15 Days – Tour of Turkey

Featuring some of each destination’s must-see highlights, this trip is ready to book now with the itinerary and services indicated. Please see full details below.

Quicklinks: Detailed Itinerary, Hotels, Prices & Dates

Overview

Brief Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrive Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 2 – Old City Tour. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 3 – Princes’ Islands Tour. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 4 – Bosphorus Tour. Free afternoon. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 5 – Fly to Cappadocia. Cappadocia Tour 1. Overnight Cappadocia.
Day 6 – Cappadocia Tour 2. Overnight Cappadocia.
Day 7 – Free day in Cappadocia (or optional extra tour of Cappadocia). Overnight Cappadocia.
Day 8 – Fly to Izmir. Overnight Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Day 9 – Ephesus Tour. Overnight Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Day 10 – Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour. Overnight Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Day 11 – Free day in Kusadasi (or optional extra tour of Pergamon). Overnight Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Day 12 – Fly to Antalya. Free Afternoon. Overnight Antalya.
Day 13 – Antalya Free Day (or optional extra tour of Aspendos, Perge, Antalya Museum & City). Overnight Antalya.
Day 14 – Fly to Istanbul. Free Afternoon. Overnight Istanbul.
Day 15 – Transfer to Airport for departure.

Detailed Itinerary:

All Turkey tours depart daily and are customizable where viable. Or use our suggested itinerary below: 

Istanbul
Transfer from the airport to your hotel. Day at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul (B)
Full Day Old City Tour:
Pick up from your hotel to visit Topkapi Palace, with royal treasury and elegant four courts. After lunch, proceed to the Hagia Sophia, a great Byzantine architectural masterpiece, whose interior is resplendent with golden mosaics. Then admire the delicate design and Iznik tiles of the Blue Mosque. Explore the ancient Roman Hippodrome with Egyptian Obelisk and Serpentine Column. Finally, stop off at the dazzling Grand Bazaar with over 4000 shops. Drop off to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul (B)
Full Day Princes’ Island Tour:
Pick up at the hotel. Cruise by public ferry or private Zoe Yacht to one of the Princes’ Islands, Buyukada (Big Island), which served as a place of exile for disgraced princes in days gone by. Today it is a quiet sea front town and summer holiday escape from the city. Upon arrival to the island, you can see the lavish Ottoman mansions and other beautiful Victorian summer villas. There are colorful fruit trees, beautiful gardens, wooded areas and exotic flowers to be seen everywhere. Enjoy some free time for lunch in a cozy sea-side fish restaurant, relax in a cafe looking back at the domes and minarets among skyscrapers of modern Istanbul’s skyline, take a stroll in the village or enjoy a horse-drawn carriage tour(not included) – one of the islands only means of transport, for motor-vehicles are strictly prohibited. This a perfect day for relaxing and enjoying one of Istanbul’s residents’ favorite summer retreats. Return cruise and drop off to hotel. Overnight Istanbul.

(Optional: Zoe Yacht upgrade available for a private cruise in comfort).

Istanbul (B)
Full Day Bosphorus & Two Continents Tour:
Pick up from your hotel to visit the bustling Spice Market – a colorful bazaar heaped with various sweets and spices. Then you’ll take a relaxing Bosphorus Cruise (by public ferry or by private Zoe Yacht) between the continents of Europe and Asia – gliding past Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, ornate wooden Ottoman mansions and mosques, Rumeli Fortress and the Bosphorus Bridge. In the afternoon, visit the beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace following by a scenic stop on Camlica Hill for panoramic views over Istanbul. Drop off to hotel. Overnight Istanbul.

(Optional: Bosphorus Tour by Zoe Yacht upgrade available).

Cappadocia (L)
Full Day Cappadocia Tour:
Airport transfer and fly to Cappadocia. Transfer to the tour. Start with a gentle walk through orchards, unusual volcanic rock formations and rock-cut houses at Red & Rose Valley. Visit the old Christian Village of Cavusin, followed by lunch and then an excursion to Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon, visit Kaymakli Underground City, which hid local Christians from Arab invaders, Ortahisar Castle and Mustafapasa Greek village. Drop off to hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia (B, L)
Full Day Cappadocia Tour:
Pick up from your hotel after breakfast to explore Devrent and Monk’s Valley, to see the extraordinary mushroom-shaped rock pinnacles or ‘fairy chimneys’. Continue on to the small village of Avanos, famous for clay pottery design. After lunch, proceed to the Goreme Open Air Museum, featuring the most impressive rock-carved churches and Byzantine frescoes in all Cappadocia. Finally enjoy a view of the moonscape valleys from the rock-perched natural Citadel at Uchisar. Drop off to hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.

(Optional Add-On: Hot-Air Cappadocia Ballooning over the beautiful valleys).

Cappadocia (B)
Free day in Cappadocia (or optional extra tour of Cappadocia). Overnight in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia-Kusadasi (B)
Airport transfer. Fly to Izmir via Istanbul (or direct flight if available). Airport transfer. Free afternoon. Overnight Kusadasi/Selcuk.

Kusadasi (B, L)
Full Day Ephesus Tour:
Pick up from your hotel to visit Ephesus. Begin the tour at the House of Virgin Mary, where she spent her final years. Explore the marble white ancient city of Ephesus, with spectacular monuments, such as the Library of Celsus, Agora, Odeon, Trajan Fountain, Domitianus Temple, Theater and Roman Latrines. After lunch, visit the Isabey Mosque and the Temple of Artemis. Drop off to hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi/Selcuk.

Kusadasi (B, L)
Pamukkale & Hieropolis Tour
Pick up at your hotel. Drive to Pamukkale or ‘Cotton Castle’ (approx. 2.5 hours drive each way), famous for the healing properties of its thermal mineral baths and beautiful cascading snow-white terraced cliff side basins and waterfalls. After lunch, visit the ancient Roman city ruins of Hierapolis. See the magnificently preserved Necropolis, Avenue of Tombs, Gates, Thermal Baths, Devil’s Hole and the Masterpiece Theater. Return drive and drop off to hotel. Overnight Kusadasi/Selcuk.

Kusadasi (B)
Free day to relax (or optional extra tour of Pergamon). Overnight Kusadasi/Selcuk.

Kusadasi – Antalya (B)
Antalya – Free afternoon
Transfer to Izmir airport and fly to Antalya. Transfer to your hotel. Free afternoon at your leisure to relax in Antalya. Overnight in Antalya.

Antalya (B)
Antalya – Free day
(or Extra Trip Option: Aspendos, Perge, Antalya Museum & City Tour)’
Free day at your leisure at your leisure in Antalya, or please ask for an extra tour.
Overnight in Antalya.

Antalya-Istanbul (B)
Istanbul – Free afternoon
Transfer to Antalya Airport. Fly back to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at your leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul (B)
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Departure.

Hotels

Great Choice of Hotels
When you email us to receive a trip quote, you’ll receive a suggested travel program with a choice of 3 hotels from our selection of 4-5 star, stylish boutique, special class or luxury hotels. All our tour packages are complemented with conveniently-located and established properties or the best available for rural regions. So rest assured that you will be able to retire in comfort each evening, and within easy reach of the center for exploring.

For more information, please see some of our boutique Turkey hotels here.

Prices & Dates:

What’s Included:

Not Included:

Extra Options/Upgrades:

Schedule:

Departure dates guaranteed every day all year around for this tour.

Change This Trip:

We are happy to make some minor changes provided those are compatible and acceptable with the smooth operation of the tour packages offered.

Awards & Testimonials:

TripAdvisor has awarded Byzas Tours the Certificate of Excellence with 5 stars. Please read what previous guests have said about us on their website.

Information & Reservations:

Please email us your dates of travel and number of travelers for more information and reservations. We aim to respond to all requests within 1 business day. All requests welcome.

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“It’s a pleasure to recommend our friends to you as we had such a wonderful trip…well paced, organized and executed”
Barbara.R, USA

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