Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus & Bodrum Package: 9 Days with Flights
Overview
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus & Bodrum Package: 9 Days with Flights
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Bodrum in 9 days
The trip begins in Istanbul, where ancient history and modern city life sit side by side. You visit the famous Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world. Then you fly to Cappadocia, a fairy-tale landscape of rock formations, underground cities and cave dwellings. Ephesus, a city rich in history, is the next stop.
The last part of the journey is spent in the seaside town of Bodrum, known for turquoise water, sandy beaches and a lively nightlife. Here you can see Bodrum Castle, walk the charming streets and try the local food.
With direct flights between the regions, this package combines history, culture and rest by the sea without long road journeys. It includes 8 nights in 4 or 5-star hotels with 8 breakfasts, a professional guide, transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, domestic flights and the entrance fees in the itinerary.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul & Airport Transfer
At Istanbul Airport your driver is waiting and brings you to the hotel. The rest of the day has no program. The next morning at 09:30 your guide comes to meet you.
Day 2 – Classic Istanbul Old City Tour
At 09:30 your guide collects you from the hotel for a full-day walking tour through the heart of Ottoman and Byzantine history.
Today's highlights:
- Topkapi Palace (optional): explore the palace where the Ottoman sultans lived and learn about its long history and fine architecture.
- Blue Mosque: one of the most famous landmarks of Istanbul, known for its grand scale and blue tile work.
- Hippodrome: stand on the site of the ancient chariot-racing track and see the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain.
- Hagia Sophia (optional): step inside this UNESCO World Heritage Site and admire its Byzantine architecture and splendid interior.
- Grand Bazaar: feel the buzz of the world's oldest covered market, a good place to buy souvenirs, spices and textiles.
After the tour you are taken back to your hotel in Istanbul for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 3 – Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise & Flight to Cappadocia
Today you check out of your hotel, see more of Istanbul and then fly to Cappadocia.
Today's highlights:
After breakfast at the hotel, the day begins at the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. Wander this busy market among exotic spices, Turkish delight and other local products, and enjoy the mix of scents.
Next comes a relaxing Bosphorus Cruise. As the boat sails between Europe and Asia, you see the city's varied architecture and pass grand Ottoman palaces, including Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi.
After the cruise you are taken to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Cappadocia. On arrival, a transfer brings you to your Cave Hotel, with breakfast included.
Day 4 – Cappadocia Valleys & Avanos
If you would like to, you can start the day early with a hot air balloon flight over the unusual landscapes of Cappadocia.
The guided tour normally gets going at about 09:00 and wraps up by 16:00 at the latest.
Today's highlights:
- Goreme Esentepe – Panoramic View: the first stop is this lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme. From the top you look out over the Cappadocian valleys, the fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum: Zelve was once a centre of monastic life and Christian learning. Its monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-preserved frescoes that show how people lived and worshipped here.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, sometimes called "Pasha's Vineyard", is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys. The rock shapes here rank among the most striking in the region and give the valley an otherworldly look.
- 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 shapes, and some rocks resemble animals and mythical creatures.
- Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has been a pottery town since 3000 BC, and its craftsmen still shape clay taken from the Red River. In a traditional workshop you see how the ceramics are made, up close.
- Love Valley: the final stop. Millions of years of erosion have carved this valley into cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys, some of them up to 40 meters high. Few places in Cappadocia look stranger or make better photos.
Afterwards you return to your Cave Hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 5 – Cappadocia Hiking Tour & Flight to Izmir
Today you check out of your hotel, see more of Cappadocia and then fly to Izmir.
Please note: on some days there is no direct flight between Cappadocia and Izmir, so the flight may connect with one stopover.
The guided tour normally gets going at about 09:00 and wraps up by 16:00 at the latest.
Today's highlights:
- Meskendir Valley (4.4 km Trek): the day starts on foot with a 4.4 km walk through this valley near Ortahisar. On the way you reach Meskendir Church, decorated with bold red geometric patterns and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling. You can step inside the church and enjoy the scenery around it.
- Rose Valley: tucked away behind Ürgüp, this quiet valley is famous for its rock formations and for churches cut into the rock, out of sight. Footpaths run through vineyards and gardens between small villages and towns, and local people along the way sometimes offer fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
- Red Valley: like its neighbour Rose Valley, it has striking rock formations and old cave churches. Its winding paths link remote villages and fields like the threads of a spider's web, a good place to see both the nature and the history of Cappadocia.
- Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin Village ranks among the oldest settlements of Cappadocia. Its houses are carved straight into the rock, forming a maze of ancient dwellings, and the village is home to the Church of John the Baptist. Dating from the 5th century, it is the biggest cave church in the region.
- Underground City: early Christians dug 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to hide from persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them. It goes down eight levels, and you walk through parts of it, including old wineries, kitchens and living quarters.
- Pigeon Valley: on the edge of Göreme, this valley takes its name from the pigeon houses cut into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once collected the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today the valley is known for its wide views and is a favourite spot for photos.
- Uchisar Castle Panorama: the day ends in Uçhisar, which sits on the highest ground in Cappadocia. Its landmark is Uçhisar Castle, a tall rock that once served as a fortress. From the top the whole region opens up, with Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.
After the tour you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Izmir. On arrival, a transfer takes you to Kusadasi for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 6 – Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary – Transfer to Bodrum
After breakfast you are collected from your hotel at 10:00. A drive of about 20 minutes brings you to the Magnesia Gate of Ephesus Ancient City.
From there a full guided walk takes you through the ancient city and its key sites:
- Library of Celsus: its grand facade makes this ancient library one of the best-known buildings in Ephesus.
- Temple of Hadrian: built in honour of the Roman emperor Hadrian, the temple still shows well-preserved columns and finely carved reliefs.
- Terrace Houses (optional): enter the richly decorated residential complex where the wealthy citizens of Ephesus once had their homes.
- Hercules Gate: walk through this monumental gateway, decorated with carvings of the legendary hero.
- Grand Theatre: this vast theatre once seated up to 25,000 people, and performances are still staged here today.
- Herm (Marker) of Hermes: these old stone markers once guided travellers and marked boundaries within the city.
- Artemission: stand at the spot where the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of antiquity, used to rise.
- Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: a finely detailed relief of Nike, the winged goddess of victory.
- Fountain of Trajan: the well-kept remains of a monumental fountain built in honour of Emperor Trajan.
- House of Virgin Mary (optional): the tour can end at the House of Virgin Mary, which many believe is where the Virgin Mary was finally laid to rest.
After the tour you are transferred to your hotel in Bodrum.
Day 7 – Bodrum Boat Tour (Optional)
Bodrum is famous for its pretty coastline and crystal-clear water. An optional boat trip is the best way to enjoy this scenery from the sea.
As you cruise along the coast, you pass quiet bays, green hills and clean sandy beaches.
The boat stops at peaceful spots where you can swim or simply lie in the sun. From the water you also see historic sites such as castles and ancient ruins.
With sun, a sea breeze and the sound of the waves, it is a relaxing way to recharge while enjoying the nature around Bodrum.
Whether you are on a romantic break, travelling with family or just want to unwind, the boat tour is a good choice for the day.
Day 8 – Flight Back to Istanbul
Once breakfast is over, a transfer brings you to the airport for the flight to Istanbul. After landing, we drive you to your Istanbul hotel.
Day 9 – Departure from Istanbul
You are transferred to the airport for your departure, and our services end here.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (GOREME): $310
- One extra hotel night in Istanbul, before or after the tour: $65
- Upgrade to a private tour: $450
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Breakfast x 8
- ✓8 Nights Accommodation 4 or 5 Stars
- ✓Professional guide
- ✓Transfers
- ✓Air-conditioned vehicle
- ✓Domestic Flight Fares in the itinerary
- ✓Admission Fees in the itinerary
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Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Bodrum in 9 days: the key facts
This group package links four regions with three domestic flights, so there are no long bus days. You spend two full days in Istanbul, two in Cappadocia with nights in a cave hotel, one day at Ephesus, and then two nights in Bodrum on the Aegean coast before you fly back to Istanbul for the last night. The pace is steady for the first six days and then slows down on the coast.
It suits first-time visitors who want the main sights plus a short beach break at the end, and who would rather fly than spend hours on the road. The price is from $3,370 per person. A private upgrade is listed at $450.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 9 days / 8 nights |
| Route | Istanbul – Cappadocia – Kusadasi (Ephesus) – Bodrum – Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour (private upgrade $450) |
| Start / end | Istanbul Airport arrival / transfer to the airport on Day 9 |
| Included | 8 nights in 4 or 5-star hotels, 8 breakfasts, professional guide, transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle, domestic flights, admission fees in the itinerary |
| Extra | International flights, balloon flight ($310), extra Istanbul night ($65), Bodrum boat tour, meals other than breakfast |
How do the three domestic flights work?
The first flight is on Day 3. After the Spice Bazaar and the Bosphorus cruise you are driven to Istanbul Airport and fly to Cappadocia. The second is on Day 5, after the hiking day, from Cappadocia to Izmir, and a transfer then takes you to Kusadasi. The page warns that on some days there is no direct flight on this route, so the flight may include one stop. The third is on Day 8, from Bodrum back to Istanbul after breakfast. All three fares are included. The page gives no flight times, so ask for them in your written plan.
Which hotels do we stay in, and where are the nights?
The page promises 4 or 5-star hotels but does not name them. The nights are split like this: two in Istanbul, two in a cave hotel in Cappadocia, one in Kusadasi after the Izmir flight, two in Bodrum and one final night in Istanbul. That makes eight, and the eight breakfasts match. Hotel names depend on your dates, so ask for them before you pay. Our guide to Cappadocia cave hotels explains what a cave room is like, and Kusadasi hotels for Ephesus covers the one-night stop.
Is the hot air balloon included?
No. The balloon costs $310 per person and is booked as an extra. You land in Cappadocia on the evening of Day 3 and fly out after the tour on Day 5, so you have two early mornings there, on Day 4 and Day 5. The page places the balloon on the morning of Day 4, before the guided tour starts at about 09:00. Balloons do not fly in strong wind. If Day 4 is cancelled, ask your guide whether you can try again on Day 5. Our balloon price guide shows the other flight options.
Which entrance fees does the price actually cover?
Please confirm this in writing. The inclusions say "Admission Fees in the itinerary", but several stops are marked optional. On Day 2 these are Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia. On Day 6 they are the Terrace Houses and the House of the Virgin Mary, even though the Virgin Mary's house is in the day title. The page does not say whether optional stops are paid by you on the spot. Ask us for a list of which tickets are in the price. For current Hagia Sophia prices, see our ticket price guide.
What happens on the Bodrum days?
Day 6 ends with a transfer from Ephesus to your Bodrum hotel. Day 7 is the only day with no guided program. The page offers an optional boat trip along the coast with stops for swimming. It is listed as optional, but the page gives no price for it and does not say whether lunch on board is included, so ask before you go. If you skip it, the day is yours for the town, the beach or Bodrum Castle on your own. On Day 8 you fly to Istanbul after breakfast. Our Bodrum destination guide lists other things to do there.
How hard are the days, and what should we wear?
Day 2 is a full walking day around the Old City from 09:30. Day 5 is the longest, with a 4.4 km walk through Meskendir Valley, more valley stops and an underground city on eight levels, then a flight in the evening. At Ephesus you walk on uneven marble streets, so wear good shoes and bring sun protection. To enter the Blue Mosque you take your shoes off. Everyone must cover shoulders and knees, and women also cover their hair. Mosques close to visitors at prayer times. Our what to wear in Istanbul page has more detail.
Can we add nights or change the plan?
You can add Istanbul nights at $65 each, before or after the tour. In the group format the order is fixed, because it follows the flight plan. With the $450 private upgrade the tour is run for your party only. If you want a lower price with the same four regions, compare the economical 9-day version from $2,835. You will find more routes on our multi-city packages page.
How do I book this 9-day package?
Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and send it, or write to us on WhatsApp. We check flights and hotels for your dates. Then we send you the full plan in writing, with the hotel names, the three flight times, the entrance tickets that are covered, and the price of the Bodrum boat trip if you want it. You pay only after you have read the plan and confirmed it. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.
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