About this trip
A 12-day round trip from Istanbul covering Turkey's best-known historic sites, moving between destinations by plane rather than long coach transfers. You start in Istanbul, the city that straddles Europe and Asia and once served as capital to three empires, then head inland to Cappadocia and down to the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
Along the way you go underground in Cappadocia's ancient cave cities, walk the ruins of a well-preserved Greek city near Ephesus, float in Pamukkale's thermal pools, and take a boat out into Fethiye's bays. Antalya rounds things off with sea views and an old town built for wandering.
Small groups, centrally located family-run hotels, and local family-owned restaurants are part of the setup throughout, giving you a more local feel than a typical big-bus tour.
What you'll do
- Explore Istanbul, once capital to three empires and split across two continents
- Descend into Cappadocia's underground cities and hear about early Christian history from a local guide
- Photograph the fairy chimneys from top viewpoints
- Walk the ancient streets of a well-preserved Greek city near the House of Holy Mary
- Swim in Pamukkale's thermal springs and visit the Hierapolis ruins
- Join a full-day boat trip around Fethiye's bays and catch the sunset from Antalya's best viewpoint
- Domestic flights are used between destinations rather than long overland transfers
- Cleopatra Pool in Pamukkale is currently closed for maintenance, though the main Hierapolis site is still visited
- Antalya's Tünektepe Cable Car is closed for renovation, with an optional one-hour boat tour offered instead
Cheapest live departure per day, in £, recorded by our tracker since 16 Jul. Never a brochure “was” price.
Worth it if you get a reliable local operator and don't mind midday heat at sites. Think twice if you're paired with an unresponsive agent or end up with Tour Altinkum Travel.
- Tour guides consistently knowledgeable and professional; drivers reliable and transportation well-organized throughout.
- One operator (Tour Altinkum Travel) delivered one-star hotels instead of promised four-five stars, forced shopping outlet visits, poor food, unpleasant management.
- Historical sites visited midday in 100°F+ heat; no water provided to groups despite extreme temperatures.
- Agent responsiveness varies wildly; some unresponsive on WhatsApp, missing calls, causing logistical issues like wrong hotel drops and missing boarding passes.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
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 · 21 Jul – 22 Jul
Booked on their own sites, separate from your tour. We may earn a commission — it never changes your price.
Sort the essentials
Partner offersWe may earn a commission from partner offers. It never changes your price or our ranking.
More trips like this
Ranked on real fit — in case this one isn't quite yours.
Booked with the operator via TourRadar · we may earn a commission.