【Small Group Tour | Visa-Free】Turkey Highlights 9 Days 8 Nights (3 domestic flights included | Istanbul + Cappadocia + Antalya + Fethiye + Pamukkale + Ephesus)

Itinerary details

Today is the meeting day After arriving in Istanbul, airport pickup will be arranged according to your international flight’s arrival time. The pickup representative will wait by the sign in the arrivals hall, and the driver will take you to a well-located hotel in Istanbul’s Old City, where you can experience the city’s unique charm. If you arrive at the hotel early, you can explore at your leisure. We recommend Galata Tower or the New Imperial Palace of Dolmabahçe in the New City.

Important notes

Note: Most hotels in Türkiye allow check-in from 14:00 local time. If you arrive earlier and cannot check in, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception and explore the nearby area or have a meal.

Meals

At your own expense

Accommodation

Istanbul Old City hotel

Attraction details

Istanbul Scenery 1

Istanbul Scenery 1

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Itinerary details

Today, explore Istanbul’s Old City. The attractions are close together, so no private vehicle is needed; your guide will accompany you throughout and provide commentary. After the tour, we will fly to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and taken to a distinctive cave hotel in Cappadocia. Note: The Cappadocia airport transfer is a shared local service. Today’s sightseeing (order may vary): Topkapi Old Palace -- Hagia Sophia (exterior) -- Blue Mosque -- Seagull Terrace -- Bosphorus Strait 【Topkapi Old Palace】Closed every Tuesday and may close temporarily on other days. If closed, the visit will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern. This unmissable historical treasure of Istanbul was not only the center of power for the Ottoman Empire for nearly four centuries, but also a vast museum embodying the empire’s glory, luxury, and ingenuity. Set atop Istanbul’s historic peninsula, the palace overlooks the magnificent Golden Horn, Bosphorus Strait, and Sea of Marmara. Its gardens and terraces offer unparalleled photo opportunities. 【Hagia Sophia】 (exterior) The finest example of Byzantine architectural art, once the world’s largest church. 【Blue Mosque】Istanbul’s most iconic grand mosque, decorated inside with exquisite blue tiles 【Seagull Terrace】In Istanbul, dancing with the seagulls is more than just taking photos—it is a lively ritual that connects you with the city’s soul. Seagulls circle overhead, making every quick shot a spectacular scene. 【Lunch】Complimentary: We have selected a Turkish restaurant renowned for its authentic flavors and culinary heritage, where you can sample Turkish-style grilled meat. The restaurant is in the heart of Istanbul’s Old City, close to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and many other attractions. 【Complimentary: Bosphorus Strait Cruise】A journey across time, with Europe on your left and Asia on your right. From the deck, you’ll see 19th-century Ottoman palaces framed alongside steel bridges spanning the sea. Seagulls sweep past the gilded dome of Dolmabahçe Palace, while mosque minarets become piano-key silhouettes in the twilight.

Meals

Hotel breakfast + specialty barbecue lunch

Accommodation

Cappadocia cave hotel

Attraction details

Hagia Sophia Mosque Museum

Hagia Sophia Mosque Museum

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On July 10, 2020, the Turkish government annulled its earlier decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a museum and restored its religious status as a mosque. Although Istanbul is home to many important historic sites, Hagia Sophia—now a mosque—stands apart from the others for its innovative architecture, rich history, religious significance, and extraordinary beauty. This religious building, with a history of nearly 1,500 years, is renowned worldwide for its immense dome and is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture that “changed the history of world architecture.”

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque

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The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is a masterpiece by Mehmet Aga, a favored student of Sinan, one of the finest classical architects of the Islamic world. It is also one of Istanbul’s most important landmarks. Construction began in 1609, and the mosque takes its name from the blue and white İznik tiles that cover its interior walls. Set against its graceful, curving exterior, the mosque’s cascading domes and six slender minarets are striking, earning it a place among the world’s ten greatest wonders.

Itinerary details

Early in the morning, you can opt to join a hot-air balloon ride in Türkiye at your own expense. Ascend gradually into the dark dawn and watch the sun rise over the undulating landscape. Feel the magic of the transition from night to day as you drift through valleys, taking in a romantic sunrise and the fairy chimneys and exploring the extraordinary landscape, which resembles the “surface of the moon.” ☀ After the hot-air balloon ride, return to the hotel for breakfast and a short rest, then join your guide for a tour of Cappadocia. At around 12:00 noon, we will pick you up to begin today’s itinerary (the order of visits is subject to change). We will head to a restaurant to enjoy a Turkish specialty, pottery kebab (if you do not wish to dine, you will still need to accompany the group to the restaurant and wait). We will then visit the underground city (avoiding the hottest part of the day in Cappadocia), Pigeon Valley, Uchisar Castle (exterior view), Love Valley, Avanos, and Camel Valley. At the end of today’s tour, you can choose to return to your hotel to rest or head to the Göreme Sunset Viewpoint. Those who choose the viewpoint can take photos of the sunset and panoramic night views of Cappadocia at their leisure, but will need to make their own way back to the hotel afterward. [Lunch] Enjoy a local Cappadocian specialty: pottery kebab. [Kaymakli Underground City] The largest underground city, it is a world of fairies. Excavation began as early as the Hittite period, before the Common Era. This eight-level underground city is 40 meters deep and could accommodate 10,000 people. [Pigeon Valley] A dreamlike fairy-tale world of towering peaks and jagged rock formations. Countless pigeons soar freely through the sky, their silhouettes set against the unusual landscape to create a breathtaking scene. [Uchisar Castle] View the exterior of Uchisar Castle, carved out of a single mass of rock. More than a thousand years old, it is also Cappadocia’s largest rock castle. [Love Valley] A unique geological wonder filled with mushroom-shaped rock formations. Next, visit Avanos, a town famous for its pottery. Made from clay from the Red River, its ceramics are durable and finely glazed. Then explore Imagination Valley and Camel Valley Natural Park. This concludes today’s tour; you can choose to return to your hotel to rest. After the tour, you can also continue to the Göreme Sunset Viewpoint for panoramic views of Cappadocia. You will need to make your own way back to the hotel afterward.

Meals

Hotel breakfast + clay-pot beef lunch

Accommodation

Cappadocia cave hotel

Attraction details

Uçhisar Castle

Uçhisar Castle

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Uçhisar Castle is a single exposed mass of porous volcanic rock, standing high at Cappadocia’s highest point. From the castle, you can take in panoramic views of the Cappadocian landscape.

Pigeon Valley

Pigeon Valley

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The rocks in Pigeon Valley are riddled with pigeonholes, which people are said to have used in ancient times to collect pigeon droppings for fertilizer. Above the valley stand two relatively young trees with many branches: one is covered in evil eye charms, while the other is adorned with locally renowned pottery. This is a great spot for photos.

Avanos town

Avanos town

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Avanos, located north of the town of Göreme, is a pottery town famous throughout Cappadocia. The Kızılırmak, one of Turkey’s longest inland rivers, flows through the town center. Its iron-rich water makes the area well suited to pottery, and locally made wares are crafted from the river’s red clay. Visit a pottery workshop and explore the town, where you will find many family-run studios that combine workshops and shops. See artisans carry out every stage of this traditional craft, from selecting materials and shaping the clay to molding, painting, glazing, and firing.

Itinerary details

Early morning recommendation: Take a vintage car ride on your own to watch the sunrise. This is one of the most photogenic activities in Cappadocia. 【Göreme】(Free time) After exploring beautiful Cappadocia at your leisure, you will be taken to the airport according to your flight schedule. You will fly to Antalya on your own, where you will be picked up and taken to your hotel. ☀PS: Direct domestic flights between the two cities are limited, so timings may be adjusted depending on flight availability. The order of the itinerary may also be adjusted as needed, provided no attractions are omitted. The actual arrangements will prevail; please take note.

Meals

Hotel breakfast

Accommodation

Antalya Hotel

Attraction details

Göreme, one of the world’s ten most beautiful sights and the place most like the moon

Göreme, one of the world’s ten most beautiful sights and the place most like the moon

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This area is home to world-famous spectacular volcanic rock formations, ancient rock-cut churches, astonishing underground cities, and cave dwellings. The first things visitors notice in Göreme are its strangely shaped caves. Unusual rocky hills rise from the plains, riddled with countless openings. It is one of the places on Earth most like the Moon, and one of the world's ten greatest scenic wonders.

Itinerary details

After breakfast, depart from your hotel with your driver to visit Hadrian's Gate in the Old Town, then head to Düden Waterfalls. After your visit, set off on today's coastal journey, driving from Antalya to Fethiye. Mountains and sea unfold before your eyes along the way as we experience the charm of the Mediterranean together. Please note: Today's itinerary does not include a guide. 【Hadrian's Gate】With a history spanning two thousand years, this gate was built to commemorate the renowned Roman Emperor Hadrian. It remains remarkably well preserved and is a must-visit in Antalya. 【Düden Waterfalls】One of Antalya's most celebrated natural wonders, Düden is not a single attraction but a pair of contrasting “twin sisters”—Upper Düden Waterfall and Lower Düden Waterfall—together creating a magnificent spectacle as water rushes down the cliffs and meets the Mediterranean. These waterfalls are among the rare few in the world that flow directly into the sea. You can admire the full spectacle from a clifftop park. 【D400 Coastal Highway】Travel in a private vehicle from Antalya along the D400, one of the world's top ten scenic highways, to Kaş, one of Türkiye's most beautiful towns. Enjoy a leisurely stroll and lunch at your own expense, then stop for photos at the famous Kaputaş Beach before continuing to your hotel in Fethiye. Along the D400 Mediterranean coastline, the endless blue sea is sure to soothe you. And of course, don't miss the chance to take some beautiful photos along the way! 【Kaputaş Beach】One of the world's top ten beaches with turquoise waters, Kaputaş is also an iconic stop on the D400 and a beach travelers from all over the world dream of visiting. With clear water, white sand, and sea blending into sky, no description could do this beach justice. Relax on the beach and savor the Mediterranean sunshine. 【Kaş Town】Set between Antalya and Fethiye, colorful Kaş has a Greek-inspired feel. Stroll through its narrow lanes and browse the gift shops and cafés. At lunchtime, enjoy a delicious seafood casserole at a local seafood restaurant and savor the distinctive flavors of Türkiye.

Meals

Hotel breakfast

Accommodation

Fethiye hotel

Attraction details

Fethiye

Fethiye

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The town of Fethiye sits next to the Mediterranean. Its long coastline curves in front of the town to form a wide bay known as the Dead Sea. By day, the harbor is calm and tranquil, with boats lining the bay and bougainvillea blooming along the shore.

Kaputas Beach

Kaputas Beach

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From the road, the sea is clear and the sky is blue. This little Mediterranean cove is so beautiful it almost seems unreal. Follow the long stone steps down from the roadside to the beach, and feel the unusual transition beneath your feet from large pebbles to fine sand. The water is crystal clear and the waves pristine. The seabed slopes steeply, making it easy to see the water change from pale white to soft green and then deep blue.

Itinerary details

Fethiye's beach has been awarded Blue Flag status and is one of the world's five top paragliding destinations. This is sure to be an experience you will never forget. In the morning, you can opt to experience paragliding at your own expense. Glide smoothly above Ölüdeniz Beach and take in the blue lagoon below. Beneath you are the deep blue sea and beautiful coastline, while the curve of the Earth is clearly visible in the distance. This humbling encounter with nature is deeply moving. Let the rising air currents carry you to the cloud base and between the clouds; sometimes you may even pass close to a few eagles. ☀ After breakfast, we will arrange a Mediterranean pirate-ship island-hopping tour. The uniquely designed pirate ship creates an exhilarating atmosphere. Dance with fellow travelers in a foreign land, or, if you're a confident swimmer, jump into the sea and swim among the little fish. If you don't swim, sit back on the boat's deck, listen to the music, and enjoy the Mediterranean blue all to yourself. ☀ Note: The island-hopping tour is operated by a local boat company. The company will assign transfer vehicles based on the number of guests at the hotels, so there may be more than 9 passengers in a vehicle. ☀ The full-day tour visits 6 islands and sights: Butterfly Valley, Blue Cave, St. Nicholas Island, Cold Spring, Aquarium Bay, and Camel Beach. After the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel. *Please note: If the pirate ship is not operating on the day of your tour, it will be replaced by a regular sightseeing boat.

Meals

Hotel breakfast + Mediterranean lunch

Accommodation

Fethiye hotel

Attraction details

Fethiye Paragliding

Fethiye Paragliding

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Paragliding is one of Fethiye's signature must-try experiences. Take off from a mountaintop near Ölüdeniz and glide over the sea in a U-shaped canopy, using the wind for lift. The views are breathtaking.

Itinerary details

After breakfast, drive to 【Pamukkale】 (Note: Tours in Pamukkale for groups of 4 or fewer will have an English-speaking guide; groups of more than 4 will have a Chinese-speaking guide). Upon arrival, you can have lunch at a nearby restaurant at your own expense. After lunch, begin your tour with the guide. 【Pamukkale】Its natural formations rise over the hills like great mounds of cotton. The beautiful legend of Pamukkale goes like this: In Pamukkale, you may hear the story of the shepherd Endymion, who was so eager to meet Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon, that he forgot to milk his sheep. Their milk flowed freely and covered the entire hillside—and so, according to Turkish folklore, Pamukkale was formed. The site resembles great mounds of natural cotton standing on the hills. Its calcium carbonate-rich hot springs have flowed for 14,000 years, carving 17 tiers of travertine terraces at a rate of 1 millimeter per second—one of the most extraordinary examples of “slow art” on Earth. Next, visit 【the ancient city of Hierapolis】, founded in 190 BC during the Pergamon Kingdom. Thanks to its abundant hot springs, it became a popular retreat for the aristocracy of ancient Greece and Rome. At its height, it had everything from a theater and baths to churches and plazas. Although an earthquake in the 17th century reduced much of the ancient city to ruins, standing here you can still feel the profound impact of its historic remains. After a full day of sightseeing, check in to your hotel in 【Pamukkale】.

Meals

Hotel breakfast

Accommodation

Pamukkale hotel

Attraction details

Ancient City of Hierapolis

Ancient City of Hierapolis

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Hierapolis (meaning “Holy City”) sits atop the hills of Pamukkale. The city was founded in 190 BC by Eumenes II of Pergamon and grew around the area’s distinctive hot springs. In 133 BC, Pergamon became part of Rome, and the city continued to flourish. An earthquake in AD 60 destroyed the old city, which the Romans rebuilt according to the Roman urban plan. Hierapolis reached its peak in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, serving as a thermal resort for Roman aristocrats and a trading post on the Silk Road. Its buildings included a theater, baths, temples, and an extensive necropolis. Saint Philip was martyred here in AD 80, and during the Byzantine era, the city became an important Christian center. Repeated earthquakes led to its gradual decline from the 7th century onward. After a powerful earthquake in the 14th century, all residents left, and the ancient city fell into ruin.

Pamukkale

Pamukkale

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Pamukkale (Pamukkale) is located in Denizli Province, Turkey. Its white travertine terraces were formed over millions of years by calcium carbonate deposits from hot springs. The spring water is clear and blue, maintains a constant temperature year-round, and has been a therapeutic destination since ancient times. The ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis sit atop the hill. In ancient times, people built this Roman-era spa city around the hot springs. Together, this natural wonder and the Roman ruins form a combined World Heritage Site. Visitors can stroll across the snow-white terraces and explore the ancient theater and thermal pools, enjoying both geological wonders and thousand-year-old cultural heritage. In 1988, the ruins of Hierapolis and Pamukkale were jointly inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Itinerary details

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to the ancient city of Ephesus. Upon arrival, meet your Chinese-speaking guide and begin today’s tour of Ephesus. This is no mere ruin, but a brilliant snapshot of European civilization. Founded by Athenian colonists in the 10th century BC, Ephesus is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world and currently the largest Greco-Roman city in the world. It was once one of the five greatest cities of the Roman Empire and flourished during the ancient Greek and Roman periods. 【Library of Celsus】Historical script: A temple of knowledge completed in 135 AD, where 12,000 scrolls of papyrus once slumbered. Only the façade remains, yet it is still the world’s most photographed ancient library. 【Great Theatre】An acoustic marvel: This circular amphitheater holds 25,000 people. Stand at the center of the stage and sing softly, and every word can still be heard clearly in the highest seats. 【Temple of Artemis】Along with the Pyramids and the Hanging Gardens, it was selected as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A lost wonder: Only 1 of its 127 massive columns remains, but the foundations still reveal the arrogance of its former scale. After visiting the Ephesus site, travel by car to 【Şirince Village】 to experience the Turkish countryside and admire its old white Ottoman houses. At the end of today’s itinerary, you will be driven to Izmir Airport based on your actual flight booking time. You will board your flight to Istanbul on your own. Upon arrival, an airport pickup will be arranged, followed by transfer to your hotel.

Meals

Hotel breakfast + Aegean lunch

Accommodation

Istanbul hotel

Attraction details

Ancient City of Ephesus

Ancient City of Ephesus

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The ancient city of Ephesus, also known as Ephesos, lies on the Aegean coast. As the capital of Roman Asia Minor, Ephesus was once a vibrant city with more than 250,000 residents. It was so important and prosperous that the Temple of Artemis, one of the largest temples in the ancient world, was counted among the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, the ruins of Ephesus reflect the poignant passage of time. From unparalleled prosperity to crumbling walls, Ephesus has seen it all. Now, only the remnants of the ancient city tell visitors stories of thousands of years ago, leaving a deep impression.

Itinerary details

Return journey today. After breakfast, enjoy some free time to explore Istanbul. If your flight is later, you can explore the city on your own. We will arrange your airport transfer according to your international flight schedule. Depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) in advance, bringing your romantic journey through Turkey to an end.

Important notes

Note: All times shown on this webpage are for reference only. Actual arrival times may be delayed due to circumstances beyond our control, such as weather, traffic congestion, traffic accidents, festivals or sporting events, civil unrest, or strikes. We appreciate your understanding. If you have onward travel plans involving other transportation to another city, we strongly recommend allowing at least 3 hours of extra time to avoid inconvenience caused by delays. Our company accepts no responsibility for losses arising from travel arrangements you make yourself without allowing sufficient extra time. Thank you for your understanding.

Meals

Hotel breakfast

Accommodation

None

Attraction details

Istanbul Scenery 2

Istanbul Scenery 2

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