Istanbul and Ephesus Tour

After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel to begin the Turkey sight-seeing tour with a visit to the historical site of the Blue Mosque situated in the Old City of Sultanahmet. Next, we visit the Hagia Sophia, which was a former Christian basilica that was later converted into a mosque under Ottoman rule. Afterwards, we walk around the Hippodrome area where chariot races were held during the Roman period. We will have lunch at a Turkish restaurant and continue the day with a tour of Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Sultans and Ottoman Dynasty for more than 400 years. Finally, we will transfer you back to the hotel for an overnight stay.

After checking out of the hotel, we will transfer you to Istanbul’s airport to take a short flight to Izmir. Upon arriving in Izmir, we will transfer you to the historical region of Ephesus. Our first visit is to the Artemis Temple site, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Next, we tour the Ancient City of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world. We will have lunch at a local Turkish restaurant and continue the day with a tour of the House of Virgin Mary and St. John’s Basilica. Finally, we will transfer you to the hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk for an overnight stay.

After checking out of the hotel, we will drive to Aphrodisias, the city named after the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. We will have lunch at a local Turkish eatery and continue the Turkey tour to Pamukkale, known as “cotton castle” in Turkish. Here, we will visit the natural hot springs and travertines that resemble frozen waterfalls, as well as the Hierapolis ruins that were historically used as a spa. Finally, we will transfer you to Denizli Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Upon arriving back in Istanbul, we will transfer you to the hotel for an overnight stay.

Our half-day sight-seeing tour of Istanbul begins with a scenic drive to the Golden Horn, an inlet in the Bosphorus which divides Istanbul. Then we visit the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar, one of the largest markets in Istanbul, followed by a private cruise on the Bosphorus for some beautiful sight-seeing. Here we view various multi-million dollar properties and palaces including the Dolmabache Palace, and cross underneath the First and Second Bosphorus bridges which connect Europe and Asia. At the end of the tour, we will transfer you back to the hotel or drop you off at the Grand Bazaar for a self-guided tour. The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest markets in the world with over 3,000 shops. We will have an overnight stay in Istanbul.

On the last day of your Turkish travel tour, we ensure that you have a smooth departure from Istanbul. After checking out of your hotel, our team will arrange transfers for you to Istanbul’s airport for your return flight. We hope that you have enjoyed your time in Turkey and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future for more unforgettable experiences.