9 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia and Southeast Turkey Tour

Hagia SophiaSee the domed landmark at the centre of Istanbul’s historic peninsula. Your guide explains its architecture and changing role across the Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

Blue MosqueVisit the mosque known for its tilework and minarets. Entry follows the dress requirements and shoe-removal rules of an active place of worship.

Hippodrome and ObelisksWalk through the square on the site of the former chariot-racing arena. The monuments that remain help locate its central line within today’s Old City.

Lunch during the Istanbul palace and Old City dayRestaurant lunch is included between the guided visits. Drinks and additional orders are charged separately.

Shopping OpportunityThe route includes a stop to browse local goods. Purchases are optional and are separate from the tour price.

Topkapi Palace and HaremVisit the Ottoman palace and its Harem with entrance included. The courtyards and rooms introduce the setting of court life and the household of the dynasty.

Grand BazaarSee the covered market and its lanes of small shops. The bazaar is closed on Sundays, when the itinerary visits another shopping alternative.

Devrent ValleyView the naturally eroded rocks and their varied outlines. The camel-shaped formation is a recognisable feature among the valley’s unusual shapes.

Pasabag Open Air MuseumSee the fairy chimneys with their wide stone caps. Some of the formations also contain carved chambers left by earlier inhabitants.

Goreme Panoramic ViewTake in the village and the surrounding valleys from above. The outlook gives a wider setting for the rock formations visited during the day.

Lunch on the Red Tour after your flightThe guided tour includes a restaurant lunch during the northern visits. Drinks and extra food orders are separate.

Avanos Pottery WorkshopWatch clay being worked during a pottery demonstration in Avanos. The visit introduces the craft associated with this town.

Zelve Open Air MuseumExplore the former settlement with carved rooms and places of worship along the valley walls. The remains show how residents used the rock landscape for daily life.

Uchisar Castle — exterior viewSee the high rock citadel from an outside viewpoint. Entry and the interior climb are not included at this stop.

Rose ValleyVisit the coloured rock slopes and carved spaces of Rose Valley. The valley forms part of the landscape covered by the southern itinerary.

Underground CityFollow the guided route through rooms and passages below the surface. Steps, low ceilings and narrow sections are part of the visit.

Pigeon ValleySee the small pigeon houses carved into the valley walls. Their use reflects the links between local farming and the rock landscape.

Lunch between the Yellow Tour visitsRestaurant lunch is included during the guided day before the return to your hotel. Drinks and extra orders are separate.

Gulludere ValleyVisit the valley formations and carved church remains. The longer walk can take up to two hours and is optional; you can wait in the vehicle instead.

Cavusin VillageSee the cave houses and the old rock face above the village. These remains show how earlier homes were built into the hillside.

Cendere BridgeSee the Roman stone bridge spanning the river gorge. Its surviving arch and columns form one of the historical stops on the road towards Nemrut.

Arsameia Ancient CityVisit the remains of the Commagene site at Arsameia. The reliefs and inscriptions help place the Nemrut monuments within their regional history.

Lunch during the Nemrut sunset itineraryThe afternoon itinerary includes restaurant lunch before the summit visit. Drinks and additional orders are separate.

Karakus TumulusSee the burial mound and the surviving columns around it. The eagle sculpture gives this Commagene memorial its familiar name.

Mount Nemrut Summit at SunsetVisit the stone statues and tomb mound near sunset. Reaching the terraces requires about 800 metres uphill on a steep, stepped stone path, around 20 minutes at an average pace; the walk is mandatory.

GobeklitepeSee the excavated enclosures with their large T-shaped pillars. The carved stones provide evidence of the activities and imagery of this early site.

Sanliurfa Archaeology MuseumVisit displays of archaeological finds from Sanliurfa and the surrounding region. The museum adds context to the early settlements visited during this part of the trip.

Lunch during the Gobeklitepe and Sanliurfa itineraryRestaurant lunch is included among the afternoon visits. Drinks and any extra food orders are paid separately.

Haleplibahce Mosaic MuseumSee the mosaics preserved and displayed at Haleplibahce. Their figures and decorative scenes introduce a later period of the region’s history.

BalikligolVisit the pools and religious setting of Balikligol. Your guide explains the traditions associated with this well-known part of Sanliurfa.

Hasimiye SquareWalk through the area around Hasimiye Square and its market streets. The stop brings the guided tour into the everyday life of the old city.

KarahantepeVisit the Neolithic excavation and its carved stone features. This stop adds another early site to the preceding day’s Gobeklitepe visit.

Sogmatar Ancient SettlementSee the rock-cut features and remains at Sogmatar. Your guide explains the settlement’s links to ancient religious practices.

Bazda CavesVisit the large chambers created by stone quarrying. The cut surfaces show how building material was taken from this landscape.

Lunch during the Harran plain tourRestaurant lunch is included between the day’s guided stops. Drinks and additional meal orders are separate.

HarranVisit Harran on the plain south of Sanliurfa. The stop introduces the settlement and its long history before the more detailed house and historic-area visits.

Traditional Harran Beehive HousesSee the houses with their cone-shaped roofs. Their construction illustrates the use of local materials and traditional building methods.

Historic Harran AreaExplore remains within Harran’s historic area. These structures add another part of the town’s past beyond the traditional houses.

Halfeti VillageVisit old Halfeti beside the Euphrates reservoir. The waterside remains show how the village changed when part of it was submerged.

Euphrates Boat TripTake the included boat trip on the reservoir around Halfeti. The water route gives views of the surrounding banks and partially submerged buildings.

Lunch during the Halfeti and Gaziantep dayRestaurant lunch is included during the full itinerary before the evening airport transfer. Drinks and extra orders are separate.

Zeugma Mosaic MuseumSee the mosaics displayed from Zeugma and other regional finds. The scenes and decorative floors introduce the art of the ancient settlements.

Gaziantep Castle — exterior viewView the castle from outside as part of the city route. This stop does not include access to the interior.

Coppersmiths BazaarWalk through the market area associated with copperworking. The workshops and stalls form part of Gaziantep’s craft tradition.

Almaci MarketBrowse the market known for local foods and produce. Purchases and tastings you choose independently are paid for separately.