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B
A family trip planned from start to finish by Sebahattin. The itinerary was detailed, unlike other agents, and he handled domestic bookings, transfers, guides and day trips. He stayed in touch throughout the journey.
Family tour · Original review
Tour overview
The tourism company Istanbul travellers recommend, and why they keep coming back
The History Travel Agency is a TÜRSAB-licensed Istanbul tourism company that plans private tours, package holidays, VIP transfers, meetings and celebrations across Türkiye. We began as two working tour guides who were tired of watching visitors rushed through the country in convoys. So we built the agency around one promise: every guest should feel like the only guest.
Planning Turkey alone means juggling hotels, domestic flights, museum tickets, drivers and guides who actually know the stories behind the stones. We take all of that off your plate. You tell us what you love, whether that is Byzantine mosaics, Ottoman kitchens, cave hotels or a quiet Bosphorus dinner, and we shape the route around it.
Why Istanbul is the perfect place to begin
Istanbul is the only major city in the world that spreads across two continents. Founded as Byzantium, renamed Constantinople in the 4th century and captured by the Ottomans in 1453, it served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Few places on earth carry so many layers in a single walkable neighbourhood, and the historic peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
That depth is exactly why a good guide matters. On your own, Hagia Sophia is an impressive room. With a licensed guide beside you, it becomes a conversation between Justinian's engineers, Ottoman calligraphers and the mosaic artists who worked under gold. We deliver that second version of the city, every day of your trip.
From Istanbul to the rest of Türkiye
Our sample journey below links Istanbul with the volcanic valleys of Cappadocia, the white terraces of Pamukkale and the marble streets of Ephesus. It is the classic first-visit route, and it works because each stop is completely different from the last. Prefer Gallipoli, Troy, Bursa, Konya, the Black Sea or the east? Our destination-management team plans nationwide, so the same care travels with you.
Whether you need a two-hour airport transfer or a two-week private itinerary, one team handles everything: from the first WhatsApp message to the moment you board your flight home.
8 days / 7 nightsSample itinerary
Domestic flightsIstanbul · Cappadocia · İzmir
Licensed guidesEnglish & Spanish
Private or groupChoose at booking
Starts in IstanbulAirport meet-and-greet
Topic highlights
Six ideas sit behind everything we plan. Together they explain why guests describe our trips as personal rather than packaged.
History you can touch
Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Türkiye told through the places where it happened, not from a script.
Routes shaped around you
Budget, pace, interests and mobility decide the plan. The route is never squeezed to fit a coach timetable.
Guides with a licence and a story
Professionally certified guides who have worked these sites for years and know which corner has the best light.
Comfort between the sights
Private vehicles, meet-and-greet arrivals and pre-booked tickets so your energy goes into the experience.
Table and tradition
Local lunches, tea with a shopkeeper and dinner with live entertainment, chosen by people who eat there.
Someone always answers
A real person is on WhatsApp throughout your trip, from your first question to your departure gate.
Perfect for
Families
Honeymoon couples
Solo travellers
Muslim travellers
History lovers
Photographers
Food lovers
School groups
Corporate travellers
Cruise guests
Luxury travellers
Why choose us
What makes The History Travel Agency different
Anyone can list hotels and tickets. What guests remember, and what the Tripadvisor reviews below keep mentioning, is how the trip felt from the inside.
Local knowledge, nationwide
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya, Bursa, Konya, Gallipoli, the Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia. Each itinerary carries historical context and real local contacts, not copied brochure text.
Customised, never cookie-cutter
Families, honeymooners, photographers, students, incentive groups: each gets a different pace, different hotels and a different guide style. Change the route as many times as you like before you book.
Licensed and accountable
We operate under TÜRSAB licence 7377, with professional certified guides and a published fair-pricing and honesty policy you can read before you pay.
Everything joined up
Airport meet-and-greet, hotels, domestic flights, museum tickets, private vehicles and daily support come from one team, so nothing falls between suppliers.
Private and group, your choice
Enjoy a fully private journey with your own guide and vehicle, or join a small group to keep the price friendly. Both run on the same itinerary.
We fix things fast
Weather cancelled a balloon flight? A family member felt unwell? Guests describe how the plan was quickly rebuilt around them. That is what a 24/7 team is for.
Your route at a glance: 8 days, 7 nights
3
Istanbul
3 nights
3 nights
2
Cappadocia
2 nights
2 nights
1
Pamukkale
1 night
1 night
1
Ephesus & Kuşadası
1 night
1 night
Departure
Day 8
Day 8
Day-by-day itinerary
Sample premium Turkey discovery itinerary
This 8-day programme is our most requested first-visit route. Treat it as a starting point: swap a day, add Gallipoli, extend Cappadocia or upgrade to luxury hotels, and we will re-plan the whole journey around you.
1
Your driver meets you at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) with a name sign, helps with luggage and takes you to your hotel in the historic peninsula. After check-in, depending on your arrival time, you can wander the quiet lanes around Sultanahmet, where the minarets of two great mosques share the skyline.
We recommend a first evening with no schedule: mint tea, a short stroll to the Hippodrome and an early night. Tomorrow is a big day.
Evening · optional walk
Sultanahmet Square (the Hippodrome)
Once the sporting and political heart of Constantinople, where up to 100,000 spectators watched chariot races. An Egyptian obelisk, a bronze serpent column from Delphi and a German fountain still mark the arena.
Airport transfer included Hotel included
Overnight: Istanbul.
2
Today you explore the UNESCO-listed historic peninsula on foot with your guide. We start early, before the tour buses arrive, and finish in the Grand Bazaar when the light turns golden.
Morning
Hagia Sophia
Built in the 6th century under Emperor Justinian, its enormous dome seems to float on a ring of windows. Look for Byzantine mosaics, Ottoman calligraphy and the marks of centuries of history.
Late morning
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
Famous for its six minarets and thousands of blue İznik tiles. It is a working mosque, so your guide plans the visit around prayer times and explains what you are seeing.
Afternoon
Basilica Cistern
A cool, hushed underground reservoir from the Byzantine era, held up by hundreds of marble columns and lit like a cathedral of water. Look for the two Medusa heads at the base of the far columns.
Late afternoon
Grand Bazaar
One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, with thousands of shops selling ceramics, textiles, lamps, jewellery and spices. Your guide shows you where locals buy and how to bargain politely.
Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are active places of worship. Bring a scarf, dress modestly and expect short closures for prayer. Opening rules change, so your guide confirms them on the day.
Overnight: Istanbul.
3
Today the city is seen from the water. A private or group cruise carries you along the strait that separates two continents, past palaces, fortresses, wooden waterfront mansions called yalı and three suspension bridges.
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Morning
Bosphorus Strait cruise
Sail beneath the Bosphorus bridges and past Dolmabahçe Palace, Rumeli Fortress and the baroque Ortaköy Mosque. The strait connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea and has shaped Istanbul's wealth and strategy for 2,500 years.
Afternoon
Ortaköy and free time
Stop for coffee at the waterfront, try a stuffed baked potato (kumpir) and watch the bridge light up. Add a Dolmabahçe Palace visit or a hammam if you prefer a slower pace.
Overnight: Istanbul.
4
After a domestic flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir (about 1 hour 20 minutes), your guide meets you and the landscape changes completely. Cappadocia formed when ancient eruptions covered the plateau in soft volcanic tuff, and wind and rain carved it into cones and canyons.
Late morning
Göreme Open-Air Museum
A UNESCO-listed monastic complex of rock-cut churches, refectories and cells with vivid Byzantine frescoes. Photography is not allowed inside the churches, so your guide brings the paintings to life in words.
Afternoon
Uçhisar Castle
A natural rock citadel honeycombed with rooms and tunnels, and one of the highest viewpoints in Cappadocia. Climb up for a wide panorama across the valleys.
Late afternoon
Paşabağ (Monks Valley) and Devrent Valley
Paşabağ is famous for towering fairy chimneys with several mushroom caps. Devrent, sometimes called Imagination Valley, is known for naturally sculpted rock shapes that look like animals.
Overnight: Cappadocia (cave or boutique hotel).
5
Some guests rise before dawn for a hot air balloon flight (optional and not included, see Price). Others sleep in and start with a slow breakfast on a terrace above the valley. Either way, today is about what lies beneath and between the fairy chimneys.
Morning
Kaymaklı Underground City
An astonishing network of tunnels, kitchens, stables, chapels and storerooms carved down through the rock. Communities used such cities for shelter during periods of danger. Wear comfortable shoes and expect low, narrow passages.
Afternoon
Red Valley and Rose Valley
A short walk through canyons that glow pink and orange as the sun sinks. Rock-cut chapels appear in the cliffs, and the sunset views are among the best in central Anatolia.
Late afternoon
Çavuşin Village
A hillside village of abandoned cave houses, with an early church dedicated to St John the Baptist. It is a quiet place to see how Cappadocians lived inside the rock.
Overnight: Cappadocia.
6
A morning flight takes you west to İzmir, followed by a private transfer of about three hours to Pamukkale. You arrive in time for the afternoon light, when the terraces look like frozen waterfalls against a blue sky.
Afternoon
Pamukkale travertines
Bright white terraces formed by mineral-rich thermal water flowing down the hillside. You walk barefoot along the shallow pools, which is part of the experience.
Late afternoon
Hierapolis ancient city
Explore the Roman theatre, the ancient thermal pools and one of the largest necropolises in Anatolia. The city grew rich because pilgrims and invalids travelled here to bathe in the healing waters.
Overnight: Pamukkale (thermal hotel).
7
After a leisurely breakfast in your thermal hotel, we drive to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. Your guide keeps you ahead of the crowds and stops where the details are most rewarding.
Morning
Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre
The two-storey library facade is the icon of Ephesus. Nearby, the Great Theatre is among the largest theatres of antiquity, still used for concerts today.
Midday
Temple of Artemis
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only a lone reconstructed column stands today, but the story of what it once was makes the site unforgettable.
Afternoon
House of the Virgin Mary
A quiet, wooded hillside shrine that many Christians believe to be the last home of Mary, and which is also visited by Muslim guests. It is a reflective end to the day.
Overnight: Kuşadası.
8
After breakfast, a private transfer takes you to İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (about one hour) for your onward flight. If you would rather return to Istanbul for a final night or a second look at the Grand Bazaar, we arrange the domestic flight and the hotel. Our services end at the airport.
Places you will visit
The stories behind every stop
A name on an itinerary tells you almost nothing. Here is what each major place is, why it matters and what your guide will point out that a guidebook usually misses.
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Day 2
Istanbul · UNESCO World Heritage
Hagia Sophia: the dome that changed architecture
Commissioned by Emperor Justinian and completed in 537, Hagia Sophia was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years. Its central dome appears to hover over a ring of windows, and the effect is so bold that engineers were still studying it centuries later. It became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of 1453, a museum in the 20th century and a mosque again in 2020.
Your guide reads the building like a layered manuscript: gold mosaics, monumental Ottoman calligraphy discs, marble columns recycled from older temples, and the worn stone ramp that carried emperors upward.
Allow about 60–75 minutes
Modest dress; scarf for women
Entry rules for foreign visitors change, so we check them for you
Best light: early morning
Day 2
Sultanahmet · Ottoman classical
The Blue Mosque: six minarets and a sky of tiles
Sultan Ahmed I ordered this mosque built between 1609 and 1616 to rival Hagia Sophia across the square. Its cascade of domes and unusual six minarets make it one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the world, while the interior takes its nickname from thousands of hand-painted İznik tiles in blue and turquoise.
It is still a place of daily worship, which is why timing matters. Your guide plans the visit between prayers, explains the architecture in plain language and shows you how the tile patterns move from tulips to carnations to cypress trees.
Allow about 30–40 minutes
Closed to visitors during prayer
Shoes off; bag provided
Best view: from the Hippodrome at dusk
Day 2
Byzantine engineering
Basilica Cistern: the sunken palace
Below the streets of Sultanahmet lies the largest of Istanbul's ancient cisterns, built in the 6th century for Justinian to store water for the Great Palace. A forest of marble columns rises from still water beneath brick vaults, and the walkways glide quietly between them.
The city forgot about it until the 16th-century traveller Petrus Gyllius noticed locals drawing water through their cellar floors. Look for the two Medusa heads used as column bases, one sideways and one upside down. Nobody is certain why.
Allow about 30 minutes
Cool and damp; bring a light layer
Pre-booked to avoid queues
Tripods are not permitted
Topkapı Palace
Ottoman imperial palace
Topkapı Palace: where sultans ruled
For almost four centuries Topkapı was the administrative and domestic heart of the Ottoman Empire. Mehmed the Conqueror began it soon after 1453, and later sultans added courtyards, pavilions, a treasury and the famous Harem, a maze of hundreds of rooms where the imperial family lived.
We recommend adding Topkapı as a half-day extension on Day 2 or Day 3. The palace is closed one day a week, so we schedule it around the calendar. Guests who have visited say the guide makes the difference between a tour of rooms and a story of people.
Allow 2–3 hours
Harem needs its own ticket
Closed once a week
Treasury and relics collection
Grand Bazaar
Istanbul's covered market
Grand Bazaar: a city inside a roof
Founded soon after the conquest of 1453 and expanded over the centuries, the Grand Bazaar today holds thousands of shops along dozens of covered streets. Ceramics, brass lamps, carpets, leather, gold and spices sit in tightly packed lanes, each historically grouped by trade.
We visit with a purpose: you learn to tell a hand-knotted carpet from a machine-made one, where to find a fair price and how to refuse politely with a smile. Prefer no pressure? Your guide can simply walk you through the atmosphere. The market is closed on Sundays.
Allow 60–90 minutes
Bargaining is part of the culture
Closed on Sundays
Carry small notes and cards
Day 3
Two continents, one strait
The Bosphorus: Istanbul from the water
The Bosphorus links the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and divides Europe from Asia. Ships have crossed it since antiquity, and the empires that controlled it controlled trade between two worlds. Today it is lined with the palaces, fortresses, mosques and wooden waterfront mansions of the last five centuries.
On your cruise, watch for Dolmabahçe Palace, the 15th-century Rumeli Fortress, the baroque Ortaköy Mosque beside the bridge and the shoreline villages where Istanbul families still spend weekends. If dolphins appear, the captain slows down.
Private or group cruise
Usually 1.5–2 hours on board
Golden hour is unforgettable
Private yacht upgrade available
Day 4
Cappadocia · UNESCO World Heritage
Göreme Open-Air Museum: a monastery in the rock
From roughly the 10th to the 13th centuries, monks carved churches, chapels, kitchens and dining halls straight into the volcanic cones of this valley. Inside the churches, red-ochre frescoes still glow with saints, angels and scenes from the Gospels.
The Dark Church, the Apple Church and the Buckle Church each show different styles. Photography is not allowed inside the churches to protect the paint, so we spend time on the details you cannot capture on a phone: the way a single ray of light picks out a saint's face.
Allow 90 minutes
No photography in churches
Dark Church may need its own ticket
Stairs and uneven stone
Day 4
Uçhisar · Paşabağ · Devrent
Fairy chimneys and the castle in the sky
Millions of years ago, volcanoes such as Erciyes and Hasan covered this plateau in ash. Wind and water later carved the soft rock into the cones and spires locals call fairy chimneys. Some are topped by harder caps that shelter the stone below, which is why they look like mushrooms.
Uçhisar Castle, a rock citadel riddled with rooms, gives the widest panorama. In Paşabağ, multi-headed chimneys stand in tight groups, and in Devrent, the natural shapes invite guesses: a camel, a seal, a dolphin. Take your time and let the children spot them first.
Wide panoramic viewpoints
Best light: late afternoon
Some short climbs
Bring sun protection
Kaymaklı Underground City
Cappadocia · Underground architecture
Kaymaklı Underground City: eight floors below your feet
Beneath the village of Kaymaklı, communities dug a vertical city with kitchens, wine presses, stables, storerooms, ventilation shafts and chapels. Round stone doors could be rolled across corridors from the inside to seal off each level. Only the upper levels are open to visitors, yet they are enough to make you feel the scale.
Your guide explains how people lived there during periods of danger, how air and smoke were managed and why the tunnels are so narrow. Passages are low, so we plan a slow pace and pause in the larger rooms.
Allow 60–75 minutes
Low ceilings; not ideal for claustrophobia
Non-slip shoes recommended
Cool year-round
Day 5
Valley walks at sunset
Red Valley and Rose Valley: colour on the cliffs
The rocks here contain iron and minerals that glow red, pink and gold when the sun is low. Trails wind between cliffs, vineyards and small rock-cut chapels whose crosses and painted vaults appear suddenly on the canyon walls.
We time the walk for the hour before sunset and keep it gentle, about 2–3 kilometres on well-worn paths. Afterwards, the village of Çavuşin offers cave houses, an early church and the kind of quiet that makes people talk in whispers.
Easy to moderate walk
Sunset hour is the highlight
Carry water
Pack a camera and a jacket
Day 6
Denizli · UNESCO World Heritage
Pamukkale: the cotton castle
Hot springs rich in calcium carbonate have poured down this hillside for thousands of years, leaving a staircase of brilliant white terraces and turquoise pools. The Turkish name means "cotton castle", and in the late afternoon light the description feels exact.
Visitors walk the terraces barefoot, so you feel the warm mineral water as it flows. To protect the formations, only marked areas are open. Bring a swimsuit if you want to soak, and a towel for your feet.
Barefoot on the terraces
Warm mineral pools
Sunglasses recommended
Golden hour is best
Hierapolis
Ancient thermal city
Hierapolis: a spa town of antiquity
Above the terraces lies the ancient city of Hierapolis, founded in the 2nd century BC and later a thriving Roman spa town. Pilgrims and invalids came for the hot springs, and the huge necropolis outside the walls holds thousands of tombs, some shaped like small houses.
Walk the colonnaded main street, sit in the well-preserved Roman theatre and see the Antique Pool, where warm spring water bubbles among fallen marble columns. Swimming there is optional and costs extra.
Roman theatre with fine reliefs
One of Anatolia's largest necropolises
Antique Pool swim is optional
Allow about 2 hours
Day 7
Izmir Province · UNESCO World Heritage
Ephesus: a Roman metropolis on the Aegean
In the Roman era Ephesus was one of the largest cities of the empire and the capital of the province of Asia. You walk along marble streets, past the Library of Celsus, whose restored two-storey facade is the site's icon, and into the Great Theatre, which held tens of thousands of spectators.
The city also mattered to early Christianity. Saint Paul preached here, and the Gospel of John is traditionally linked to the area. Your guide connects the ruins into a living city, from public latrines to luxury villas with painted walls.
Allow 2.5–3 hours
Little shade; hat and water essential
Terrace Houses need their own ticket
Go early to avoid crowds
Artemis and Meryem Ana
Selçuk and Meryem Ana
Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary
The Temple of Artemis was counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a marble temple many times the size of the Parthenon. Only one reconstructed column stands in a quiet field today, yet the story of its destruction and its cult of the mother goddess is the reason we stop.
High in the pine hills, the House of the Virgin Mary is a small stone chapel that Christian pilgrims believe to be the final home of Mary. Popes have visited, and many Muslim guests also come to pray, because Mary is honoured in the Quran. It is a calm and reflective end to your Ephesus day.
Allow about 1 hour for both
A shrine for several faiths
Modest dress requested
Spring water on site
What is included
Included and not included
No surprises. This is what the sample 8-day programme covers, and what you arrange separately. We put the final version in writing before you pay.
Included
- Professional consultation and full trip planning
- Airport meet-and-greet and all private transfers
- Licensed English-speaking guides (Spanish on request)
- 7 nights in selected 4-star or boutique hotels with breakfast
- Domestic flights between Istanbul, Cappadocia and İzmir
- Guided sightseeing at every stop in the itinerary
- Entrance fees where applicable
- Bosphorus cruise
- 24/7 WhatsApp and phone support throughout the trip
Not included
- International flights to and from Türkiye
- Hot air balloon flights (optional, weather dependent)
- Lunches, dinners and drinks unless stated in your final programme
- Travel insurance
- Visa or e-visa fees, where required
- Personal expenses, shopping and tips
- Optional activities such as Topkapı Harem, hammam or the Hierapolis Antique Pool
VIP & event services
A Turkey-based VIP travel agency for every occasion
Beyond leisure tours, The History Travel Agency plans official visits, corporate programmes, receptions, celebrations, sports trips and school travel across Türkiye. Event planning and destination management cover 122 destinations nationwide. Each service below is shaped around the people it is for.
VIP tourism and protocol travel
Discreet arrival handling, comfortable vehicles, private routes and guides who understand that an hour saved matters more than a detour. We coordinate timing, hotels, security preferences and every hand-off between drivers and hosts.
Official, government and diplomatic visits
Programmes for delegations, members of parliament, embassies, consulates and foreign missions. We arrange transport, translation support, meeting logistics and cultural programmes that fit an official schedule.
Holding companies and corporate personnel
Incentive trips, executive retreats and staff travel with clear budgets and reliable reporting. We combine city tours, team activities and evening dinners so the group leaves closer than it arrived.
Meetings, negotiations and conferences
Venue sourcing, transfer schedules, interpreters, catering and breakout rooms. Between sessions we offer short cultural breaks: a Bosphorus lunch cruise or a private hour in the old city.
Receptions, galas and dinners with entertainment
From a rooftop welcome cocktail to a gala with live Turkish music and a whirling-dervish performance. We choose venues by acoustics, views and access, not only by price.
Weddings, anniversaries and family celebrations
Wedding celebrations, wedding anniversaries, graduation parties and traditional circumcision (sünnet) celebrations planned with respect for family customs. Decor, music, photography and transport all in one place.
Football clubs and sporting events
Team logistics for training camps, tournaments and match-day travel, plus championship celebrations and supporters' events. We handle early departures, dietary needs and the crowds around big stadiums.
School travel and educational tours
Curriculum-linked history and culture programmes with age-appropriate guides, safe transport and clear supervision plans. Teachers receive a full risk checklist before departure.
Boat charters and Bosphorus yachts
Hourly private yacht hire, sunset cruises, corporate charters and celebration boats on the Bosphorus. Crew, catering, sound and decoration can be arranged with your booking.
VIP official cars and airport transfers
Rent VIP official cars and minivans with professional drivers, from single airport pick-ups to multi-day convoys. Vehicles are sized to your group and prepared before you arrive.
Licensed guides in many languages and cities
Certified English-speaking guides in Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale, and Spanish-speaking guides on request. Every guide holds a professional tourist-guide certificate.
Tickets, flights and daily excursions
Internal flight tickets, museum tickets, private daily excursions and multi-day packages booked together, so your timetable never depends on a queue or a sold-out slot.
AI-assisted travel recommendations
Smart suggestions to get more from this journey
Prepared with AI assistance, these suggestions help you avoid queues, save energy and match the plan to your own style. Ask us to build any of them into your itinerary.
Start Sultanahmet before the tour buses
Arrive at Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque early in the morning. Crowds are lightest then, and the interiors look their best in early light.
Add a hammam after Cappadocia
A traditional Turkish bath after two days of walking soothes tired legs. We can book a private session in Göreme or, on your last night, in Istanbul.
Book the balloon early and keep a buffer
Flights are weather dependent and often cancelled for wind. Placing your balloon on Day 4 or 5, not the last morning, leaves a spare day for a second chance.
Pack for stone, stairs and water
Bring grippy walking shoes, a light scarf for mosques, a swimsuit for Pamukkale, sun protection for Ephesus and a jacket for cool underground cities.
Slow the pace for children and seniors
We can shorten walking days, add rest stops and choose ground-floor rooms. Tell us about mobility needs when booking and we will adjust each stop.
Tell us your food preferences early
Vegetarian, halal, gluten-free or allergy needs are easy to manage when the restaurants know in advance. Guests tell us that thoughtful lunches were a trip highlight.
1
Best time for photos: Hippodrome at dusk, Uçhisar viewpoint at sunrise, Pamukkale terraces in late afternoon and Ephesus before 9 a.m.
2
Extend to Gallipoli, Troy or Bursa: add one or two days from Istanbul to include Ottoman and First World War heritage.
3
Upgrade the hotels: choose 5-star hotels in Istanbul and a cave suite in Cappadocia for a slower, more luxurious version of this route.
4
Carry a little cash: lira notes make tea, tips, small markets and public toilets much easier than cards.
5
Share your arrival details: flight number and terminal let your driver track delays and be waiting when you land.
6
Save our WhatsApp number: +90 536 560 1038 works around the clock for schedule changes, questions or a recommendation for dinner.
When to go
The best time to visit Turkey
The route works all year, but the season changes the experience. Choose by what matters most to you: comfort, crowds, colour or price.
Spring (Apr–May)
Mild days, green valleys and wildflowers. Ideal for walking in Cappadocia and Ephesus.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot and busy. Start early, take midday breaks and enjoy Bosphorus evenings.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Warm sea, softer light and easier crowds. Excellent for photography.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Quiet sights, lower prices and snow-dusted Cappadocia. Pack warm layers.
Price
How much does a premium Turkey tour cost?
The prices below are for the sample 8-day itinerary, per person, in euros. Group tours share a guide and vehicle. Private tours are yours alone. Children aged 4–11 pay a reduced rate.
Small group tour
€899
per adult · 8 days / 7 nights
- Child (4–11): €699
- Shared guide and vehicle
- Domestic flights and hotels included
- Best value for solo travellers
Private tour
€1,390
per adult · 8 days / 7 nights
- Child (4–11): €1,090
- Your own guide and driver
- Flexible timing and pace
- Most popular with couples and families
Luxury private
from €1,999
per adult · custom quote
- 5-star and cave suites
- VIP vehicles and private yacht options
- Bespoke dining and events
- Request a quote via the form
| Service | Starting from (per person) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul day tours | €79 | First-time visitors and cruise guests |
| Private Istanbul tours | €149 | Couples, families and small groups |
| Cappadocia packages | €399 | Short getaways from Istanbul |
| Turkey multi-day tours | €899 | Classic Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus |
| Luxury Turkey tours | €1,999 | Honeymoons, VIP and special occasions |
| Customised and event programmes | Request a quote | Corporate, official and celebration groups |
How this compares with the market. Premium private operators publish prices of roughly US$2,300 to US$4,500 per person for a similar 7–8 day route with boutique or five-star hotels. A locally owned agency that plans directly, without international middlemen, can offer the same destinations and licensed guiding at a more accessible level. The figures above are approximate list prices for the sample itinerary. Your final price depends on the season, hotel category, group size and any extras.
What changes the price: travel month (April–October is busiest), hotel level, private or group, number of travellers, optional balloon flights and any extensions such as Gallipoli or Bursa.
Prices are shown as a guide and confirmed in writing before payment. Read our fair pricing and honesty policies on the main site. Free cancellation applies up to 48 hours before the tour date.
Tripadvisor reviews
What travellers say about The History Travel
5.0
33 reviews on Tripadvisor
These are summaries of real reviews left by travellers on our Tripadvisor listing. Names and dates are shown as posted, and each card links to the original review so you can read it in full.
H
Bought a 7-day Cappadocia package as a gift for his girlfriend and her family. They found the tour entertaining and enjoyable, praised the service from Sebahattin and staff, and would gladly return to Türkiye with the same company.
7-day Cappadocia package · Original review
S
Booked a 10-day family package after friends recommended the agency. They found the owner friendly and knowledgeable, felt the whole service was well organised and enjoyed the tour so much that they recommend it to everyone.
10-day family package · Original review
C
Says the guides felt like hosts rather than tour leaders. During a full day in Istanbul the couple enjoyed a good lunch, visited the main mosques and Topkapı, and considered the price fair.
Full-day Istanbul tour · Original review
T
Sebahattin met them at their apartment on day one and organised a very good Cappadocia tour with a friendly, professional guide. When their balloon flight was cancelled for weather, he came back in person to return the payment and stayed in touch on WhatsApp until their flight home.
Cappadocia tour · Original review
N
Praised Sebahattin's help during planning and the personalised itinerary that suited their needs. Once in Türkiye he responded quickly, the English-speaking guides were knowledgeable and friendly, and the transport and hotels were of high quality.
Personalised itinerary · Original review
I
A customised Istanbul plan in which every stop made sense in order. When a family member fell ill, Sebahattin quickly reworked the itinerary to allow more rest while still covering every attraction. They enjoyed Turkish tea at his office and plan to return.
Customised Istanbul itinerary · Original review
D
Sebahattin stayed in touch from the moment they left India until they were home again and looked after small details. As vegetarians they were worried about food, and a very good vegetarian lunch was arranged. Their guide was calm and exceptional. Tip: wear comfortable shoes.
Istanbul city tour · Original review
S
Booked through Sebahattin and describes the trip as an experience of a lifetime. The programme was tailored to their requests, and he offered generous hospitality throughout. They strongly recommend booking with him.
Customised Turkey trip · Original review
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