in Turkey itinerary: The Best Highlights of Turkey - Fully Private Guided Tour

Trip Details

Your driver will take you from Istanbul Airport to your hotel in the heart of the old city, where you will settle in for 4 nights in a 4-5 star or boutique hotel.

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby at 9:30 a.m. Immerse yourself in the history of this mythical city, shaped by the legacy of three empires. Visit Hagia Sophia, where Islamic and Christian symbols blend together in remarkable harmony. Just opposite, admire the Blue Mosque, whose interior is adorned with thousands of blue tiles. Then continue your visit at the Hippodrome, with its obelisks and the German Fountain. At Topkapi Palace, step into the private world of the Ottoman sultans as you wander through its pavilions, kiosks, and harem.

Today, discover Istanbul through its flavors as you explore, with your guide, a selection of traditional street foods and local specialties. Start your day at the "Women's Market," with all sorts of local specialties from different regions. Stroll down to the Egyptian Bazaar, also known as the Spice Market, dating back to 1664. Then board a traditional ferry for a 1.5-hour cruise on the Bosphorus. You will enjoy views of Topkapi Palace, the Maiden's Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Yildiz Park, the charming baroque Ortakoy Mosque, and the suspension bridge linking Europe and Asia. Stroll through the lively neighborhoods of Galata and Karakoy.

Continue enjoying Istanbul at your own pace and discover some of its many treasures, such as the Basilica Cistern, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the Istanbul Modern Art Museum, the Grand Bazaar, and its caravanserais. Take time to sit down in a çay salonu (tea house), sample a few Istanbul specialties in a meyhane (traditional tavern), and experience life the Turkish way. Stop at a pastry shop to try cakes and other delicious desserts, and do not miss the many shops offering tastings of Turkish delight. These are just a few ideas among many for taking the pulse of this fascinating world city.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia, a unique geological region stretching across the Anatolian plains in central Turkey. Upon arrival, you will be met and driven to the heart of Cappadocia, where you will check in at your boutique hotel for three nights.

Optional: a HOT-AIR BALLOON flight at dawn. Visit the Goreme Museum, a remarkable monastic complex, home to rock-cut churches adorned with astonishingly well-preserved wall paintings. The Pasabag Valley, famous for its multi-headed fairy chimneys, will astonish you. Cappadocia is famous for its local wines with rich flavors, thanks to the volcanic soil. You'll enjoy a wine tasting session of four wines and a platter of cheese. Visit the Zelve Open-Air Museum, a troglodyte village abandoned in the 1950s, offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of its former inhabitants. Finally, head into the Devrent Valley, where extraordinary rock formations create an almost surreal landscape.

Hike (about 3h, easy terrain) in the Zindanönü Valley with its traditional pigeon houses, the Rose Valley, and the Red Valley, renowned for their striking tuff formations and fiery colours, in search of Byzantine rock-hewn churches hidden among the natural landscape… The trail then leads on to the village of Çavuşin, overshadowed by an impressive troglodyte cliff. After lunch, continue to the underground city of Derinkuyu, a maze-like complex carved into the rock over the eight levels so far excavated, containing dozens of chambers that could shelter up to 10,000 people for extended periods.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Izmir. Transfer to Ephesus, where you'll meet your guide to explore one of the great ancient cities of Asia Minor, once a major cultural, religious, and commercial crossroads spread across three hills. Stroll among the colonnades of the Library of Celsus, then pass through the Gate of Augustus to reach the great amphitheater. Don’t miss the Terrace Houses, where you’ll discover the refined world of Ephesus's wealthy inhabitants. Head to the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent her final years in this peaceful retreat under the care of Saint John. Transfer to your hotel and check in for a two-night stay.

A few hours’ drive inland brings you to one of Turkey’s most spectacular sites: Pamukkale (UNESCO), famous for its white limestone terraces formed by mineral-rich thermal waters. This phenomenon results from hot mineral spring water cooling and depositing minerals over time, creating breathtaking travertine terraces (swimming is prohibited as they are now under government protection). Since ancient times, Pamukkale has been renowned for its healing properties. The ancient city of Hierapolis, perched above Pamukkale, includes a grand Roman theater, temples, and other historic structures. Today, you can bathe in Cleopatra’s Antique Pool, surrounded by submerged ruins (extra fee required).

Transfer to Izmir Airport for your outgoing flight.

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They traveled with Tovi’s agency

Ric

December 15, 2019

Silk route in Turkey. Amazing places.

Laslo Nimne

January 12, 2019

It was a most excellent trip.

MikeP

October 12, 2015

Excellent service from you, thanks. The hotel is Pamukalle exceeded all expectations and also the meal in the restaurant was one of the best we had all holiday. The Nazar hotel room in Selcuk was really too small for a double room - and the management know this. We suggested it would have been better without the wardrobe but with a small table/chest of drawers. Owner agreed, but said other guests wanted a wardrobe! I gather changes are planned. I gather this was one of there smallest rooms anyway, so this would not apply to other rooms. Having said that the Nazar hotel service was exceptional - drinks in the garden by the pool, first rate breakfast and an evening meal on the terrace that was also one of the best we had. The staff were so obliging - nothing was too much trouble for them. Good source of information about visits etc. Would happily go again - but in a bigger room.

The Best Highlights of Turkey - Fully Private Guided Tour

The trip in brief

Trip Details

Included in this price

Not included

Nothing is set in stone: adjust each step with your local agency.

They traveled with Tovi’s agency

Other trip ideas in Turkey that you might like

More trip ideas in Turkey based on your interests

The Best Highlights of Turkey - Fully Private Guided Tour

The trip in brief

Trip Details

Welcome to TurkeyDay 1Istanbul

Ottomans and ByzantinesDay 2Topkapı Palace · Hagia Sophia · Blue Mosque

Street Food and the BosphorusDay 3Bosporus

Explore Istanbul at Your Own PaceDay 4Istanbul

From Istanbul to the Wonders of CappadociaDay 5Cappadocia

Byzantine Cave Churches, Fairy Chimney Valleys, and Wine TastingDay 6Zelve · Göreme · Paşabağ

Hike Through Cappadocia's Most Beautiful Valleys & Underground CityDay 7Derinkuyu · Çavuşin

Izmir to Ephesus, Jewel of the Ancient Greco-Roman WorldDay 8Ephesus

The Cotton Castle, PamukkaleDay 9Pamukkale

Goodbye, Turkey!Day 10Izmir

Included in this price

Not included

Nothing is set in stone: adjust each step with your local agency.

They traveled with Tovi’s agency

Other trip ideas in Turkey that you might like

More trip ideas in Turkey based on your interests