11 Nights Mini Group Tour: Exploring Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale, and Bodrum
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Join our 11-night mini group tour and explore the best of Turkey, including Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale, and Bodrum. Enjoy fully guided tours, boutique hotels, and personalized service.
Duration: 12 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Arrival to Istanbul

Istanbul - Welcome to Turkey. Arrive in Istanbul Airport ( IST ) or to Sabiha Gokcen Airport ( SAW ) , Our representative will meet you at the airport with your name sign and private transfer to the hotel for overnight stay in Istanbul.

Full Day Istanbul Tour (Breakfast)

Hippodrome - Our tour starts with Hippodrome Square where used to take place for chariot races and the Byzantine riots during Roman and Byzantine period.

Hagia Sophia Mosque - Only a short walk away, reaches Hagia Sophia built in 532 AD by Roman Emperor Justinian I.

Blue Mosque - Visit Blue Mosque, which has its fame from its beautiful blue Iznik tiles

Topkapi Palace - We will continue walking to Topkapi Palace, was not only the residence of the Ottoman sultans, but also the administrative and educational center of the state. It was constructed between 1460 and 1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople. We will visit the Topkapi Palace including weapons section.

Grand Bazaar - We will visit Grand Bazaar where is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 1,200 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. Opened in 1461, it is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops.

Drive back to our hotel

Istanbul Tour with Bosphorus Cruise (Breakfast)

Basilica Cistern - Our tour starts with the one of Istanbul’s splendid historical buildings is the Basilica Cistern located in the southwest of Hagia Sophia. This large underground cistern built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527-565) was named as Yerebatan Palace ere among the people due to the marble columns rising from the water and countless seemingly like. It is also known as Basilica Cistern since there is a Basilica in the place where the cistern is located.

Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - You will have time in Spice Bazaar. Than visit to the Spice Bazaar with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs, also known as Egyptian Bazaar.

Bosphorus Strait - Then to the pier for a Bosporus cruise on a public ferry. Starting the trip from the Golden Horn and sailing through the waterway separating the two continents, Asia and Europe- with a possibility to take pictures of the marble palaces, old wooden villas of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials. We get on land in Sariyer district which has the old and modern taste together. Visit Ortakoy where mostly locals go. Ortakoy, once literally “the village in the middle” (orta) the European Bosphorus Shore, is now among Istanbul ‘ s coolest, chic-est, most artsy neighborhoods, with trendy boutiques, atmospheric cafes and bistrots, and crowds of young, sophisticated residents and visitors.

Istanbul - After the tour program drive to your hotel for overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul - Fly to Cappadocia & Tour (Breakfast)

Istanbul - Early morning Pick up from hotel and transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight to Kayseri.

Cappadocia - Upon your arrival to Kayseri / Nevsehir airport, you will be welcomed and transfer to Cappadocia region.

Fairy Chimneys - First meeting with Cappadocia, visiting Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup which are the most popular and seen on advertisements. That’s why people carved some pigeon houses to keep them in certain places. You will see that the houses for the pigeons are like the houses for the people.

Kaymakli Underground City - Then we descend into the center of the earth in the Kaymakli Underground City one of the largest and the deepest of 200 others in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia - End of the tour, drive to your hotel for overnight in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia Tour (Breakfast)

Devrent Valley - In the morning, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses, visit to Pasabag “fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies” near Zelve.

Avanos - Lunch in Avanos, centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.

Goreme Open-Air Museum - Afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).

Uchisar Castle - Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia. After the tour program transfer to your hotel. Stay overnight in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia - Fly to Izmir & Kusadasi Overnight (Breakfast)

Cappadocia - After breakfast check out from the hotel and drive to Kayseri / Nevsehir airport for your flight to Izmir.

Izmir - Upon your arrival to Izmir Airport, our representative will welcome you with your name sign and transfer you to Sirince Villiage for overnight.

Kusadasi - Upon your arrival to Kusadasi, check in to your Ocean View room. Overnight in Kusadasi

Kusadasi – Ephesus - Kusadasi (Breakfast)

Kusadasi - After breakfast, drive to Ephesus region around 20 minutes.

Ancient City of Ephesus - Continue to Ephesus, walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings, among them The State Agora, Odeon, Memnius Monument, the Temple of Domitian, Polio Fountain, Curetes Street, The Trajan Fountain, The Baths of Scholastica, Hadrian Temple, Latrina, Celcus Library, the gate of Mihridates and Mazues, Commercial Agora and The Grand Theater are two of the most impressive buildings in Ephesus. Grand theatre was built in 3rd century B.C and it was later expanded to 24.000 spectators by the Romans in the 1st century A.D.

Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - Then, we will visit the House of Virgin Mary. This house is located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council of 431 in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared it a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed here.

Kusadasi - End of the tour, drive back to your hotel for overnight in Kusadasi.

Kusadasi – Pamukkale ( Breakfast – Dinner )

Kusadasi - After breakfast, check out from your hotel and drive to Pamukkale around 3 hours.

Hierapolis & Pamukkale - Discovery of Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. The travertine terraces at Pamukkale are one of the most spectacular natural wonders we ever have seen from various mineral springs in a vast white cliff side, about 200 m overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have dripped down over a series of terraced levels and created a fairyland of bizarre solidified cascades and shell-shaped basins. It looks like creations from snow or like balls from cotton, which gave the scenery the Turkish name Pamukkale (cotton castle): Moreover the water in the basins is changing its color according to how the light enters.

Pamukkale - After the tour, check in to your thermal hotel in Pamukkale. You can use the thermal pool until 22:00

Pamukkale - Bodrum ( Breakfast)

Pamukkale - After breakfast check out from your hotel and drive to Bodrum around 3,5 hours.

Bodrum City - Upon your arrival to Bodrum in the afternoon, you will check in to your hotel for overnight in Bodrum.

Bodrum Castle - We will start visiting St. Peter’s Castle, including underwater archeology museum. Castle was built by the Knights of St John in 1402 to dominate the harbour and it is one of the last and finest examples of Crusader architecture in the east.

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus - hen we will visit Halicarnassos Mausoleum which used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World. Next stop will be the ancient theater of Halicarnassos, dated back to the 4th century BC with 5.000 capacity.

Bodrum Tour ( Breakfast )

Bodrum City - Free day in Bodrum

Bodrum – Istanbul by flight (Breakfast)

Bodrum City - After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to Bodrum Airport for your flight back to Istanbul.

Istanbul - Upon your arrival to Istanbul, our representative will welcome you with your name sign. Then transfer you to your hotel in Istanbul, for overnight.

Home (Breakfast)

Istanbul - Our driver will take you from your hotel upon your departure flight time, and transfer you to airport for your flight back home.
End of our services.

What's Included
  • Stay at unique Cave Hotels in Cappadocia
  • Explore with a licensed professional guide
  • Convenient domestic flights included
  • Enjoy boutique hotels in Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Bodrum, Istanbul
  • Travel comfortably in air-conditioned transport
  • Gain quick entry with pre-paid skip-the-line tickets
  • Relax with 11 nights at selected hotels
  • Start your days with 11 included breakfasts
What's Not Included
  • International flight tickets
  • Any drinks and the meals not mentioned in including section
  • Personal expenses
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

This mini group (max. 10 pax) tour includes the most popular highlights of Turkey. Surround yourself in the world-famous attractions on an 12-day fully guided tour. Istanbul is the world’s most gorgeous and mysterious city Cappadocia is the land of Mysterious with amazing rock formations and underground cities. Ephesus, Walk through history along marble streets lined with wonderful public buildings,. Pamukkale, Discovery the Travertine terraces. Bodrum, visit Halicarnassos Mausoleum which used to be one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World.
Perfect for travelers who are short on time or people who hate planning, all logistical details, including domestic flights, accommodation and most meals, are included and accounted for.

  • Selected centrally Boutique and 4 star Hotels
  • Small group ensures personal service with
  • Informative, friendly and professional guiding
  • Domestic flights included.
  • Option: Private Tour for your family
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
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(1 Rating)
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1 star
Denise
Aug 3, 2023
CURIO TRAVEL gave us the trip of our dreams. - We hired Curio Travel directly from Brazil and I can say without a doubt that it was our best choice. From the first contact, Fevzi was extremely responsive to the type of experience we wanted and was very attentive to each request. Everything went perfectly. We had great guides and drivers. Highlight for the team from Cappadocia and Pamukkale, Izmir and Ephesus! I recommend this company with my eyes closed to my fellow Brazilians and other travelers who want to get to know this beautiful country. The 12 days we spent there were a dream!
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