Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and head to your hotel to get settled. After checking in, the afternoon and evening are completely open for you to do whatever you'd like. If you're interested, there are optional activities available like a night cruise on the Bosphorus or a traditional hamam session, but these aren't required.
- Start point
- Istanbul, Türkiye (ISTANBUL AIRPORT)
Optional Activities
- Night Cruise on the Bosphorus
- Hamam (Turkish Bath) - 1 hour pampering session
- Day 2
Istanbul
This morning you'll have breakfast, then set out with an English-speaking guide to see Istanbul's main landmarks. You'll walk through Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, and the Blue Mosque before heading to Topkapi Palace. After that comes the Grand Bazaar with its thousands of shops. Lunch happens at a downtown restaurant, and you'll head back to the hotel as the sun sets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at downtown restaurant)
Included Activities
- Full day city tour with English-speaking guide
- Visit Hagia Sophia
- Visit the Hippodrome
- Visit the Blue Mosque
- Visit Topkapi Palace
- Explore the Grand Bazaar
- Lunch at downtown restaurant
Landmarks Hagia Sophia Hippodrome Blue Mosque Topkapi Palace Grand Bazaar - Day 3
Istanbul to Ankara
You'll have breakfast and free time in Istanbul this morning. Later in the day, an air-conditioned bus picks you up and drives past the Intercontinental Bridge toward Ankara, Turkey's capital. It's roughly a 450 km journey, so you'll arrive at your hotel in the evening with time for dinner and rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Travel to Ankara by deluxe air-conditioned bus
- Day 4
Ankara to Cappadocia
After breakfast you'll tour Ankara's key sites, including the Mausoleum of Atatürk and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. In the afternoon, you'll travel to Cappadocia with a stop at one of the 36 underground cities that Christians built for shelter. By evening you'll reach your hotel in Cappadocia for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mausoleum of Atatürk
- Visit Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- Stop at one of the 36 underground cities of Cappadocia
- Travel to Cappadocia
Landmarks Mausoleum of Atatürk Museum of Anatolian Civilizations 
- Day 5
Cappadocia
You're exploring Cappadocia's rock landscape this morning after breakfast. The day includes Göreme Valley's open-air museum and ancient cave villages, then Üchisar's troglodyte village and Avcilar Valley. You'll drive through Devrent Valley to see the unusual rock shapes, and stop at local workshops where artisans make carpets and onyx jewelry. Return to your hotel for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Göreme Valley open-air museum
- Explore ancient cave villages
- Visit underground cities
- Visit Troglodyte Village of Üchisar
- Visit Avcilar Valley
- Visit Devrent Valley
- Visit local artisan workshops - carpet-making
- Visit local artisan workshops - onyx jewelry shops
Landmarks Göreme Valley Üchisar Avcilar Valley Devrent Valley - Day 6
Cappadocia to Pamukkale
After breakfast you'll head early to Pamukkale, known as the 'cotton castle' for its white travertine terraces. Along the way you'll stop at the Old Palace and Medieval Fort of Caravanserai, which sit on the historic Persia trade route. Once you arrive, you'll have free time to walk around the city and see the terraces created by thermal springs. Dinner's at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Old Palace and Medieval Fort of Caravanserai
- Travel to Pamukkale
Optional Activities
- Visit Pamukkale's travertine terraces and thermal springs
Landmarks Caravanserai Pamukkale - Day 7
Meryemana - Ephesus
You'll start with breakfast, then visit Hierapolis, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. There you'll see the Necropolis, ancient Roman baths, and the 'Cotton Castle' natural park. After free time for lunch, you'll go to Meryemana to visit the House of the Virgin Mary. Then it's on to Ephesus to walk through Roman ruins including the Library of Celsus, the Greco-Roman Theatre, and the Basilica of Saint John. You'll check in at your hotel for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Hierapolis
- Explore Necropolis
- Explore ancient Roman baths
- Visit natural park known as 'Cotton Castle'
- Visit House of the Virgin Mary at Meryemana
- Visit Ephesus
- Visit Odeon ruins
- Visit Arch of Hercules
- Visit Library of Celsus
- Visit Greco-Roman Theatre
- Visit Agora
- Visit Basilica of Saint John
Landmarks Hierapolis House of the Virgin Mary Library of Celsus Greco-Roman Theatre Basilica of Saint John Arch of Hercules Agora Odeon - Day 8
Ephesus to Pergamon to Canakkale
After breakfast you'll travel to Pergamon, which was once a major hub for culture, commerce, and medicine. You'll see the Acropolis, the world's steepest theater, the Asclepius sanctuary, the Library of Pergamum, and the Altar of Zeus. Later you'll continue to Troy, the legendary site from Homer's Iliad. By evening you'll arrive in Canakkale on the Dardanelles strait, check into your hotel, and have dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Pergamon Acropolis
- Visit steepest theater in the world
- Visit Asclepius sanctuary
- View Altar of Zeus
- Visit Library of Pergamum
- Visit Troy archaeological city
Landmarks Pergamon Acropolis Library of Pergamum Altar of Zeus Asclepius Troy - Day 9
Bursa - Istanbul
After breakfast you'll travel back toward Istanbul, a drive of about 550 km. Along the way you'll stop in Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. You'll see the impressive 14th-century Grand Mosque, the Green Mosque, and the Green Mausoleum with their distinctive tilework. There's also time to walk through the local silk bazaar, which shows off Bursa's textile history. From there you'll continue to Istanbul and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Grand Mosque (14th century)
- Visit Green Mosque
- Visit Green Mausoleum
- Explore local silk bazaar
Landmarks Grand Mosque Green Mosque Green Mausoleum - Day 10
Istanbul Departure
You'll have breakfast and then arrange a transfer to Istanbul Airport for your international flight. Make sure you leave with enough time to get there without rushing. Safe travels home!
- End point
- Istanbul, Türkiye (ISTANBUL AIRPORT)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Istanbul Airport
