11-Day Best of Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, and Pamukkale

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Description

Summary

Starts
Istanbul
Duration
11 days
Languages
English
Difficulty
Easy

Description

Embark on an 11-day journey through Turkey, a country that straddles the line between Europe and Asia, and is rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. This multi-day tour takes you through the winding streets of Istanbul, the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, the ancient ruins of Ephesus, and the hot springs of Pamukkale. You'll explore iconic landmarks, cruise between continents, and even have the chance to taste local wines. With comfortable 4-star accommodations, delicious meals, and a knowledgeable guide to lead the way, this tour offers an immersive experience into the heart of Turkey.

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Included

10 Breakfasts, 7 Dinners

vegetarian, vegan, halal, meat

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10 nights accommodation in 4 to 5-star & boutique style hotels.

hotel: 9 night(s);

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All transport and transfers in AC vehicles

24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service

Our trips feature a mix of different transport options. We want you to feel like you’re really experiencing the country you’re travelling through, but at the same time we want you to finish journeys refreshed enough to enjoy the next stage of the tour. The distances involved in Turkey mean that we use private vehicles and tourist coaches throughout this tour.

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Services of a local tour guide throughout.

We are committed to being a small group operator, as we feel this gives everyone in the group the best chance to get to know their fellow travellers and to hear and make the most of their guide. There’s no point in us providing great guides if you’ve got to peer over 30-40 shoulders to see them! So, we won’t ever put you in a 50-seater coach with 49 other people and just one guide. Instead, we set our Turkey small-group departures to have a maximum of 20 travellers (dedicated Anzac Day tour groups may be larger).

In Turkey we provide a fully trained, local English-speaking guide for all of the sightseeing tours. Our local reps in some of the towns and cities en-route are also at your service. At Encounters Travel we try to use local Turkish guides and reps as much as possible. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing.

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Destinations

Sille Village view in Konya. Sille is old greek village and it is populer tourist attraction in Konya.Konya
Photo of Selcuk town and ruins panorama as seen from citadel, Turkey.Selçuk
Pamukkale
Touristic sightseeing ships in Golden Horn bay of Istanbul and mosque with Sultanahmet district against blue sky and clouds. Istanbul, Turkey during sunny summer day.Istanbul
Photo of Cappadocia that is known around the world as one of the best places to fly with hot air balloons. Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey.Göreme
Photo of aerial view of Canakkale, Turkey.Çanakkale
View of Ankara castle and general view of old town.Ankara

Map

Attractions

Zelve Open Air Museum, Aktepe, Avanos, Nevşehir, Central Anatolia Region, TurkeyZelve Open Air Museum
Aerial shot of Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) surrounded by trees in Istanbul's Old City - Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey.Sultan Ahmed Mosque
House of Virgin Mary, Atatürk Mahallesi, Selçuk, Izmir, Aegean Region, TurkeyHouse of Virgin Mary
Hierapolis ancient theater, Pamukkale, Denizli, Aegean Region, TurkeyHierapolis Ancient Theatre
photo of Ankara is capital city of Turkey. beautiful view of Ankara castle and interior of the castle.Ankara Castle
Gallipoli War Museum, Gelibolu, Canakkale, Marmara Region, TurkeyGallipoli War Museum
photo of Hagia Irene or Hagia Eirene or St. Irene (Aya Irini in Turkish), a Greek Eastern Orthodox church located in the outer courtyard of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.Hagia Irene
Hagia Sophia Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey, full viewHagia Sophia
Kaymakli Underground CityKaymaklı Underground City
The Topkapı Palace surrounded by a garden under the sunlight in Istanbul, Turkey.Topkapı Palace
photo of tourists visiting Bergama Museum in Bergama, Turkey.Bergama Museum
Mevlana Tomb, Mosque and Museum in Konya City. Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi is a sufi philosopher and mystic poet of Islam.Mevlâna Museum
Selime Cathedral, Güzelyurt, Aksaray, Central Anatolia Region, TurkeySelime Cathedral
Azizia Mosque, Aziziye Mahallesi, Karatay, Konya, Central Anatolia Region, TurkeyAzizia Mosque
Uchisar Castle, Uçhisar, Nevşehir merkez, Nevşehir, Central Anatolia Region, TurkeyUchisar Castle

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 – Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul

  • Istanbul - Arrival day
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Welcome to Istanbul, a city that straddles two continents and is steeped in history and culture. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your 4-star hotel (or similar) where you can rest and prepare for the adventure ahead.

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Day 2

Day 2 – Day 2: Exploring Istanbul

  • Istanbul
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  • Sultan Ahmed Mosque
  • Hagia Irene
  • Hagia Sophia
  • Topkapı Palace
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Today, we delve into the heart of Istanbul's Old City. We'll visit iconic landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the historic Hippodrome. After a day of exploration, we'll return to our 4-star hotel (or similar) for a restful night.

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Day 3

Day 3 – Day 3: Istanbul to Cappadocia

  • Ankara
  • Istanbul
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  • Ankara Castle
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After breakfast, we'll embark on a Bosphorus cruise, sailing between Europe and Asia. In the afternoon, we'll catch a flight to Cappadocia, a region known for its unique rock formations and fairy chimneys. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to a boutique hotel (or similar) where you can relax and explore at your leisure.

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Day 4

Day 4 – Day 4: Discovering Cappadocia

  • Göreme
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  • Zelve Open Air Museum
  • Çat Kasabası
  • Uchisar Castle
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Today, we'll explore the wonders of Cappadocia. We'll visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, see the fairy chimneys at Pasabag, and marvel at the grand Uchisar Castle. In the evening, you have the option to join a folklore evening featuring belly dancers. We'll then return to our boutique hotel (or similar) for a restful night.

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Day 5

Day 5 – Day 5: Cappadocia to Konya

  • Konya
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  • Kaymaklı Underground City
  • Mevlâna Museum
  • Selime Cathedral
  • Azizia Mosque
  • More

Today, we'll journey from Cappadocia to Konya, stopping at the Kaymakli Underground City and the Sultan Hani Caravansary along the way. In Konya, we'll visit the Mevlana Museum and the 12th-century Aladdin Mosque. We'll spend the night at a 4-star hotel (or similar) in Konya.

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Day 6

Day 6 – Day 6: Konya to Pamukkale

  • Pamukkale
  • Konya
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  • Hierapolis Ancient Theatre
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Today, we'll travel from Konya to Pamukkale, known for its stunning white limestone cascades and hot springs. We'll explore the ruins of Hierapolis, see the Temple of Apollo, and browse through local handcrafted leather goods. We'll spend the night at a 4-star hotel (or similar) in Pamukkale.

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Day 7

Day 7 – Day 7: Pamukkale to Kusadasi

  • Pamukkale
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Today, we'll explore the ancient city of Laodicea before heading to Kusadasi. In the afternoon, we'll enjoy a display of locally handcrafted leather goods. We'll spend the night at a boutique hotel (or similar) in Kusadasi.

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Day 8

Day 8 – Day 8: Exploring Ephesus and Sirince

  • Selçuk
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Today, we'll delve into history with a guided tour of Ephesus, a bustling trade hub and religious center in ancient times. We'll also visit the former Greek village of Sirince, famous for its fruit wines. Here, we'll visit a local vineyard and taste three local wines. We'll then return to our boutique hotel (or similar) in Kusadasi.

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Day 9

Day 9 – Day 9: Kusadasi to Cannakale

  • Istanbul
  • Çanakkale
  • More
  • Bergama Museum
  • More

Today, we'll head north along the Mediterranean coast, visiting the acropolis of Pergamum and the ancient site of Troy along the way. We'll spend the night at a 5-star hotel (or similar) overlooking the Dardanelles Strait near Cannakale.

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Day 10

Day 10 – Day 10: Cannakale to Istanbul

  • Istanbul
  • Çanakkale
  • More
  • Gelibolu Yarimadasi
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After crossing the Dardanelles Strait by ferry, we'll tour the important World War 1 battlefield sites on the Gallipoli Peninsula. We'll then drive back to Istanbul, where we'll spend the night at a 4-star hotel (or similar).

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Day 11

Day 11 – Day 11: Departure from Istanbul

  • Istanbul - Departure day
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Our 11-day adventure in Turkey comes to an end today. After breakfast in Istanbul, you'll have free time until we pick you up for your transfer to the airport for your onward journey.

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