This 12 Day Essential Turkey Tour takes you on a comprehensive exploration of Turkey’s most iconic destinations. From Istanbul’s cultural heart, to the historic Gallipoli battlefields, the legendary city of Troy, the ancient wonders of Pergamon and Ephesus, the travertine terraces of Pamukkale, the Mediterranean charms of Antalya, and the magical landscapes of Cappadocia, this tour combines history, culture, and natural beauty.
Perfect for travelers seeking a full, immersive Turkish experience, this tour offers carefully curated visits, guided tours, and comfortable accommodations ensuring a memorable holiday.
12 Day Essential Turkey Tour – Detailed Description
Day 1 – Arrival to Istanbul
Visit / Activities: Transfer to hotel and check-in. Relax at your hotel.
Meals: None
Overnight: Istanbul
Day 2 – Istanbul: Byzantine & Ottoman Heritage Tour
Visit / Activities: After breakfast, explore:
Day 3 – Istanbul: Bosphorus & Two Continents Tour
Visit / Activities:
Walk along Byzantine City Walls
Spice Bazaar
Bosphorus Boat Cruise
Camlica Hill & Asian Side of Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Istanbul
Day 4 – Istanbul to Canakkale: Gallipoli Tour
Visit / Activities:
Brighton Beach & Beach Cemetery
ANZAC Cove & Ariburnu Cemetery
ANZAC Commemorative Site
Lone Pine Australian Memorial
Johnston's Jolly, Turkish & Allied trenches
Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment Cemetery
The Nek
Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Canakkale
Day 5 – Canakkale to Kusadasi: Troy & Pergamon Tour
Visit / Activities – Troy:
Trojan Horse
Troy VI & VII City Walls
East Gate VI, Temple of Athena
Schliemann Trench, Scaean Gate, Megaron House
Roman Bath & Odeon
Visit / Activities – Pergamon:
Acropolis & Library (once held 200,000 books)
Temple of Athena & Trajan
Altar of Zeus (Now at Berlin Museum)
Gymnasium, Lower Agora, Hellenistic Theater
Temple of Dionysus
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Kusadasi
Day 6 – Kusadasi: Lycian Cities Tour
Visit / Activities:
Day 7 – Kusadasi: Ephesus Tour
Visit / Activities:
Day 8 – Kusadasi to Antalya via Pamukkale
Visit / Activities:
Pamukkale Calcium Terraces
Hierapolis Ancient City: Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater, Cleopatra Antique Pool
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Antalya
Day 9 – Antalya: Aspendos, Perge & Side Tour
Visit / Activities:
Aspendos Antique Theatre
Perge & Side Ancient Cities
Waterfall
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Antalya (Overnight bus to Cappadocia)
Optional: Flight from Antalya to Cappadocia
Day 10 – Arrival to Cappadocia: North Cappadocia Tour
Visit / Activities:
Day 11 – Cappadocia: South Cappadocia Tour
Visit / Activities:
Red Valley
Cavusin Village
Great Pigeon House
Kaymakli Underground City
Ortahisar Castle
Transfer to airport and fly to Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Istanbul
Day 12 – Departure from Istanbul
Check-out from hotel and transfer to airport according to your flight schedule.
Meals: Breakfast
Includes
Accommodations
- 4 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Istanbul.
- 1 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Canakkale.
- 2 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Kusadasi.
- 1 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Antalya.
- 1 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Cappadocia.
Guiding
- English Speaking Professional Guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism on the tours
Tours
- Day 2.: Istanbul.: Byzantine and Ottoman Heritage Tour.
- Day 3.: Istanbul.: Bosphorus And Two Continents Tour.
- Day 4.: Istanbul To Canakkale.: Gallipoli Tour.
- Day 5.: Canakkale To Kusadasi Via.: Troy and Pergamon Tour.
- Day 6.: Kusadasi To Pamukkale.: Ephesus Tour.
- Day 7.: Kusadasi To Lycian Cities.: Priene, Miletus, Didyma Tour.
- Day 8.: Kusadasi To Antalya via Pamukkale.: Pamukkale Tour.
- Day 9.: Antalya To Cappadocia Via.: Aspendos, Perge And Side Tour.
- Day 10.: Arrival to Cappadocia.: North Cappadocia Tour.
- Day 11.: Cappadocia To Istanbul Via.: South Cappadocia Tour.
Entrance fees
- Museum, Monuments, Entrance, Ruins during the tours.
Meals
- Breakfast at the hotels.
- Lunch during the tours.
Land transportations
- Hotel Pick up and Drop off.
- During the Tours.
- All The transportation by non-smoking and air-conditioned touristical mini-vans.
Flight tickets
- Flight Tickets from Cappadocia to Istanbul.
Bus tickets
- Bus Tickets from Pamukkale to Antalya.
- Bus Tickets from Antalya to Cappadocia.
Land Transportation
- Hotel pick up and drop off in Istanbul, Canakkale, Kusadasi, Antalya, Cappadocia.
- Airport transfers in Istanbul and Cappadocia for International and Domestic Flights.
- Bus station transfers in Pamukkale, Antalya and Cappadocia for Interior local buses.
- All Transportation by non-smoking and air-conditioned touristical mine-vans.
Charges
- Local taxes
- Service charge.
Hotels
You may choose the hotels according to the each town you will stay during the Essential Turkey Tour package.
- Istanbul.: 4* Dosso Dossi Old City Hotel, Orka Royal Hotel, Antik Hotel, Grand Oztanık, Taksim Faros Hotel.
- Canakkale.: Kervansaray Hotel, Helen Hotel.
- Kusadasi.: 4* Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel or Efe Boutique Hotel, Boutique Kalehan Hotel, Boutique Kırkınca House.
- Antalya.: 4* Cender Hotel, 5* Club Hotel Sera.
- Cappadocia.: Heaven Cave Hotel, Ottoman Cave Suites, Nostalji Cave Suit Hotel.
Prices are per person in Double Room, for the Single and Triple Rooms, please check the following details
- Single Suplement : + 30% (you may pay when you arrive)
- Triple Suplement : - 20% (you may book for 2 people and the rest, you may pay when you arrive)
Notes
Additional Information
- During the Essential Turkey, there are sites to visit by walking and not recommended for the people who has difficulties with walking.
- When you book the one of Turkey Tours the confirmation will be received at time of booking.
- We kindly request our guests to be ready 10 minutes before pick up time of for the each day tours.
- The Flight Tickets which is covered by the packages, will be provided after booking.
- Under 18 years Children who is going to join to the package, must be accompanied by an adult.
Reviews
Essential Turkey Tour
Essential Turkey Tour, it was our special day and we wanted to spend it in Turkey. We have had excellent tours and holiday in Turkey, We enjoyed the history, nature and culture. The tour was well arranged and everything was on time. we spent our night in Sultanahmet in Istanbul and Selcuk and centre in Canakkale and Urgup in Cappadocia, I highly recommend to everyone.
Sara
5.0/5
September 2018