11-Day Private Turkey Tour: Gallipoli, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia & Istanbul
This private 11-day, 10-night tour starts in Istanbul and loops through Gallipoli and Troy, İzmir and Ephesus, a thermal spa night in Pamukkale, Cappadocia and Ankara before ending with two nights back in Istanbul. Your own guide and driver, 4-star and cave hotels, daily breakfast, a vineyard lunch, a Bosphorus cruise and entrance fees are included.
5.0 on Tripadvisor · 145 reviews of our private tours
Your route
Tap a stop or open a day in the itinerary to see where you are.
- Private vehicle
- Domestic flight
- 1Overnight stop
- Day visit
Why travelers choose this itinerary
In eleven days this route covers the battlefields of Gallipoli, the legend of Troy, the Roman streets of Ephesus, the white terraces of Pamukkale and the rock valleys of Cappadocia, then gives Istanbul the last two days so you finish in the city rather than rushing through it on arrival.
Along the way it adds a few experiences that big coach tours rarely manage: lunch at a family vineyard near İzmir, a game of backgammon over Turkish coffee, an evening in a thermal spa hotel and a visit to a Cappadocian family in their cave house. Because the tour is private, the timing and pace are always yours.
Highlights
- Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and the legendary site of Troy
- Lunch at a family-run vineyard in the hills outside İzmir
- Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary
- A night at a thermal spa hotel in Pamukkale
- The Sultanhanı caravanserai and the underground city of Saratlı
- A visit to a family's cave home in Cappadocia
- The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Atatürk's mausoleum
- A Bosphorus cruise and a full day in Istanbul's old city
Day-by-day itinerary
-
Day 1Arrive in Istanbul
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel in Beyoğlu, near the waterfront. If time allows, walk down to watch the ferries cross the strait, with views toward the domes of the old city. Your guide meets you in the evening to go through the trip ahead. Send us your flight details when you book.
-
Day 2Gallipoli and Troy
Follow the Sea of Marmara to the Gallipoli peninsula, where the 1915 campaign is remembered every year on Anzac Day. Visit Anzac Cove and Lone Pine with your guide, then cross to the Asian shore and continue to Troy, where archaeologists have found nine main layers of settlement spanning more than 3,000 years. See the replica wooden horse before checking in at Çanakkale.
-
Day 3Vineyard Lunch, on to İzmir
Drive south along the Aegean coast. Stop at a women's cooperative that turns recycled materials into handmade goods, then head into the hills outside İzmir for a farm-to-table lunch at a family-owned winery. In the afternoon, arrive in İzmir with time to explore the waterfront, the Kemeraltı bazaar or the cafés of Alsancak.
-
Day 4Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary
Travel to Selçuk and walk through Ephesus, along streets lined with the monuments of a great Roman city. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, a small shrine in the hills above Selçuk. Later, stop at a traditional coffeehouse to learn tavla, Turkish backgammon, over a cup of Turkish coffee. Return to İzmir for an evening on the seafront.
-
Day 5Hierapolis and Pamukkale
Drive inland to Pamukkale and explore Hierapolis with your guide: its Roman theater, colonnaded streets, tombs and baths. Walk the white travertine terraces where warm water still flows. Check in to a thermal spa hotel fed by the same springs, with time to unwind in the pools or try a traditional hammam.
-
Day 6Sultanhanı, Saratlı and Cappadocia
Travel across central Anatolia on the old Silk Road route. Stop at the 13th-century Sultanhanı caravanserai, a fortified inn built to shelter merchants and their camels. In Cappadocia, explore the underground city of Saratlı, with homes, storerooms and passages carved below ground. Arrive in Ürgüp in the early evening.
-
Day 7Göreme, Paşabağ and a Cave Home
If you booked the balloon flight, you rise before dawn to float above the valleys at sunrise. Explore the painted rock churches of Göreme, then the fairy chimneys of Paşabağ on the road to Zelve. In the afternoon, a local family who has lived in Cappadocia for decades welcomes you into their cave house to talk about daily life and traditions.
-
Day 8Avanos and Ankara
Begin in Avanos on the Kızılırmak River, where potters show you how local clay is worked on the wheel. Drive to Ankara and visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, with finds from the Hittites onward, and Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Atatürk. The rest of the day is free: walk up to Ankara Castle or through the restored Ottoman lanes of Hamamönü.
-
Day 9Bosphorus Cruise in Istanbul
Drive back to Istanbul. On arrival, take a cruise on the Bosphorus, past Ottoman palaces, waterside mansions and busy quays on the shores of Europe and Asia. The evening is free: walk across the Galata Bridge, browse İstiklal Avenue or watch the ferries come and go at Eminönü.
-
Day 10Istanbul's Old City
A full day on the historic peninsula. Start at the Blue Mosque and its İznik tiles, cross the Hippodrome, and step inside Hagia Sophia. Visit Topkapı Palace, the seat of the Ottoman sultans, and end in the covered streets of the Grand Bazaar. Your last evening is free for a farewell dinner of your choice.
-
Day 11Departure
After breakfast, your driver takes you to the airport for your onward flight. Let us know your flight time in advance so we can plan the transfer with a comfortable margin for Istanbul traffic.
What's included
- 10 nights in 4-star hotels, including a thermal spa hotel in Pamukkale and a cave hotel in Cappadocia, with daily breakfast
- Farm-to-table lunch at a family vineyard near İzmir
- Professional private guide on touring days
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for the whole route
- Airport transfers in Istanbul
- Bosphorus cruise
- Visit to a family cave home and a tavla session over Turkish coffee
- Entrance fees to the sites in the itinerary
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches and dinners other than the vineyard lunch
- Drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
Optional extras
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels for every night of the tour
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (morning of Day 7)
- Whirling dervish ceremony in Cappadocia (Day 7)
- Seafood dinner on the İzmir waterfront
Hotels (or similar)
- Istanbul: 4-star hotel in Beyoğlu
- Pamukkale: Doğa Thermal Health & Spa, or similar
- Cappadocia: 4-star cave hotel in Ürgüp
- Çanakkale, İzmir and Ankara: 4-star hotels
Price per person (USD)
The price depends on how many people travel together, because your guide and vehicle are private. Children 0 to 1 travel free; children 2 to 6 pay the child price and count toward group size.
| Travelers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $8,410 | $4,450 | $4,050 | $3,785 | $3,560 | $3,340 |
| Child 2–6 | – | $2,225 | $2,025 | $1,895 | $1,780 | $1,670 |
Prices valid as of October 15, 2026. Bookings close 10 days before the start date: book today and the earliest start date is October 25, 2026.
| Travelers | Adult | Child 2–6 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8,410 | – |
| 2 | $4,450 | $2,225 |
| 3 | $4,050 | $2,025 |
| 4 | $3,785 | $1,895 |
| 5 | $3,560 | $1,780 |
| 6+ | $3,340 | $1,670 |
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels: +$565 per adult for the whole tour.
- Guide in English is included. Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese or Japanese: +$620 for the whole group, shared between the travelers (Chinese and Japanese on request).
Good to know
- Days 2, 6 and 8 include long drives; your driver stops whenever you need a break.
- Mosques require modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf for women.
- The underground city has low, narrow passages. Tell your guide if you prefer to skip it.
- Bring a swimsuit for the thermal pools in Pamukkale.
- Bookings close 10 days before the start date. Reserve with a 30% deposit; cancellation is free up to 30 days before travel.
Your guide
Your guide will be one of our licensed team: classmates from Adnan Menderes University with 14 to 15 years of guiding each, plus trusted licensed colleagues in every region.
KübraEnglish, Spanish
Selçuk YılmazEnglish
Can AteşEnglish, French
Bahar ÖzdemirEnglish, Spanish, Arabic
Ege ErtaşEnglish
Osman DemirEnglish
From past trips on this route
Guests on this route
Photos our guests shared after their private tours.
What travelers say
Rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor from 145 reviews of our private tours. Excerpts quoted as written.
“Our minivan was very comfortable, the drivers were punctual and very helpful”
ElenaDit · August 2026 · Tripadvisor
“He was always on the phone when we have question.”
탁동 홍 · September 2026 · Tripadvisor
FAQ
Is this tour private?
Yes. Only your party travels, with a private guide and driver on the dates you choose. You set the pace at every stop. Prices are per person and decrease as your party grows.
Why does Istanbul come at the end?
Starting with one night and finishing with two lets you recover from jet lag on the road, then see Istanbul's biggest sights at the end, when you are rested and used to the rhythm of Turkey. It also puts you close to the airport for your flight home.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day and a farm-to-table lunch at a family vineyard near İzmir. Other meals are free so you can choose your own restaurants, from seafood in İzmir to pottery kebab in Cappadocia. Your guide is happy to recommend places.
How long are the drives?
Most days include two to four hours on the road, and Days 2, 6 and 8 are longer. Your private vehicle stops whenever you want for photos, coffee or a stretch.
Is the hot air balloon ride included?
No, it is an optional extra on the morning of Day 7. Balloons fly at sunrise and depend on the weather. Tell us when you book and we will reserve it.
How much does this tour cost per person?
For two travelers the price is $4,450 per person in US dollars. It falls to $3,340 per person for a party of six or more, and a solo traveler pays $8,410 because the guide and vehicle are reserved for one party. These are 2026 prices and cover everything listed under What's included.
What do children pay, and can we upgrade to 5-star hotels?
Children up to 1 year old travel free. Children aged 2 to 6 pay $2,225 to $1,670 depending on group size and count toward the group size. Upgrading every night of the tour to 5-star hotels costs $565 per adult.
How do payment and cancellation work?
You reserve with a 30% deposit by card in US dollars, processed securely by Stripe; for two travelers on this tour that is about $2,670. The balance is charged automatically 30 days before travel. Cancel up to 30 days before your start date and you get a full refund, including the deposit.