Discovery of Turkey Tour: 8 Days with Flights & Sleeper Train
Overview
Discovery of Turkey Tour: 8 Days with Flights & Sleeper Train
This 8-day, 7-night tour shows you Turkey's most famous places in comfort. Direct flights cover the long distances, and a night on a sleeper train adds a touch of old-style travel.
The route runs from the busy streets of Istanbul to the rock landscapes of Cappadocia, the spiritual city of Konya, the ruins of Ephesus and the white terraces of Pamukkale. With less time spent in transit, more of each day goes to the history and culture of the ancient world.
The price covers 6 nights in 4-star hotels with breakfast, tours with an English-speaking guide, the Konya to Izmir sleeper train, an air-conditioned vehicle, the domestic flights in the itinerary and the admission fees listed. International flights to Turkey, lunch and dinner, and optional additional tours are not included.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul & Airport Transfer
When you land at Istanbul Airport or S.Gokcen Airport, our representative meets you and looks after your transfer to the hotel.
After check-in the rest of the day is yours. Rest after the journey, or take a walk around the neighbourhood at your own pace.
Day 2 – Old City Istanbul: Topkapi, Hagia Sophia & Grand Bazaar
The tour normally starts at about 09:30 and finishes by 17:00 at the latest.
At 09:30 AM your guide meets you at the hotel for a full day on foot through the heart of the city's Ottoman and Byzantine past.
Today's main sights:
- Topkapi Palace (optional): the palace where the Ottoman sultans once lived and ruled, full of history and fine architecture.
- Blue Mosque: one of the city's best-known landmarks, admired for its blue tilework and its sheer scale.
- Hippodrome: the old chariot-racing ground, where the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain still stand.
- Hagia Sophia (optional): a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose Byzantine architecture and vast domed interior leave a lasting impression.
- Grand Bazaar: the oldest covered market in the world, a lively maze for buying souvenirs, spices and textiles.
When the tour ends you are driven back to your Istanbul hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 3 – Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise & Flight to Cappadocia
Today you leave the hotel, see more of Istanbul and then fly to Cappadocia.
The day's touring usually begins at about 09:00 and is over by 16:00 at the latest.
Have breakfast at the hotel first. The first stop is the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, a busy market full of rich smells, where stalls sell exotic spices, Turkish delight and other local products.
Then comes a relaxing Bosphorus Cruise between Europe and Asia. From the water you see the city's mix of architectural styles and sail past grand Ottoman palaces such as Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi.
After the cruise you are driven to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Cappadocia. On arrival we take you to your cave hotel, where breakfast is included.
Day 4 – Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys & Valleys
If you wish, you can start the day early with an optional hot air balloon flight over the Cappadocian landscape.
The day's touring usually begins at about 09:00 and is over by 16:00 at the latest.
Highlights of the day:
Göreme Esentepe panoramic viewpoint: The day opens at Esentepe, a lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme. Fairy chimneys spread out below you, together with the small town of Esentepe.
Zelve Open-Air Museum: This valley was once a centre of monastic life and Christian learning. You walk among old monasteries, churches and chapels whose frescoes have survived in good condition.
Paşabağ (Monks Valley): Famous for its three-headed fairy chimneys, Paşabağ is also called "Pasha's Vineyard". Some of the most striking rock shapes in Cappadocia stand here.
Devrent Valley: A short drive away, Devrent looks almost like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed fairy chimneys invite you to spot shapes, and some really do look like animals or mythical creatures.
Avanos Pottery Workshop: Potters have worked in Avanos since 3000 BC, shaping clay taken from the Red River. At a traditional workshop you watch the craft up close.
Love Valley: The last stop. Millions of years of erosion have carved rock pillars here up to 40 metres tall, along with cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys. Few places in Cappadocia are as strange, or as photogenic.
Afterwards you return to your cave hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 5 – Konya & Mevlana Museum, Sleeper Train to Izmir
Today you check out after breakfast and travel to Konya. After the Mevlana Museum you board the 19:00 train to Izmir, which reaches the city at 08:30 AM the next morning. You travel in a private sleeper cabin and can sleep on the way.
- 09:30 AM – Drive to Konya: leave by private transfer or bus. The trip across the Anatolian plateau usually takes 2.5 to 3 hours.
- 12:30 PM – Arrival in Konya & lunch: have a quick lunch and try the local favourite, Etli Ekmek, a very long flatbread topped with minced meat.
- 02:00 PM – Mevlana Museum: visit the Green Mausoleum and the museum devoted to the Sufi mystic Rumi. It is a calm, spiritual place, and 2-3 hours is enough to see it well.
- 05:00 PM – Early dinner & supplies: walk around the city centre or enjoy an unhurried dinner. It is also the moment to buy snacks, water or a bottle of wine for the train.
- 06:15 PM – Transfer to the station: go to Konya Gar (the railway station), find your platform and get ready to board.
- 07:00 PM – All aboard the Blue Train (Mavi Tren): settle into your private sleeper cabin. Watch the sun set over the Anatolian countryside before the attendant turns your seats into beds.
Day 6 – Breakfast in Sirince & Ephesus Tour
After the long train journey from Konya, your vehicle is waiting in Izmir to take you to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world.
A one-hour drive brings you to Selcuk, and breakfast is a local meal in Sirince Village, a lovely way to begin the day. Then it is time to explore Ephesus.
Inside the ancient city a full guided walk takes in the main sites, including:
- Library of Celsus: its grand facade is one of the best-known sights of Ephesus.
- Temple of Hadrian: built for the Roman emperor Hadrian, with well-preserved columns and finely carved reliefs.
- Terrace Houses (optional): the luxurious homes where the wealthy families of Ephesus lived.
- Hercules Gate: a monumental gateway decorated with carvings of the legendary hero.
- Grand Theatre: it once held up to 25,000 spectators and still stages performances today.
- Herm (Marker) of Hermes: ancient markers that guided travellers and showed boundaries within the city.
- Artemission: the site where the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, used to stand.
- Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: a detailed relief of Nike, the winged goddess of victory.
- Fountain of Trajan: well-kept remains of a monumental fountain raised in honour of Emperor Trajan.
- House of Virgin Mary (optional): the tour ends at the house that tradition holds to be the Virgin Mary's final resting place.
Once the tour is over you are taken back to your hotel in Kusadasi for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 7 – Pamukkale & Hierapolis, Flight to Istanbul
Today you check out of the hotel, explore Pamukkale and then fly back to Istanbul.
The tour usually starts at about 07:30.
You are picked up from the hotel early in the morning for Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis, known for its well-kept ruins and its long history. Walk through the Necropolis and the Theatre, and see the Cleopatra Pool, where you can swim for an extra charge.
The highlight is the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, a natural wonder of mineral-rich pools. Enjoy the views and walk on the soft, cotton-like surface. There is also time for Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park, a pleasant extra in this beautiful area.
After the tour you are taken to Denizli Airport for your flight to Istanbul. On arrival you are driven to your Istanbul hotel for the final night, with breakfast included.
Day 8 – Farewell Istanbul & Departure Transfer
After breakfast you check out of the hotel, and our representative helps with your transfer to the airport. This is where our services end.
Want more time in Istanbul? Add extra days to your package through the booking form.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Cappadocia Balloon (GOREME): $310
- +1 Night Istanbul Hotel (Post or Pre): $65
- Private Tour Upgrade: $400
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓6 x Nights 4 Stars Hotel with breakfast
- ✓Tours with English Speaking guide
- ✓Sleeper Train Konya - Izmir
- ✓Air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓Domestic Flight Fares in the itinerary
- ✓Admission Fees in the itinerary
- ✕International flights to Turkey
- ✕Lunch, dinner
- ✕Optional additional tours or activities.
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Discovery of Turkey in 8 days by plane and sleeper train: the key facts
This group tour links Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Ephesus and Pamukkale in 8 days and 7 nights. Two domestic flights cover the long legs, and one night is spent on the overnight sleeper train from Konya to Izmir, in a private cabin. That train night replaces a long road day, and it adds Konya and the Mevlana Museum to a route that most 8-day tours leave out. You also stop for breakfast in the village of Sirince before Ephesus.
It suits travellers who want more than the usual four stops, who like the idea of a night train, and who are happy with 4-star hotels and a shared group with an English-speaking guide. A private upgrade costs $400. The price is from $2,035 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 8 days / 7 nights (6 hotel nights + 1 night on the train) |
| Route | Istanbul – Cappadocia – Konya – Izmir – Ephesus (Kusadasi) – Pamukkale – Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour, English-speaking guide (private upgrade $400) |
| Start / end | Istanbul airport transfer / Istanbul airport transfer |
| Included | 6 nights in 4-star hotels with breakfast, sleeper train Konya–Izmir in a private cabin, guided tours, 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 does the sleeper train night work?
On Day 5 you leave Cappadocia by road for Konya. After lunch and the Mevlana Museum, you board the sleeper train at 19:00. It runs through the night and reaches Izmir at about 08:30 the next morning. You have a private cabin, which is part of the package price. It helps to keep a small overnight bag with what you need for the night and the next morning, so you do not have to open your main suitcase in the cabin. In the morning you are met and driven to Sirince village for breakfast, then on to Ephesus.
What do we see in Konya?
Konya is the city of Mevlana Rumi, the 13th-century poet, and home of the whirling dervish order. The Mevlana Museum holds his tomb and the old dervish lodge. It is a place of prayer for many Turkish visitors, so dress modestly, keep your voice low and follow the staff's directions inside. The Konya stop is a few hours between the drive from Cappadocia and the train. If you want more time in the city, see our Konya destination guide and Konya tours.
Which hotels do we stay in?
You spend 6 nights in 4-star hotels with breakfast: two in Istanbul at the start, two in a cave hotel in Cappadocia, one in Kusadasi after Ephesus and one in Istanbul at the end. The hotel names depend on your dates and are confirmed in your written plan. The seventh night is the train. If you prefer a certain cave hotel or a 5-star upgrade, ask before booking. Our page on Cappadocia cave hotels explains what to expect from rooms cut into the rock.
How do the domestic flights work?
There are two. On Day 3, after the Spice Bazaar and the Bosphorus cruise, you fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia. On Day 7, after Pamukkale and Hierapolis, you fly from Denizli back to Istanbul. Both flights and the airport transfers are included. The Konya to Izmir part of the trip is on the train, so there is no third flight. Your international flights to and from Istanbul are not included, so book them to land on Day 1 and leave on Day 8.
Is the balloon flight included?
No. The Cappadocia balloon is an optional extra at $310 per person. It flies at dawn on Day 4, before the valley tour, and you can add it on the booking form. Day 5 is your only other morning in Cappadocia before the drive to Konya. Balloon flights depend on the wind, and the aviation authorities can ground all balloons on a windy morning, so a booked flight can be cancelled on the day. You can still watch the launch from a viewpoint on a good morning. For prices and options, read our balloon price guide.
How hard are the days?
Most guided days run from about 09:00 to 16:00 or 17:00, with walking on stone streets in Istanbul, uneven ground in the Cappadocia valleys and old marble paths at Ephesus. Day 5 and Day 6 are the most tiring, because the train night comes between a long road day and a full day of touring. Day 7 starts with pickup at about 07:30 for Pamukkale. At the travertines you walk barefoot on the white terraces, so bring a bag for your shoes. A normal level of fitness is enough for this tour.
What should we wear on this tour?
For the Blue Mosque and the Mevlana Museum, cover your shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf to cover their hair. The Blue Mosque closes to visitors during prayer times, and the guide plans around them. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sun cream for Ephesus and Pamukkale, where there is little shade. Pack a swimsuit if you want to swim in Cleopatra Pool, which costs extra. In winter, Cappadocia and Konya are cold, so bring warm layers. See what to wear in Istanbul for more.
How do I book the Discovery 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 with your questions. We check the train cabin, flights and hotels for your dates, then send you the full plan in writing, with hotels, train and flight times and any extras you picked. You pay only after you have read and confirmed that plan. If you want to compare routes first, see our other multi-city packages. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.
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