Istanbul Trip Overview
Turkey is a large country with many places of interest and one should come a few times to see these sites situated at various geographical locations.
This tour is a unique introductory program covering the western sectors and designed for the first-timers to Turkey with the main highlights in the locations like Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus with optional touring to Pamukkale, Pergamum or Priene/Miletus/Didyma.
Our tour departs with a minimum of 2 persons and is limited to a maximum of 8 persons so that you may have the pleasure of travelling with a small group where you can share unforgettable memories. The transportation between the locations is provided in an air-conditioned vehicle, which makes the tour time efficient and less tiring.
Additional Info
Duration: 9 days
Starts: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Category: Air, Helicopter & Balloon Tours >> Air Tours
Explore Istanbul Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey
Turkey is a large country with many places of interest and one should come a few times to see these sites situated at various geographical locations.
This tour is a unique introductory program covering the western sectors and designed for the first-timers to Turkey with the main highlights in the locations like Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus with optional touring to Pamukkale, Pergamum or Priene/Miletus/Didyma.
Our tour departs with a minimum of 2 persons and is limited to a maximum of 8 persons so that you may have the pleasure of travelling with a small group where you can share unforgettable memories. The transportation between the locations is provided in an air-conditioned vehicle, which makes the tour time efficient and less tiring.
Itinerary
Day 1: Istanbul
Pass By: Istanbul, Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Levni hotel
Day 2: Istanbul
Stop At: Topkapi Palace, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Gulhane Park, Near Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
A full-day walking* tour with Topkapi Palace – Harem section is excluded – (closed on Tuesdays). Built in 1468, it served as the seat of the Ottoman sultans for 400 years.
*Depending on the preference of the guests, public transportation including taxi, subway, tram or funicular can also be taken whilst touring
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Hagia Sophia Mosque, Ayasofya Square, Sultanahmet, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
In the afternoon, Hagia Sophia, one of the great architectural marvels of the ancient world.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Mah At Meydani Cad No 7, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Continue to Blue Mosque (Closed on Friday mornings and the last minute occasions beyond our control and therefore no responsibility is assumed), famous for its mosaics.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Hippodrome, Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet ParkI No:2, Istanbul Turkey
Cross through the Hippodrome, the scene of political activities of the old city where one can also see the “Obelisk of Egypt”, “Serpent Column” from Delphi, the “German Fountain of Wilhelm II” and the “Colossus”.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Grand Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
Thereafter proceed to Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sundays), which is the biggest “souk” in the world with nearly 4000 shops of antiques, jewelry, gold, carpets, ceramics, and leatherwear.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Levni hotel
Day 3: Istanbul
Stop At: Misir Carsisi (Spice Market), Rustem Pasa Mahallesi, Erzak Ambari Sok. No:92 Eminonu – Fatih, Istanbul 34116 Turkey
A morning tour to visit the aromatic Spice Bazaar from 1663 with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs along with a wide variety of commodities, also known as Egyptian Bazaar, as it was once endowed with the Cairo imposts.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul 34122 Turkey
Then proceed to the pier so as to embark the public boat. Sailing through the waterway separating the two continents – Asia and Europe – with a possibility to take pictures of the marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials. During this trip Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges will be visible from the sea.
*Depending on the preference of the guests, public transportation including taxi, subway, tram or funicular can also be taken whilst touring
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Levni hotel
Day 4: Istanbul-Cappadocia
Stop At: Pasabag, Urgup Turkey
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Nevsehir or Kayseri. On arrival proceed to Devrent Valley where various types of fairy chimneys are abundant. We will walk through this amazing valley. Thereafter visit Pasabagi (Monk’s Valley) with multiple stems and caps, peculiar to this area.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Avanos, Avanos, Cappadocia
After visiting Pasabagi, drive to Avanos which is known for the pottery, a craft dating back to the Hittite period. The red clay which is worked by local craftsmen comes from the residue in the Kizilirmak River, the longest river of Turkey.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Goreme Open-Air Museum, Merkez, Muze Cd., Goreme 50180 Turkey
Further to the lunch time, proceed to Goreme Open Air Museum (Dark Church is excluded; entrance requires additional admission fee) to visit the churches, chapels and monasteries carved into the fairy chimneys from the 10th to the 13th centuries with frescos painted on the walls. Thereafter time to take photos in the neighboring valleys before going back to the hotel.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Cappadocia Cave Suites
Day 5: Cappadocia
Stop At: Red Valley, Nevsehir Ortahisar, Nevsehir 50650 Turkey
Meet at the hotel lobby in the morning and visit to Rose Valley, one of the most beautiful trekking valleys in Cappadocia, and explore the famous rock-cut churches by hiking through the valley.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Cavusin, Cavusin, Cappadocia
Rest in Cavusin, an old Greek village, known for its Christian houses and churches.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Ortahisar Kalesi, Ortahisar Turkey
After having time for lunch visit Ortahisar Castle, similar to Uchisar Castle in style, where storage caves can also be observed.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Turkey
In the afternoon visit Kaymakli (or Ozkonak) Underground City where early Christians lived in fear and faith.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Pigeon Valley, Uchisar KasabasI Nevşehir Kapadokya, Goreme 50240 Turkey
On the way back visit to panoramic Pigeon Valley where pigeons contributed to the lives of locals with their manure to fertilize the vineyards. You may also like to taste Cappadocia wine in a local winery. Drive back to the hotels.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Cappadocia Cave Suites
Day 6: Cappadocia-Izmir-Kusadasi
Pass By: Kusadasi, Kusadasi, Turkish Aegean Coast
Transfer to the airport in Nevsehir or Kayseri for the flight to Izmir (Depending on the travel date/flight schedule a direct or indirect flight via Istanbul can be used). On arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel in Kusadasi.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Ilayda Avantgarde hotel
Day 7: Kusadasi
Stop At: Kusadasi, Kusadasi, Turkish Aegean Coast
Day at leisure.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Ilayda Avantgarde hotel
Day 8: Kusadasi-Ephesus-Kusadasi
Stop At: Ancient City of Ephesus, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
Departure in the morning and visit Ephesus Antique City (Hillside Houses are excluded), one of the most popular ancient sites of Turkey with many acres of carefully excavated port city, one of the 12 cities of the Ionian League. Walk through the marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings like the Temple of Hadrian, Baths of Scholastica, Library of Celsus and Grand Theatre where St. Paul preached during his missionary journey.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: The Temple of Artemis, Ataturk, Park Ici Yolu No:12, Selcuk Turkey
Stop by the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House), Selcuk 35100 Turkey
In the afternoon drive on to the House of Virgin Mary where she was claimed at the Third Ecumenical Council in 431 A.D. that she had spent her last years in Ephesus together with St. John (Only on PRIVATE tours, St. Jean Basilica – or, depending on preference – Ephesus Museum – is added on to the itinerary before going back to the hotel in Kusadasi.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Ilayda Avantgarde hotel
Day 9: Kusadasi-Izmir Airport
Pass By: Kusadasi, Kusadasi, Turkish Aegean Coast
Transfer to Izmir Airport and end of the tour.
Our tours are locally hosted in Istanbul, Cappadocia and Kusadasi.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
