Tours / Heart of Türkiye
Heart of Türkiye
Nine days through the places that made Türkiye: imperial Istanbul, the white terraces, Ephesus and Cappadocia.
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Small group, usually 8–12 (max 16), or private on request
- from S$3,380 per person, room sharing
It is barely light. From the terrace of your cave hotel, you watch balloons rise as a thousand rock chimneys turn pink, and somewhere in the valley a rooster calls. Two days ago you were standing under the dome of Hagia Sophia; yesterday you walked the street where Roman citizens once queued for the library. Tonight you will sleep in a room carved from stone.
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace
- Bosphorus between two continents
- Pamukkale travertines and Hierapolis
- Ephesus
- Cave hotel in Cappadocia
- Underground city
Your route
- By road
- Domestic flight
Cultural moments
- The stories of Byzantium and the Ottoman court, told inside Hagia Sophia and Topkapı
- Tea with the merchants of the Spice Bazaar
- A potter's wheel in Avanos, where clay from the Red River has been shaped for 4,000 years
- Early Christian frescoes in the rock churches of Göreme
Day by day
- Day 1
Arrive in Istanbul
Transfer to your boutique hotel in the Old City. Evening free to wander to the Hippodrome as the call to prayer echoes between the domes.
- Day 2
Istanbul: the imperial city
Guided day through Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Basilica Cistern, with the stories of the Byzantine and Ottoman courts that built them.
- Day 3
Istanbul: two continents
Spice Bazaar, a cruise on the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia, and an afternoon on the Asian shore.
- Day 4
Fly to Pamukkale
Short flight to Denizli. Walk barefoot on the white travertines and explore Hierapolis, the Roman spa city above them.
- Day 5
Ephesus
Drive to Ephesus. Walk the marble street to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre, then visit the House of the Virgin Mary. Overnight near Kuşadası.
- Day 6
Fly to Cappadocia
Fly to Kayseri and settle into your cave hotel. Sunset over the valleys.
- Day 7
Cappadocia North
Göreme Open-Air Museum and its painted rock churches, the fairy chimneys of Paşabağ, and a potter's workshop in Avanos. Sunrise balloon flight optional.
- Day 8
Cappadocia South, fly to Istanbul
An underground city carved by early Christians, Uçhisar castle, then an evening flight back to Istanbul.
- Day 9
Depart
Transfer to the airport.
What's included
- 8 nights in boutique hotels, including a cave hotel in Cappadocia
- Breakfast daily, plus lunch on most touring days
- Domestic flights Istanbul–Denizli, Izmir–Kayseri and Kayseri–Istanbul
- English-speaking licensed guide on every touring day
- Entrance fees for every site in the itinerary
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- Small group, usually 8 to 12 travellers (maximum 16)
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Visa / e-Visa fees if your passport requires one
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities not listed (e.g. a balloon flight where it is not included)
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Single room supplement if you travel alone
Good to know
- Hot-air balloon flights depend on the weather and are confirmed by the authorities on the morning of the flight. If yours is cancelled we will try to rebook on another morning where the itinerary allows.
- Mosques require modest dress: shoulders and knees covered; women bring a scarf for the head.
- Some sites (Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia valleys) involve uneven ground and walking. Tell us about any mobility needs and we'll adapt the plan.
Want to change something?
Add days, swap hotels or combine with another region. A local specialist will tailor it for free.
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