Treasures of Turkey Istanbul, Ancient Ephesus & Cappadocia

What's Included

• Visit Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace

  Visit Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul’s Golden Horn (UNESCO) district.

• Cruise the Bosphorus Strait

  Cruise the Bosphorus Strait between Europe and Asia.

• Walk through Ancient Ephesus

  Walk through the ruins of Ancient Ephesus in the footsteps of Paul the Apostle.

• Cruise the Dalyan River

  Cruise the Dalyan River to the Aegean Coast.

• Explore Cappadocia

  Explore the towering rock formations of Cappadocia and underground cities of past civilizations.

• Whirling Dervishes Ceremony

  Experience a transcendent Whirling Dervishes ceremony.

• Taste Istanbul's Culinary Delights

  Taste your way around Istanbul’s Golden Horn district and Spice Market.

• Cooking Class in Cappadocia

  Learn family recipes during a hands-on cooking class at a restaurant in Cappadocia.

• Visit Göreme Open-Air Museum

  Visit Goreme’s Open-Air Museum (UNESCO), a vast site comprising of 11 early Christian rock-cut churches and monasteries.

• Loggerhead Turtle Rescue Center

  Visit a loggerhead turtle rescue and conservation center.

What's Not Included

• Optional Hammam Experience

  The Hammam Turkish Bath Experience in Istanbul is optional and not included in the tour package.
  
  

• Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride

  The Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride is optional and not included in the tour package.
  
  

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
  
  

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
  
  

• Gratuities

  Gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
  
  

Experiences

Cruise the Dalyan River to the Aegean Coast.Explore the towering rock formations of Cappadocia and underground cities of past civilizations.Experience a transcendent Whirling Dervishes ceremony.

Options

Istanbul: Hammam Turkish Bath Experience Enjoy a pause of luxury at a historic Istanbul Hammam, your ticket into the legendary Turkish bath culture. When you arrive, don your pestemal – a traditional wrap used to cover your body. Start in the “hot” room, where you will relax and loosen your muscles. This is followed by a foam bath and scrubbing – resulting in a deep-cleaning experience that will leave your skin at its most pure. Relax in the aftermath of your glowing skin and enjoy this world-renowned practice. Duration approximately 3 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 2 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

Option must be pre-purchased at least 7 days prior to departure. Turkish baths are separated by female and male sections.
Changing rooms with lockers are available on site.

Istanbul: Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride Get an aerial view of extraordinary rock formations and timeworn hills on a sunrise hot air balloon ride above magical Cappadocia. Float above the rocky valleys as the morning sun paints the landscape rose pink in the peaceful still air of dawn. Duration approximately 4 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 2 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

The option must be purchased by 30 days prior. Every effort is made to secure your spot, but when demand exceeds availability, balloon operators retain the right to cancel reservations even if previously confirmed. In such case, you will be refunded.
The trip departs at 5:00 a.m. and is subject to weather conditions. Agility is required for climbing into and out of the balloon’s basket. The burner that powers the hot air balloon is positioned above the passengers’ heads and is noisy as well as hot.

Culinaries

Taste your way around Istanbul’s Golden Horn district and Spice Market.Learn family recipes during a hands-on cooking class at a restaurant in Cappadocia.

Must See

Visit Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul’s Golden Horn (UNESCO) district.Cruise the Bosphorus Strait between Europe and Asia.Walk through the ruins of Ancient Ephesus in the footsteps of Paul the Apostle.

Choice Highlights

Istanbul The largest city in Turkey, Istanbul constitutes the country’s economic, cultural, and historical heart. With a population of 14.4 million, the city forms the largest urban agglomeration in Europe as well as the largest in the Middle East. Founded on the Sarayburnu promontory around 660 BC as Byzantium, the city now known as Istanbul developed to become one of the most significant cities in history. Istanbul once served as an imperial capital for the Roman and Byzantine, the Latin and the Ottoman empires. The city’s strategic position along the historic Silk road, rail networks to Europe and the Middle East, and the only sea route between the Black Sean and Mediterranean. Today, Istanbul attracts millions of visitors each year due to its historic center, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its cultural and entertainment hub, which can be found across the city’s natural harbor.

Hagia Sophia From the date of its construction in 537, Hagia Sophia was a former Greek Orthodox patriarchal basilica, which later became an imperial mosque in 1453, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. The church was dedicated to the Wisdom of God, the Logos, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. It remained the world’s largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520. In 1953, the first Turkish President, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, transformed the building into a museum. Today, the museum attracts millions of visitors a year.

Topkapi Palace Once the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for approximately 400 years, Tokpai is a palace located in the historic part of Istanbul. The palace was once a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments as well as the royal residence. Today, it museum and a major tourist attraction. It contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed’s cloak and sword. In 1985, the museum became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, the palace was transformed by a government decree that is dated April 3, 1924, to a museum that includes many examples of fine Ottoman architecture. It also houses large collections of porcelains, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and manuals, as well as a large display of Ottoman treasures and jewelry.

Spice Market

Food Tour

Bosphorus Straight Cruise

Ephesus Ephesus is the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean and among the best places in the world enabling one to genuinely soak in the atmosphere of Roman times. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ephesus was once historically known for being the most important commercial center of the ancient world and a religious center of early Christianity.

Pamukkale Archeological Site

Aegean Coast Boat Ride

Impact Moment

Konya

Cappadocia The earliest record of the name of Cappadocia dates from the late 6th century BC, when it appears in the trilingual inscriptions of two early Achaemenid kings, as one of the countries of the Persian Empire. Following the Battle of Manzikert, a battle between the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuq Turks, in 1071, various Turkish clans under the rule of the Seljuks began setting in Anatolia. Today, the area is a popular tourist destination, which has several unique geological, historic, and cultural features. Touristic Cappadocia includes four cities: Nevehir, Kayseri, Aksaray and Nigde.

Grand Bazaar

Mode of Transport

Travel through Turkey with a mix of flights, including from Istanbul to Izmir and Kayseri to Istanbul, and local transportation such as guided tours and boat trips along the Dalyan River and Bosphorus Strait.

Accommodation

Stay in a variety of accommodations including the Elite World Hotel in Istanbul, En Hotel, Arp Hotel in Izmir, and Bayir Diamond Hotel in Dalyan. Experience a family-run bed & breakfast in Dalyan and enjoy simple accommodations with a river view deck.