Istanbul, Cappadocia & Antalya – 10 Days with Pamukkale

A full guided day in the old city of Sultanahmet, where the Byzantine and Ottoman empires left their grandest buildings within a few minutes' walk of each other. You start at the Blue Mosque, named for the more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles inside its domes, then cross to the Hippodrome, once the chariot-racing ground and centre of Byzantine public life, where the Egyptian Obelisk still stands.

The second half of the day is Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Your guide leads you through its courtyards, the pavilions overlooking the Bosphorus and the Treasury, with its jewel-encrusted daggers and the Spoonmaker's Diamond. The tour runs about seven to eight hours with entrance tickets included, and you are dropped back at the hotel in the late afternoon.

At a glance: Time needed: ~7–8 hrs guided tour · Travel: Hotel pickup and drop-off · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Morning (around 8:30–9:00 AM): Breakfast at the hotel and pickup for the guided tour.

• Morning: Blue Mosque, about 45 min. It closes to visitors during the five daily prayers, so your guide times the visit around them.

• Late morning: The Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square) with the Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpent Column, about 30 min.

• Noon: Lunch break in Sultanahmet (own cost), about 1 hr.

• Afternoon: Topkapi Palace, about 2.5–3 hrs including the courtyards and the Treasury. The Harem section has a separate ticket if not covered.

• Evening: Drop-off at your hotel. Free for the Grand Bazaar (closed on Sundays) or dinner in the old city (own cost).

Travel for the day

• Hotel → Sultanahmet ~20–30 min by tour transport, and back.

• The sights are close together and visited on foot with your guide.

Tips & what to carry

• Blue Mosque dress code: women cover hair, shoulders and knees; men wear trousers below the knee. Shoes come off at the door.

• Mosques close for about 90 minutes at Friday midday prayers.

• Topkapi is closed on Tuesdays; if your Day 2 falls on a Tuesday, ask us to swap the order.

• Expect queues and a lot of walking on cobbles. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water.

Included today

• Tour Duration: 7-8 Hour Full Day with Entrance Ticket

• Entry fees

• Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel

• Professional tour guide

Overnight: Istanbul

A slower day on the water. You set off around 8:30 AM on a ferry across the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara, passing the city's waterfront landmarks as Istanbul falls away behind you, to Büyükada, the largest of the Princes' Islands. Private cars are banned here, so the island moves at the pace of bicycles, walkers and small electric shuttles.

With a licensed guide you walk the island's streets of old wooden Ottoman mansions, gardens and sea views, then have free time for sightseeing, shopping and photographs. You can add a short electric shuttle ride around the island. Lunch is at a local restaurant before the return ferry to Istanbul. The whole day takes about nine hours.

At a glance: Time needed: ~9 hrs full day · Travel: Ferry ~1.5 hrs each way + hotel transfers · Pace: Moderate

Schedule

• Morning (around 8:30 AM): Breakfast, hotel transfer and departure by ferry across the Bosphorus and Marmara Sea, about 1.5 hrs.

• Late morning: Arrive at Büyükada. Guided walk past the historic mansions and through the streets, about 1.5 hrs.

• Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant, about 1 hr (included depending on the tour option booked; confirm with your consultant).

• Optional: Short electric shuttle ride around the island (own cost).

• Afternoon: Free time for sightseeing, shopping and photography, about 1.5 hrs. Return ferry to Istanbul.

• Evening: Transfer to your hotel. Dinner on your own (own cost).

Travel for the day

• Hotel → ferry pier by tour transfer.

• Istanbul → Büyükada ~1.5 hrs by ferry, and the same back.

Tips & what to carry

• Büyükada is hilly. Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk up towards the monastery or the viewpoints.

• Weekends and summer holidays get very crowded; weekdays are calmer.

• Carry a light jacket for the ferry deck and sunscreen for the island.

• Ice cream and fresh fish by the harbour are local favourites.

Included today

• Princes Islands Day Tour

• Hotel transfers and lunch included depending on the selected option

Overnight: Istanbul

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for the short flight to Cappadocia. On landing, our driver meets you for the drive to your cave hotel, where rooms are carved into the soft volcanic rock and stay cool in summer and warm in winter.

The rest of the day is kept free so you can settle in before tomorrow's very early balloon start. Wander out at sunset to one of the viewpoints near the town, or simply sit out on the hotel terrace while the fairy chimneys turn pink and gold. An early dinner and an early night are a good idea.

At a glance: Time needed: Free afternoon · Travel: ~1 hr 20 min flight + two airport transfers · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast and check out. Private transfer to Istanbul Airport, about 1 hr.

• Noon: Flight to Cappadocia (Nevşehir or Kayseri), about 1 hr 20 min (flight not included).

• Afternoon: Meet your driver and transfer to your cave hotel, about 40 min from Nevşehir or 1 hr 15 min from Kayseri. Check in.

• Evening: Free. Sunset at a viewpoint near Göreme or Uçhisar (taxi or walk, own cost).

• Optional: Book the sunrise hot air balloon flight for one of the next mornings. It is not included: optional at 20K per person.

• Night: Dinner in town (own cost) and an early night for the balloon pickup.

Travel for the day

• Hotel → Istanbul Airport ~1 hr by private car.

• Istanbul → Cappadocia ~1 hr 20 min by flight.

• Cappadocia airport → cave hotel ~40 min–1 hr 15 min by private car.

Tips & what to carry

• The Istanbul–Cappadocia flight cost is not included; we share exact pricing after your visa is approved.

• Domestic fares often allow only 15–20 kg checked baggage. Check your ticket.

• Cappadocia nights are cool even in summer and cold in winter. Keep a warm layer in your hand luggage.

• Cave rooms can have steps and uneven floors. Tell us in advance if anyone has mobility issues.

Included today

• Room Type: Standard Cave Room + Breakfast (3 Nights)

• Airport transfer in Istanbul

• Airport transfer in Cappadocia

Overnight: Cappadocia

Today you see the southern side of Cappadocia, which many visitors skip. The day starts underground at Kaymakli, one of the largest of the region's underground cities, where early Christians and villagers hid from raiders in tunnels and rooms carved several floors down into the rock, with stables, kitchens and ventilation shafts.

From there your TourOn guide takes you into Ihlara Valley, a green river gorge lined with rock-cut churches, for a walk along the stream to traditional villages. Lunch is by the river. The last stop is Selime Monastery, a huge complex carved into a cliff face, with a cathedral-sized church and views over the valley. It is a full day, and a good mix of history and outdoor walking.

At a glance: Time needed: ~8–9 hrs tour · Travel: Hotel pickup and drop-off by tour vehicle · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Optional (4:30–8:30 AM): Sunrise hot air balloon flight before the tour, if booked (optional at 20K per person).

• Morning (around 9:00 AM): Breakfast and hotel pickup for the small-group Green (South) Tour.

• Morning: Kaymakli Underground City, about 1 hr.

• Late morning: Drive to Ihlara Valley, about 1 hr, and the valley walk past rock churches to the villages, about 1.5–2 hrs (around 3–4 km, mostly flat after the steps down).

• Noon: Lunch by the river in Belisırma, about 1 hr (own cost).

• Afternoon: Selime Monastery, about 45 min, with a short climb on uneven rock.

• Evening: Back at the hotel around 5:30–6:00 PM. Dinner on your own (own cost).

Travel for the day

• Hotel → Kaymakli ~30 min, Kaymakli → Ihlara ~1 hr, and back to the hotel ~1.5 hrs, by tour vehicle.

Tips & what to carry

• Kaymakli's tunnels are narrow and low. You will need to stoop; not ideal for anyone claustrophobic or with back trouble.

• There are around 300–400 steps down into Ihlara Valley and back up. Wear walking shoes with grip.

• Carry a hat and water for the valley walk in summer; it can be hot in the gorge.

• Underground it stays cool all year. A light layer helps.

Included today

• Green (South) Tour Cappadocia

• Entry fees

• Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel

• Professional tour guide

Overnight: Cappadocia

The classic Cappadocia circuit, on a guided small-group tour with hotel pickup around 9:30 AM. You start at Uçhisar Castle, a rock citadel riddled with old dwellings at the highest point of the region, then walk among the fairy chimneys and through the cave settlements of Zelve Open-Air Museum, a valley of churches and homes lived in until the 1950s.

Devrent Valley comes next, with its moon-like rock formations in the shapes of animals. In Avanos, the potters' town on the Kızılırmak river, you have lunch and watch traditional pottery being made at a local workshop. The day ends at Love Valley, the most photographed valley in Cappadocia, for its tall rock pillars and the views over the whole area. The tour runs about seven hours.

At a glance: Time needed: ~7 hrs tour · Travel: Hotel pickup and drop-off (SIC) · Pace: Moderate

Schedule

• Morning (around 9:30 AM): Breakfast and hotel pickup for the Cappadocia Red Zone Tour.

• Morning: Uçhisar Castle viewpoint, about 30 min; fairy chimneys and Zelve Open-Air Museum, about 1.5 hrs.

• Late morning: Devrent Valley, about 30 min.

• Noon: Avanos: lunch (included depending on the booked option) and a pottery workshop demonstration, about 2 hrs.

• Afternoon: Love Valley viewpoint and photo stop, about 45 min. Drop-off at your hotel around 4:30–5:00 PM.

• Evening: Free. Last dinner in Cappadocia (own cost).

Travel for the day

• Short drives between stops, about 10–20 min each, by tour vehicle on SIC basis.

Tips & what to carry

• Zelve has steep paths and some scrambles into the caves. Wear shoes with grip.

• Pottery workshops sell their work; buy only if you want to and ask about packing.

• Carry sunscreen, a cap and water: there is little shade in the valleys.

• Entrance fees are included at selected sites, depending on the booked option.

Included today

• Cappadocia Red Zone Tour

• Transport, professional guidance, lunch and selected entrance fees, depending on the booked option

Overnight: Cappadocia

After breakfast, check out of your cave hotel and transfer to Nevşehir or Kayseri airport for the flight down to Antalya on the Mediterranean coast. Our driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel. The change of scene is sharp: from dry volcanic valleys to palm-lined boulevards, cliffs and turquoise sea.

In the late afternoon or evening you are picked up for a traditional Turkish bath. In the warm marble hamam you lie on the heated stone, then an attendant gives you a full body scrub with a kese mitt and a foam wash, followed by a relaxing rinse. It is the old Ottoman way of bathing and the perfect reset after days of early starts and walking.

At a glance: Time needed: ~2 hrs hamam · Travel: Flight + two airport transfers · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast and check out. Transfer to Nevşehir or Kayseri airport, about 40 min–1 hr 15 min.

• Noon: Flight to Antalya, about 1 hr 15 min (often via Istanbul depending on the day; flight not included).

• Afternoon: Meet your driver and transfer to your hotel, about 30 min. Check in and rest.

• Late afternoon / Evening: Traditional Turkish Bath Experience with transfers, about 2 hrs.

• Night: Dinner on your own (own cost).

Travel for the day

• Cave hotel → Cappadocia airport (Nevşehir / Kayseri) by private car.

• Cappadocia → Antalya by flight.

• Antalya Airport → hotel ~30 min by private car.

Tips & what to carry

• Pack swimwear for the hamam; towels and a peştemal wrap are given there.

• Drink water before and after the bath, and skip it if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant.

• Remove jewellery and contact lenses before the steam room.

• Check whether your Cappadocia–Antalya flight is direct or via Istanbul; it changes the time you reach Antalya.

Included today

• Room Type: Deluxe Room + Breakfast (2 Nights)

• Airport transfer in Cappadocia (Nevshire / Kayseri)

• Airport transfer in Antalya

• Turkish Bath with Transfers

Overnight: Antalya

A long but remarkable day trip inland. After an early hotel pickup you drive to Pamukkale and Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where hot spring water has coated the hillside in white travertine terraces, the Cotton Castle. Above them lie the ruins of the Roman spa city of Hierapolis, and your professional guide takes you through its grand theatre, the necropolis, the historic gates and the Tomb of St. Philip.

You get free time on the terraces for photographs, then visit the Pamukkale archaeological museum before lunch at a traditional Turkish restaurant, with vegetarian options. If it is operating, you can also visit Cleopatra's Pool, the ancient thermal pool with broken Roman columns lying underwater; swimming admission is payable separately. It is a shared tour of about 12 hours, with transport, guide, lunch and entrance tickets to Pamukkale and Hierapolis included.

At a glance: Time needed: ~12 hrs shared tour · Travel: ~3.5–4 hrs each way by air-conditioned vehicle · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Early morning (around 6:00–6:30 AM): Hotel pickup in Antalya; drive to Pamukkale, about 3.5–4 hrs with a rest stop.

• Late morning: Hierapolis with your guide: the theatre, necropolis, gates and the Tomb of St. Philip, about 2 hrs.

• Noon: Free time on the Pamukkale travertine terraces, about 1 hr, and the archaeological museum, about 30 min.

• Afternoon: Lunch at a traditional Turkish restaurant, about 1 hr.

• Optional: Cleopatra's Pool, subject to its operational status; swimming admission paid separately.

• Evening: Drive back to Antalya, reaching your hotel around 7:30–8:30 PM.

Travel for the day

• Antalya → Pamukkale ~3.5–4 hrs each way by air-conditioned vehicle.

Tips & what to carry

• Shoes come off on the travertine terraces to protect them. Carry a bag for your footwear; the surface can be rough and slippery.

• The white terraces reflect strong sunlight. Sunglasses, a cap and sunscreen are essential.

• Pack swimwear and a towel if you plan to use Cleopatra's Pool.

• Carry water and snacks for the long drive.

Included today

• Lunch

• Vegeterian food is available

• Professional guide

• Hotel pickup and drop-off

• Entry tickets of Pamukkale and Hieropolis

• Air-conditioned vehicle

• pamukkale museum

Overnight: Antalya

A full guided day east of Antalya through the region's best-known ruins. You start at Perge, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in Turkey, with its long colonnaded street, the water channel down its centre, the baths and city gates. Then on to Aspendos, whose Roman theatre is among the most complete in the world; the acoustics are so good that a whisper on stage carries to the top rows.

After an included local lunch, you stop at the Manavgat Waterfall, a wide, low fall on the Manavgat river that is cool and green on a hot day. The last stop is Side, a seaside town built among ancient ruins, where the Temple of Apollo stands on the shore by the harbour; it is a lovely spot in the late afternoon. You return to Antalya in the evening.

At a glance: Time needed: ~9–10 hrs tour · Travel: ~1–1.5 hrs drives between sites · Pace: Full

Schedule

• Morning (around 8:30 AM): Breakfast and hotel pickup. Drive to Perge, about 30 min; guided visit, about 1.5 hrs.

• Late morning: Aspendos Theatre, about 1 hr.

• Noon: Local lunch (included), about 1 hr.

• Afternoon: Manavgat Waterfall, about 30–45 min; then Side old town and the Temple of Apollo, about 1.5 hrs.

• Evening: Drive back to Antalya, about 1.5 hrs. Dinner on your own (own cost).

Travel for the day

• Antalya → Perge ~30 min, Perge → Aspendos ~40 min, Aspendos → Manavgat ~30 min, Side → Antalya ~1.5 hrs, by tour vehicle.

Tips & what to carry

• Perge and Aspendos have little shade. Carry a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water, especially from June to September.

• Wear walking shoes; the Roman stones are uneven and slippery when polished.

• Side's harbour has good cafés for a coffee at sunset.

• The theatre seats at Aspendos are steep. Take care climbing.

Included today

• Perge Aspendos Waterfall Tour

• Local lunch

Overnight: Antalya

A last Mediterranean breakfast and time to pack. Check out and our driver takes you to Antalya Airport, about 40 minutes, for your flight to Istanbul.

At Istanbul Airport you have time to relax, shop duty-free and eat before your connecting international flight home to India.

At a glance: Time needed: Travel day · Travel: ~40 min transfer + domestic flight · Pace: Easy

Schedule

• Morning: Breakfast at the hotel and check out.

• Late morning: Private transfer to Antalya Airport, about 40 min.

• Noon / Afternoon: Flight to Istanbul, about 1 hr 15 min (flight not included), and connection to your international flight home.

Travel for the day

• Hotel → Antalya Airport ~40 min by private car.

• Antalya → Istanbul ~1 hr 15 min by flight.

Tips & what to carry

• Leave at least 3 hrs between landing in Istanbul and your international departure if the tickets are separate.

• Turkish delight, coffee and spices are best bought sealed for the flight.

• Spend leftover lira before you leave; it is hard to change in India.

Included today

• Airport transfer in Antalya