About this trip
Eight days across Turkey that go well beyond the usual Istanbul-Cappadocia loop, pushing into the southeast to places most first-time visitors never reach. You get the big Istanbul sights, the balloon-country landscapes of Cappadocia, then head further out to Gobeklitepe, Mt Nemrut, Sanliurfa and Mardin.
This is as much ancient history as postcard scenery. Gobeklitepe is the oldest known temple site in the world, Mt Nemrut's giant stone heads have stood on their mountaintop terraces since the 1st century BC, and Mardin's old town looks out over the Mesopotamian plains with layers of history from the Hurrians through to the Ottomans.
It's a partially guided tour, so there's a mix of escorted sightseeing and time to explore on your own, suited to families and groups as well as solo travellers wanting company on the road.
What you'll do
- Explore Istanbul's core sights — Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar
- Fly to Cappadocia and take in its volcanic rock landscape, known for hot air ballooning
- Visit Gobeklitepe, the world's oldest known temple site
- See the ancient stone god statues on the terraces of Mt Nemrut
- Visit the cave traditionally linked to the birth of the prophet Abraham in Sanliurfa
- Explore Mardin's old town, built into a hillside above the Mesopotamian plains
- Covers a lot of ground, including an internal flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia
- Southeast Turkey sees less tourism than Istanbul or Cappadocia, so expect a different pace and feel
- Mix of guided sightseeing and free time, rather than a fully escorted itinerary throughout
Worth it if you want a genuinely well-organised tour with excellent guides and comfortable transport across Turkey's highlights. Think twice if you're randomly assigned the Mardin guide or staying at Harran Hotel in Sanliurfa.
- Driver Ramazan was thoughtful, providing cold water and fresh fruit on long drives, making eight-hour stretches genuinely comfortable.
- Most guides were exceptional and deeply knowledgeable; Parviz Nazem stood out as flexible, attentive and present throughout eight days.
- Mardin guide was unprepared and disrespectful: walked 30-40 steps ahead, skipped listed sites, dragged traveller to shops for personal shopping.
- Late lunches at 3-4pm seemed timed to kill dinner appetite; Cappadocia's cave hotel beautiful but winding uphill walk back in dark rain was difficult.
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 fill fill in from our own tracking as it builds.
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 · 23 Jul – 24 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.