Best of Turkey Tour Package: 8 Days with Domestic Flights
Overview
Best of Turkey Tour Package: 8 Days with Domestic Flights
Eight days and seven nights give you time to see many of Turkey's best-known places. The trip starts in Istanbul, flies you to Izmir for Ephesus, continues to the white terraces of Pamukkale, and crosses inland via Konya to the valleys and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia.
Each stop comes with a guided tour: Istanbul's old city with its mosques, palace and bazaar, the ruins of Ephesus, Hierapolis and the travertines at Pamukkale, the Mevlana Museum in Konya, and two days in Cappadocia. A flight brings you back to Istanbul at the end.
The price includes 7 nights in 4 or 5 star hotels with daily breakfast, a professional guide, transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, the domestic flights in the itinerary and admission fees. International flights to Istanbul, lunches, dinners, the hot air balloon flight and other optional activities are extra.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul and Hotel Transfer
Our representative will be waiting when you arrive at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport and will arrange your transfer to the hotel.
Once you have checked in, the rest of the day is free. Rest after the flight or explore the streets nearby at your own pace.
Day 2 – Istanbul Old City Tour and Flight to Izmir (Kusadasi)
The tour usually runs from around 09:30 until 16:00 at the latest. At 09:30 AM your guide picks you up from the hotel for a full day on foot in the historic heart of Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul. You will see:
- Topkapi Palace (optional): once the residence of the Ottoman sultans, full of history and fine architecture.
- Blue Mosque: a symbol of Istanbul, known for its blue tilework and its sheer size.
- Hippodrome: the old chariot-racing track, where the German Fountain, the Serpent Column and the Egyptian Obelisk still stand.
- Hagia Sophia (optional): a UNESCO World Heritage Site with grand Byzantine architecture and a striking interior.
- Grand Bazaar: the world's oldest covered market and a lively place to shop for souvenirs, spices and textiles.
After the tour you are taken to the airport for your flight to Izmir. On arrival, a transfer brings you to Kusadasi for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 3 – Ephesus Ancient City Tour
The tour usually runs from around 10:00 until 17:00 at the latest. After breakfast you are collected from your hotel at 10:00 AM and driven for about 20 minutes to the Magnesia Gate of Ephesus Ancient City.
Inside the ancient city, a full guided walk takes in its main sights:
- Library of Celsus: its grand facade makes it one of the best-known buildings in Ephesus.
- Temple of Hadrian: a fine temple to the Roman emperor Hadrian, with well-preserved columns and detailed reliefs.
- Terrace Houses (optional): the luxurious homes where the wealthy families of Ephesus once lived.
- Hercules Gate: a monumental gateway decorated with sculptures of the legendary hero.
- Grand Theatre: a vast theatre that once held up to 25,000 people and is still used for performances today.
- Herm (Marker) of Hermes: ancient markers that guided travellers and marked boundaries in the city.
- Artemission: the site where the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, once stood.
- Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: a finely carved image of Nike, the winged goddess of victory.
- Fountain of Trajan: the well-preserved remains of a monumental fountain built to honour Emperor Trajan.
- House of Virgin Mary (optional): the tour can end at the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be her final resting place.
After the tour you return to your hotel in Kusadasi for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 4 – Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour
Check out of your hotel today and travel to Pamukkale for the tour.
You are picked up early in the morning. The first visit is Hierapolis, an ancient city known for its well-preserved ruins and historical importance, where you see the Necropolis, the Theatre and the famous Cleopatra Pool. Swimming in the pool costs extra.
The main event is the travertines of Pamukkale: a natural wonder of bright white terraces and mineral-rich pools. Enjoy the views and the unusual feeling of walking on the cotton-like rock. There is also time to visit Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park.
After the tour you are taken to your hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 5 – Pamukkale to Cappadocia via Konya
You leave your Pamukkale hotel early in the morning for a scenic drive to Konya. The visits there include:
- Mevlana Museum: the famous tomb of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, where you learn about his teachings and see related artifacts.
- Alaeddin Mosque: a historic Islamic building that shows the architectural heritage of Konya.
After the visits you continue to Cappadocia and arrive in the evening. Overnight in Cappadocia, with breakfast included.
Day 6 – Optional Balloon Flight and Cappadocia Tour
If you wish, start the day early with an optional hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia's unusual landscape.
The guided tour usually starts around 09:00 and ends by 16:00 at the latest. Stops:
- Goreme Esentepe – Panoramic View: a viewpoint between Uçhisar and Göreme that looks out over fairy chimneys, the wider Cappadocian landscape and the pretty town of Esentepe.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum: a former centre of monastic life and Christian learning, with old monasteries, churches and chapels decorated with well-kept frescoes from the region's past.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ is famous for its three-headed fairy chimneys. Known also as “Pasha's Vineyard”, it holds some of the most remarkable rock formations in Cappadocia.
- Devrent Valley: a short drive leads to this moon-like valley of small, pointed fairy chimneys, some of which look like animals and mythical creatures.
- Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has been a pottery town since 3000 BC, and its potters shape clay from the Red River. You see a traditional workshop and watch the craft up close.
- Love Valley: the final stop, where erosion over millions of years has left tall rock towers of up to 40 meters, along with cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys. It is one of the most unusual and photogenic corners of Cappadocia.
Return to your cave hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 7 – Cappadocia Tour and Flight to Istanbul
Check out of your hotel and see more of Cappadocia before your flight to Istanbul. Touring usually runs from about 09:00 until 16:00 at the latest. The stops are:
- Meskendir Valley (4.4 km trek): a walk of 4.4 km near Ortahisar to Meskendir Church, with its red geometric decoration and the big cross cut into the chapel ceiling. You can look around inside and take in the valley views.
- Rose Valley: a quiet valley behind Ürgüp with odd rock shapes and hidden churches carved from the rock. Its paths join villages and towns through vineyards and gardens, and friendly locals may hand you grapes, apples or apricots.
- Red Valley: similar rock formations and early cave churches, with trails that spread like a spider's web between remote villages and farmland. A rewarding stop for Cappadocia's nature and history.
- Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin Village is one of the region's oldest settlements, a maze of cave houses cut into the rock. It is home to the 5th-century Church of John the Baptist, the biggest cave church in Cappadocia.
- Underground City: the largest and most famous of Cappadocia's 36 underground cities, built by early Christians fleeing persecution. Of its eight levels, you explore sections with ancient wineries, kitchens and living rooms.
- Pigeon Valley: near Göreme, named after the pigeon houses carved into its cliffs over centuries. Farmers used the droppings as a natural fertiliser. Today it offers wide panoramic views and good photo spots.
- Uchisar Castle Panorama: the final stop, at Uçhisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. The rock castle was once a fortress, and its summit looks out over the region as far as Erciyes Mountain.
After the tour you transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. On arrival you go to your hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 8 – Departure from Istanbul
After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Our representative takes care of your airport transfer, and this marks the end of our services.
If you want more time in Istanbul, you can add extra days to your package in the booking form.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (Goreme): $310
- One extra night in an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
- Upgrade to a private tour: $400
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Breakfast x 7
- ✓7 Nights Accommodation 4 or 5 Stars
- ✓Professional guide
- ✓Transfers
- ✓Air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓Domestic Flight Fares in the itinerary
- ✓Admission Fees in the itinerary
- ✕International flights to Istanbul
- ✕Lunch, dinner
- ✕Optional additional tours or activities.
- ✕Hot air balloon tour
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Travel guides
- Rick Steves Turkey 2027 vs a Private Tour: Same Route, Your Dates
- Cappadocia Tours from Kayseri Airport: 1, 2 or 3 Days, Prices 2027
- Cappadocia in January 2027: Weather, Snow, Balloons and Tours
- Erciyes Ski Resort from Cappadocia: Season, Lift Prices, Day Trip 2027
- Cappadocia in December: Snow Odds, Weather, Balloons and Tours
- Cappadocia Weather by Month: Temperatures, Rain, Snow and Balloons
- Cappadocia Mistakes to Avoid on a First Visit: 14 Errors and Fixes
- Why Cappadocia Balloon Flights Get Cancelled, and What Happens Next
- 3-Day Cappadocia Itinerary: Balloon, Valleys, Ihlara and Göreme
- Cappadocia Green Tour: Derinkuyu, Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery
Best of Turkey in 8 days with domestic flights and a Konya stop: the key facts
This group package runs in a loop from Istanbul to the Aegean coast and back through central Turkey. After one guided day in Istanbul you fly to Izmir and stay two nights in Kusadasi for Ephesus. Then you drive to Pamukkale and sleep there, cross the country by road via Konya, and spend two nights in Cappadocia before flying back to Istanbul. It takes 8 days and 7 nights in 4- or 5-star hotels with daily breakfast.
It suits travellers who want five stops in one week, including Konya and the Mevlana Museum, and who prefer one night at Pamukkale over a rushed day trip. Only two domestic flights are used, because the middle of the trip is a road journey. A private upgrade costs $400. The price is from $2,825 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 8 days / 7 nights |
| Route | Istanbul – Izmir – Kusadasi (Ephesus) – Pamukkale – Konya – Cappadocia – Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour (private upgrade $400) |
| Start / end | Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen / Istanbul airport transfer |
| Included | 7 nights in 4- or 5-star hotels, 7 breakfasts, professional guide, transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, domestic flights, admission fees listed in the itinerary |
| Extra | International flights, lunches and dinners, balloon flight ($310), Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, Terrace Houses, House of the Virgin Mary, Cleopatra Pool swim, extra Istanbul night ($65) |
How much time do we get in Istanbul?
Less than on most 8-day tours. You arrive on Day 1 with a free afternoon. Day 2 is a guided Old City tour from about 09:30 to 16:00 with the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar, with Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as options. That evening you fly to Izmir. You come back for the last night on Day 7. If you want more Istanbul, add nights before or after the tour at $65 each, or see our things to do in Istanbul for your free time.
How do the flights and the road trip fit together?
Two flights are included: Istanbul to Izmir on Day 2, and Cappadocia to Istanbul on Day 7. Everything in between is by road in an air-conditioned vehicle. Kusadasi to Pamukkale is the Day 4 drive, then Day 5 is the long one, from Pamukkale to Konya and on to Cappadocia, where you arrive in the evening. That road day replaces a third flight and lets you see Konya on the way. Your international flights to Istanbul are not included.
What do we see in Konya?
On Day 5 you stop in Konya on the way to Cappadocia. You visit the Mevlana Museum, which holds the tomb of the poet Mevlana Rumi, and the Alaeddin Mosque. Both are places of prayer for many visitors, so cover your shoulders and knees, women should carry a scarf, and you take off your shoes in the mosque. It is a few hours' stop in a full travel day, so wear comfortable clothes for the road. For more time in the city, see our Konya destination guide.
Why do we spend a night at Pamukkale?
Most short tours visit Pamukkale on a day trip and leave in the afternoon. Here you check out of Kusadasi on Day 4, visit Hierapolis (the Necropolis, the theatre and Cleopatra Pool) and walk on the Pamukkale travertines, then stop at Pamukkale Natural Lake and Park and sleep nearby. That gives you a slower afternoon there, and it breaks up the long drive to Cappadocia. You take off your shoes on the white terraces, so bring a bag for them. A swim in Cleopatra Pool costs extra.
Which hotels do we stay in?
You stay in 4- or 5-star hotels with breakfast: one night in Istanbul at the start, two in Kusadasi, one in Pamukkale, two in Cappadocia with a cave hotel on the second night, and a final night in Istanbul. The hotel names depend on your dates and are confirmed in your written plan. If you want a cave room for both Cappadocia nights, ask before booking. See our pages on Kusadasi hotels for Ephesus and Cappadocia cave hotels.
Is the balloon flight included?
No. The Göreme balloon flight is an optional extra at $310 per person, planned for sunrise on Day 6, before the day tour. You arrive in Cappadocia on the evening of Day 5, so Day 7 is your only other morning. Balloons fly only in calm weather, and the aviation authorities can cancel all flights on a windy morning, so a booked flight can be called off on the day. If Day 6 is grounded, ask about moving it to Day 7. Our balloon price guide explains the options.
How hard are the days, and when should we go?
Day 3 at Ephesus runs from about 10:00 to 17:00 on old stone streets, starting at the Magnesia Gate and walking downhill. Day 5 is mostly a long drive. Day 7 includes a 4.4 km walk in Meskendir Valley before the evening flight. A normal level of fitness is enough. For weather, spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the easiest months. Ephesus and Pamukkale are hot in high summer with little shade, and Cappadocia and Konya are cold in winter. See best time to visit Turkey.
How do I book the Best of Turkey tour?
Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and send it, or message us on WhatsApp. We check flights and hotels for your dates, then send you the full plan in writing, with hotel names, flight times and any extras such as the balloon or extra Istanbul nights. You pay only after you have read and confirmed that plan. To compare similar routes, see the Discovery of Turkey tour with sleeper train and our multi-city packages. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.
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