9 Day Tour of Turkiye

After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, we begin our tour of Turkey with a sightseeing adventure in Sultanahmet, the Old City. Our first stop is at the world-renowned Hagia Sophia, a former Christian basilica, then converted into a mosque under Ottoman rule, and now a museum showcasing exquisite Christian and Muslim relics. We then move on to the Blue Mosque, which features over 20,000 tiles and provides an insight into why it’s named the way it is. Afterward, we take a stroll around the Hippodrome area, where chariot races were held during the Roman period. We pause for lunch at a local Turkish restaurant before proceeding to the magnificent Grand Bazaar, the largest covered market in the world with more than 3,000 shops, merchants, and vendors. Finally, we tour the Topkapi Palace, the official residence of the Sultans and Ottoman Dynasty for over 400 years. The palace is now a treasure house of Islam’s most priceless artifacts, jewelry, murals, and other royal antiquities. After a long day of exploring, we return to the hotel for a peaceful overnight stay.

On our third day, we explore the famous Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar, Istanbul’s second-largest covered shopping market. Established in 1664, the bazaar has been the center of the spice trade for centuries. You will discover much more than spice shops and vendors to bargain with at this bustling market. We then take a private ferry ride on the Bosphorus, the body of water separating the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. During the ride, we marvel at the picturesque coastline, which features multi-million dollar mansions, castles, houses, and mosques. We also gaze upon two stunning suspension bridges that connect Europe and Asia. We pause for lunch at a local Turkish restaurant before proceeding to the Camlica Hill, one of the largest hills in Istanbul. Here, we have some free time to explore and enjoy the breathtaking 360-degree panoramic views of the city. Finally, we return to the hotel for a peaceful overnight stay.

On the fourth day of our Turkey tour, we bid farewell to Istanbul and head to the airport for our flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, we are transported to Kusadasi, one of Turkey’s largest and most cosmopolitan seaside resorts. This vibrant destination offers great sandy beaches, excellent shopping, and a lively nightlife. We have a free day to explore Kusadasi at our leisure and enjoy all it has to offer. Our overnight stay is in Kusadasi.

After a delicious breakfast in Kusadasi, we head to the historic city of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world, located about 15 kilometers (9 miles) away. During our tour, we will see the Agora, Odeon, public toilets, Roman Baths, Grand Theatre, Marble Street, and much more. After a satisfying lunch at a local Turkish restaurant, we visit the House of the Virgin Mary and the chapel where she is said to have spent her last days. Next, we explore the Artemis Temple site, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Finally, we return to Kusadasi and check-in to our hotel for an overnight stay.

We depart Kusadasi after checkout and continue our Turkey tour to the village of Pamukkale, which is located about 2.5 hours away. The name Pamukkale means “cotton castle“ in Turkish, and you will see how fitting this name is for this site. Pamukkale is also famous for its natural hot springs and travertines that resemble frozen waterfalls. We start our tour with a visit to the Hierapolis ruins located right next to Pamukkale. These ruins cover more than a mile and are quite impressive, including an amphitheater with seats still in perfect condition and column-lined streets and arches that have stood the test of time. Lastly, we check-in to our hotel in Pamukkale for an overnight stay.

We have a free day to enjoy the sights and sounds of Pamukkale village. After checkout, we are transferred to Denizli Airport for our flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, we are transported to our hotel for an overnight stay.

This is a free day to explore Istanbul at our leisure, do some sightseeing, and indulge in some shopping. Our overnight stay is in Istanbul.

On the final day of our Turkey tour, after checking out from the hotel, transfers will be available for Istanbul’s airport and our return flight. We hope you enjoyed your time in Turkey and will cherish the memories for years to come!