Highlights of Turkey – 7 Days
Discover the Oldest Monumental Ritual Sites on Earth
From the breathtaking landscapes of Cappadocia to the vibrant delights of Istanbul, the ancient grandeur of Ephesus, and the natural wonders of Pamukkale, this thoughtfully curated itinerary offers a rich and rewarding travel experience. Designed for travelers who value comfort, sophistication, culture, and authenticity, this journey allows you to explore Turkey with complete peace of mind. Enjoy fully guided private tours, seamless and comfortable transfers, and the expertise of exceptional local guides who bring each destination to life. Every detail of your itinerary is carefully coordinated to provide effortless travel throughout your journey.
Per Person
€2499
Tour Highlights
- Seven days covering Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale
- Six nights in boutique and cave hotels with breakfast
- Private Bosphorus cruise and a sunset over the Old City
- Sunrise hot air balloon option over the Cappadocia valleys
- Library of Celsus, Terrace Houses and the House of the Virgin Mary
- The white travertine terraces of Pamukkale and ancient Hierapolis
ITINERARY
What You'll Experience
Airport transfer to your hotel in Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu. The evening is free — your guide leaves a short walk of the immediate neighbourhood and a list of restaurants that do not need a booking.
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Basilica Cistern in the morning, with skip-the-line entry at each. Lunch in Sultanahmet, then the Grand Bazaar in the afternoon with free time to browse.
Dolmabahçe Palace, the Spice Bazaar and a private Bosphorus cruise past Ortaköy and the Maiden's Tower. Late afternoon transfer to the airport and an evening flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir. Check-in at your cave hotel in Göreme.
Uçhisar Castle for the panorama, then the Göreme Open Air Museum and its frescoed rock churches. Lunch at Avanos on the Kızılırmak with a pottery workshop, then Paşabağ and Devrent Valley.
Optional sunrise balloon flight. After breakfast, Kaymaklı underground city — eight levels cut through the rock — then the Love and Pigeon Valley viewpoints. Afternoon flight to İzmir and transfer to your hotel in Selçuk or Kuşadası.
The Magnesia Gate, the marble street, the Library of Celsus and the 25,000-seat Great Theatre. Then the Terrace Houses, the House of the Virgin Mary on Mount Koressos, and the single remaining column of the Temple of Artemis.
Drive to Pamukkale for the white travertine terraces, then Hierapolis above them — the theatre, the necropolis and the Temple of Apollo. Optional swim in Cleopatra's Antique Pool. Evening flight from Denizli to Istanbul and hotel drop-off.
Hotel drop-off in Istanbul: 21:00
Tour Overview
This is the itinerary that covers Turkey's four essential regions without a wasted day. Istanbul for the imperial monuments, Cappadocia for the geology and the early Christian rock churches, Ephesus for the classical city at its most complete, and Pamukkale for the fault line that produced both a Roman spa town and a white hillside.
Domestic flights replace the long drives — Istanbul to Cappadocia, Cappadocia to İzmir, Denizli back to Istanbul — so each region gets full days rather than half days either side of a bus. The hotels are chosen for position: a cave room in Göreme, a courtyard hotel in Selçuk.
The tour suits first-time visitors with a week, and travellers who want the whole country in one booking rather than assembling it from separate day tours. It is fully private: the vehicle and the guide are yours throughout.
Good to Know
- Six nights of accommodation with breakfast are included at boutique and cave hotels
- Three domestic flights are included; times are confirmed a few days before travel
- The hot air balloon flight on day five is optional and booked separately (approximately €180 per person)
- Total walking is moderate: 2–3 km per day on uneven ground at Göreme, Ephesus and Hierapolis
- Topkapı Palace can be added to day two on request; it is closed on Tuesdays
- Passport or ID is required for all domestic flights — carry it with you
What's Included
- Licensed English-speaking guide for all seven days
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver in each region
- Three domestic flights between Istanbul, Cappadocia, İzmir and Denizli
- Six nights in boutique and cave hotels with breakfast
- All airport and hotel transfers
- All museum and site entrance tickets, skip-the-line
- Lunches on days two to seven
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
What's Not Included
- International flights to and from Istanbul
- Hot air balloon flight (approximately €180 per person)
- Dinners and drinks
- Cleopatra's Antique Pool entry (approximately €12 per person)
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
When To Travel
April to June and September to October are the best months for this route: 16–26°C across all four regions, dry ground at Ephesus and Pamukkale, and the highest chance of Cappadocia balloons launching. July and August are hot — 33–38°C inland — and the itinerary then starts earlier each morning and keeps the middle of the day indoors. November to March is quiet and cool at 6–15°C; Cappadocia may see snow, and balloon flights are grounded more often. Avoid the Kurban Bayramı week, when domestic flights and hotels fill months in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hotels do we stay in?
Four: two nights in Istanbul, two in a cave hotel in Göreme, one in Selçuk or Kuşadası, and the final night back in Istanbul. All six nights are included with breakfast.
How much of the week is spent travelling?
Three short flights — about 90 minutes each — and no long drives. Every day on the ground is a full day at the sites rather than a transfer day.
Is the balloon flight included?
No. It is optional, costs around 180 EUR per person, and depends on weather — balloons are grounded roughly one morning in five. We book it for day five and confirm the evening before.
Can the order of the regions be changed?
Yes, subject to flight schedules. Some guests prefer Cappadocia last so the week ends with the balloons. Tell us your dates at booking and we build the sequence around the available flights.
Is seven days enough for all four regions?
It covers the essentials of each without rushing. Groups that want more time in Cappadocia or on the Aegean coast add a night — the itinerary then becomes eight or nine days at a small supplement.
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