Turkey Highlights: Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus 10-Day Tour

Summary

From Istanbul’s domes to Cappadocia’s caves, Turkey’s living history in every step

You’ll step into Istanbul’s living streets, drift along the Bosphorus Strait, walk through ancient cities like Troy and Ephesus, soak your feet in Pamukkale’s warm pools, and explore Cappadocia’s surreal landscapes with a local guide. This 10-day tour brings you face-to-face with Turkey’s layered history—and leaves you carrying little pieces of it home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and transfer in Istanbul

• Meet driver at Istanbul airport
• Transfer to hotel

Day 2 — Old City Istanbul sightseeing

• Visit Hagia Sophia
• Tour Topkapi Palace
• Visit Blue Mosque
• See Hippodrome of Constantinople
• Shop at Grand Bazaar

Day 3 — Bosphorus and Spice Bazaar tour

• Boat tour on Bosphorus Strait
• Shop at Spice Bazaar

Day 4 — Gallipoli WWI battlefields tour

• Visit Gallipoli battlefields
• See Anzac Cove and Lone Pine
• Explore Chunuk Bair and memorials

Day 5 — Troy and Pergamon exploration

• Visit ancient city of Troy
• Tour Pergamon acropolis

Day 6 — Pamukkale and Hierapolis visit

• Tour Pamukkale terraces
• Visit ancient Hierapolis city
• Enjoy thermal waters

Day 7 — Ephesus tour and flight to Cappadocia

• Visit ancient Ephesus city
• See Temple of Artemis
• Tour House of the Virgin Mary
• Fly to Cappadocia
• Transfer to hotel

Day 8 — Cappadocia rock formations tour

• Explore Devrent Valley
• Visit Pasabag Monks Valley
• Tour Avanos pottery town
• Visit Goreme Open-Air Museum
• See Uchisar natural castles

Day 9 — Cappadocia valleys and underground city

• Hike Red and Güllüdere valleys
• Visit Cavusin village
• Drive to Pigeon Valley
• Tour Kaymakli underground city

Day 10 — Konya visit and departure

• See Sultanhani Caravansary
• Visit Mevlana Museum
• Tour Alaaddin Mosque and Karatay Madrasa
• Transfer to airport
• Fly back to Istanbul

Top questions

How many days is this Turkey tour?

This tour lasts 10 days, starting and ending in Istanbul.

Does this tour include domestic flights?

Yes, all necessary domestic flight tickets are included in your package.

Are entrance fees covered?

Yes, entrance fees for all listed attractions are included.

Is hotel pickup provided?

Airport transfers and all intercity transportation are included; hotel pickup is arranged as part of your itinerary.

What cities will I visit on this 10-day Turkey tour?

You’ll visit Istanbul, Gallipoli, Canakkale (Troy), Pergamon, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Pamukkale, Cappadocia, and Konya.

Will there be a local guide throughout?

An English-speaking guide accompanies you for all tours and excursions.

Is lunch or other meals included?

Certain meals are included—check your daily itinerary for details; breakfast is typically provided at hotels.

Can infants or small children join?

Yes—specialized infant seats are available; prams or strollers can be used during tours.

What’s included

Your journey includes private transportation between cities and sites, airport transfers on arrival and departure days, entry fees to places like Hagia Sophia and Ephesus, guided tours with an English-speaking expert throughout Turkey’s highlights from Istanbul to Cappadocia (and everywhere between), plus domestic flights so you don’t have to worry about logistics. Breakfasts are covered at your hotels—and there’s always time for a spontaneous stop or two along the way before heading back each night.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect my first memory of Istanbul to be the sharp scent of roasted chestnuts near the Hagia Sophia. We’d just landed and our guide, Emre, was already telling stories as we walked past the Blue Mosque — I kept losing track of time staring at those blue tiles. He joked about how even locals get lost in the Grand Bazaar (I did too, briefly). There was this moment when the call to prayer echoed over the Hippodrome and everyone paused for a second — it felt like the city itself was breathing.

The day trip from Istanbul to Gallipoli was heavier than I thought. Standing by Anzac Cove with wind whipping off the sea, Emre’s voice got quieter. You could see people tracing names on memorial stones with their fingers. Then suddenly we were in Troy, looking at a wooden horse that kids were climbing inside — history feels strange sometimes, you know? The drive to Pergamon took hours but watching the hills roll by from the window made it feel like we were slipping through centuries.

Pamukkale looked unreal — like someone left piles of sugar out in the sun. We dipped our feet in those warm pools (I forgot my towel but didn’t care), and there was laughter echoing off the white terraces. Ephesus was all crumbling columns and wildflowers growing where emperors once walked. Our guide pointed out a fig tree near the Temple of Artemis; I tried one of the figs and it tasted dusty-sweet.

Cappadocia is still stuck in my head. We woke up early for Devrent Valley — cold air, pinkish rocks shaped like animals (or maybe I was just tired). The underground city at Kaymakli felt claustrophobic at first until Emre started cracking jokes about ancient “real estate.” In Göreme Open-Air Museum, sunlight cut through cave churches where old frescoes faded into stone. I still think about that silence inside — it made everything else seem far away.