We have carefully planned out each day to give you the best possible experience.
Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul, followed by a meet & greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Sultanahmet & Old Istanbul
Meet at the hotel reception and begin exploring the historic heart of Istanbul.
Visit Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Discover its impressive collections of priceless jewels, crystal, silver, porcelain, royal robes, and sacred relics, with Harem entrance included.
Continue to the magnificent Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I and renowned for its six minarets and beautiful Iznik tiles.
After a lunch break, visit the ancient Hippodrome, featuring the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and German Fountain of Wilhelm II.
Walk through the charming back streets of Old Istanbul and explore the fascinating Basilica Cistern.
At the end of the tour, enjoy optional free time at the Grand Bazaar (except Sundays).
If your hotel is located in the Old City area, the tour may be conducted as a walking tour. The order of visits may be reversed.
Bosphorus Cruise & Beylerbeyi
Meet at the hotel reception and begin your day exploring Istanbul’s highlights on both sides of the Bosphorus.
Visit the magnificent Hagia Sophia, built during the reign of Emperor Justinian, and admire its impressive mosaics and विशाल central dome.
Continue to the colorful Egyptian Spice Market on the Golden Horn before boarding a cruise along the Bosphorus, the iconic waterway separating Europe and Asia.
During the cruise, pass by Rumeli Fortress, built by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1452 in preparation for the conquest of Constantinople.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then cross the Bosphorus Bridge to the Asian side and visit Beylerbeyi Palace, the former summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans.
Finish the day at Camlica Hill, offering magnificent panoramic views over Istanbul and the Bosphorus.
Overnight in Istanbul.
The order of visits may be reversed.
The Bosphorus cruise is operated by public boat unless otherwise arranged. A private boat option is available upon request.
Istanbul – Cappadocia
Pick-up from your hotel 3 hours before your flight departure and transfer to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, meet your driver just outside the arrivals gate with a sign bearing your name. Transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia.
Cappadocia – Red Tour
Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride: Early morning pick-up from your hotel around 04:00–05:00, depending on the season, and transfer to the balloon take-off site. Enjoy a spectacular sunrise flight over Cappadocia. After the flight, receive your flight certificate and return to your hotel around 07:00–08:00.
After some time to refresh and relax, meet at the hotel reception and begin your Cappadocia tour.
Discover the fascinating lunar landscape of Devrent Valley, known for its extraordinary rock formations. Continue to Avanos, a historic center of pottery and terracotta craftsmanship dating back thousands of years, and enjoy a traditional pottery demonstration.
In the afternoon, walk through Pasabag, home to some of Cappadocia's most impressive fairy chimneys. Continue to the famous Zelve Open Air Museum, where you can admire rock-cut churches decorated with Byzantine frescoes and paintings.
The tour continues to Uchisar Rock Castle, where you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views over the valleys of Cappadocia.
Cappadocia – Green Tour
Visit Kaymakli Underground City, one of the largest and most fascinating underground settlements in Cappadocia, featuring a maze of tunnels and rooms extending several levels beneath the ground.
Continue to the magnificent Ihlara Valley, where you will enjoy approximately a one-hour walk alongside the Melendiz River, surrounded by dramatic cliffs, rock-cut churches and ancient dwellings.
After lunch, visit Selime Monastery, an impressive rock-cut complex and one of the largest religious structures in Cappadocia, featuring a cathedral-sized church carved directly into volcanic tuff.
On the way back, stop at Pigeon Valley to admire its unique rock formations and take memorable photographs.
The final stop is a local onyx workshop, where you can see a demonstration of traditional stone carving and shaping.
Cappadocia – Konya – Antalya
Meet at the hotel reception and depart for Konya.
En route, visit Sultanhanı Caravanserai, a historic roadside inn where travelers once rested during their journeys along the legendary Silk Road. These caravanserais played an important role in facilitating trade, communication and travel across Asia, North Africa and Southeastern Europe.
In Konya, visit the Mevlana Museum, dedicated to Mevlana Jalal al-Din Rumi, the renowned Sufi mystic and spiritual figure associated with the Whirling Dervishes.
Antalya – Kaş
Meet at the hotel reception and begin your journey along the Mediterranean coast.
Visit the ancient cities of Perge and Aspendos, followed by Kurşunlu Waterfalls.
Continue to Myra, famous for its impressive Lycian rock-cut tombs, and visit the Church of St. Nicholas, associated with the historical figure of Santa Claus.
Continue along the scenic Mediterranean coast to the ancient city of Phaselis, known for its natural harbors, ancient harbor road, Roman theatre and aqueducts.
Kaş
Enjoy a relaxing free day in Kaş.
For those wishing to explore more of the Mediterranean coast, an optional daily boat cruise to Kekova and the Sunken City can be arranged, with opportunities to see Lycian rock tombs and enjoy the crystal-clear waters.
Kaş – Fethiye
Meet at the hotel reception and depart for Fethiye.
Visit Xanthos, the ancient capital of Lycia, known for its Roman theatre and impressive Lycian pillar tombs.
Continue to Patara, famous for its magnificent 17-kilometre-long white sandy beach and ancient ruins partially buried among the dunes. Patara is also traditionally associated with St. Nicholas, the 4th-century Byzantine bishop later known as Santa Claus.
Fethiye – Tlos – Saklıkent – Dalyan
Meet at the hotel reception and travel into the mountains.
Visit the ancient city of Tlos, one of the important cities of ancient Lycia, featuring impressive Lycian rock tombs, a ruined fortress and remains from the Roman period, including a Roman bath. The site also features a relief depicting Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus.
Continue to Saklıkent Gorge, one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the region. Depending on weather and time, enjoy a walk along the gorge or visit Ölüdeniz, famous for its turquoise waters and stunning beach, or Kayaköy, an atmospheric abandoned Greek village.
Dalyan
Meet at the hotel reception and enjoy a relaxing day in the charming riverside town of Dalyan.
Take a scenic riverboat tour, with the opportunity to experience the thermal waters and a traditional mud bath.
Visit the ancient city of Caunos, then relax on İztuzu Beach, an important nesting ground for the endangered Caretta Caretta sea turtles.
Dalyan – Pamukkale
Meet at the hotel reception and depart for Pamukkale.
En route, visit the ancient city of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. Explore its impressive archaeological remains, including ancient theatres, a recently uncovered basilica, stone water channels, Temple A, the agora and monumental fountain.
Continue to Pamukkale to discover its spectacular white travertine terraces and the ancient city of Hierapolis.
Formed by mineral-rich thermal waters flowing over the mountainside, the brilliant white terraces create a surreal landscape resembling snow or cotton. This unique scenery gave Pamukkale its name, meaning “Cotton Castle” in Turkish.
Pamukkale – Aphrodisias – Kuşadası
En route, visit Aphrodisias, one of the most important ancient centers of art and sculpture in the Greek and Roman world. The city was particularly renowned for its distinctive school of sculpture, whose works were admired and distributed throughout the ancient world.
Kuşadası – Ephesus
Meet at the hotel reception and visit the magnificent ancient city of Ephesus.
Walk through the ancient streets and follow in the footsteps of historical figures such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Cicero and the Apostles Paul and John.
Visit the spectacular Terrace Houses (optional, with an additional entrance fee), once home to wealthy Roman families and renowned for their beautifully preserved mosaics and frescoes.
Continue to the House of the Virgin Mary, traditionally believed to be the place where the Virgin Mary spent her final years after being brought to the region by St. John.
Visit St. John’s Church, traditionally associated with the Apostle John and believed to be the place of his burial.
Finally, visit the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Izmir – Istanbul
Pick-up from your hotel 3 hours before your flight departure and transfer to Izmir Airport.
Fly to Istanbul and connect with your international flight.
