9 Days Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia Tour

Hagia SophiaVisit the domed monument in the historic centre of Istanbul. Your guide explains its architecture and the different roles it has held in the city.

Blue MosqueSee the mosque’s decorated interior and courtyard beside the Old City square. Visiting arrangements follow prayer times and the dress rules of an active mosque.

Hippodrome and ObelisksView the monuments surviving from the area of the Byzantine racing ground. The square helps place the Hippodrome within the old city’s public life.

Lunch during the Old City and palace itineraryThe full-day Istanbul tour includes a restaurant lunch between its visits. Drinks and extra meal orders are separate expenses.

Topkapi Palace and HaremExplore the palace complex and its Harem with your guide. The included visits cover the setting and decoration of the Ottoman court’s residence.

Grand BazaarVisit the covered market as part of the guided route. Its lanes contain shops selling many kinds of local goods. On Sundays, another shopping stop replaces the closed Grand Bazaar.

Shopping OpportunityThe itinerary allows a stop for browsing and shopping. Anything you decide to buy is separate from the tour price.

Troy Ancient CityExplore the excavated remains of settlements built one above another at Troy. Your guide explains the walls, streets and buildings uncovered at the site.

Trojan Horse on the Canakkale waterfrontSee the large modern wooden horse beside Canakkale’s waterfront. This is a separate setting from the archaeological remains at Troy.

Sacrificial AltarsView the remains of the religious area and its altars. They add evidence of worship to the story of life in ancient Troy.

Group lunch in Eceabat before TroyThe Group service includes a restaurant lunch in Eceabat before the guided archaeological visit. Drinks and extra restaurant orders are separate.

3,700-Year-Old City WallsSee parts of Troy’s surviving stone defences. The guide uses them to explain how the ancient settlement was protected.

Houses of Troy IVisit the remains of houses belonging to the early settlement called Troy I. They represent one of the oldest phases described on the guided route.

Agora of TroySee the remains of the public space known as the agora. This part of the visit introduces the civic life of the ancient settlement.

Pamukkale TravertinesSee the bright terraces formed by mineral deposits from spring water. Shoes are removed on the permitted walking section.

Hierapolis Ancient CityExplore the ancient city ruins above the terraces. The visit shows the settlement that developed around Pamukkale’s thermal springs.

Lunch on the Pamukkale sightseeing dayLunch is included at a restaurant during the guided visits. Drinks and any additional food orders are charged separately.

Cleopatra Antique PoolView the thermal pool with ancient stones visible beneath the water. There is no viewing charge; swimming is optional and paid separately at the site.

Ephesus Ancient CityWalk through the ancient streets past the remains of public buildings. The library façade and large theatre help show the city’s former size and importance.

House of Virgin MaryVisit the stone shrine in the hills near the Ephesus site. It is associated with the Virgin Mary and remains a place of pilgrimage.

Lunch during the Ephesus day tripThe Ephesus itinerary includes a restaurant meal between the site visits. Drinks and extra orders at lunch are separate.

Temple of ArtemisSee the remains of the former temple sanctuary. The guide explains its dedication to Artemis and its place among the ancient wonders.

Devrent ValleyView the natural rock shapes on Devrent’s slopes. The formation resembling a camel is one of the recognisable features at this stop.

Pasabag Open Air MuseumSee the tall capped fairy chimneys and carved spaces at Pasabag. These formations are among the main landscapes visited on the Red route.

Goreme Panoramic ViewLook out across Goreme and the rock valleys around the settlement. The viewpoint offers a wider perspective on the day’s Cappadocia visits.

Lunch during the Red Tour before departureA restaurant lunch is included on the final guided day, before the airport transfer. Drinks and anything ordered beyond the included meal are extra.

Avanos Pottery WorkshopWatch a pottery demonstration in an Avanos workshop. The visit shows the shaping techniques used in the town’s established clay-working tradition.

Zelve Open Air MuseumExplore the spaces left by the former settlement in Zelve’s valleys. Houses and religious rooms remain carved into the rock walls.

Uchisar Castle — exterior viewSee the rock fortress above Uchisar from an outside viewpoint. The tour does not include entry or the climb inside the castle.