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Istanbul

Turkey

Start your 9-day Turkey tour from vibrant Istanbul, where you can admire the exquisite Blue Mosque and dive into the Spice Bazaar to feel like a local. Explore the glories of ancient Greece and Rome by strolling through numerous ruins of Ephesus. Relax in the hot spring of Pamukkale's Cotton Castle, and experience a hot air balloon flight in the enchanting Cappadocia.

Day 1

Upon your arrival in Istanbul airport, a local representative will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. After check in, please take a good rest and get ready for your adventure in Turkey!

Day 2

Today, your local guide will show you around the old city area. Firstly, visit the Blue Mosque, a Byzantium style building with round roofs and 6 minarets.

Then visit Hippodrome from the Roman Period. It is a square where many important monuments and buildings stand on or around, including the Knitted Obelisk, Serpent Column, a German pavilion and the Blue Mosque. 

Afterwards, visit the Hagia Sophia Museum, a rare religious architecture dated to the Byzantium period. 

After lunch, go to Topkapi Palace, the imperial palace of Ottoman Sultans for nearly 4 centuries. It is like a small city, made up of courtyards, gardens, libraries, schools, mosques and more. You will also see many treasured porcelains, weapons, paintings, jewelry and more inside. 

Turn to Grand Bazaar, one of the largest fairs in the world. It is also a good place to look into the locals’ daily lives. 

When today’s visits end, send you back to the hotel.

Day 3

After breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the wharf for a two-hour Bosporus Cruise. It is a great way to enjoy the amazing views of Istanbul. You can see Dolmabahce Palace, Bosporus Bridge, Camlica Hill and many Ottoman-style buildings on two banks of Bosporus Strait during the cruise. 

Bosphorus Strait

After the cruise, send you to the airport and help you check into the afternoon flight to Izmir. On your arrival at Izmir Airport, your local driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel in Kusadasi. The rest of the day will be left for you to explore the beautiful and charming seaside town of Kusadasi.

Kusadasi

Day 4

Today, the guide will accompany you to the next destination of this private Turkey tour, Pamukkale, literally “Cotton Castle”. It is about 2.5 hours’ drive away. There, hot springs gush out from the 200-meter-high (655 feet) rock and flow down slowly. As the calcium contained in the springs settles year after year, many semi-circle pools in milky white have been formed layer upon layer, which look like white cottons scattering on the hillside, hence the name “Cotton Castle”. ★Special Arrangement: Hot Spring Experience in Travertine Pool
Please get your swimsuit ready and relax in the mineral-rich hot spring water in travertine pool. 

Pamukkale Thermal Pools

In the afternoon, we will go on to visit Hierapolis Ancient City on the mountaintop of Pamukkale, where you'll see a large number of cemeteries, beautifully carved Roman stone pillars, amphitheaters and city gates. At the end of the day, send you to the hotel in Pamukkale for an overnight stay.

Hierapolis

Day 5

We will drive for about 2 hours to visit Ephesus Ancient City after breakfast. It is currently world's largest and most well-preserved Greco-Roman city. The Marble Street, Temple of Hadrain, Celsus Library, Trajan Fountain and Grand Theater invite you to explore the grandeur of bygone eras. Another key attraction is the Grand Theater, which can accommodate up to 25,000 spectators during peak hours.

Ancient City of Ephesus

After lunch, continue to visit the Ephesus Archeological Museum.Relics excavated from the Ephesus Ancient City are displayed here, among which the most famous is the statue of the Goddess Artemis. 

Ephesus Museum

Afterwards, have a look at the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The two most notable aspects are its elaborate decoration and enormous scale. 

The Temple of Artemis

Today's guided sightseeing will be ended at the House of the Virgin Mary, where Virgin Mary spent her last 5 years.

Virgin Mary's House

At last, you will be transferred to the Izmir Airport for flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, we will drive to a cave hotel and help you check in. Enjoy your own leisure time for the rest of the day. ★Unique Accommodation Experience: Staying in a Cave Hotel

Cappadocia

Day 6

After breakfast, we will set off to explore the northern Cappadocia. The guide will firstly accompany you to the Goreme Open Air Museum, which is home to numerous natural caves that have been converted into monastic residences and churches. The majority of them have a Byzantine architectural style with stunning murals. Our guide will regale you with the wonderful stories that took place within these caves. ★Exclusive Access to the Dark Church Included
Of all the caves and churches in the Goreme Open Air Museum, Dark Church is the one where the murals are the most well-preserved because of the lack of light. You can pause here to take in the bright murals.

Goreme Open-Air Museum

Then proceed to Avanos, a small town famous for pottery making. The potteries here are made of the clay from the Red River flowing by, very unique. And you will witness how traditional handicrafts are made by skilled artisans and hear from seasoned masters about the struggles they overcame to pass down their craft. 

Avanos

Afterwards, go to the Devrent Valley famous for the lava rocks. It is also been dubbed "Imagination Valley" since walking here is like stepping into a world that requires boundless imagination. Your starting point is the iconic camel-shaped rock. Its two erect camel humps and slightly elevated head are amazing and lifelike. 

Devrent Valley

Next, go on to Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), where many tall and natural stone pillars like chimneys in the fairy tales stand, hence it is also named Fairy Chimney Valley. 

Paşabağ Vadisi

The last stop of today will be the Love Valley, where you can take in the stunning sunset views of Cappadocia.

Love Valley

Day 7

Today's tour in south Cappadocia will begin with the Cavusin Village. You can appreciate exquisite murals in the Great Basilica (St. John the Baptist Chapel) here.

St. John the Baptist Chapel

Then the guide will escort you to a 2-hour hike in the Red Valley noted for many churches carved in the rocks. Hiking up the steep cliffs here will reveal multicolored rocks that have been eroded by millions of years. If you examine them closely, colored lines that indicate how old they are can also be found. 

Red Valley

The next stop is Uchisar Castle, excavated from a 60-meter-high (200 feet) boulder. It was once a defensive fortress where its dwellers could shelter for months when invaders arrived. Climb to its top, a panoramic view of Cappadocia is sure to catch your attention.

Uchisar Castle

In the afternoon, we will drive to Pigeon Valley to explore the densely arranged pigeon holes, which come in a variety of sizes and some even reach an incredible two stories high. In addition to being the local inhabitants, pigeons are a fertilizer supplier for the crops and vineyards nearby. And for good reason - the wines of the Cappadocia region are highly regarded.

Pigeon Valley

The Kaymakli Underground City will mark the end of our visit today. It is one of the biggest underground cities in Cappadocia, spanning eight stories. Approximately 10,000 people used to live there. With the vivid explanation of our guide, the living scenarios in rooms with various functions will appear before your eyes right away. At the end of the day, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Cappadocia.

Kaymakli Underground City

Day 8

Early this morning, we will leave for Konya. After arriving approximately 3 hours later, visit the Mevlana Museum. Konya is the birthplace of whirling dervishes, and the Mevlana Museum is the soul of Konya. Whirling ascetics once used it as a practice area. Next to the mausoleum is the Semahane (Ceremonial Hall), where musical instruments and rosary beads are displayed. Additionally, lifelike scenes in the wax museum here will pique your interest.

Mevlana Museum

Then continue to visit Sultanhani Caravanserai, a 13th-century caravan station survived and well protected on the ancient Silk Road. Here you can admire tall porches, spacious stables, exquisite guest rooms and warehouses for storing goods and grains.

Sultanhani Caravanserai

 Then we’ll continue driving to the airport in Cappadocia where you will take flight to Istanbul. Be met and transferred to the hotel on arrival.

Day 9

After breakfast, please check out the hotel before 12:00. Your driver will take you to the airport and see you off there.

9-Day Historical and Cultural Discovery in Turkey

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Istanbul Historical & Heritage Tours Itinerary (2026 Guide) – What You'll See & Do

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Istanbul