11-day Turkey tour: Cappadocia, Ephesus & Turkish Riviera
Two hot air balloon rides, underground cities, and the ruins of three ancient civilizations in a single trip
An 11-day guided tour of Turkey starting in Cappadocia and moving through Ephesus, Pamukkale, and the Turkish Riviera, with stops at the Temple of Artemis, Kaymakli Underground City, and Oludeniz Lagoon. The itinerary includes two hot air balloon rides, a traditional Turkish bath, a cooking class and dinner in a local home, and boat cruises through Lycian tombs and turquoise waters. All entry fees, ground and water transport, breakfasts, dinners, and a live guide in English are included. Airfare is optional depending on your membership tier.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Arrive and wine tasting in Goreme
- Arrive in Goreme via Kayseri or Nevşehir
- Wine tasting at a local wine house
Day 2: Hot air balloon and Cappadocia tour
- Early morning hot air balloon ride
- Tour Pasabagi and Devrent rock formations
- Visit pottery workshop in Avanos
- Explore Goreme Open Air Museum
- Visit Love Valley and Uchisar Castle
- Experience traditional Turkish bath and massage
Day 3: Underground city and folkloric night show
- Visit Esentepe viewpoint
- Tour underground city of Derinkuyu
- Visit Selime Monastery
- View Ihlara Valley and hike inside
- Visit Pigeon Valley and onyx workshop
- Attend folkloric night show with traditional music
Day 4: Flight to Kusadasi and cooking class
- Fly from Goreme to Kusadasi via Izmir
- Guided tour of Kusadasi city walls and castle
- Swim in Kusadasi
- Watch traditional cooking and have dinner at native's home
Day 5: Visit House of Virgin Mary and Ephesus
- Visit House of Virgin Mary shrine
- Tour archaeological site of Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Artemis
- Visit Basilica of Saint John
- Visit Isa Bey Mosque
Day 6: Pamukkale and Cleopatra Pools
- Travel to Pamukkale by land
- Guided tour of Hierapolis ancient city
- Visit natural site of Pamukkale
- Swim in Cleopatra Pools
Day 7: Pamukkale balloon and Bodrum tour
- Hot air balloon ride over Pamukkale
- Travel to Bodrum by land
- Lunch by the beach in Bodrum
- Guided tour of Bodrum castle, theatre, and bazaar
- Visit Gumusluk port and explore restaurants
- Stroll waterfront at Turkbuku
- Guided tour of Yalikavak port
- Evening at Gumbet Barlar Sokagi party street
Day 8: Marmaris, Dalyan river cruise and Fethiye
- Visit marina in Marmaris
- River cruise in Dalyan past Lycian tombs
- Bath in therapeutic mud pool
- Visit Tomb of Amyntas
- Guided tour of Fethiye old town
- Travel to Oludeniz
Day 9: Oludeniz lagoon and Kemer tour
- Swim in Oludeniz turquoise waters
- Visit Oludeniz Lagoon viewpoint
- Swim at Kaputas Beach
- Guided tour of Kemer port area
- Visit upper and lower Duden Waterfalls
- Drive past Eski Lara Yolu Moon Lara shoreline
Day 10: Daytrip to Aspendos, Side and Perge
- Visit Aspendos archaeological theater
- Guided tour of Side village and theater
- Visit ancient city of Perge
- Evening guided tour of Antalya old town
Day 11: Tour ends with airport transfer
- Transfer to Antalya airport
The experience
The tour opens in Cappadocia, where you arrive in Goreme and spend the evening at a wine cellar tasting local vintages. The next morning starts before dawn with a hot air balloon ride over the cave dwellings and surreal rock formations (Pasabagi, Devrent, Love Valley) followed by a pottery workshop in Avanos, the Goreme Open Air Museum, and Uchisar Castle. That evening you're taken to a traditional hammam for a Turkish bath and massage with tea. The third day moves deeper into the region: Derinkuyu's underground city carved into the stone, Selime Monastery, a hike through Ihlara Valley, and a folkloric night show with traditional music and dance.
A flight through Izmir brings you to Kusadasi on the Aegean coast. Here you tour the city walls and castle, swim in the sea, and spend an evening in a native Turkish home watching traditional food preparation before sitting down to dinner together. The next day is built around Ephesus (one of the largest Roman archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean), but begins at the House of Virgin Mary, a stone structure where Mary is believed to have lived after being brought there by Saint John. From Ephesus you move to the Temple of Artemis, once counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, then the Basilica of Saint John and the Isa Bey Mosque. You then travel overland to Pamukkale, where a second hot air balloon ride lifts you over the travertine limestone terraces before you bathe in the Cleopatra Pools, natural hot springs where people have soaked for thousands of years.
The Bodrum Peninsula leg (April through October) takes you through the castle and Theatre of Halicarnassus, then to the small port of Gumusluk for dinner and an evening stroll, followed by the waterfront bars of Turkbuku and the jet-set scene in Yalikavak. From there you travel to Oludeniz, swimming in the turquoise lagoon and visiting Kaputas Beach, then move inland to Kemer and the upper and lower sections of Duden Waterfall before reaching Antalya. Your final full day is a daytrip to three archaeological sites: the theater at Aspendos, the coastal village of Side with its own ancient theater, and Perge. (November through March, the southern coast is replaced with privately guided tours in Istanbul, including the Suleymaniye Mosque, Spice Bazaar, a full Bosphorus boat tour, Pierre Loti Hill, and the Grand Bazaar.) Transportation to Antalya airport is arranged on your final morning.
What’s included
- Breakfasts and dinners each day.
- all entry fees to Cappadocia's rock formations and museums, Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, Pamukkale's travertine pools, and all other archaeological sites.
- two hot air balloon rides.
- a traditional Turkish bath with massage.
- a cooking class and dinner in a local home.
- boat cruises through Lycian tombs and along the Turkish Riviera.
- all ground and water transportation.
- a live guide in English.
- private vehicles for the group.
- and an on-call concierge for the duration of the tour.
Options for this experience
2 optionsYou pick the guide language when booking.
Before you book
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Operated by CharlieTheTraveler
Is this one for you?Choose this 11-day tour if you want to move through multiple regions (Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale, and the Riviera) with a guide driving between sites on a fixed schedule. Book a self-guided trip instead if you prefer to stay longer in one location or set your own pace.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Turkish.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start.
What's included in the 11-day tour price?
Breakfasts and dinners, one night of lodging, all entry fees to archaeological sites and attractions, all ground and water transportation, escort drivers, a live guide in English, and all activities listed in the itinerary are included. International airfare is optional and available for VIP members. Ask about membership details when booking.
Can I do the hot air balloon rides if I'm traveling with young children?
Children under 7 years old are not permitted on the hot air balloons. Older children can participate in both rides: one over Cappadocia's cave dwellings and one over Pamukkale's travertine terraces.
What happens to the itinerary from November through March?
The Bodrum Peninsula and southern Turkish Riviera destinations are replaced with privately guided tours in Istanbul during winter months. You'll visit the Suleymaniye Mosque, Spice Bazaar, take a full Bosphorus boat tour, see Pierre Loti Hill via cable car, and explore the Grand Bazaar and other major sites. The rest of the itinerary (Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale) remains the same.
Is paragliding over Oludeniz Lagoon included in the tour?
Paragliding over Oludeniz Lagoon from Mount Babadag is not included but is available as an optional add-on. If you're interested, let the tour operator know when booking. You'd be picked up at 8:00am instead of the standard time so the activity fits before the boat tour.
Do I need a visa to enter Turkey?
Visa requirements depend on your citizenship. Some nationalities need a visa. Others do not. Check your country's entry requirements with Turkish immigration before booking, as visa costs are not covered by the tour.
What's the physical fitness level needed for this tour?
You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The itinerary includes hiking in Ihlara Valley, walking through archaeological sites, and various excursions, though the pace is guided and you can rest as needed.
11-day Turkey tour: Cappadocia, Ephesus & Turkish Riviera
11d · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 1,604.23 per person
5.003 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider