Turkey: Istanbul, Ephesus & Cappadocia - 7 Days
Who is this trip for
Genders
- Female50%
- Male50%
Average age
Start / End
- Istanbul
- Şirince
Physical rating
Group size
1 - 12Meals included
12Highlights
- Learn how to make some local delicacies at a cooking class
- Visit the ancient city of Ephesus
- Hike or ride an e-bike through the fairy chimneys and rock formations of Cappadocia
- Visit the fascinating underground city of Kaymakli
- Take a walking tour of Istanbul and sample delicious street food
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Summary
Sitting at the bridge between Asia and Europe, Turkey's rich culture and history draws influence from ancient kingdoms and sprawling landscapes. You'll start by taking in the sights, sounds and flavours of Istanbul before heading inland to the underground cities and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Next, you'll bask in the natural beauty of the area on hikes and bike rides, before visiting the ancient city and temples of Ephesus. A mix of highlights and active exploration, discover Turkey how it was meant to be seen.
Itinerary
Day 1
Istanbul: Where Asia and Europe Meet
Arrive in Istanbul at any time and transfer to your hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the welcome meeting in the evening and get all the important information about the adventure ahead. Afterwards, head out on a short orientation walk to the old square to see the iconic Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque lit up at night before arriving at a nearby restaurant for a delicious welcome dinner of local specialties.
Day 2
Istanbul: Iconic Landmarks and Ancient Traditions
Head out on a walking tour of Istanbul, visiting the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern. Enjoy street food döner sandwiches and wraps for lunch then explore the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar before taking the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure.
Day 3
Cappadocia: Fairy Chimneys and Kaymakli Underground City
Take a morning flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia in time for a lunch of traditional pide, a type of Turkish pizza. Drive to the Dervent Valley, stopping at landscape viewpoints and at the iconic "Three Beauties" to marvel at the fairy rock chimney formations. Continue to the underground city of Kaymakli for a visit before arriving at the hotel in the evening.
Day 4
Cappadocia: Your OMG Day
Choose between a hike or an e-bike ride through the rock formations of Cappadocia before visiting the impressive rock-carved churches at the Göreme Open Air Museum. Climb the stairs up to the top of a rock formation of Uchisar Castle for incredible views before driving to a small village to have dinner and tea with a local family. Return to the hotel in the evening.
Day 5
Sirince: Flavours of Turkey
Drive to the town of Ugrup for time to shop and explore before continuing to a local food and vegetable market in Avanos. Next, take part in a cooking class to learn how to prepare typical Turkish gözleme. Afterwards, catch a flight west from Kayseri to Izmir and transfer to the Village of Şirince to take part in a short orientation walk before enjoying the rest of the evening at leisure.
Day 6
Sirince: Ancient Ephesus
Drive to Ephesus for a tour of the site, including a visit to St. John's Basilica. Enjoy some free time for lunch in Selçuk before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary and the Greek Orthodox church. Enjoy a 3-course farewell dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel in Şirince for the night.
Day 7
Sirince
Departure transfers to Izmir airport are included.
What's Included
Accommodation
Hotels (6 nts).
Meals
Breakfasts: 6, Lunches: 3, Dinners: 3
Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.
Vegetarian options availableLocal Guide
GuidedThis adventure is led by a local guide throughout. The main language of this adventure is English. Please contact us for other languages available.
Airport Transfers
Arrival OnlyAn airport transfer to the start of the tour is included. Please contact our team if you require a quote for a return transfer.
Wifi
Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.
Dates & Prices
Sep 25
from £2,508
- Save 2%Mon 22 Sep 2025 > Sun 28 Sep 2025Guaranteed Departure🔥3 spaces of 12 left£2,559Best offer£2,508
Customer reviews & ratings
The trip was great. I really enjoyed it and was brought to places that I would not have gone to on my own. I learned a lot about the Turkish culture with the help of our excellent local tour guide and the places we visited. The smaller group worked well and was more personable. The group mix was well- matched with solo travelers and couples. I would happily tour with G Adventures again. Overall, the trip was great and culturally enriching. The local tour guide Orcun Korkmaz was excellent. He was personable, highly experienced, knew his history very well and really listened to the tour members and accommodated as best he could. The group was a good mix and got along well. There were challenges as listed below. The M55 taxi did not drop me off at the Hotel Levine believe it was due to the traffic. He claimed it was a 2 minute walk bit it was not. I could not find the hotel, asked multiple people but there was no address listed on the itinerary just the hotel name. I suggest the hotel address be listed on the itinerary. Point 2 - Would not recommend Hotel Excedor in Cappadocia. Hotel had numerous steps up and down and the navigation was challenging with no lights at night. There were also stray dogs that popped up at night. Hotel was not able to do any laundry. Point 3 - the 2 flights from Cappadocia to Istanbul and then another flight to Selence with a 4 hour plus layover took the bulk of the day and could have been better organized utilizing a direct flight with tour activities. Point 4 - Be upfront on country expectations. There were a lot of cobblestones hilly streets. This was news to me and would be helpful to know. The tour had fantastic outings including: The local family dinner in their home was authentic and highly enjoyable. The cooking demo by locals was unique and interesting. The tour members were given the opportunity to be engaged and prepare the food themselves which I did. The pottery site was interesting and informative. I saw true talent and the pieces were unique and remarkable.
Denise Sep, 2024 Verified
Essential trip information
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