Antalya, Ephesus & Gobeklitepe Tour Package: 4 Days by Air

Antalya, Ephesus and Gobekli Tepe in 4 days by air: the key facts

This package covers four regions of Turkey in four days and does it by plane. You begin with a guided walk through Istanbul's old city, fly to Antalya for the night, spend the next day at Perge, Aspendos, the Kursunlu Waterfall and Kaleici, then fly to Izmir and sleep in Kusadasi. Day three is a full guided visit to Ephesus followed by a flight to Sanliurfa, and on the last morning you see Gobekli Tepe, whose carved stones are more than 12,000 years old, before flying back to Istanbul.

It suits travellers who have little time and care most about archaeology: Roman cities on the coast, the Aegean ruins of Ephesus and one of the oldest known temple sites. It is not a slow beach trip, because every day ends with a transfer or a flight. The price is from $1,860 per person.

Do I need a hotel in Istanbul before Day 1?

Yes, in practice. The three nights in the package are Antalya, Kusadasi and Sanliurfa. Day 1 starts with your guide collecting you from your hotel in Istanbul at 09:00, which means you must already be in the city the night before, and that night is not part of the listed price. Because the itinerary assumes a hotel pickup that the price does not cover, ask us to state in writing which Istanbul hotel night is booked, who pays for it and where the Day 1 pickup happens. Our Istanbul destination guide can help you choose an area.

How do the four domestic flights work?

All flights in the itinerary are included: Istanbul to Antalya on Day 1, Antalya to Izmir on Day 2, Izmir to Sanliurfa on Day 3 and Sanliurfa to Istanbul on Day 4. Each flight comes straight after the sightseeing, and our team drives you to the airport and meets you on arrival. Izmir airport is the usual gateway for Kusadasi, a drive of roughly 80 km, so expect about an hour on the road after landing on Day 2. International flights to Istanbul are not included. Flight times are not printed on the page, so ask for them in your written plan before you book your own flights home.

What will we actually see in Antalya and at Ephesus?

Day 2 is a full Antalya day after checkout: the Roman city of Perge, the Aspendos Theatre, the Kursunlu Waterfall, the old town of Kaleici and Hadrian's Gate. Day 3 is Ephesus: the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, Hercules Gate, the Grand Theatre, the Fountain of Trajan and the site of the Temple of Artemis. The Terrace Houses ($25 ticket on the page) and the House of the Virgin Mary are optional. If you want more time on the coast afterwards, see our Antalya guide.

How hard is the Gobekli Tepe day, and when is the best time to go?

The last day is short on walking but long on travel: the site visit, the drive back to Sanliurfa airport and the flight to Istanbul. The site sits on an open ridge with little shade outside the roofed excavation area. Sanliurfa is very hot in July and August, with average July highs near 39 to 40°C, so spring and autumn are the most comfortable months for this route. Those seasons also suit the Roman sites in Antalya and Ephesus, where you walk on stone in full sun. In summer, bring a hat, water and sun cream every day. For more on the site, read our Gobekli Tepe guide.

What should I wear for the Istanbul day?

The Istanbul walk includes the Blue Mosque, where shoulders and knees must be covered and women cover their hair; scarves are usually available at the entrance and shoes come off at the door. The mosque closes to visitors during the five daily prayers, with the longest closure at Friday midday, so the guide may change the order of stops. Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are optional on this package. Day 1 is a full day on foot, so wear comfortable shoes. Our page on what to wear in Istanbul has more detail.

Which hotels are used?

The page says accommodation with breakfast is included for three nights (Antalya, Kusadasi and Sanliurfa) but it does not name the hotels or give a star category. Lunch and dinner are not included, so plan on paying for those yourself each day. If hotel standard matters to you, ask for the hotel names in your written plan before you pay, and ask whether an upgrade is possible.

Is it really a group tour, and can we change the order or add nights?

The page lists the package as a group tour. It does not state a group size. The order is fixed around the flights, but extra nights can be added at the end, and the page lists one extra day for $115. A common request is more time at Gobekli Tepe or in southeast Turkey; our Mount Nemrut and Gobekli Tepe 2-day tour or the Istanbul and southeastern Turkey package are other ways to do this. Other combinations are listed under multi-city packages.

How do I book this package?

Pick a date and the number of guests in the booking form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88 with your dates. We send you a written plan with the flight times, hotels and what is and is not included, and you check it before any payment. Please make sure the written plan settles the Istanbul hotel night before Day 1, since the page does not make this clear. Read the cancellation policy before you confirm. The tour is operated by Viracocha Travel Turizm under TÜRSAB licence A-15751.