This 17-day tour begins in Istanbul, where you explore iconic landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. The itinerary continues with visits to Topkapi Palace, Taksim Area, and the Asian side of Istanbul. Traveling to Safranbolu, you’ll explore its UNESCO World Heritage Site with traditional wooden houses. The journey then takes you to Ankara, stopping at Gordium, and exploring the capital’s attractions, including the Anatolian Civilization Museum.
Heading to Cappadocia, you visit Hattusas and explore the region’s unique landscapes, including Goreme Open-Air Museum and Kaymaklı Underground City. The tour proceeds to Konya, where you visit the Mevlana Shrine, and then to Antalya, exploring ancient sites like Perge and Phaselis.
Moving on to Pamukkale, you walk down the travertine terraces and explore the Hierapolis ancient site. The itinerary concludes with a Gulet boat cruise along the Aegean, visiting small ports before returning to Istanbul for a final overnight stay
The links for each day give more historical information and descriptions.
Day 1 (ARRIVE ISTANBUL) Arrive at Istanbul Airport. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Istanbul
Day 2 ( ISTANBUL) After breakfast enjoy a full day excursion in Istanbul including the Hagia Sophia,; the Blue Mosque; the Byzantine Hippodrome and the Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, Old local Market Mahmutpasa and walk down to Spice Market. Relax with a boat tour on the Bosporus. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3 (ISTANBUL) After breakfast visit Topkapi Palace. Then move down to the Galata Bridge and head to Istiklal Street to explore Taksim Area. Visit the Asian side in the afternoon. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4 (SAFRANBOLU) After breakfast , drive to Safranbolu. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Site with its traditional wooden houses and old city. Overnight in Safranbolu.
Day 5 (ANKARA) Drive to Ankara stopping on the way to visit Gordion, site of King Midas’ Tomb. Afternoon in Ankara, the capital. Overnight in Ankara.
Day 6-(ANKARA) Ankara Full day in Ankara- Anatolian Civilization Museum, Castle, old and new parliament building and Mausoleum of Ataturk. Overnight in Ankara.
Day 7 (CAPPADOCIA) After breakfatst head to the Capital of Hitite Empire, Bogazkale / Hattusas, then head to Cappadocia. overnight.
Day 8- (CAPPADOCIA) Full day in Cappadocia. Start at the Goreme Open-Air Museum, then on to Devrent and Pasabaglari to see the hoodoos / fairy chimneys. Avanos ceramic workshop and Uchisar valley. Overnight at hotel. (optional Balloon ride in early morning)
Day 9- (CAPPADOCIA – KONYA) Descend several levels of the Kaymaklı Underground city. Thern stop at Ihlara Valley and the Sultanhani Caravansaray on the way to Konya. Overnight in Konya.
Day 10- (KONYA-ANTALYA ) Visit Mevlana Shrine and tour the old city. Drive to see the theater at Aspendos, and overnight in Antalya.
Day 11- (ANTALYA) Visit the ancient site of Perge ancient site, the Archeological museum, Duden waterfall, and the ancient site of Phaselis. Overnight in Antalya.
Day 12 (PAMUKKALE) Drive to Pamukkale to walk down the travertine terraces and walk through the necropolis of Hierapolis. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 13-(GULET) Drive to Fethiye and visit Saklıkent and embark on your gulet (Turkish yacht). Overnight on boat
Day 14 and 15- (ON GULET) Cruise the Aegean visiting small ports. Overnight on boat
Day 16- Disembark the boat and transfer to the airport for flight to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 17- Transfer to the International airport for your flight home.
Request prices or make a reservation
Explore our other custom tours of Turkey
* Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays, Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. If the excursions are on the days that these attractions are closed, they might either be skipped or substituted with other attractions depending on the convenience of the program’s schedule