Turkey Highlights Experience

On arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to relax or begin exploring the city at your own pace. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, meet your guide for a full-day tour of Istanbul’s historic heart. Begin at Hagia Sophia, once the largest building in the world after the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Wall of China, and a key religious centre during the Byzantine era. Continue to the Hippodrome, constructed in 203 AD by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, which was the city’s social and sporting hub, capable of holding up to 100,000 spectators. Next, visit the Blue Mosque, built in 1616 by Sultan Ahmet I, renowned for its six minarets and impressive dome, and a prominent landmark of the old city. Explore the Basilica Cistern, an underground reservoir measuring 143 metres by 65 metres, supported by 336 columns mostly in Ionic or Corinthian style, capable of holding 80,000 cubic metres of water. Finally, stroll through the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets, featuring over 4,000 shops across 18 entrances. At the end of the day, we will return you to your hotel for an overnight stay in Istanbul.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and meet your guide in the lobby for a half-day tour. Begin at the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, where the air is rich with the scents of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and a variety of other herbs and spices. Next, enjoy a traditional Bosphorus cruise along the strait that separates Europe and Asia. The shoreline is dotted with historic wooden villas, marble palaces, fortresses and fishing villages. During the cruise, we pass notable landmarks including Dolmabahce Palace, Rustem Pasa Mosque, Rumeli Fortress, and the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. After the cruise, we transfer to the airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, your driver will meet you and take you to your hotel in Kusadasi for overnight.

After breakfast, meet your guide to begin a full-day tour of Ancient Ephesus. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where a church now stands. Continue to the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved classical cities in the Eastern Mediterranean. In the 1st century AD, Ephesus was the world’s second-largest city after Rome, with a population exceeding 250,000. Walking along its ancient streets, you will see remarkable monuments such as the third-largest library of the ancient world and the largest Roman theatre in Asia. The tour also includes the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which made Ephesus a significant pilgrimage site in antiquity. After the visit, we will return to your hotel in Kuşadası for the night.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and meet your guide to begin a full-day tour to Pamukkale, often called the Pools of Heaven on Earth. This site has long been renowned for its hot springs, believed to possess healing properties, making it one of the earliest known spa locations. The striking white terraces are formed by warm spring water rich in calcium bicarbonate, flowing at around 35°C. Pamukkale is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will also visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, notable for having Anatolia’s largest necropolis with around 1,200 gravestones. A highlight here is the Sacred Pool, where thermal waters gently ripple over submerged Roman ruins. At the end of the tour, we will transfer you to Antalya for your overnight stay.

Today begins with a cable car ride from sea level to the summit of Tunektepe, which rises 1,365 metres above the coast. From the top, we take in sweeping views of Antalya’s coastline, surrounding mountains, pine forests, and the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. (Please note, the Tunektepe Cable Car is currently closed until further notice. In its place, a boat trip along Antalya’s coast will be offered.) Next, we visit the Duden Waterfalls, the region’s most popular and picturesque falls. You can stroll through the surrounding park and enjoy the soothing sound of cascading water. After lunch at a local restaurant boasting panoramic views, you will have free time to explore Antalya’s old town, Kaleici. Here you can see key landmarks such as Hadrian’s Gate, the Clock Tower, Kesik Minare (the Truncated Minaret), and the city walls dating back to the 2nd century. Kaleici’s narrow stone streets are also home to numerous boutiques, art galleries, and museums—perfect for finding memorable souvenirs before returning to your hotel for the night.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, meet your driver and transfer to Antalya Airport for your included flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. Check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

After breakfast, meet your guide for a full-day tour of Cappadocia’s iconic Fairy Chimneys. Begin at Goreme Open-Air Museum, home to numerous rock-cut churches from the late 9th century, adorned with vivid frescoes. Next, visit Devrent Valley, known for its unusual rock formations resembling animals—a natural sculpture park. Continue to Pasabagi, or Monks Valley, where hermit monks once lived among striking fairy chimneys. Afterwards, drive to Avanos for a traditional Turkish lunch followed by a hands-on pottery workshop with local artisans. Then, enjoy panoramic views of the fairy chimneys from Goreme Panorama. Finally, visit Uchisar Castle, the highest natural rock fortress in the region, offering sweeping views before returning to your hotel in Cappadocia for the night.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and meet your guide for a full-day tour of Cappadocia’s remarkable landscapes. Begin at Rose Valley, known for its striking pink-hued ridges. Then travel to Cavusin, a village nestled within the Red Valley, where homes are carved into vast rock formations and rock churches are a highlight. Next, explore Pigeon Valley, named for the numerous man-made dovecotes etched into the soft volcanic tuff—this area offers some of the best walking in Cappadocia. Afterwards, visit the Underground Cities, once a refuge for up to 15,000 early Christians. These extensive subterranean settlements, used until the late 7th century AD, include ancient bedrooms, a church, meeting halls, and food storage rooms spread across eight levels connected by 30 kilometres of tunnels. The tour continues to Ortahisar, a charming town known for its welcoming residents, stone houses, narrow streets, historic churches, and the imposing rock castle that gives the town its name. At the end of the day, transfer to Kayseri Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, your driver will take you to your hotel for overnight.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and, depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Istanbul Airport for your departure.