Best of Turkey: 8-day private tour

About this tour

• Walk the marble streets of Ephesus to the Library of Celsus with your own guide
• Swim among Roman columns in the Antique Pool at Pamukkale
• Two full days in the valleys and cave churches of Cappadocia, with an optional sunrise balloon flight
• Three domestic flights instead of long drives across the country
• Seven nights in hand-picked hotels, with every transfer arranged

Pick a start date to see the dates of each day.

1. 1Day 1 Arrival in Istanbul Istanbul

   

   Our driver meets you at the arrivals exit of Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to rest after the flight.

2. 2Day 2 Fly to Izmir, private tour of Ephesus Kusadasi Flight

   

   An early start: our driver collects you from your hotel between 04:00 and 05:00 for the morning flight to Izmir. We send you the flight details with your itinerary after booking, so you can check in yourself at the airport. Our team waits for you at the domestic arrivals exit in Izmir with a sign bearing your name, and the drive to Ephesus takes about an hour.

   With your guide you visit the ancient city of Ephesus, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, the site of the Temple of Artemis and the Isa Bey Mosque. There is a break for lunch (not included). If you would like to see local crafts, your guide can suggest a few workshops; the stop is up to you. Around 16:00 to 17:00 you are taken to your hotel in Kusadasi.

3. 3Day 3 Private day trip to Pamukkale and Hierapolis Kusadasi Breakfast

   

   After breakfast, around 08:00 (you can change the time), you drive about three hours inland to Pamukkale, the "cotton castle": white terraces of travertine formed by warm mineral springs. People have come here to bathe since the 2nd century BC.

   Your guide shows you the terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis, the Roman spa city built beside them. Afterwards you have free time to walk barefoot in the terrace pools or swim in the Antique Pool, where marble columns from the Temple of Apollo lie under the water (the pool charges its own entrance fee, about 50 Turkish lira per person at the time of writing). There is a break for lunch (not included). You are back at your hotel in Kusadasi around 18:30 to 19:00.

4. 4Day 4 Fly to Cappadocia Cappadocia Flight Breakfast

   

   At a time that suits your flight, our driver takes you from your hotel to the airport for the flight to Cappadocia. Our team meets you at the domestic arrivals exit and drives you to your hotel, about an hour away.

5. 5Day 5 Private tour of northern Cappadocia Cappadocia Breakfast

   

   Your guide meets you at your hotel around 09:45 to 10:00. The day takes in the panorama of Göreme, the rock-cut churches of the Göreme Open Air Museum, the Valley of the Three Beauties, the pottery town of Avanos, Devrent (Imagination) Valley and the fairy chimneys of Paşabağ. There is a break for lunch (not included), with a chance to try the local dishes. You are back at your hotel around 16:00 to 17:00, with the evening free.

   Optional: Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (standard) ($350 per person)AddAdded

6. 6Day 6 Private tour of southern Cappadocia, fly to Istanbul Istanbul Flight Breakfast

   

   Your guide collects you around 09:45 to 10:00 for the southern valleys: Red Valley, Çavuşin Valley and its castle, Love Valley, Pigeon Valley and the underground city of Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu. If you would like to see local crafts, your guide can suggest a few workshops; the stop is up to you.

   At the end of the tour you are driven to the airport for the flight back to Istanbul, where our team meets you at the arrivals exit and takes you to your hotel.

7. 7Day 7 Free day in Istanbul Istanbul Breakfast

   

   A day to explore Istanbul at your own pace, or with a guide on our private Old City tour.

   Optional: Istanbul Old City private tour (from $150 per person for 2, less for larger groups)AddAdded

8. 8Day 8 Departure Breakfast

   At a time that suits your flight home, our driver takes you to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW).

Prices per person

Children: 0–3 years 70% off, 4–6 years 40% off, 7+ years adult price. Your exact total for your date and group is shown in the price calculator.

Groups of 5 or more travellers: 10% off the tour price (extras not included).

Where you stay

Hotels depend on availability: we confirm one of these or a hotel of the same standard after booking.

What's included

• 3 domestic flights (15 kg checked bag + 8 kg cabin bag each)
• 7 nights in your chosen hotels
• Breakfast every day (vegetarian, vegan or halal on request)
• All airport and hotel transfers in an air-conditioned private vehicle
• Licensed private guide on every sightseeing day
• Entrance tickets for the sites in the itinerary

Not included: international flights, lunches and dinners, personal expenses and tips.

Make it your own

Add an extra and its price is added to your total in the calculator, for everyone in your group.

• Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (standard)$350 per person AddAdded
• Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (deluxe)price on request AddAdded
• Istanbul Old City private tourfrom $150 per person for 2, less for larger groups AddAdded
• Bosphorus cruise in Istanbulfrom $150 per person for 2, less for larger groups AddAdded
• Turkish night show with dinner$125 per person AddAdded
• Whirling dervishes ceremony$100 per person AddAdded

What travellers say about our guides

5.0/5 · 10,500+ reviews · Best Turkey Tour

Excerpts from recent Tripadvisor reviews of our team's guided tours. Customized Turkey Tours and Best Turkey Tour are both run by Iglesias Tour Turkey.