About this trip
Twelve days across Turkey's biggest hitters, with a genuine detour onto Greek soil at Samos. You start in Istanbul, where the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and a Bosphorus cruise set the tone, then work your way down the coast through Ephesus and onto a ferry to Samos for a slower, Aegean-village pace before crossing back.
From there it's Pamukkale's white terraces, Antalya's old town and coastline, Konya's Rumi connections, and Cappadocia's fairy chimneys to close things out. It's a full sweep of ancient sites, Mediterranean coast and Anatolian heartland in one guided loop.
Group-based and fully guided throughout, with the pace kept easy — this is one for travellers who want the landmarks covered without having to plan the logistics themselves.
What you'll do
- Visit Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul
- Take a Bosphorus cruise between two continents
- Explore the ancient city of Ephesus
- Ferry across to Samos Island, Greece, for a slower coastal stop
- See the travertine terraces and ruins of Hierapolis at Pamukkale
- Wander Cappadocia's fairy chimneys, with an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride
- Fully guided and easy-paced, suited to families and those new to group travel
- Includes a genuine cross-border stop in Greece, not just mainland Turkey
- Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia is optional and not included as standard
Worth it if you want comprehensive Turkish sites with knowledgeable guides and flexible scheduling. Think twice if you need guaranteed ferry trips or consistent hotel quality.
- Guides like Erdem and Volcan are genuinely exceptional—knowledgeable on ruins, helpful in emergencies, known by local cats.
- Samos ferry doesn't run in winter; museums and archaeological sites cost extra on top of tour price.
- Hotel quality varies sharply: Istanbul and Kusadasi good, but Antalya location poor with late-night bar noise forcing mid-tour switches.
- Cappadocia overnight at Urgup isolates you from Goreme's tourist hub; one group had to push back against rushed site visits.
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Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Istanbul · 20 Jul – 21 Jul
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