Private Turkey Tour Package: 7 Days, Istanbul to Pamukkale

We collect you at Istanbul Airport and drive you to your hotel. Nothing else is planned for today. You meet our guide tomorrow at 09:30 AM.

Today you check out of the hotel, see the main sights of Istanbul and then fly to Cappadocia.

• 09:30 AM – Hotel pick-up: meet your guide and start exploring the Ottoman and Byzantine history of Istanbul.
• 10:00 AM – Topkapi Palace (optional): the former home of the Ottoman sultans, with detailed architecture and rich collections. Optional, depending on the schedule and entrance tickets.
• 11:30 AM – Blue Mosque: go inside to admire its calm interior and its famous blue tiles.
• 12:00 PM – Hippodrome: walk across the old Hippodrome, once the scene of Byzantine chariot races, with its monuments and obelisks.
• 1:00 PM – Lunch break (optional): stop for lunch at a local restaurant (not included in the price).
• 2:00 PM – Hagia Sophia (optional): visit this famous building, where Byzantine and Islamic art and architecture meet. Optional, depending on the schedule and ticket availability.
• 3:30 PM – Grand Bazaar: wander the busy lanes of the Grand Bazaar and shop for Turkish crafts and souvenirs.
• 5:00 PM – Bosphorus Cruise: close the day on the water, with views of both the European and the Asian shores of Istanbul.
• 6:30 PM – Transfer to Istanbul Airport: after the cruise you are driven to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia.

When you land in Cappadocia, a transfer takes you to your cave hotel for the night. Breakfast is included.

Optional early start: if you are happy to get up before dawn, you can take a hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia at sunrise (at extra cost).

The guided tour usually begins at about 09:00 and wraps up no later than 16:00.

What you will see

Goreme Esentepe panoramic viewpoint: The day opens at Esentepe, a lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme. Below you spreads the Cappadocian landscape, with its fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe.

Zelve Open-Air Museum: Zelve was once a monastic community and a centre of Christian learning. Its monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-preserved frescoes that show the region's long past.

Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, also called "Pasha's Vineyard", is best known for its three-headed fairy chimneys, some of the most striking rock shapes anywhere in Cappadocia.

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 resemble animals or mythical creatures.

Avanos pottery workshop: Potters have worked in Avanos since 3000 BC, using clay from the Red River. In a traditional workshop you watch local craftsmen at work and see how their ceramics are made.

Love Valley: The last stop is a valley shaped by millions of years of erosion. Cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys rise as high as 40 meters, which makes it one of the most unusual and photogenic corners of Cappadocia.

You then return to your cave hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

After checking out of the hotel, you spend the day on more of Cappadocia's highlights and then fly to Izmir.

The guided tour usually begins at about 09:00 and wraps up no later than 16:00.

What you will see

Meskendir Valley (4.4 km trek): The day starts on foot with a 4.4 km walk through Meskendir 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 and enjoy the valley around it.

Rose Valley: Tucked behind Ürgüp, this quiet valley is known for its unusual rock shapes and churches cut into the stone. Paths run through vineyards and gardens, linking small villages and towns, and local people sometimes offer fresh grapes, apples or apricots to walkers.

Red Valley: Like its neighbour, Red Valley has dramatic rock formations and old cave churches. Its winding trails spread out like a spider's web, connecting remote villages and farmland, and show both the nature and the history of Cappadocia.

Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin is one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia. Its cave houses, cut straight into the rock, form a maze of old homes. The village also has the Church of John the Baptist, a 5th-century church and the largest cave church in the region.

Underground City: Early Christians dug 36 underground cities across 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 to see old wineries, kitchens and living areas.

Pigeon Valley: On the edge of Göreme, this valley takes its name from the pigeon houses carved into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once used the droppings to fertilize 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 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.

Transfer to the airport: once the tour ends, you are driven to the airport for the flight to Izmir.

Arrival in Izmir: a transfer takes you on to Kusadasi, where you stay overnight with breakfast included.

• 10:00 AM – Hotel pick-up: after breakfast your guide collects you from the hotel.
• 10:20 AM – Magnesia Gate: you enter the Ephesus Ancient City and the walk begins.
• 10:30 AM – Library of Celsus: see the ancient library, known for its richly decorated facade and fine architecture.
• 11:00 AM – Temple of Hadrian: an elegant temple raised in honour of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
• 11:30 AM – Hercules Gate: walk through this historic gate, decorated with well-known reliefs and sculptures.
• 12:00 PM – Grand Theatre: stand inside the huge theatre that once held thousands of people.
• 12:30 PM – The Snake Cult of Asklepios: at the Asklepion ruins, learn about the ancient healing cult of the god of medicine.
• 1:00 PM – Lunch: a relaxed break at a local restaurant (lunch not included).
• 2:00 PM – Herm (Marker) of Hermes: the stone marker dedicated to Hermes, Greek god of travellers.
• 2:20 PM – Stone-Carving of the Goddess Nike: a finely worked relief of Nike, symbol of victory.
• 2:40 PM – Fountain of Trajan: an ornate fountain dedicated to Emperor Trajan.
• 3:00 PM – Ruins of Artemis Temple: the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• 3:30 PM – St. Mary's House (optional): if you wish, visit the holy site believed to be the last home of the Virgin Mary.
• 4:00 PM – Return to Kusadasi: you are driven back to your hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

Today you check out of your hotel, explore Pamukkale and then fly back to Istanbul.

Tour highlights

• 10:00 AM – Hotel pick-up: after breakfast your guide collects you from the hotel.
• 10:30 AM – Arrival at the ancient city of Hierapolis.
• Necropolis: walk through the vast ancient cemetery with its interesting tombs and buildings.
• Theatre: a large Roman theatre in very good condition.
• Cleopatra Pool: the famous pool of warm, mineral-rich water. Swimming is optional and needs an extra entrance fee.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch: a break at a local restaurant nearby (lunch not included).
• 1:30 PM – Pamukkale Travertines: the shining white terraces formed by mineral-rich water. Walk across the soft, cotton-like surface barefoot.
• 3:00 PM – Pamukkale Natural Lake and Park: relax in this peaceful, green park by the lake.
• 4:30 PM – Transfer to Denizli Airport: after the tour you are driven to the airport for the flight back to Istanbul.

A transfer takes you to the airport for your flight home, and our services end here.

Would you like more time in Istanbul? You can add extra nights to extend your stay.

Optional extras

• Cappadocia hot air balloon (GOREME): $310
• One extra night at an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
• Upgrade to a private tour: $350