9-Day Turkey Highlights Tour
Istanbul · Cappadocia · Ankara · Pamukkale

A full day devoted to Istanbul's historic UNESCO-listed peninsula — one of the most historically rich square kilometres on earth. Your private guide brings 1,500 years of Byzantine and Ottoman history alive at each stop.

Places You Will Visit

Byzantine · UNESCO

Hagia Sophia

Built in 537 AD under Emperor Justinian I, Hagia Sophia stood as the world's largest cathedral for nearly 1,000 years. Its 56-metre central dome — an engineering marvel that baffled contemporaries — is supported by the illusion of floating through a ring of 40 windows that flood the interior with light.

Key FactsConverted to a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II; became a museum in 1934; reconverted to a mosque in 2020. Byzantine mosaics of the Virgin Mary, Christ Pantocrator and emperors are still visible on the upper galleries.

Ottoman · Landmark

Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)

Completed in 1616 under Sultan Ahmed I, the Blue Mosque is the only imperial Ottoman mosque with six minarets — a number that sparked controversy, as it equalled the minarets of the Prophet's Mosque in Mecca. The interior is decorated with over 20,000 hand-painted blue İznik tiles in 50 different tulip designs.

Visitor NoteAppropriate dress required (shoulders & knees covered); scarves available at entrance. Closed to tourists during prayer times.

Ancient · Byzantine

Hippodrome of Constantinople

For 1,000 years the social and political heart of Byzantine Constantinople, the Hippodrome hosted chariot races for up to 100,000 spectators. Today's Sultanahmet Square sits on its foundations. Three ancient monuments survive: the Egyptian Obelisk of Thutmose III (1450 BC), the Bronze Serpent Column from Delphi (479 BC), and the Walled Obelisk.

Did You Know?The Nika Riots of 532 AD — the most violent sports riots in history — began here, killing over 30,000 people in just five days.

Ottoman Palace · Optional

Topkapı Palace

The seat of Ottoman power for nearly 400 years (1465–1856), Topkapı housed up to 4,000 residents and governed an empire spanning three continents. The Treasury holds priceless artefacts including the 86-carat Spoonmaker's Diamond, the Topkapı Dagger, and relics of the Prophet Muhammad. The Harem's 400 rooms reveal the private world of sultans and their families.

NoteEntrance fee is extra (approx. €25–30). Harem requires a separate ticket. Allow 2–3 hours.

Shopping · Historic

Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)

Dating to 1455, the Grand Bazaar is one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets with over 4,000 shops across 61 streets. It's a kaleidoscope of Turkish carpets, hand-painted ceramics, gold and silver jewellery, embroidered textiles, aromatic spices and leather goods. Bargaining is expected and part of the experience.

TipThe jewellery quarter (Kuyumcular Caddesi) and carpet section are particularly impressive. Arrive knowing a fair price to get the best deals.

Your final day in Istanbul shifts perspectives — quite literally. Crossing to the Asian side reveals a quieter, more local Istanbul, before a Bosphorus boat ride gives you the ultimate vantage point: Istanbul viewed from the water. The evening flight takes you to the volcanic wonderland of Cappadocia.

Landmark · Cruise

Bosphorus Strait Cruise (1.5–2 hrs)

The Bosphorus is only 700 metres wide at its narrowest point — yet it divides two continents. From the water you'll see Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque beneath the suspension bridge, the Maiden's Tower, and the forested Asian shores lined with 19th-century yalı (waterfront mansions).

Insider TipThe north-bound (Black Sea direction) passage offers the best views of the two Bosphorus bridges simultaneously. Sit on the upper deck for unobstructed photography.

Viewpoint · Asian Side

Çamlıca Hill & Mosque

At 288 metres, Çamlıca Hill is the highest natural point in Istanbul and the best place to grasp the city's colossal scale — with Europe on one side and Asia on the other, and the Bosphorus threading between them. The adjacent Büyük Çamlıca Mosque, completed in 2019, is Turkey's largest mosque, capable of hosting 63,000 worshippers, with six minarets and four traditional Ottoman domes.

VisibilityOn clear days, the Princes' Islands are visible 25 km offshore in the Sea of Marmara.

Market · Ottoman

Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)

Built in 1664 as part of the Yeni Mosque complex, the L-shaped Spice Bazaar was originally financed by Egyptian customs duties — hence its other name. Its 88 vaulted shops overflow with pyramids of deep-red chilli, golden saffron, purple sumac, dried figs, apricots, pistachio baklava and the chewy rose-and-pistachio Turkish delight (lokum) that makes a perfect edible souvenir.

Don't MissThe Turkish coffee and tea merchants at the far end sell blends not available in supermarkets.

The northern half of Cappadocia's volcanic landscape — the "Red Tour" — covers the most iconic formations and the region's most photogenic viewpoints. Your guide explains the geological forces that created these surreal shapes over millions of years of volcanic eruption and erosion.

Natural Wonder

Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley)

Unlike other Cappadocian valleys, Devrent contains no cave dwellings or churches — it's pure geological sculpture. Wind, rain and frost have shaped the soft volcanic tuff into formations resembling camels, seals, Napoleon's hat, dolphins and countless other figures. Each visitor tends to see something different — the valley rewards a slow, unhurried walk.

GeologyThe tuff (compressed volcanic ash) of Devrent is softer than that of surrounding areas, accelerating the sculpting process. The reddish hue comes from iron oxide in the rock.

Fairy Chimneys · Monastic

Paşabağ — Monks Valley

Paşabağ contains some of Cappadocia's most dramatic fairy chimneys — tall tuff columns topped with darker basalt caps, some of which have split into multiple "heads." During the Byzantine period (4th–11th centuries), hermit monks carved cells, chapels and living spaces into these formations to seek solitude and spiritual contemplation. Saint Simeon, one of the region's most revered holy men, lived in a chimney here.

Don't MissThe three-headed chimney near the entrance — it's one of the most photographed rock formations in Turkey.

Open Air Museum · Byzantine

Zelve Open Air Museum

Zelve was an inhabited cave village continuously occupied from the 9th century until 1952, when residents were relocated due to erosion risk. Three interconnected valleys contain hundreds of rock-carved rooms, pigeon houses, grain stores, churches with faded frescoes, a mosque (converted from a church), and narrow tunnels connecting dwellings. Walking its paths feels like stepping into a living history documentary.

PracticalSome paths are narrow and steep — wear comfortable walking shoes. Less crowded than Göreme, making it ideal for authentic exploration.

Viewpoint · Iconic

Uçhisar Castle

The tallest natural rock formation in Cappadocia, Uçhisar is a 60-metre volcanic pinnacle that has been carved into a labyrinthine castle by successive civilisations. Hundreds of rooms, tunnels and windows honeycomb the rock. Climb to the summit for the best 360° panorama in the region — on clear days you can see Mount Erciyes volcano (3,916 m) rising to the south-east.

Best TimeLate afternoon gives a golden light on the valley below; sunset from the top is spectacular.

Craft · Workshop

Avanos Pottery Workshop

Avanos (ancient Venessa) sits on the red banks of the Kızılırmak — Turkey's longest river, whose iron-rich clay has been used by local potters for over 4,000 years. The Hittites, Assyrians, Greeks and Romans all prized Avanos pottery. Today's artisans maintain the hand-thrown tradition using foot-powered wheels. Watch masters create thin-walled vessels, and optionally try the wheel yourself — most visitors are surprised how difficult it is.

SouvenirsAvanos pottery can be shipped internationally. Smaller pieces (bowls, mugs) make practical and authentic gifts.

The Yellow Tour explores Cappadocia's southern and central landscapes: the softer pastel valleys, the oldest settlements, and the most extraordinary feat of underground engineering in the ancient world. Today's highlight is descending into Derinkuyu Underground City — an 18-storey subterranean labyrinth that once sheltered 20,000 people.

Valley Hike · Photography

Red & Rose Valley

Red Valley (Kızılçukur) is named for its vivid iron-oxide colouration — the rock glows amber, rust and crimson in the morning and afternoon light. A gentle 2 km walking trail winds past cave churches (including the Church of the Three Crosses with well-preserved frescoes) to connect with Rose Valley (Güllüdere), where the pink-toned tuff is softer and the vegetation more lush. Together they form the most beautiful hiking route in Cappadocia.

Photography TipThe light in Red Valley is extraordinary around 4–5 PM in November — the low sun turns the rock a deep crimson that photographs beautifully.

Village · Historic

Çavuşin Village

One of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in Cappadocia, Çavuşin is built into a dramatic cliff face, with cave homes stacked like a natural apartment complex. The Great Pigeon House Church of St. John the Baptist here contains frescoes dating to the 5th century — among the earliest Christian paintings in Cappadocia. The village was partially evacuated in the 1960s due to rockfall, leaving atmospheric abandoned cave-homes open to explore.

Local LifeThe lower village is still inhabited. A handful of carpet shops and tea houses offer a genuine interaction with local Cappadocian culture.

Must-See · UNESCO Tentative

Derinkuyu Underground City

Discovered by accident in 1963, Derinkuyu descends 85 metres through 18 carved floors — making it the deepest underground city in the world. Originally carved by the Phrygians in the 8th century BC and later expanded by early Christians, it could shelter up to 20,000 people with their livestock during invasions. Ingenious ventilation shafts, wells, wine cellars, stables, churches, schools and even a chapel all survived intact beneath the Cappadocian plain.

PracticalSome passages are narrow and low-ceilinged (crouching required). Not recommended for claustrophobia sufferers. 8 of 18 floors are open to visitors.

A long but rewarding day: Ankara is Turkey's often-overlooked capital, home to what may be the finest museum of ancient civilisations in the world and the monumental mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder. The city rewards visitors who take the time to look beyond the modern boulevards.

After arriving late from the overnight bus, this morning is reserved for rest and recovery at your hotel. Pamukkale village itself is a charming base — a short walk from the terraces — with good restaurants and a relaxed atmosphere. In the afternoon, you're free to explore the village, visit the lower terrace pools (no shoes required), or simply rest in preparation for tomorrow's full-day tour. Hotel thermal pools are often available to guests, giving you a taste of Pamukkale's mineral waters at no extra cost.

The final full day of the tour is devoted entirely to one of Turkey's most extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites: a mountain of brilliant white calcium terraces rising above a 2,200-year-old Roman spa city. Few places on earth combine natural spectacle and ancient heritage so dramatically.

UNESCO · Natural Wonder

Pamukkale Travertines

Pamukkale ("Cotton Castle" in Turkish) is a natural marvel formed by calcium-carbonate-laden thermal spring water cascading down a 160-metre cliff face. As the water cools, it deposits calcium carbonate (travertine) in brilliant white terraces and natural pools. The springs emerge at 35°C, filling shallow ledges of warm, mineral-rich water that visitors can walk through barefoot. The site was used as a therapeutic spa by the ancient Greeks and Romans and has been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.

Visitor RulesShoes must be removed before entering the terraces. The boardwalk protects the fragile calcium formations. Some pools are open for wading.

Ancient City · UNESCO

Hierapolis Ancient City

Founded around 190 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamon, Hierapolis was a thriving Greco-Roman spa city built to exploit the thermal springs below. At its peak it housed 100,000 inhabitants. The city's grid-planned streets, colonnaded boulevards, monumental gates, temples, bathhouses and churches survive in remarkable condition. The Plutonium — a cave emitting toxic carbon dioxide that ancient priests used to demonstrate divine power — was rediscovered and identified in 2013 and is still visible. A 2.2 km wander through the site reveals layer upon layer of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and early Christian history.

On-Site MuseumThe Hierapolis Archaeology Museum, housed in a restored Roman bathhouse, contains beautifully displayed sculptures, friezes and sarcophagi from the site.

Theatre · Roman

Roman Theatre of Hierapolis

Dramatically sited on the hillside above the ancient city, the Theatre of Hierapolis is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in Turkey. Built in the 2nd century AD under Emperor Hadrian and enlarged under Septimius Severus, it seated 12,000 spectators. The stage building (scaena) has been meticulously restored and features intricate decorative relief panels depicting mythological scenes — Dionysus, Apollo, Artemis and the Nine Muses. The theatre is fully functional and hosts the annual Hierapolis Opera & Ballet Festival in summer.

ViewFrom the upper tiers you see the travertines and valley below — one of the finest panoramas in all of Turkey.

Optional · Extra Cost

Cleopatra Antique Pool

Formed when a 7th-century earthquake collapsed a Roman colonnade into a natural thermal spring, the Cleopatra Pool is now a unique swimming experience: you glide through 36°C mineral water past sunken marble columns, broken capitals and Roman stone. The pool has been used therapeutically since antiquity — its water is rich in calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, believed to benefit skin and circulation. Despite the royal marketing, the "Cleopatra" connection is legendary rather than historical, but the swim is genuinely unforgettable.

CostApproximately €25 per person entrance. Towels available for hire. Swimming costumes required.

Cemetery · Roman

Roman Necropolis of Hierapolis

The Necropolis at Hierapolis is among the largest and best-preserved ancient cemeteries in the Mediterranean world, containing over 1,200 tombs spanning the Hellenistic, Roman and early Christian periods. Carved sarcophagi with elaborate relief decoration, family tomb chambers (heroa), tumulus mounds and simple grave markers stretch across a 2-kilometre area north of the city gate. Many inscriptions survive, providing rare personal insights into the lives of ordinary citizens of an ancient spa town.

SignificanceThe high mortality rate among those seeking thermal cures brought enormous numbers of burials here — and correspondingly, a thriving industry of tomb-builders and stone-carvers.

Natural Spa

Karahayit Red Springs

5 km north of Pamukkale in the village of Karahayit, these thermal springs have a very different character: the iron oxide in the water stains the rocks and ground a striking rusty red-orange. The spring water (33–42°C) is believed to be therapeutic for skin conditions, arthritis and digestive complaints. Several open-air basins allow visitors to soak in the reddish waters — a memorable contrast to the brilliant white of Pamukkale's travertines.

PracticalLess crowded than the main Pamukkale site and worth a quick visit as part of the combined day trip.

Your final morning in Istanbul is yours — enjoy a last Turkish breakfast, pick up any remaining souvenirs, or simply savour the city you now know so well. Your private driver will collect you from the hotel approximately 3–4 hours before your international departure to ensure a relaxed, stress-free airport transfer. It's been 9 extraordinary days. Güle güle! (Goodbye in Turkish, literally "Go smiling.")