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Overview
- Duration:8 days 7 nights
- Tour Type:Multi-Day Tour, Private Tour
- Language:English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish
This 8 Days, Anatolia tour is designed for groups who want to see “the big picture” of Turkey in a single, carefully structured itinerary.
You begin in Istanbul, where the story of the country unfolds through world-famous sites like Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.
Instead of rushing, your first day uses these landmarks to give you a clear, coherent sense of how empires and faith have shaped the city over centuries.
From there, the route moves west to the Dardanelles, where Gallipoli and Çanakkale mark the point where modern history and ancient legend meet. You visit legendary Troy and then follow the Aegean coastline to Pergamon’s Asklepion and on to Kuşadası, your base for exploring Ephesus. This classical chapter is one of the strongest parts of the tour: libraries, temples, theatres and basilicas that still feel surprisingly alive when your guide brings them to life.
Pamukkale shifts the mood to natural spectacle, with gleaming white terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis perched above the hot springs.
Konya adds a spiritual dimension through the world of Mevlana Rumi and the whirling dervishes, while Cappadocia completes the visual story with its sculpted valleys, cave dwellings and rock churches.
An optional balloon flight at sunrise can turn an already memorable leg into something unforgettable.
The journey closes in Ankara, home to Atatürk’s Mausoleum and a modern national story that balances everything you’ve seen so far - from ancient city - states to empires and republic. By the time you return to Istanbul, the country feels less like a list of famous names and more like a connected landscape of history, culture and living tradition. Throughout, full-board comfort and a professional guide keep the logistics smooth, so your group can focus on the experience itself.
Meal Plan:
Breakfast (B): Hotel
Lunch (L): Set menus at local restaurants
Dinner (D): Hotel or local restaurant
Hotels:
Istanbul: 4* Hotel
Çanakkale: 4* Hotel
Kuşadası: 4* Hotel
Pamukkale: 4* Hotel
Cappadocia: 4* Hotel
Ankara : 4* Hotel
You begin in Istanbul, where the story of the country unfolds through world-famous sites like Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.
Instead of rushing, your first day uses these landmarks to give you a clear, coherent sense of how empires and faith have shaped the city over centuries.
From there, the route moves west to the Dardanelles, where Gallipoli and Çanakkale mark the point where modern history and ancient legend meet. You visit legendary Troy and then follow the Aegean coastline to Pergamon’s Asklepion and on to Kuşadası, your base for exploring Ephesus. This classical chapter is one of the strongest parts of the tour: libraries, temples, theatres and basilicas that still feel surprisingly alive when your guide brings them to life.
Pamukkale shifts the mood to natural spectacle, with gleaming white terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis perched above the hot springs.
Konya adds a spiritual dimension through the world of Mevlana Rumi and the whirling dervishes, while Cappadocia completes the visual story with its sculpted valleys, cave dwellings and rock churches.
An optional balloon flight at sunrise can turn an already memorable leg into something unforgettable.
The journey closes in Ankara, home to Atatürk’s Mausoleum and a modern national story that balances everything you’ve seen so far - from ancient city - states to empires and republic. By the time you return to Istanbul, the country feels less like a list of famous names and more like a connected landscape of history, culture and living tradition. Throughout, full-board comfort and a professional guide keep the logistics smooth, so your group can focus on the experience itself.
Meal Plan:
Breakfast (B): Hotel
Lunch (L): Set menus at local restaurants
Dinner (D): Hotel or local restaurant
Hotels:
Istanbul: 4* Hotel
Çanakkale: 4* Hotel
Kuşadası: 4* Hotel
Pamukkale: 4* Hotel
Cappadocia: 4* Hotel
Ankara : 4* Hotel
Highlights
- Istanbul’s essential monuments including Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace
- Gallipoli/Çanakkale region and the legendary site of ancient Troy
- Pergamon’s Asklepion, one of the ancient world’s most important healing centres
- Ephesus and the Basilica of St. John, plus the House of Virgin Mary near Selçuk
- Pamukkale’s white travertine terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis
- Konya’s Mevlana Museum and the heritage of the whirling dervishes
- Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, rock churches and cave architecture
- Optional hot air-balloon experience over the valleys of Cappadocia
- Ankara and Atatürk’s Mausoleum for a modern national chapter
- Comfortable 4–5* hotels and a full-board group concept
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival & Istanbul Old City (D)
Arrival at Istanbul Airport, meet your guide and start directly with the key monuments of the Old City. This creates a strong first impression and makes good use of your arrival day.
Planned visits
- Hagia Sophia – a masterpiece of world architecture and faith
- Byzantine Hippodrome – ancient chariot-racing arena and monuments
- Blue Mosque – classic Ottoman mosque with its famous tiles and courtyards
- Topkapi Palace – former residence of the Ottoman sultans
Dinner is served either at the hotel or a local restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 – Istanbul → Gallipoli → Troy → Çanakkale (B, L, D)
After breakfast and check-out, you leave Istanbul and head toward the Dardanelles and the Aegean side of the Marmara region.
Today’s flow
- Drive from Istanbul to the Gallipoli / Çanakkale area
- Lunch in a local restaurant during the transfer
- Continue to Troy, the legendary city known from Homer’s epics
- Time to explore the archaeological remains and learn about the city’s layers
- Check in to your Çanakkale hotel
- Free time to relax
- Dinner and overnight in Çanakkale
Day 3 – Çanakkale → Pergamon → Kuşadası (B, L, D)
After breakfast, you travel down the Aegean coast to one of the great healing centres of the ancient world before continuing to your coastal base in Kuşadası.
Today’s flow
- Depart Çanakkale toward Pergamon
- Visit Asklepion – ancient medical complex dedicated to Asklepios, god of healing
- Learn about therapies, rituals and the early history of mental health treatment
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Continue drive to Kuşadası
- Check in to your hotel
- Dinner and overnight in Kuşadası
Day 4 – Kuşadası → Ephesus → House of Virgin Mary → Pamukkale (B, L, D)
A big highlight day combining one of the world’s finest archaeological sites with spiritual stops and a dramatic natural finale in Pamukkale.
Planned visits
- Drive to Selçuk
- Ephesus Ancient City
- Library of Celsus
- Temple of Hadrian
- Fountain of Trajan
- Theatre and main streets
- Basilica of St. John – linked to the Evangelist’s life in the region
- House of Virgin Mary – believed to be her final residence, declared sacred in 1961
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Afternoon drive to Pamukkale (Cotton Castle)
- Visit Hierapolis ruins: Necropolis, Roman baths, basilica and theatre
- View and walk by the white travertine terraces (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Check in to thermal hotel; enjoy the hotel’s hot spring facilities (bring swimwear)
- Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale
Day 5 – Pamukkale → Konya → Cappadocia (B, L, D)
After breakfast, you cross the Anatolian heartland toward Konya and the mystical world of Rumi before continuing to Cappadocia.
Today’s flow
- Depart Pamukkale for Konya
- Lunch in Konya
- Visit Mevlana Museum, home of the whirling dervish tradition
- Continue to Cappadocia
- Visit one of Cappadocia’s underground cities
- Built by early Christians as refuges and linked through underground tunnels
- Check in to your cave/boutique hotel
- Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia
Day 6 – Cappadocia Highlights (B, L, D)
Optional hot-air balloon before sunrise (if you choose), followed by a day exploring Cappadocia’s unique rock formations and heritage.
Optional
-
Early-morning hot air balloon ride over the valleys (extra cost, weather permitting)
Planned visits
- Göreme Open-Air Museum – rock-cut churches and early Christian frescoes
- Uçhisar Hill – panoramic view over the region
- Panoramic stops in surrounding valleys and villages
- Lunch in a local restaurant
- Visit to a pottery workshop – see traditional techniques, with drinks served
- Visit to a Turkish carpet factory / showroom – introduction to weaving traditions
- Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia
Day 7 – Cappadocia → Ankara (B, L, D)
After breakfast, you continue north to Turkey’s capital for a modern historical chapter.
Today’s flow
- Early departure from Cappadocia
- Drive to Ankara
- Lunch in Ankara
- Visit Atatürk Mausoleum (Anıtkabir) – resting place of the founder of the Republic of Türkiye
- Check in to your Ankara hotel
- Dinner and overnight in Ankara
Day 8 – Ankara → Istanbul (B, L)
Your last day brings you back to Istanbul, leaving room for some final shopping and goodbyes.
Today’s flow
- Early breakfast at the hotel
- Drive from Ankara back to Istanbul
- Lunch in a local restaurant upon arrival
- Transfer to the airport for your onward flight
Tour maps
Includes/Excludes
- Professional tour guide (any language on request)
- All transportation for the itinerary in an air-conditioned vehicle
- 7 Nights Hotel accommodation
- Breakfast (B) at the hotels
- Parking fees and local taxes
- Tips for local restaurants
- All Museum Ticket and Entrance fees (Total 300 $ - Per Person)
- Lunch (L) with set menus at local restaurants (7 Days Lunch - Total 140 $ - Per Person)
- Dinner (D) at hotels or local restaurants (7 Days Dinner - Total 170 $ - Per Person)
- Gratuities for guide and driver
- Personal expenses (extra drinks, minibar, shopping, etc.)
- All drinks (lunch and dinner)
- Visa expenses if required for your nationality
- Porterage services at airports and hotels
- Optional tours and activities (including hot air balloon in Cappadocia)
Cancellation policy
You can cancel up to 120 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
Is this tour suitable for first-time visitors to Turkey?
Yes. This program is designed as a classic Anatolia circuit that covers many of Turkey’s most famous regions: Istanbul, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara. It’s ideal for first-time visitors who want a broad overview in a single trip.
How busy is the itinerary and how much time is spent on the coach?
This is a full and active tour with several intercity drives, especially on days connecting Çanakkale–Kuşadası, Kuşadası–Pamukkale–Cappadocia and Cappadocia–Ankara–Istanbul. However, the long distances are broken up by sightseeing stops, lunch breaks and comfort stops, and the route has been planned specifically with group comfort in mind.
What meals are included during the tour?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included each day according to the program (B, L, D). Breakfast is taken at the hotels, lunches are set menus at local restaurants, and dinners are served either at the hotel or at selected local restaurants. One soft drink is included with each lunch and dinner.
What is included in the tour price and what is not?
Included: professional tour guide (any language on request), all transportation as per itinerary, hotel accommodation, daily breakfast–lunch–dinner, parking fees, local taxes and tips for local restaurants.
Not included: gratuities for the guide and driver, personal expenses (such as extra drinks, minibar, laundry and shopping), visa costs if required for your nationality, porterage at airports and hotels, and any optional tours such as the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia.
Not included: gratuities for the guide and driver, personal expenses (such as extra drinks, minibar, laundry and shopping), visa costs if required for your nationality, porterage at airports and hotels, and any optional tours such as the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia.
Is the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia included in the price?
No. The hot air balloon experience is optional and not part of the standard package. It can usually be arranged locally, subject to weather conditions and availability, at an additional cost.
Is this tour suitable for children and older travellers?
The tour is suitable for families and older guests who are comfortable with some walking at archaeological sites and a number of long coach journeys. There are reduced child prices, but parents should keep in mind that days can be quite full and active, especially around major sites like Ephesus and Pamukkale.
What kind of clothing and footwear do you recommend?
Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as many sites have uneven stone or ancient steps. We also recommend layered clothing to adapt to changing temperatures between coastal, inland and highland regions, and modest dress for mosque and religious site visits.
from$1,400.00 /person
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