9 Day Istanbul – Cappadocia – Pamukkale – Antalya By Plane: A Turkish Highlights Tour

Welcome to Turkey. Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your boutique hotel located in the charming Sultanahmet area. Once you have checked in, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure and explore the magical atmosphere of the city at your own pace. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

(Breakfast and lunch included) After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel at 08:30 to begin a full-day guided tour through the historical heart of Istanbul. Your day will start at the ancient Hippodrome, once the center of sports and political events in the Byzantine era, where you will see monuments such as the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. You will then visit the Sultanahmet Mosque, more commonly known as the Blue Mosque, renowned for its striking interior decorated with exquisite blue Iznik tiles. The tour continues with the magnificent Hagia Sophia, an architectural masterpiece originally built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and rebuilt by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. Later, you will experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Grand Bazaar, famous worldwide for its wide selection of carpets, jewelry, leather goods, and more. The day concludes with a visit to Topkapi Palace, the former residence and administrative center of the Ottoman Sultans for over 400 years. After the tour, you will be returned to your hotel around 17:30. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included) You will be picked up from your hotel at 08:30 for a half-day excursion exploring the two continents of Istanbul. The tour begins with a visit to the Spice Bazaar, where the air is filled with the aroma of exotic spices and vendors offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers, caviar, dried fish, and local delicacies. Next, you will embark on a scenic Bosphorus Cruise, sailing between Europe and Asia while admiring the marble palaces, historic wooden mansions, and luxurious residences that line the shores. The tour concludes around 13:30, allowing time for your early evening flight to Cappadocia. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

(Breakfast and lunch included) After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel at approximately 09:30 to begin a full-day guided tour of Northern Cappadocia. Highlights include Devrent Valley, known for its surreal landscape and unusual rock formations, and Monks Valley (Pasabag), home to the iconic three-headed fairy chimneys. In Avanos, a town famed for its terracotta artistry dating back to 3000 BC, you will visit a traditional pottery workshop where craftsmen use red clay from the Kizilirmak River. Your journey continues to the Goreme Open Air Museum, once an important Christian center during the Middle Ages, featuring rock-cut churches adorned with ancient frescoes. The day ends with a visit to Uchisar, a unique troglodyte village dominated by a towering rock castle offering panoramic views of Cappadocia and Mount Erciyes. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel around 17:30. Overnight in Cappadocia.

(Breakfast and lunch included) You will be picked up from your hotel at 09:30 for a full-day guided tour of Southern Cappadocia. The day begins with a walk through Kizilcukur (Red Valley), an isolated valley behind Urgup known for its striking rock formations and hidden cave churches. You will also visit Cavusin Village, one of the region’s oldest settlements, featuring the Church of St. John the Baptist, which dates back to the 5th century and once had a large open courtyard. Later, you will explore the underground city of Kaymakli, one of the largest and deepest in the area, with eight levels extending into the earth. The final stop of the day is Pigeon Valley, where you can see the ancient pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. After the tour, you will return to your hotel around 17:30. In the evening, you will board a comfortable overnight bus to Pamukkale.

Upon your early morning arrival in Pamukkale, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Today is free for you to relax and enjoy the facilities of your comfortable spa hotel. Overnight stay in Pamukkale.

(Breakfast and lunch included) After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel at 08:30 for a full-day tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle” in Turkish, is a natural wonder formed by the accumulation of calcium-rich mineral waters cascading down white travertine terraces. You will also explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, a renowned Roman spa town, where you can see the basilica, theater, Roman baths, and other well-preserved ruins. At the end of the tour, you will take an evening bus to Antalya. Overnight stay in Antalya.

(Breakfast and dinner included) After breakfast, you will depart for a full-day excursion from Antalya, beginning with a visit to Perge. Founded by Akhas following the Trojan Wars, Perge was later ruled by Alexander the Great and became one of the wealthiest cities in the Pamphylia region during Roman times. The city is also significant as the place where St. Paul began his missionary journey in Anatolia. Following the exploration of Perge’s well-preserved ruins, including its stadium, colonnaded streets, and Roman baths, you will continue to Aspendos. Located 47 kilometers east of Antalya, Aspendos was a key city in ancient Pamphylia and is renowned for its magnificent Roman theater, considered the best-preserved of its kind in Turkey. The city’s other ruins include a stadium, basilica, and agora. After the tour, you will take an evening flight back to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast included) After breakfast, check out from your hotel by 12:00. You will then be transferred to Istanbul Ataturk Airport in accordance with your flight schedule. This concludes your tour. If you wish to extend your stay in Istanbul, additional nights can be arranged upon request.