12 Days in Turkey by Plane: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale & Bodrum
A comprehensive Turkish adventure: imperial Istanbul, Cappadocia's fairy chimneys, the marble streets of Ephesus, the white terraces of Pamukkale and the turquoise Aegean, with three domestic flights, selected 4 and 5-star hotels and licensed English-speaking guides.
12 Days / 11 Nights 3 Domestic Flights 4 & 5-Star Hotels Licensed Guides Group or Private
Walk the marble streets of a Roman metropolis and visit the House of the Virgin Mary.
Pamukkale · Day 7
Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Brilliant white travertine terraces above an ancient Roman spa city.
Istanbul · Days 10–12
Istanbul at sunset
Close your journey with a ferry to the Princes' Islands and a last golden evening on the Bosphorus.
Tour Overview
One Journey, Seven Chapters of Turkey
Turkey is not one country but many. In twelve days this guided journey takes you from the domes and minarets of imperial Istanbul to the moonlike valleys of Cappadocia, along the marble-paved streets of Ephesus, up the dazzling white terraces of Pamukkale and out onto the sunlit waters of the Aegean. It is the classic Turkey tour, but arranged so that every region has room to breathe.
Three domestic flights spare you the long road journeys that exhaust most itineraries, while selected 4 and 5-star hotels, licensed English-speaking guides, air-conditioned vehicles and all listed entrance fees keep the days comfortable and uncomplicated. Whether you join a small-group Turkey tour or travel on a fully private Turkey tour, the pace is designed for curious people who want to understand what they see, not just photograph it.
Along the way you will walk where Byzantine emperors, Ottoman sultans and Roman governors once walked, shape clay on a potter's wheel in Avanos, descend into an underground city, float down a reed-lined river past tombs cut into cliffs, and swim in bays that Herodotus would have known. The History Travel Agency has been guiding visitors through Turkey's cultural and historical treasures for years, and travellers rate our service five stars on Tripadvisor.
12 Days / 11 NightsYear-round departures
3 Domestic FlightsIST–ASR · ASR–ADB · BJV–IST
4 & 5-Star HotelsSelected, with breakfast
Licensed GuidesEnglish-speaking
Small Group or PrivateYour choice
Easy to ModerateDaily walking
Seven Destinations, Seven Different Turkeys
Each stop on this journey tells a different chapter of Anatolia's story. Here is what makes every one of them worth the trip.
Istanbul · Days 1–3 and 10–12
Istanbul: Where Europe Meets Asia
Istanbul is the only great city built on two continents, and a ferry carries you between them in about twenty minutes. Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman emperors each left their mark on the same peninsula, so a single morning can take you from a sixth-century cathedral to a sixteenth-century tile masterpiece. Add the Bosphorus, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, and you understand why this city has been a capital for sixteen centuries.
Don't miss
Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Hippodrome
Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar
A Bosphorus cruise and Rumeli Fortress
Cappadocia · Days 3–5
Cappadocia: Fairy Chimneys and Underground Worlds
Here, volcanic eruptions, wind and water carved a landscape that looks like another planet. People then hollowed out the soft stone to make homes, churches, monasteries and entire underground cities. Today the valleys glow pink and gold at sunrise, potters shape clay in Avanos, and balloons rise silently over the chimneys. It is Turkey at its most surreal.
Don't miss
Devrent, Love and Rose Valleys
Avanos pottery and Uçhisar Castle
Mazıköy underground city and Pigeon Valley
Ephesus · Day 6
Ephesus: The Classical World in Marble
Ephesus was one of the great cities of the Roman world, with a harbour, a library, theatres and boulevards that still echo with history. It was also a cradle of early Christianity, visited by Saint Paul and associated with Saint John and the Virgin Mary. Few archaeological sites anywhere let you stroll so convincingly through an ancient city.
Don't miss
Library of Celsus and Great Theatre
Temple of Artemis, a Wonder of the Ancient World
House of the Virgin Mary
Pamukkale · Day 7
Pamukkale and Hierapolis: Cotton Castle and Spa City
Thermal springs have been pouring down this hillside for thousands of years, building terraces of brilliant white travertine that shine like snow. At the top, the Romans built Hierapolis, a spa city where the sick came to bathe and the dead were buried in a vast necropolis. Nature and antiquity share the same hill, which is what makes Pamukkale unlike any other place in Turkey.
Don't miss
White travertine terraces and pools
Roman theatre and thermal baths
Necropolis and the Basilica
Bodrum
Bodrum · Days 7–10
Bodrum: Aegean Light and Blue Bays
Ancient Halicarnassus, birthplace of Herodotus and site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is now a lively harbour town of whitewashed houses and bougainvillea. A full-day boat trip takes you to coves where the water turns from emerald to sapphire, and a crusader castle watches over the marina. After a week of sightseeing, this is where the holiday finally exhales.
Don't miss
Full-day boat trip with swimming stops
Karaada (Black Island) mineral grotto
Bodrum Castle and harbour evenings
Dalyan
Dalyan · Day 9
Dalyan, Caunos and İztuzu Beach
Southwest Turkey hides a delta of reeds and canals where rock-cut tombs look down on the river and loggerhead sea turtles nest on a long sandy beach. Ancient Caunos adds Carian and Lycian history, and a boat journey through the reeds is a pleasure in its own right. This is the side of Turkey few package itineraries bother to reach.
Don't miss
River-boat journey through the reeds
Ancient Caunos and the cliff tombs
İztuzu, a nesting beach for Caretta caretta
Istanbul · Day 11
Princes' Islands and Büyükada: A Quiet Finale
After the sweep of the journey, spend one last day on Büyükada, the largest of the Princes' Islands. Elegant wooden mansions, pine-scented lanes and sea views make a gentle contrast to the intensity of the city, and a seafood lunch beside the water is the perfect way to say goodbye to Turkey.
Don't miss
Ferry across the Sea of Marmara
Historic wooden mansions
Waterfront seafood lunch
Why Travellers Choose This 12-Day Turkey Tour
Most itineraries make you choose between culture and coast, or force you to spend half your holiday on buses. This one is designed differently. Domestic flights link Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Aegean, so your time goes into seeing places rather than crossing the country by road, and every region receives enough days to be understood.
It also leaves room for the unexpected: a half-day of free time in Bodrum before your evening flight, a quiet island lunch to close the journey, and optional experiences, from a sunrise balloon flight to a traditional hamam, that you can add if they appeal. And because the tour is run by two professional guides turned agency owners, a real person answers your messages and keeps in touch throughout the trip.
If you prefer your own pace, the same programme can be run as a private tour with your own guide and vehicle, flexible start times and hotels chosen to suit you.
What Makes It Special
Seven distinct destinations in 12 days, from imperial Istanbul to the Aegean.
Three domestic flights that replace exhausting overland transfers.
Licensed English-speaking guides who explain, not just point.
Two UNESCO-listed ancient cities, Ephesus and Hierapolis.
Hands-on craft in Avanos and an underground city in Cappadocia.
Boat day, river day and island day for a real holiday feeling.
WhatsApp contact with your organiser before and during the trip.
Perfect For
History lovers Couples & honeymooners Families Photographers Culture plus coast Friends & multi-generational groups First-time visitors to Turkey
Not sure it fits your needs? Message us and we will adapt the pace, hotels and optional extras.
Topic Highlights
Tour Highlights at a Glance
The six experiences travellers remember most from this itinerary.
Istanbul's Byzantine and Ottoman Heritage
Step inside Hagia Sophia, wander the courtyards of Topkapı Palace, admire the six minarets of the Blue Mosque, shop the Grand Bazaar and the tiled Rüstem Pasha Mosque, then cruise the Bosphorus between two continents.
Cappadocia's Extraordinary Landscapes
Walk among fairy chimneys in Devrent, Love and Rose Valleys, watch a master potter at work in Avanos, climb to Uçhisar Castle and descend into the Mazıköy underground city, where whole communities once lived beneath the ground.
Ancient Ephesus and Early Christian Heritage
Stroll the marble street to the Library of Celsus, sit in the Great Theatre that held 25,000 spectators, remember the vanished Temple of Artemis and pause at the House of the Virgin Mary, a quiet place of pilgrimage.
Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Climb the dazzling white travertine terraces of the Cotton Castle, then explore the ruins of Hierapolis above them: ancient thermal baths, a basilica, a grand Roman theatre and one of Anatolia's largest necropolises.
Bodrum's Aegean Coastline
Spend a full day afloat with swimming stops in clear bays, then travel to Dalyan to glide through the reed beds, admire the cliff tombs of Ancient Caunos and walk İztuzu Beach, a nesting ground of loggerhead turtles.
A Peaceful Island Finale
Close your journey on Büyükada, the largest of the Princes' Islands, where historic wooden mansions, pine-scented lanes and a waterfront seafood lunch offer a gentle escape from the energy of central Istanbul.
3 domestic flights 11 hotel nights Entrance fees included Selected lunches Boat & river trips Licensed guides
Your Route Across Turkey
Istanbul · 2 nights Cappadocia · 2 nights Kuşadası · 1 night Pamukkale · 1 night Bodrum · 3 nights Istanbul · 2 nights
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Your 12-Day Turkey Itinerary
Tap a day to open the full programme: historical background, what you will see, meals, overnight stay and practical tips. Timings are approximate and may be adjusted for opening hours, flights and weather.
1
Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul: Welcome to Two Continents
Airport transfer · Hotel check-in · Overnight: Istanbul
Arrival
Your Turkish welcome
Your journey begins where Europe meets Asia. A representative from The History Travel Agency greets you at the airport named in your confirmed arrangements and takes you by private vehicle to your Istanbul hotel. Istanbul is a city of more than fifteen million people, yet the road in from the airport slowly narrows into the old peninsula, where Byzantine walls, Ottoman fountains and minarets announce that you have arrived somewhere extraordinary.
Evening at leisure
Your first walk through Sultanahmet
After check-in the evening is yours. If you have energy, wander the lamp-lit streets around Sultanahmet Square, where Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque face each other across a garden, floodlit after dark. Order a glass of Turkish tea in a quiet café, listen for the evening call to prayer drifting across the rooftops, and let the city introduce itself. There is no sightseeing schedule today by design: tomorrow is a full day.
Meals: none scheduled on arrival day. Overnight: Istanbul.
Travel tip: Send us your flight number and arrival airport at least a week before departure so your driver can track the flight and wait for you even if it lands early or late.
2
Day 2: Imperial Istanbul: Byzantine and Ottoman Treasures
Full-day guided tour · Lunch included · Overnight: Istanbul
08:30 · Topkapı Palace
Where the sultans ruled an empire
For almost four centuries Topkapı Palace was the beating heart of the Ottoman Empire. Begun in the 1460s by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, it unfolds as a series of courtyards, pavilions and kiosks above the meeting point of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. Your guide explains how a ruler lived, governed and was guarded here, and walks you through the collections of imperial robes, porcelain, jewellery and sacred relics. Which sections are open varies by season and conservation work, and some areas such as the Harem carry a separate ticket.
Sultanahmet
The Blue Mosque: six minarets and a sea of İznik tile
Commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I and completed in 1616, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is known worldwide as the Blue Mosque for the shimmering blue-green tiles that line its interior. Its cascade of domes and six slender minarets form the signature skyline of Old Istanbul. It remains a working mosque, so visits pause around prayer times; dress modestly, carry a scarf if you are a woman, and expect to remove your shoes.
Sultanahmet
The Hippodrome of Constantinople
Step onto the ground where Byzantine crowds once roared for chariot teams. Three monuments survive from the great racetrack: the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius, carved around 1,450 BC and raised here in the fourth century AD; the twisted Serpent Column, cast to mark a Greek victory over Persia; and the Walled Obelisk, once sheathed in gleaming bronze. Together they make an open-air museum of three civilizations in one square.
Sultanahmet
Hagia Sophia: fifteen centuries under one dome
Completed in 537 under Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia was the largest cathedral on earth for nearly a thousand years. Its enormous dome seems to float on a ring of windows, flooding the interior with soft, shifting light. Cathedral, imperial mosque, museum and mosque again, it carries the layered identity of Constantinople and Istanbul in a single room. Entry arrangements and access to the upper gallery are set by the authorities and can change, so your guide confirms the current rules on the day.
Midday
Lunch included
Pause for a traditional Turkish lunch in the old city before the afternoon continues. Please tell us in advance about vegetarian, halal, gluten-free or other dietary needs.
Afternoon · Grand Bazaar
One of the world's oldest covered markets
Plunge into the Kapalıçarşı, a labyrinth of vaulted lanes that has traded since the 1450s. Hundreds of workshops sell ceramics, hand-knotted carpets, lanterns, textiles, silver and leather in an atmosphere that is half theatre, half commerce. Even if you buy nothing, the colour, the bargaining and the glasses of tea pressed into your hand are an essential Istanbul experience.
Afternoon · Rüstem Pasha Mosque
A jewel box of İznik tile
Tucked above the shopfronts of the Spice Bazaar district, this small mosque was designed by the great architect Sinan in the 1560s for the grand vizier Rüstem Pasha. Its walls glow with floral İznik tiles in tomato red, turquoise and white, a masterclass in sixteenth-century Ottoman decorative art. Because it is small, it feels intimate after the grandeur of the morning.
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Return to hotel: around 17:00. Overnight: Istanbul.
Travel tip: Wear comfortable shoes you can slip off easily. Historic pavements are uneven, and mosque visits mean removing footwear several times.
3
Day 3: Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, then Fly to Cappadocia
Begin at the Mısır Çarşısı, the Egyptian or Spice Bazaar, where pyramids of saffron, sumac, dried apricots, pistachios, loukoum and Turkish tea fill the stalls. Built in the seventeenth century beside the New Mosque, it was the end of the road for spice caravans from Egypt, India and the Levant. Your guide explains what to taste and what to buy, from pomegranate molasses to Antep pistachios, so you choose small edible souvenirs with confidence.
Mid-morning · Bosphorus cruise
A cruise between two continents
Board your boat for a relaxed sail along the strait that divides Europe from Asia. Wooden yalı mansions, marble Ottoman palaces, fishing villages and modern skyline slide past on both shores. The Bosphorus has carried grain ships, warships and royal barges for three thousand years, and from the deck it is easy to feel why empires fought to control it.
Cruise highlight
Rumeli Fortress and the great bridges
Look for Rumeli Fortress on the European shore, raised in 1452 by Mehmed II in a matter of months to choke the strait before the siege of Constantinople. Further along, the suspension bridges link the two continents. The exact route and bridge views depend on the vessel and sailing conditions on the day.
Evening
Flight to Kayseri and transfer to Cappadocia
After the cruise you transfer to the airport for your evening domestic flight to Kayseri. On arrival your representative meets you and drives you to your Cappadocia hotel, roughly an hour away across a high Anatolian plain with volcanic Mount Erciyes on the horizon.
Meals: breakfast (lunch is not included on this half-day programme). Overnight: Cappadocia.
Travel tip: Keep your passport, flight details and a small overnight bag in your hand luggage for the airport transfer, and check the domestic baggage allowance shown on your tickets.
4
Day 4: Fairy Chimneys, Avanos Pottery and Uçhisar Castle
Full-day guided tour · Lunch included · Overnight: Cappadocia
09:30 · Devrent Valley
The valley of imagination
Devrent Valley is Cappadocia's sculpture park, created by wind and rain rather than by human hands. Cones and pillars of pale tuff rise in shapes that visitors compare to camels, seals, dolphins and seated figures. Unlike valleys known for painted chapels, Devrent is about pure geology: millions of years of volcanic ash from Erciyes and Hasan, slowly carved into a surreal garden of stone.
Late morning · Love Valley
Tall fairy chimneys and wide-open views
Love Valley is famous for some of the tallest and most distinctive fairy chimneys in the region, standing in rows along a winding floor. Viewpoints and short walking routes reveal the pinks, creams and ochres of the rock in the morning light. This is one of the best places in Cappadocia for photographs, especially when the first balloons drift above the ridge.
Midday · Avanos
Red-river clay and the potter's wheel
Avanos sits on the Kızılırmak, Turkey's longest river, whose red sediment has fuelled a pottery tradition that stretches back to Hittite times. At a family workshop you watch a master throw a vase on a kick wheel, see how clay is shaped, glazed and fired, and perhaps try the wheel yourself. It is a rare chance to meet the living craft that gives Cappadocia its soul.
Lunch
Lunch included
Enjoy a local lunch with regional Anatolian flavours. Cappadocian cooking leans on lamb, lentils, dried fruit, and the famous clay-pot kebab.
Afternoon · Uçhisar Castle
The great rock citadel
Uçhisar rises like a honeycombed mountain, its towering natural rock hollowed into rooms, stairways and lookouts over many centuries. From the viewpoints the panorama stretches across Pigeon Valley and Göreme to the snowy cone of Erciyes on clear days. It is the highest point in the area and a perfect place to understand how people adapted soft volcanic stone for shelter and defence.
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Return to hotel: around 17:00. Overnight: Cappadocia.
Travel tip: A sunrise hot-air balloon flight is an optional extra and must be reserved in advance. Flights depend on weather and aviation approval and may be cancelled for safety, so keep a flexible morning.
5
Day 5: Rose Valley, Çavuşin, Underground City and Pigeon Valley
South Cappadocia · Lunch included · Evening flight to İzmir · Overnight: Kuşadası
09:30 · Kızılçukur (Rose Valley)
Rock that blushes at sunset
Rose Valley takes its name from the rosy tones its cliffs take on as the light changes. Trails wind past vineyards and old rock-cut dwellings, and small hidden chapels cut into the cliffs carry traces of early Christian painting. It is a quiet, atmospheric landscape that shows how Cappadocia's communities carved their homes, churches and storerooms directly into the stone.
Late morning · Çavuşin
The old village and the Church of St John the Baptist
Çavuşin is one of the oldest settlements in the region, with abandoned cave houses stacked up a cliff above the modern village. Its rock-cut Church of St John the Baptist is linked with the area's early Christian heritage and shows how worship was adapted to volcanic rock. Condition and access vary from season to season.
Midday · Mazıköy
Descend into an underground city
Cappadocia hides a second world below ground. Mazıköy is one of the region's underground settlements, a network of connected passages, chambers and storage rooms cut into soft stone as refuge and shelter. Narrow stairways and low tunnels make for a memorable, slightly claustrophobic adventure, a reminder of how ingeniously communities used the landscape to survive.
Afternoon · Pigeon Valley
Thousands of carved dovecotes
Pigeon Valley is dotted with small openings carved into the cliffs: dovecotes built over generations. Pigeon droppings were prized as fertiliser for vineyards and orchards, so birds were a quiet engine of the local farm economy. The honeycomb patterns on the rock make a striking sight, and the valley offers lovely views back towards Uçhisar.
Evening
Flight to İzmir and transfer to Kuşadası
After lunch and the guided programme you transfer to Kayseri Airport for your evening domestic flight to İzmir. A driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel in Kuşadası, a relaxed Aegean resort town close to Ephesus.
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Overnight: Kuşadası.
Travel tip: This is a full day followed by a flight, so pack an overnight bag in advance, wear layers, and keep your flight documents easy to reach.
6
Day 6: Ancient Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary
Full-day guided tour · Overnight: Pamukkale
09:00 · Temple of Artemis
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Little remains of the colossal Artemision beyond a single reconstructed column rising from a marshy field, yet it was once counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Pilgrims came from across the Mediterranean to honour Artemis, the patron goddess of Ephesus. Your guide brings the lost temple back to life with its history, its legends and its role in the city's wealth.
Morning · Ancient Ephesus
A Roman metropolis preserved in marble
Ephesus was founded by Greek colonists and flourished under Rome as the capital of the province of Asia and one of the largest cities of the empire. Walking down its marble-paved main street today, you pass fountains, shops, bath houses, temples and public buildings. UNESCO inscribed Ephesus in 2015, and its state of preservation is exceptional.
Ephesus highlight
The Library of Celsus
Built in the early second century AD in memory of the Roman governor Tiberius Julius Celsus, this two-storey façade of columns, niches and statues is the emblem of Ephesus. Behind it once stood thousands of scrolls. Notice the optical tricks of the architecture, which make the building appear taller and grander than it is.
Ephesus highlight
The Great Theatre
Carved into the slope of Panayır Hill, the Great Theatre could seat around twenty-five thousand spectators. Plays, gladiatorial shows and civic assemblies were held here, and the Acts of the Apostles describes a famous riot in this very theatre. Climb a few rows and look down the marble road to the former harbour.
Ephesus highlight
Agora, Odeon, Trajan Fountain and Temple of Domitian
Beyond the great monuments, the smaller buildings tell the daily story of the city: the commercial agora, the intimate Odeon for music and council meetings, the Fountain of Trajan, the Temple of Domitian and the famous public latrines, a candid window into Roman everyday life. Some additional sites, such as the Terrace Houses, carry a separate ticket.
Afternoon · House of the Virgin Mary
A quiet place of pilgrimage
On a wooded hill above Ephesus stands a small stone house that Christian tradition identifies as the last home of the Virgin Mary. Several popes have visited, and pilgrims of many faiths come to pray and reflect. Whether you come as a believer or simply as a curious traveller, the peaceful setting makes a contemplative close to a day of monumental ruins. It is a matter of religious tradition rather than established historical fact.
Evening
Drive to Pamukkale
In the late afternoon you continue inland to Pamukkale, a drive of roughly three hours through the Meander valley. Your overnight stay in Pamukkale puts you right at the foot of the white terraces for tomorrow's early visit. Lunch arrangements for this day will be confirmed in your final programme.
Meals: breakfast (lunch to be confirmed in your final programme). Overnight: Pamukkale.
Travel tip: Ephesus involves long stretches of walking on polished marble in full sun. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen and shoes with real grip.
7
Day 7: Pamukkale's White Terraces and the Ancient City of Hierapolis
Guided heritage visit · Lunch included · Evening transfer to Bodrum
Morning · Pamukkale
The Cotton Castle
Pamukkale means Cotton Castle in Turkish, and the name fits perfectly. Hot, mineral-rich water has flowed down this hillside for millennia, depositing brilliant white travertine into cascading terraces and shallow turquoise pools. UNESCO has protected Pamukkale together with Hierapolis since 1988. Walking is allowed only on designated routes, usually barefoot, to protect the delicate calcium crust.
Morning · Hierapolis
A Roman spa city above the terraces
At the top of the terraces lies Hierapolis, founded in the Hellenistic period and developed under Rome as a famous healing resort. Pilgrims and invalids came to bathe in its thermal springs. A long avenue lined with columns leads past bath ruins and a monumental gate toward the heart of the old city.
Hierapolis highlight
The Roman theatre
The beautifully preserved theatre, set high on the slope, once held more than twelve thousand people and is still decorated with sculpted reliefs. From the upper rows you look straight out over the valley, which is why many travellers rate it as the best seat in Pamukkale.
Hierapolis highlight
Baths, basilica and necropolis
The remains of the Roman baths and basilica show how central thermal water was to the life of the city, and the vast necropolis, one of the largest in Anatolia, holds hundreds of tombs and sarcophagi. Optional extras such as swimming in the Antique Pool among fallen Roman columns carry a separate fee.
Lunch
Lunch included
Rest and refuel with lunch before the road journey.
Evening
Transfer to Bodrum
After sightseeing and lunch you travel by road to Bodrum, a journey of around four hours. The landscape moves from inland plateaus to pine-covered hills and, finally, the glittering Aegean. Please confirm the departure time and luggage arrangements in your final programme.
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Overnight: Bodrum.
Travel tip: Wear sandals or shoes that are easy to remove, bring a swimsuit if you plan to use the Antique Pool, and carry water. Marble and travertine can be slippery when wet.
8
Day 8: Bodrum Boat Trip: Turquoise Bays and Time at Sea
After several days of sightseeing and driving, today belongs to the sea. Your boat leaves Bodrum at about 11:00 for a relaxed day along the peninsula's rocky headlands and sheltered coves. Sunbathe on deck, take a cooling swim or simply watch the coast slide past with a cold drink in hand.
Midday
Swimming and snorkelling bays
The skipper chooses anchorages according to the wind and sea state. Clear, calm water and rocky bottoms make for great snorkelling, and swimming from the boat is one of the simplest pleasures of the Turkish coast. Exact stops and durations depend on the vessel's route and the conditions.
Highlight
Black Island (Karaada)
The itinerary includes a stop at Karaada, the Black Island, known for its dark volcanic rock and a grotto whose warm mineral water is said to be good for the skin. Access to the grotto depends on conditions, so please treat it as a likely highlight rather than a guarantee.
Evening
Back in Bodrum by about 17:00
The trip returns to the harbour at around 17:00, leaving the evening free to stroll the marina, visit Bodrum Castle, built by the Knights of St John in the fifteenth century, or dine by the water. Bodrum was ancient Halicarnassus, birthplace of the historian Herodotus and home of the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Meals: breakfast and lunch on the boat as per your final programme (dinner to be confirmed). Overnight: Bodrum.
Travel tip: Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses and a light cover-up. If you prefer not to swim, the boat trip is still a scenic, relaxing day.
9
Day 9: Dalyan River, Ancient Caunos and İztuzu Beach
River excursion · Ancient city · Overnight: Bodrum
08:30 · Departure
A day trip into the wild south-west
Leave Bodrum early for a full-day excursion to Dalyan, a delta landscape of reeds, canals and fertile lowlands where the river Dalyan Çayı flows from Lake Köyceğiz to the sea. Allow roughly two to three hours each way by road, depending on traffic. The effort pays off in scenery few other tours reach.
Midday · River journey
Gliding through the reeds
Board a traditional river boat and glide through the reed beds. The slow pace gives time to watch herons, kingfishers and, with luck, the famous blue crabs of the delta. The journey is a highlight in itself, which is why Dalyan is among the most atmospheric river landscapes of the Aegean.
Highlight · Ancient Caunos
A Carian port city on the frontier of Lycia
Caunos (Kaunos) was an important port on the border between Caria and Lycia. Its ruins include a theatre, harbour remains, Roman baths and an acropolis, and its fortunes rose and fell as the sea slowly retreated and silted the harbour. Walking the site shows how trade, politics and geography shaped ancient life on this coast.
Highlight · Rock-cut tombs
Tombs carved into the cliffs
Across the river from Dalyan, monumental tombs are carved high into the rock face, their façades modelled on temple fronts with columns and pediments. They date from the fourth century BC and are among the most photographed sights of the south-west, especially from the water.
Afternoon · İztuzu Beach
A protected nesting beach
A boat ride of about 45 minutes, depending on the route, brings you to İztuzu, a long sandy spit between the river and the sea. It is a nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta. Please respect marked nesting areas, follow guidance from local staff and never disturb wildlife. Sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Evening
Return to Bodrum
After the day's exploration you return to Bodrum for the night.
Meals: breakfast and dinner per the original programme (to be confirmed in your final programme). Overnight: Bodrum.
Travel tip: Bring comfortable shoes, a hat, sun protection and a refillable water bottle. It is a long day, so rest well the night before.
10
Day 10: Free Time in Bodrum, then Evening Flight to Istanbul
Free time · Evening flight · Overnight: Istanbul
Morning
Bodrum at your own pace
After a day of excursions, the morning is deliberately unscheduled. Stroll the harbour, browse the craft and sponge shops, linger over a long Turkish breakfast, swim, or wander the whitewashed lanes and bougainvillea-draped houses of the old town. If you wish to explore, the Castle of St Peter and its Museum of Underwater Archaeology are the best cultural stop in town, at your own expense.
Evening
Flight to Istanbul
In the evening you are transferred to Bodrum Airport for your domestic flight back to Istanbul. On arrival you are met and driven to your hotel for the last two nights of your journey.
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Istanbul.
Travel tip: Keep your plans close to town on flight day and confirm your airport transfer time with your coordinator the evening before.
11
Day 11: Princes' Islands and Büyükada: Istanbul's Tranquil Side
Island excursion · Lunch listed · Overnight: Istanbul
08:30 · Ferry
Crossing the Sea of Marmara
Leave the noise of the city behind on a ferry to the Princes' Islands, a chain of islands in the Sea of Marmara with a calm, nostalgic character. Watch the skyline of Istanbul recede and take in views of the Asian shore. The ferry calls at several islands on its way to Büyükada, though the exact stops depend on the vessel and timetable.
Highlight · Büyükada
Wooden mansions, pine woods and sea views
Büyükada, the largest of the islands, has long been a retreat for Istanbul's elite and a place of exile for the famous. Its grand nineteenth-century wooden mansions, shaded avenues and seafront promenade reward slow wandering. Local services such as walking routes or approved island transport are explained by your guide on the day.
Lunch
Waterfront seafood lunch
Enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant with views across to the Asian shore. Tell us about allergies and dietary needs in advance, especially if you do not eat fish.
Afternoon
Return to Istanbul
In the afternoon you ferry back to the city and transfer to your hotel to rest, pack and enjoy a final evening.
Meals: breakfast and lunch (subject to final confirmation). Overnight: Istanbul.
Travel tip: Sea breezes can be cooler than the city, so carry a light jacket. Ferry timetables and sea conditions may influence the programme.
12
Day 12: Departure from Istanbul
Breakfast · Airport transfer
Morning
Farewell, Turkey
After breakfast and check-out you are transferred to Istanbul Airport, or the departure airport named in your confirmed arrangements. You leave with Hagia Sophia's golden light, Cappadocia's balloons, the marble streets of Ephesus, Pamukkale's white terraces and Bodrum's blue water in your memory, and, we hope, with the sense that you have seen the many faces of Turkey in a single, unhurried journey.
Meals: breakfast.
Travel tip: Confirm your departure airport, flight time and hotel check-out with your coordinator, and allow generous time for airport procedures.
Make it yours
Add a sunrise balloon flight in Cappadocia, a Turkish night with dinner, a traditional hamam, or paragliding above Pamukkale. See optional experiences and prices in the price section or ask us on WhatsApp.
Planned with Care, Run with Heart
Flights, hotels, transfers and guides are arranged by one team that stays in touch with you from your first message to your last flight home.
Rich details on the historical, cultural and tourism significance of the most important places on this tour.
Istanbul
UNESCO · Day 2
Hagia Sophia: The Church of Holy Wisdom
When Emperor Justinian dedicated Hagia Sophia in 537, he is said to have exclaimed that he had surpassed Solomon. Standing beneath its immense dome, 31 metres wide and lit by a ring of windows, it is easy to see why. For almost a thousand years it was the largest cathedral in the world, and its construction by the architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus remains one of history's great engineering feats.
Successive rulers adapted the building to their faiths and their politics, which is why gold mosaics, Ottoman calligraphy and monumental medallions share the same space. Your guide reads these layers for you, turning a visit into a lesson in how Constantinople became Istanbul.
Built532–537 AD under Justinian I
DomeAbout 31 m across
RolesCathedral, mosque, museum, mosque
VisitRules and tickets are set by the authorities
Topkapı Palace
Istanbul
Day 2
Topkapı Palace: Heart of the Ottoman World
From the 1460s until the nineteenth century, sultans governed three continents from this hilltop palace. Rather than a single grand building, Topkapı is a sequence of courtyards and pavilions, designed to lead the visitor ever deeper toward the private world of the ruler. Each gate marks a step up in privilege.
Inside you encounter imperial robes, jewel-studded daggers, calligraphy and porcelain, and you look out over the Golden Horn and Bosphorus from the terraces the sultans loved. Access to certain collections and the Harem varies and may need a separate ticket.
Era15th–19th century
RolePalace and seat of government
CollectionsRobes, jewels, porcelain, relics
ViewsBosphorus, Golden Horn, Marmara
Cappadocia
UNESCO landscape · Days 4–5
Cappadocia's Valleys and Fairy Chimneys
Cappadocia is where geology becomes poetry. Layers of volcanic ash from ancient eruptions hardened into soft tuff capped by harder basalt, and millions of years of erosion left tall, conical towers known as fairy chimneys. Devrent Valley's animal-shaped rocks, Love Valley's tall pillars and Rose Valley's blushing cliffs each have a different mood.
The same softness that made erosion so dramatic also let people carve churches, dovecotes, cellars and entire homes into the stone. Çavuşin, Uçhisar and Pigeon Valley show that human story, while Avanos adds the living craft of red-clay pottery.
Formed byErciyes and Hasan volcanoes
HeritageRock-cut churches and dwellings
CraftAvanos pottery from Kızılırmak clay
Best lightEarly morning and sunset
Underground Cities
Cappadocia
Day 5
Mazıköy and Cappadocia's Underground World
Beneath the villages of Cappadocia lies a hidden network of passages, storage rooms, kitchens and stables carved by communities seeking safety. The underground settlement at Mazıköy shows how entire families could live protected below ground when danger threatened above.
Rolling stone doors, ventilation shafts and narrow stairs reveal clever engineering. Some passages are low and steep, so wear sturdy shoes and tell your guide if enclosed spaces are a concern.
DefenceStone doors and hidden shafts
Daily lifeStores, kitchens, stables
AccessNarrow, low, with steps
BringSturdy shoes and patience
Ephesus
UNESCO · Day 6
Ephesus: A Roman Metropolis in Marble
At its height Ephesus was among the largest cities of the Roman Empire, a harbour town of perhaps a quarter of a million people. Its main street, lined with columns, shops and fountains, leads to the Library of Celsus, whose two-storey façade is one of the most photographed monuments in Turkey.
Close by, the Great Theatre once hosted plays and political assemblies, and the nearby remains of the Temple of Artemis recall one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus also holds a special place in Christian history, linked with Saint Paul, Saint John and, by tradition, the Virgin Mary.
Peak2nd century AD, Roman rule
TheatreAbout 25,000 seats
LibraryEarly 2nd century AD
FaithEarly Christianity and Artemis
Pamukkale
UNESCO · Day 7
Pamukkale and Hierapolis: Where Water Turned to Stone
Geothermal springs rich in calcium bicarbonate emerge at Pamukkale at roughly 35 °C, and as the water cools in the air it leaves a crust of travertine that has built terraces over thousands of years. The result is a glittering hillside of white shelves and turquoise pools, visible from miles away.
On top sits Hierapolis, founded around 190 BC and expanded under Rome as a famous thermal resort. The theatre, the colonnaded main street, the bath ruins and a vast necropolis tell of a city built around the healing power of water. Walking on the terraces is permitted only on marked paths.
WaterAbout 35 °C mineral springs
TheatreOver 12,000 spectators
RuleMarked paths, usually barefoot
OptionalAntique Pool swim (extra fee)
Bodrum & the Aegean
Bodrum
Days 7–10
Bodrum: Ancient Halicarnassus and the Aegean Coast
Bodrum's story begins with Halicarnassus, the birthplace of Herodotus, often called the father of history, and the site of the Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today only foundations remain, but the Castle of St Peter, built by the Knights of St John in the fifteenth century, still dominates the harbour and houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
The peninsula's coast, however, is the real draw: pine-clad hills drop into clear bays, and your full-day boat trip visits swimming spots and the mineral-warm grotto of Karaada, subject to sea conditions.
Famous sonHerodotus, historian
CastleKnights of St John, 15th century
SeaSnorkelling and swimming bays
ClimateHot, dry summers
Dalyan & Caunos
Dalyan
Day 9
Dalyan, Ancient Caunos and İztuzu Beach
Caunos was a port city on the border of Caria and Lycia, and the temple-fronted tombs cut high into the cliff above the river are its most celebrated monument. Dating to the fourth century BC, they were built for the elite of the city and make a magnificent sight from the water.
Downstream, the river winds through reed beds to İztuzu Beach, a long sandy spit separating the delta from the sea and a nesting place for loggerhead turtles. Responsible behaviour matters here: keep to marked areas and never disturb nests or hatchlings.
Tombs4th century BC, temple façades
WildlifeCaretta caretta nesting beach
JourneyRiver boat through the reeds
Day lengthEarly start, long day
Princes' Islands
Day 11
Büyükada and the Princes' Islands
Only an hour or so from the city by ferry, the Princes' Islands feel like another century. Büyükada, the largest, is known for its wooden mansions with ornate balconies, its pine-scented lanes and its coastal promenade. Once a retreat for Ottoman pashas and a place of exile for Byzantine royals and, later, Leon Trotsky, it has long attracted those seeking quiet.
Your guide explains what can be done on foot or with approved local transport, and lunch is served beside the water with views of the Asian shore.
Getting thereFerry across the Marmara
Style19th-century wooden mansions
LunchWaterfront seafood
PackA light jacket for sea breezes
Photos from Wikimedia Commons (including Hagia Sophia by Arild Vågen), each credited under its own Commons licence. Images illustrate the destinations and do not imply that optional activities are included.
What's Included
Included & Not Included
A clear view of what your price covers, so there are no surprises.
Included in your tour
Accommodation: 11 nights in selected 4- and 5-star hotels, with exact properties and room types confirmed at booking.
Meals: Daily hotel breakfast plus the lunches listed in the itinerary; final meal schedule confirmed in your booking documents.
Domestic flights: Istanbul to Kayseri, Kayseri to İzmir, and Bodrum to Istanbul.
Transfers: Airport and ground transfers at arrival, departure and intercity points covered by the programme, including the Pamukkale to Bodrum road transfer.
Guided sightseeing: Two full days in Istanbul, a half-day Bosphorus excursion, two Cappadocia days, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Hierapolis, a Bodrum boat day and a Dalyan day, and the Princes' Islands.
Licensed English-speaking guide: Professional local guiding on sightseeing days.
Sightseeing transport: Air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicles on guided tours.
Entrance fees: Admission to the museums and attractions listed as included.
Taxes: Applicable taxes covered by the package price.
Not included
International flights: Flights to and from Turkey are not included.
Personal expenses: Souvenirs, laundry and other individual purchases.
Drinks and extra meals: Anything not explicitly listed as included.
Tips and gratuities: For guides, drivers, boat crews and hotel staff.
Insurance and visas: Travel insurance, visa fees and personal documents.
Extras outside the programme: Additional services or transfers not in the confirmed plan.
Good to know: your final confirmation includes one definitive meal schedule and states baggage allowance for each domestic flight, so you always know exactly what is covered.
Where You'll Stay
Selected 4 & 5-Star Hotels
Eleven nights in carefully chosen hotels. Exact properties, room types and meal basis are confirmed in your booking.
Istanbul · Nights 1–2
A selected 4- or 5-star hotel in a central, well-connected district, close to the old city's major monuments and public transport, so your two imperial sightseeing days begin and end with minimal travelling.
Cappadocia · Nights 3–4
A comfortable hotel in the Göreme, Ürgüp or Uçhisar area, many with valley views, terraces or cave-style rooms carved into the rock, placing you close to the balloon take-off fields and the best sunrise viewpoints.
Kuşadası · Night 5
An Aegean coast hotel a short drive from Ephesus, ideal after your evening flight from Cappadocia and convenient for an early, cooler start among the ancient ruins the next morning.
Pamukkale · Night 6
A thermal hotel near the white travertine terraces, often with warm mineral-water pools, where you can soak away the day's walking and wake up close to the early-morning visit to Hierapolis.
Bodrum · Nights 7–9
Three nights in a coastal hotel or resort with sea views and easy access to the harbour, giving you time for the boat trip, the Dalyan excursion and a relaxed morning of swimming before your flight.
Istanbul · Nights 10–11
Back in the city for the final two nights, with time for the Princes' Islands excursion, last-minute shopping and a farewell dinner before your departure transfer on Day 12.
Need a particular hotel, a family room, adjoining rooms or an upgrade to boutique or cave luxury? Tell us when you inquire and we will quote the alternatives.
Tour Price
Tour Price & Optional Experiences
Indicative prices per person in euros, based on current market rates for a 12-day, 11-night, flight-inclusive programme. Final prices are confirmed for your dates.
Small-Group Tour
€1,690
per adult · from
Child (4–11): €1,390
Fixed guaranteed departures
Shared guide and vehicle
Best value choice
Private Tour
€2,690
per adult · from
Child (4–11): €2,190
Your own guide and vehicle
Flexible start times and pace
Hotel and room choice
Custom Itinerary
Quote
on request
Extra nights or destinations
Honeymoon and family versions
Luxury or cave hotels
Optional experiences included
Prices are indicative starting rates and vary with season, hotel category, room type, flight availability and group size. A single-room supplement may apply. Ask for a personal quotation by WhatsApp or the inquiry form below.
Optional Experiences
These activities are not included in the tour price. Prices are per person unless stated and should be reconfirmed when you book.
Balloon-watching photo tour by taxiNo child discount
Cappadocia
€60
Whirling dervishes show
Istanbul
€40
Turkish Night with dinner, drinks and transfers
Istanbul
€80
Turkish bath (hamam)
Istanbul / Bodrum
€80
Horse riding, one hour
Cappadocia
€60
ATV / quad ride, one hour
Cappadocia
€55
Sunset cruise on a luxury yacht
Istanbul
€100
Paragliding
Pamukkale
€100
How we price this tour. Comparable multi-region Turkey packages with domestic flights are listed on international tour marketplaces at roughly US$1,400 to US$3,500 per person, depending on length, hotel level and group size. Our rates are set to be fair and transparent, with flights, 11 hotel nights, guided tours, entrance fees and boat days already counted in.
These recommendations come from analysing the programme, typical seasonal conditions and traveller feedback. They are advice to help you get more from the tour, not additional services guaranteed by the programme.
Pick the right season
Choose April–June or September–October for the best mix of comfortable walking weather, warm sea in Bodrum and good balloon conditions. Summer works well if you love the beach and accept hot days at Ephesus.
Pack light for three flights
Domestic flights often have tighter baggage limits than international ones. A soft carry-on plus one medium bag keeps airport days easy. Pack swimwear last, in your day bag.
Plan your balloon flight early
Balloon flights are weather-dependent. Cappadocia's two nights give you two chances, so book the optional flight for your first morning and keep the second as a backup.
Respect the long days
Days 5, 6 and 9 combine long drives or flights with sightseeing. Early nights, a good breakfast and comfortable shoes will make them far more enjoyable.
Add a romantic or family touch
Ask us to add a sunset Bosphorus yacht cruise, a hamam session or a Turkish night. Families can add a pottery workshop for children in Avanos.
Use WhatsApp from day one
Share your flight numbers, dietary needs and special occasions in advance. Our team confirms transfers and meals and stays reachable throughout your trip.
1
Confirm your arrival airport and flight number as soon as you book, so your first-day transfer is arranged correctly.
2
Ask for the final meal schedule and baggage allowances in writing; they are included in your confirmation.
3
If you add the balloon flight, keep the first Cappadocia morning free and have a hot drink and warm layer ready for the pre-dawn start.
Travel Tips
Good to Know Before You Go
Practical guidance for a smooth journey through Turkey.
Spring
April to early June brings mild days, green landscapes and wildflowers in Cappadocia, with ideal walking temperatures at Ephesus and Hierapolis and good odds for balloon flights.
★ Best time to visit
Summer
Inland Turkey is hot, while Bodrum is at its best for swimming and boat days. Start sightseeing early, rest at midday and carry water, a hat and sun protection at every ancient site.
Autumn
September and October offer warm sea, golden light and thinner crowds. Temperatures are comfortable for walking, which makes this one of the best all-round seasons for the whole itinerary.
★ Best time to visit
Winter
Sites are quiet and prices lower, with a chance of snow turning Cappadocia into a fairy tale. Some boat activities are limited, so we adapt the programme to the season.
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes
Sun hat and sunglasses
Refillable water bottle
Modest clothing for mosques
Swimwear and towel
Light jacket for mornings
Sunscreen
Plug adapter and power bank
Practical Information
Domestic flights and luggage
Flight times and baggage limits can change. Check the allowance on each ticket, pack a soft bag that fits overhead lockers, and keep valuables, medicines and chargers in your hand luggage.
Walking and accessibility
Ancient sites involve stone paving, steps and uneven ground, and some underground passages are narrow and low. Tell us about mobility needs before booking so we can adapt the programme.
Food and dietary needs
Cuisine changes by region: Istanbul's variety, Cappadocia's Anatolian dishes, and olive-oil vegetables and seafood on the Aegean. Let us know about allergies, vegetarian or halal needs in advance.
Money and tipping
The currency is the Turkish lira. Carry some small notes for cafés and incidentals. Tips for guides, drivers and boat crews are customary, appreciated and not included in the tour price.
Visas and documents
Entry requirements depend on your nationality. Check the current rules with the official government source, and make sure your passport has enough validity for your whole journey.
Responsible travel
Please stay on marked paths at Pamukkale, keep clear of turtle nesting areas at İztuzu, never disturb wildlife and dress respectfully at mosques and other religious sites.
Guest Reviews
What Travellers Say About Us
Summaries of genuine Tripadvisor reviews of The History Travel Agency. Read the full reviews on Tripadvisor.
5.0
33 reviews on Tripadvisor
Rated 5 out of 5 on Tripadvisor, where The History Travel is listed among the top-ranked tours and activities companies in Istanbul. Guests mention personal planning, domestic bookings, responsive WhatsApp support, knowledgeable guides and fair prices.
A family trip planned from start to finish. The reviewer praises a detailed itinerary compared with other agents, all domestic bookings, transfers and guides arranged in advance, and regular check-ins during the trip.
Detailed itinerary, everything arranged
HG
Hevra G
Jul 2025
Top Tour Operator in Turkey
Bought a seven-day Cappadocia package as a gift for a girlfriend and her family and describes the tour as entertaining and enjoyable, with outstanding service from the owner and staff.
Perfect as a gift
SY
Sedat Y
Jul 2025
Excellence holiday in Turkey with family
Booked a ten-day family package on a friend's recommendation. Describes the owner as friendly and knowledgeable and the service as well organised, and recommends the agency to everyone.
Recommended by friends
CF
Charles F
Mar 2024 · Couples
More than a tour guide, a friendly host
A couple enjoyed a full-day Istanbul tour with a great lunch, the main mosques and Topkapı Palace. They felt the guides were hosts rather than just guides and found the price fair.
Fair price, warm hosts
NS
Nida S
Oct 2023
A thrilling visit to a glorious country
Praises a personalised itinerary, quick and professional communication, knowledgeable English-speaking guides, and transport and hotels of high quality.
Personalised itinerary
IS
Irwan & Shikin
Singapore · Dec 2022
Perfect customised Istanbul itinerary
Appreciated a carefully sequenced customised plan and the way the organiser reworked the programme to allow more rest when a family member was unwell, without losing any key sights.
Flexible when plans change
DJ
Departure51424823731
Nov 2023
Fantastic services, 5-star rating for Cappadocia tour
A professional organiser who met the travellers at their apartment on day one, stayed in touch via WhatsApp throughout, and personally refunded a balloon flight cancelled by bad weather.
Honest, even when weather cancels
DS
DN Sahu
Jun 2023 · Couples
Explore Istanbul through History Travel
Highlights constant contact from departure to return, attention to detail including a vegetarian lunch for vegetarian travellers, and a calm, exceptional guide.
Vegetarian needs handled
SU
Sumeet
Nov 2023
Mesmerising experience
Describes a customised trip with generous hospitality that delivered an experience of a lifetime, and strongly recommends booking through the agency.
Customised to the request
Review text is summarised from public Tripadvisor reviews. Names and dates are as shown on Tripadvisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions, Answered
Everything visitors ask before booking the 12-day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Bodrum tour.
Your package includes 11 nights in selected 4- and 5-star hotels, daily breakfast, the lunches listed in the itinerary, three domestic flights (Istanbul–Kayseri, Kayseri–İzmir and Bodrum–Istanbul), airport and intercity transfers, an English-speaking licensed guide for the sightseeing days, entrance fees for the listed sites, air-conditioned vehicles and applicable taxes. Your final confirmation names the hotels, meals and transfers.
You visit Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Hierapolis, Bodrum, Dalyan and Ancient Caunos, and the Princes' Islands with Büyükada. The programme balances historic monuments, natural landscapes, living crafts and Aegean coastline.
Yes. The tour includes domestic flights from Istanbul to Kayseri, from Kayseri to İzmir, and from Bodrum to Istanbul. The Pamukkale to Bodrum leg is a road transfer. Flight times, baggage allowances and transfers are confirmed in your booking documents.
No. The balloon flight is an optional extra, listed at €295 per adult. Flights depend on weather and aviation approval and may be cancelled for safety. If your flight is cancelled by the operator, you should be offered a refund or alternative date under the operator's terms.
It runs as a small-group tour with year-round departures. A fully private version for couples, families and groups is also available, with your own guide and vehicle, flexible timing and a tailored hotel choice. Choose Private or Group when you reserve or ask us for a quote.
Yes, both are included. Day 6 covers Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary, then you drive to Pamukkale for the night. Day 7 explores the travertine terraces and Hierapolis before you continue to Bodrum.
Our indicative prices start from €1,690 per adult on the small-group tour and €2,690 per adult on the private tour, with reduced child rates. The final price depends on travel dates, room type, hotel category and group size. Use the booking form or WhatsApp for a confirmed quote.
Spring (April to early June) and autumn (September to October) are ideal: comfortable temperatures at Ephesus and Pamukkale, warm sea in Bodrum and good conditions for Cappadocia balloon flights. Summer is hot inland but excellent for swimming. Winter is quieter, with a chance of snow in Cappadocia.
Expect daily walking on stone paving, steps and sloping paths, especially at Ephesus, Hierapolis and in Cappadocia's valleys. Some underground passages are narrow and low. Please tell us about mobility concerns before you book so we can adapt the programme.
Pack comfortable walking shoes, light layers, sun protection, a refillable water bottle and modest clothing for mosque visits. Add swimwear for Bodrum and Dalyan, and a warm layer for early Cappadocia mornings. Footwear that is easy to remove helps at mosques and the Pamukkale terraces.
Yes. We can add nights, swap hotels, include optional experiences such as a balloon flight, hamam or Turkish night, or tailor the pace for families, honeymooners and older travellers. Send us your preferences and we will adapt the itinerary.
Send an inquiry or reserve directly using the form on this page, or message us on WhatsApp with your dates, number of adults and children, room needs and optional extras. Free cancellation applies up to 48 hours before the tour date; cancellations within 48 hours are non-refundable, and date changes are subject to availability.
Have questions, or not ready to reserve yet? Send us a message and we'll reply within a few hours.
Choose private or group, select your tickets, and provide your details. We'll confirm availability within a few hours.
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the tour date. Cancellations within 48 hours are non-refundable. Date changes are accommodated subject to availability.
Payment Options
Visa Mastercard Bank Transfer PayPal
Ready to Discover Turkey?
Twelve days, seven destinations and one team looking after every flight, hotel and guide. Tell us your dates and we will confirm availability and a personal price, usually within a few hours.
Book Your TourThe History Travel Agency · Fair and reasonable prices
