Treasures of Turkey trip
The treasures of Turkey trip brings together the country’s most compelling sights and experiences in one carefully paced journey, from historic cities and dramatic landscapes to relaxed coastal moments.
With expert guidance and thoughtful details throughout, the trip balances must-see highlights with time to slow down and enjoy the atmosphere. If you are exploring trips to Turkey, this journey offers a rich and well-rounded way to experience the country’s cultural and natural treasures.
Treasures of Turkey trip highlights
- Istanbul contrasts: Explore the Old City’s signature monuments and bazaars, then enjoy a Bosphorus sunset cruise for a different view of the skyline.
- Cappadocia immersion: Stay in cave-style accommodation and discover valleys, rock-cut heritage sites, and underground spaces, with an optional sunrise balloon experience.
- Aegean makers and tastes: Meet small-scale local producers and enjoy region-led tastings that showcase traditional methods and fresh, seasonal flavors.
- Ancient world icons: Walk through standout archaeological sites, including Ephesus, paired with the museum context that makes the ruins easy to understand.
- Pamukkale to the coast: See the white terraces and Hierapolis ruins, then unwind on the Aegean in Bodrum with a full-day gulet cruise and farewell dinner.
| Day | Location | Activity | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Istanbul | • Arrival and hotel check-in in the Old City • Private sunset Bosphorus cruise • Welcome dinner at a waterfront restaurant | Istanbul |
| 2 | Istanbul | • Old City walking tour • Topkapi Palace and Treasury, optional Harem • Grand Bazaar browsing • Spice Market walk with street food tastings | Istanbul |
| 3 | Istanbul → Cappadocia | • Flight to Cappadocia • Check in to the cave hotel • Orientation walk and light bite • Guided horseback ride through valleys with sunset views | Cappadocia |
| 4 | Cappadocia | • Morning yoga session • Optional sunrise hot air balloon • Open Air Museum visit • Pottery demonstration and hands-on experience • Özkonak Underground City • Dinner with modern Turkish cuisine and local wine | Cappadocia |
| 5 | Cappadocia → Izmir → Kuşadası | • Flight to Izmir • Visit to mandarin orchard and garden lunch with local producer • Boutique vineyard visit and wine tasting • Arrival in Kuşadası and evening at leisure | Kuşadası |
| 6 | Selçuk → Pamukkale | • Guided visit to Ephesus ancient city • Lunch in Selçuk with çöp şiş • Pamukkale travertines • Hierapolis ruins and necropolis | Pamukkale |
| 7 | Pamukkale → Bodrum | • Drive to Bodrum • Orientation walk and local tips • Free time to enjoy the marina, old town, or nightlife | Bodrum |
| 8 | Bodrum | • Full day private gulet cruise • Swimming and snorkeling in turquoise bays • Lunch on board • Farewell dinner at local restaurant | Bodrum |
| 9 | Bodrum | • Breakfast and check out • Private airport transfer and departure | — |
Arrival in Istanbul and welcome dinner
Arrive in Istanbul and settle into your hotel. Set in the heart of the Old City yet tucked away on a quiet street, it is a comfortable base for the first night of your Turkey travel.
After a brief welcome meeting, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Istanbul’s harbor to board your private boat for a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus. As the city glows in the evening light, sip traditional Turkish drinks and enjoy light bites and fruit while you glide past palaces, minarets, and elegant waterfront mansions.
The cruise lasts about two and a half hours and brings you directly to your waterfront restaurant, where a welcome dinner awaits. After dinner, return to your hotel by private transfer.
Old city walking tour in Istanbul
Walk from your hotel to the Hippodrome Square to see key remains from the Roman era, then continue to Hagia Sophia, celebrated for its vast dome, marble columns, and historic mosaics. Stroll through Gülhane Park to Topkapi Palace to explore its courtyards, pavilions, and famed Treasury, with the option to visit the Harem.
Next, head to the Grand Bazaar for time to browse its covered lanes and shops. Finish with a guided walk toward the Spice Market, sampling classic street food and taking in the aromas of Turkey’s most famous spices. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Flight to Cappadocia
Pack your bags this morning and fly to central Turkey, arriving in Cappadocia after lunchtime.
Check in to your cave rooms and take time to settle in to one of the best places to visit in Turkey, famed for its surreal valleys and legendary “land of beautiful horses.”
After a short break, join your guide for an orientation walk and a quick bite. Later in the afternoon, explore Cappadocia the old school way on a guided horseback ride, no experience needed, finishing with sunset views from a panoramic viewpoint.
Morning yoga and Open Air Museum
Begin with a yoga session led by your instructor, breathing deeply as you take in Cappadocia’s extraordinary landscape. Then visit the famous Open Air Museum, a monastic complex of rock-cut churches, chapels, and dwellings that once served as an early center of religious learning, with frescoes dating from around AD 900 to 1200.
Early risers can also choose an optional sunrise hot air balloon flight over the valleys and fairy chimneys. After lunch, enjoy a pottery demonstration and try the craft yourself.
Continue to Özkonak Underground City to explore its multi-level tunnels and chambers carved like a hidden village beneath the ground. In the evening, dine at a restaurant that pairs classic Turkish flavors with modern touches, with the option to sample local wine.
From Izmir to Kusadasi
Start early with a transfer to Kayseri Airport for your flight to Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city and the gateway to the magnificent ancient site of Ephesus.
On arrival, meet a young entrepreneur who cultivates mandarins in her grandmother’s expansive garden using traditional, chemical-free methods passed down for decades. Stroll through the orchard, learn about her sustainable approach, and enjoy a fresh garden lunch featuring local produce.
Later, visit a boutique vineyard known for wild fermented wines. Meet the owner, walk among the vines, and taste three red wines made only from estate-grown grapes, without chemical additives.
In the afternoon, continue to Kuşadası, a lively seaside town on the Aegean coast. Settle in, then enjoy a sunset walk along the waterfront and explore the evening atmosphere at your own pace.
Selçuk and Pamukkale's natural wonders
Drive to Selçuk this morning and continue to the ancient city of Ephesus. With a local guide, explore remarkably preserved Roman ruins, including the grand theatre and the iconic Library of Celsus, and imagine life here over 2,000 years ago.
Return to Selçuk for lunch at a local spot to try çöp şiş, then travel to Pamukkale, the “Cotton Castle” of white travertine terraces. Nearby, visit the ruins of Hierapolis, once a major Roman spa city, and explore its theatre, baths, and vast necropolis.
Bodrum's allure
After your visit to Pamukkale, continue to Bodrum, a stylish gateway on the southern Aegean coast. As part of your Turkey itinerary, join your guide for a short orientation walk to get your bearings and pick up local tips for the marina, old town, and nightlife.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace.
Full-day boat trip
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel, then transfer to the harbor to board your private wooden gulet for a full day cruising along Bodrum’s turquoise coastline. Anchor in beautiful bays for swimming and snorkeling in crystal clear water, or simply unwind on deck with sea breezes and panoramic views. Lunch is served on board.
Return to shore in the late afternoon with time to enjoy Bodrum at your own pace. In the evening, join your guide for a special farewell dinner at a lovely local restaurant.
Farewell Turkey!
After breakfast, your tailor-made Turkey trip comes to a close. You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight, with warm memories to take home.
