May 31 - June 9, 2025 10 Days / 9 Nights
This tour starts and ends in Istanbul
$5,340 per person/double occupancy $1,800 optional single supplement
Additional accommodations: $380 (single or double room), includes airport transfer Includes all fees and taxes
THIS TOUR IS FULL; WE ARE TAKING STANDBY RESERVATIONS
3 nights in modern, luxury hotelin Istanbul, 2 nights in a unique cave hotel in Cappadocia, and 4 nights in a seaview resort hotel in Kusadasi
9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners, including drinks - traditional Mediterranean or vegetarian menu
Private airport transfers on arrival and on departure
3 domestic flights: Istanbul to Cappadocia, Cappacocia to Izmir, Izmir to Istanbul, including all airline fees and taxes
All land transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach
A professional local guide throughout the tour
Private boat ride on the Bosphorus in Istanbul and along the Turqoise Coast in Kusadasi
Hotel porterage and all gratuities for drivers, guides, and restaurants
All activities and attractions as described in the itinerary, admissions, fees and tourist taxes
An experienced Sights and Soul Travels' Tour Director throughout the tour
NOT INCLUDED
Additional/optional costs may include: optional single supplement, hotel's early check-in charges, optional travel insurance, meals not included in the itinerary, optional activities not included in the itinerary i.e. the Cappadocia balloon ride, optional Tour Director's gratuities, telephone charges, room service, mini bar charges, laundry, personal expenses.
The tour cost does not include airfare to and from the tour’s location.
HIGHLIGHTS
In-depth tour of Istanbul with Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern
A private, scenic boat ride on the Bosphorus Strait, where Europe and Asia meet
Shopping at the vibrant Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets
Exploring the otherworldly Cappadocia region with ancient cave cities and fairy chimey rock formations
A visit to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient sites with a stop at St. Mary's House
A leisurely day at our Kusadasi beachfront hotel with a private boat excurion along the Turquoise Coast
Day trip to Pamukkale and Hierapolis, with the photogenic white travertine terraces
The Greco-Roman city of Aphrodisias, with Temple of Aphrodite, and impressive marble sculptures
Turkey is ancient and modern, Westernized and Oriental, religious and secular, wondrous and ordinary, familiar and exotic. It is a unique country: a rich, layered, and magical world full of history, culture, gastronomy, humanity, and commerce, increasingly Europeanized yet, notwithstanding the über-cosmopolitan Istanbul, still unspoiled and innocent. This is a geographic and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia, boasting more Greek ruins than Greece, more Roman archaeological sites than all of Italy, and, in Antalya alone, more beach resorts than all the coast of Spain. Turkey is also a major custodian of sacred sites revered by Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike, and of invaluable artifacts of early Greek civilization, Byzantine majesty, and Ottoman supremacy.
Visiting Turkey is like stepping into a treasure trove where East meets West in a captivating fusion of history, culture, and natural beauty. From the bustling streets of Istanbul, where ancient mosques stand alongside modern cafes, to the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia, with its fairy chimneys and underground cities, the white travertine terraces filled with thermal waters and the ancient remains of the Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis in Pamukkale and the Turquoise Coast, with its sun-kissed beaches and the ancient ruins of biblical cities of Ephesus or Aphrodisias whispering tales of civilizations past, Turkey offers a diverse tapestry of experiences with every moment imbued with a sense of wonder and adventure.
WHAT SPECIAL MAKES THIS TOUR
Carefully designed itinerary, including signature Turkish experiences
A knowledgeable private guide throughout the tour
Accommodation in luxury, perfectly located hotels
Dining at upscale restaurants, including drinks
Exclusive experiences, not available to larger groups