8-Day Private Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale
This private 8-day, 7-night tour starts and ends at Istanbul airport and covers Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale, linked by three domestic flights. Only your party travels, with a professional guide and an air-conditioned vehicle. It includes 4 to 5-star and cave hotels, daily breakfast, all transfers and flights; entrance fees are paid separately.
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 eight days you see the Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks of Istanbul, the rock valleys of Cappadocia, the Roman city of Ephesus and the white terraces of Pamukkale. Three domestic flights replace what would otherwise be two full days on the road, so most of your time is spent sightseeing, not traveling.
Because the tour is private, your guide and vehicle are yours alone. You set the pace at each stop, linger where you are curious and keep the day flexible. Two nights in a Cappadocia cave hotel give you a sunrise for the optional balloon flight and a full second day in the valleys.
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Basilica Cistern in one guided day
- A Bosphorus cruise and a visit to Dolmabahçe Palace
- Two nights in a cave hotel among Cappadocia's fairy chimneys
- Kaymaklı Underground City and the Göreme Open Air Museum
- Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis
- The white travertines of Pamukkale
Day-by-day itinerary
-
Day 1Arrive in Istanbul
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to rest after the flight or take a first walk around the neighborhood. If you are already in Istanbul, we can collect you from anywhere in the city instead. Send us your flight details when you book so the pickup matches your arrival time.
-
Day 2Istanbul's Historic Peninsula
A full day with your guide in Sultanahmet. Start at the Blue Mosque and walk the Hippodrome, the old chariot track of Constantinople. Inside Hagia Sophia, look up at a dome that has stood for nearly 1,500 years, then go underground to the columns of the Basilica Cistern. In the afternoon, tour Topkapı Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans, and finish among the covered lanes of the Grand Bazaar. Bring a scarf for the mosque visits.
-
Day 3Bosphorus and Dolmabahçe, Fly to Cappadocia
Begin at the Spice Bazaar, piled with teas, spices and Turkish delight. Then cruise the Bosphorus, the strait between Europe and Asia, past wooden waterside mansions and old fortresses. Visit Dolmabahçe Palace, the 19th-century palace where the late sultans moved from Topkapı, with its crystal staircase and vast ceremonial hall. After a stop at Taksim Square, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia and check in to your cave hotel.
-
Day 4North Cappadocia: Göreme and the Fairy Chimneys
If you booked the optional balloon flight, you rise before dawn to float over the valleys. After breakfast, your guide leads the classic northern route. At the Göreme Open Air Museum you step inside rock-cut churches painted with Byzantine frescoes. Climb toward Uçhisar Castle for wide views, walk among the fairy chimneys, and look for animal shapes in the rocks of Devrent Valley. The evening is free at your cave hotel.
-
Day 5South Cappadocia and the Underground City, Fly to the Coast
Walk part of Rose Valley, where the rock glows pink in the morning light, and visit Çavuşin, a village built into a cliff of cave homes. Descend into Kaymaklı Underground City, a network of tunnels and rooms several floors below ground; some passages are low and narrow. End with views over Pigeon Valley and its carved dovecotes, then fly to the Aegean coast and transfer to your hotel in Kuşadası.
-
Day 6Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary
Start at the House of the Virgin Mary, a small stone chapel on a wooded hill revered as Mary's last home. Then walk through Ephesus, one of the great cities of the Roman Mediterranean, with your guide explaining what you see along its marble streets. Visit the Ephesus Museum, the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the 14th-century İsa Bey Mosque in Selçuk.
-
Day 7Pamukkale, Fly to Istanbul
Drive inland to Pamukkale, where warm mineral springs have built terraces of white travertine down a hillside. Walk a section barefoot through the shallow pools and explore the ruins of Hierapolis above them. Sunglasses help, as the white rock reflects strong light. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Istanbul and your last night in the city.
-
Day 8Departure
After breakfast, your driver takes you to the airport in time for your flight home. If your flight leaves later, you may have time for a final walk or some shopping near the hotel. Let us know your flight time in advance so we can plan the transfer with a comfortable margin.
What's included
- 7 nights in 4 or 5-star hotels, including 2 nights in a Cappadocia cave hotel
- 7 breakfasts
- Professional private guide
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- All transfers in the itinerary
- Domestic flights in the itinerary
- All taxes and service fees
Not included
- Entrance fees: Topkapı Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace, Basilica Cistern, Göreme Open Air Museum, House of the Virgin Mary, Kaymaklı Underground City, Pamukkale and the Ephesus Museum
- Lunches, dinners and drinks
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Turkish visa
Optional extras
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels for every night of the tour
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia
- Paragliding in Cappadocia
- Jeep safari in Cappadocia
Hotels (or similar)
- Istanbul: Ramada Suites, Grand Belish or Neopol Hotel, or similar
- Cappadocia: Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel or Acer Cave Hotel, or similar
- Kuşadası: By Aksu Hotel, or similar
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 | $4,675 | $2,435 | $2,005 | $2,005 | $2,005 | $2,005 |
| Child 2–6 | – | $1,720 | $1,505 | $1,505 | $1,505 | $1,505 |
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 | $4,675 | – |
| 2 | $2,435 | $1,720 |
| 3 | $2,005 | $1,505 |
| 4 | $2,005 | $1,505 |
| 5 | $2,005 | $1,505 |
| 6+ | $2,005 | $1,505 |
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels: +$395 per adult for the whole tour.
- Guide in English is included. Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese or Japanese: +$450 for the whole group, shared between the travelers (Chinese and Japanese on request).
Good to know
- Entrance fees are paid on the day. We can give you a current estimate before you travel so you can budget for them.
- Topkapı Palace closes on Tuesdays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays; your guide adjusts the order of visits.
- Mosques require modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf for women.
- Domestic flights have a lower checked-bag allowance than international tickets, so pack a lighter bag for the week.
- 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 professional guide and an air-conditioned vehicle that are yours for the whole trip. You choose your start date and the daily pace. Prices are per person and decrease as your party grows, and children 0 to 1 travel free.
Are domestic flights included?
Yes. Three domestic flights are included: Istanbul to Cappadocia on Day 3, Cappadocia to the Aegean coast on Day 5, and back to Istanbul on Day 7. All airport transfers are included too, so you never need to arrange a taxi.
Are entrance fees included?
No. Entrance fees for palaces, museums and archaeological sites are paid separately, on the day of each visit. Your guide handles the tickets so you do not wait in queues. Ask us for a current total before you travel; fees change from time to time.
Is the hot air balloon ride included?
No, it is an optional extra. Balloons launch at sunrise and depend on the weather. With two nights in Cappadocia, booking for the first morning leaves the second as a backup if the flight is canceled. Tell us when you book and we will arrange it.
Is this tour suitable for seniors or families?
Yes. Walking is moderate, usually a few hours a day with breaks, and the private format lets you rest whenever you need. Kaymaklı has low tunnels and steep steps and can be skipped. Children are welcome; ages 0 to 1 travel free and ages 2 to 6 pay a reduced price.
How much does this tour cost per person?
For two travelers the price is $2,435 per person in US dollars. It falls to $2,005 per person for a party of six or more, and a solo traveler pays $4,675 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 $1,720 to $1,505 depending on group size and count toward the group size. Upgrading every night of the tour to 5-star hotels costs $395 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 $1,460. 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.