Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
A driver will pick you up from Istanbul Airport and take you to your hotel. After that, the day is yours to wander around the city, get your bearings, and settle in at your own pace.
Optional Activities
- Free exploration of Istanbul
- Day 2
Istanbul
Start the morning at Topkapi Palace, where you'll see the Harem and Hagia Irene. From there, head to the Blue Mosque and St. Sophia Museum, then check out the Hippodrome. In the afternoon, you have the option to take a half day Bosphorus cruise if you want to sail between Europe and Asia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Topkapi Palace including Hagia Irene and the Harem
- Visit Blue Mosque
- Visit St. Sophia Museum
- Visit Hippodrome
Optional Activities
- Half day Bosphorus cruise
Landmarks Topkapi Palace Hagia Irene Blue Mosque St. Sophia Museum Hippodrome - Day 3
Istanbul to Cappadocia
Fly to Cappadocia this morning and meet your guide at the airport. You'll explore Goreme Valley Open Air Museum and see the famous fairy chimneys, then tour an underground city. Later, there's an optional Turkish folklore event with folklore dancing if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Goreme Valley Open Air Museum
- Visit fairy chimneys
- Tour underground city
Optional Activities
- Turkish folklore event with folklore and belly dancers
Landmarks Goreme Valley Open Air Museum - Day 4
Cappadocia
Today takes you through more of Cappadocia's landscape, walking through Pigeon Valley and Red Valley. After that, you'll visit Cavusin Village and then head to Avanos Town where local artisans show you how traditional hand-made pottery is produced.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Pigeon Valley
- Visit Red Valley
- Visit Cavusin Village
- Visit Avanos Town and learn about hand-made pottery
Landmarks Pigeon Valley Red Valley Cavusin Village Avanos Town - Day 5
Cappadocia to Adiyaman
Leave Cappadocia early and drive to Adiyaman, passing through Kahramanmaras. You'll reach Mt. Nemrut to see the Tombs of Commagene Kingdom and the Colossal Statues of Gods. Then climb up to the Tumulus of Antiochos and watch the sunset from the top with ancient history all around you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mt. Nemrut
- View Tombs of Commagene Kingdom
- View Colossal Statues of Gods
- Ascend Tumulus of Antiochos
- Sunset viewing at Mt. Nemrut
Landmarks Mt. Nemrut Tumulus of Antiochos - Day 6
Adiyaman to Sanliurfa
After breakfast, travel to Sanliurfa along a scenic route that passes the Ataturk Dam and Harran, where you can see the distinctive mud-brick houses and old city walls. Once in Sanliurfa, explore the Holy Pools of Abraham and visit the cave that's believed to be where the Prophet Abraham was born.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ataturk Dam
- Visit Harran
- Visit Holy Pools of Abraham
- Visit cave birthplace of Prophet Abraham
Landmarks Ataturk Dam Harran Holy Pools of Abraham - Day 7
Sanliurfa
Visit Gobekli Tepe, an important archaeological site with religious structures from 11,000 to 13,000 years ago that predate pottery, writing, Stonehenge, and the Pyramids. After that, you'll see the Haleplibahce Mosaic Museum, Kizilkoyun Nekropolis, and the Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Gobekli Tepe
- Visit Haleplibahce Mosaic Museum
- Visit Kizilkoyun Nekropolis
- Visit Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum
Landmarks Gobekli Tepe Haleplibahce Mosaic Museum Kizilkoyun Nekropolis Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum - Day 8
Sanliurfa to Gaziantep to Istanbul
Have breakfast at the hotel, then drive toward Gaziantep and stop in Halfeti for a boat trip on the Euphrates River where you can see the partially sunken city. Continue to Gaziantep to visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum with Roman mosaics, then have free time in the city center to walk through bazaars and grab lunch (on your own). You'll fly back to Istanbul in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Euphrates River in Halfeti
- Visit Zeugma Mosaic Museum
Optional Activities
- Explore local bazaars in Gaziantep city center
- Lunch featuring Gaziantep cuisine (baklava, kebabs, beyran soup)
Landmarks Halfeti Zeugma Mosaic Museum - Day 9
Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel, your trip wraps up. You'll head to Istanbul Airport for your onward flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
