a traditional workshop you watch local craftsmen at work.
• Love Valley: The last stop. Millions of years of erosion have carved cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys here, some as tall as 40 meters, making this one of the strangest and most photogenic corners of Cappadocia.

The night is spent at your cave hotel, with breakfast included.

• 05:00 AM – Hot air balloon ride (optional): Float over the fairy chimneys and rock formations of Cappadocia as the sun comes up.
• 07:00 AM – Champagne toast and return to the hotel: Celebrate the landing with a glass of champagne before the transfer back.
• 09:00 AM – Pick-up for the Cappadocia tour: A guided day among some of the lesser-known corners of the region.

The tour usually begins around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.

• Meskendir Valley (4.4 km Trek): A 4.4 km walk through this valley near Ortahisar leads to Meskendir Church, decorated with bold red geometric patterns and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling. You can go inside and enjoy the scenery around it.
• Rose Valley: Tucked away behind Ürgüp, this quiet valley is known for its rock formations and churches cut into the stone out of sight. Paths run through vineyards and gardens between small villages and towns, and locals sometimes offer walkers fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
• Red Valley: Much like its neighbour, Red Valley has striking rocks and old cave churches. Its trails cross each other like a spider’s web, joining remote villages and farmland, and they show both the nature and the history of the region.
• Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin is one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia, a maze of homes cut into the rock. It also has the Church of John the Baptist, the largest cave church in the region, which dates from the 5th century.
• Underground City: Early Christians dug 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to escape persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them, spread over eight levels, and walk through parts of it, including old wineries, kitchens and living rooms.
• Pigeon Valley: On the edge of Göreme, this valley takes its name from the dovecotes carved into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once used the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today it is a fine spot for wide views and photos.
• Uchisar Castle Panorama: The final stop is Uçhisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its rock castle once served as a fortress, and from the top you look out over the whole region, with Mount Erciyes on the horizon.

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

• 07:00 AM – Departure from Cappadocia: Set off towards the Nemrut Mountain area by private vehicle or guided transfer, with an optional breakfast stop on the way.
• 12:00 PM – Kahramanmaraş (optional): Stop in Kahramanmaraş to try its famous ice cream and rest for a while before the road continues.
• 02:30 PM – Arrival in Adıyaman: This is the gateway to Mount Nemrut. Have lunch at a local restaurant and freshen up before the mountain.
• 04:00 PM – Drive to Nemrut National Park: The road passes through scenic country and historical sites on the way to the mountain.
• 05:30 PM – Start of the ascent: From the base of Mount Nemrut, go up to the summit on foot, or by shuttle if one is running.
• 06:30 PM – The summit: Spend time among the ancient statues of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and hear the story of the Commagene Kingdom.
• 07:00 PM – Sunset at Mount Nemrut: Golden evening light falls on the statues and across the land around the peak.
• 08:30 PM – Descent and drive to Adıyaman: Head back down the mountain and on to the centre of Adıyaman.
• 09:30 PM – Hotel check-in: Check in at your hotel in Adıyaman and rest after a long day.

• 09:00 AM – Departure from Adıyaman: A private transfer takes you to Göbekli Tepe, often called the zero point of history.
• 10:30 AM – Göbekli Tepe: Explore what is thought to be the oldest known temple complex in the world, with carved stones more than 12,000 years old.
• 12:00 PM – Leave Göbekli Tepe: After the visit, drive back to Şanlıurfa for your flight to Istanbul.
• 01:00 PM – Arrival in Şanlıurfa: Go straight to Şanlıurfa Airport for the return flight.
• 03:00 PM – Flight to Istanbul: Board the plane and relax on the way back.
• 04:30 PM – Arrival in Istanbul: Land in Istanbul and either continue with your own travel plans or check in at your hotel.

Check out of the hotel after breakfast. Our representative will arrange your transfer to the airport, which ends our services.

Would you like more time in Istanbul? Extra nights can be added to your stay.

Optional extras

• Cappadocia hot air balloon flight (GOREME): $310
• One extra night at an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
• Upgrade to a private tour: $450