Tour Information
10 Days Turkey Highlights tour is a great budget tour option to see Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus with some free days at sites. Ideal trip for the people that are interested in history and geography. The program is available with a daily departure throughout the year. This is a tailor made (customized) tour itinerary through which the transportation is provided by major bus companies.
The aim of this tour is to offer you the opportunity to travel around Turkey by keeping the price affordable. The price is beneficial in terms of quality, but the hotels and intercity buses here do not offer excessive comfort, and after the intercity bus ride, you will have to continue the tour, but it is suitable for your budget.
Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul: One of our colleagues will be waiting for you at the arrival hall with a sign of Efendi Travel. He/she will accompany you to our vehicle and you will be transferred directly to your hotel. Accommodation in Istanbul.
Day 2: Istanbul City Tour: You will be picked up from your hotel at around 08:30. You will visit: Hagia Sophia , Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar After the lunch, you will see Topkapi Palace and Hagia Irene. The tour ends about 16:30 and back to hotel Accommodation in Istanbul. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)
Please note that Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. Blue Mosque will not be visited on Fridays.
Day 3: Two Continents & Bosphorus Cruise: (check out from hotel in the morning) Pick up time is about 08.30 from the hotel. You will visit : Golden Horn ( from the bus ), Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) and then have a boat cruise on Bosphorus. You will also view Imperial gardens of Royal Yildiz Palace, Çiragan Palace Hotel Kempinski and Beylerbeyi Palace during the tour. After lunch, you will drive to the Asian Side of Istanbul, and you will have a unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another (Asian) side in 2 minutes using the Bosphorus Bridge. The first stop is Beylerbeyi Palace which is the summer residence of Ottoman Sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens with Harem. The next stop is Camlica Hill which is the highest natural point in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional style. . After the cruise, you will be dropped off to your hotel, and then you will be transferred to bus station at 18:30 then take the overnight bus to Cappadocia Nevsehir Bus Station departing at around 20:30. The journey takes around 11 hours. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)
Day 4: First day in Cappadocia: Upon your arrival at Urgup Bus Station, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel to wait for the tour group and to have breakfast (with time allowing - subject to extra charge). You will be picked up at around 09:00, then you will drive to Devrent Valley where the geographical formations remind a place of another planet. Then in Pasabagi, you will take a stroll between the amazing fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. From there, driving to Avanos to have lunch. After having the lunch you leave from Avanos to see the most beautiful examples of Byzantine art in Goreme Open Air Museum. Then you will drive to Uchisar Castle, the highest point of the region, where you will have a fabulous panoramic view over Cappadocia. You will return back to your hotel at around 17:00. Accommodation in Cappadocia. (lunch on the tour)
Day 5: Second day in Cappadocia: You will be picked up from your hotel at around 09:00 for a tour on a 4 km hike through the Rose Valley visiting the churches. Afterwards visit the old Christian village of Cavusin. Stop for lunch in Pigeons Valley and then continue to see the marvel of construction that is the Kaymakli Underground City. You will also visit the Ortahisar Natural Rock Castle. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Accommodation in Cappadocia. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)
Day 6: Free Day in Cappadocia and bus to Pamukkale: (check out from hotel until noon) One free day in magic valley to explore the area or just to have a rest after two full day tours before the overnight bus to Pamukkale. In the evening, you will be transferred to the bus station to take an overnight bus to Pamukkale, departing at around 20:00. The bus journey takes around 10-11 hours. (your bus tickets will be handed over to your when you are dropped off at the bus station - breakfast at hotel)
Day 7: Pamukkale Travertines and Hierapolis Ancient City Tour: Upon your arrival at Denizli Bus station at around 07:00, you will be greeted and transferred to the hotel to wait for the tour group and to have breakfast (with time allowing - subject to extra charge). Departure for the tour at around 09:00 for the tour of Pamukkale, which is the center of natural thermal spring waters with healing properties. Due to the chemical properties in the water, pure white colored travertine and stepped water terraces have been created on the mountain slope. It is for its resemblance to cotton piles that it is called Cotton Castle in Turkish. Visit the travertine and the ancient city of Hierapolis which has the biggest Necropolis with 1200 gravestones in Anatolia. The Roman Pool also is one of the highlights of the site and still in use. (Entrance is optional with self-payment at site. Please have your towels and slippers with you) There shallow thermal waters ripple over a wonderful scattering of ancient roman ruins that lie beneath. After the tour, you will be transferred to to your hotel. Accommodation in Pamukkale. (lunch on the tour)
Day 8: Free day: (check out from hotel until noon) Free morning in Pamukkale. You will be transferred to the bus station for taking a day bus to Kusadasi which is about 3 hours of journey. Upon your arrival at Kusadasi Bus Station, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation in Kusadasi. (your bus tickets will be handed over to you when you are dropped off at the bus station - lunch on the tour)
Day 9: Ephesus Ancient City and Virgin Mary's House: You will be picked up from your hotel at around 09:00 for the full day Ephesus Ancient City and Virgin Mary's House Tour. You will visit Ephesus, which is known to be the Commercial, the Religious and the Social Center of Antiquity, and one of the Highlights of any Visit in Turkey. After the lunch, you will drive to Temple of Artemis (Diana), the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world; House of Virgin Mary, probably where She spent recent years of Her life; Isa Bey Mosque, this impressive mosque from XIV. Century A.D. is unlike any other you will see in this country. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kusadasi. Accommodation in Kusadasi. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)
Day 10: Free Day and Bus to Istanbul: (check out from hotel until noon) Free time to enjoy the region. In the evening, you will be transferred to the bus station to take 21:00 overnight bus back to Istanbul.
Day 11: End of the tour: You will arrive at Istanbul Esenler Bus station at around 07:00. Upon your arrival, you may use the public transportation to get to Istanbul Airport or Sultanahmet area.
Price: 1700 per person in double/twin room. If you are a single traveler, there will be 50% single supplement surcharge.
Tour Price Includes
Accommodation in Denizhouses Hotel in Istanbul or similiar
Cappadocia Abras Hotel in Cappadocia or Similiar
Soze Hotel or Similiar in Kusadasi
Melrose or similiar in Pamukkale
Meal services during the tour noted in the itinerary above
Transportation by major companies with A/C buses
Professional licensed guiding services
Entrance fees to the museums during guided tours
The local tours may include some shopping facilities if the timing will be available
Tour Price Excludes
Personal expenses
Dinners
Tips (optional)
Extra Offers
Standard Hot-air Balloon Ride: Price Range 180 Euro-300 Eur