Best of Turkey Private Tour, 12 Days with Hotels
Overview
Best of Turkey Private Tour, 12 Days with Hotels
Join us for 12 guided days across Turkey, where history, culture and landscapes come together. The journey begins in magnificent Istanbul with Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar and much more.
Istanbul and Cappadocia Highlights
Wander through colourful neighbourhoods such as Balat and Kuzguncuk and sail the Bosphorus, then fly to Cappadocia for its breathtaking valleys, which you can also see from a hot air balloon at sunrise.
Ephesus, Pamukkale and Hattusa
Discover the ancient wonders of Ephesus, including the House of the Virgin Mary, and relax at the thermal terraces of Pamukkale before exploring the ancient city of Hierapolis.
In Ankara you visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and at Hattusa you walk through the capital of a vanished empire. This private tour is made for travellers who want authentic experiences, expert guides and comfortable, unhurried travel.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Istanbul
Our representative meets you at Istanbul Airport with a name sign and takes you to your hotel by private van.
After check-in the rest of the day is free to explore Istanbul on your own. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 - Istanbul Old City Tour
Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby or at the cruise port to begin the Old City tour:
- Highlights of Topkapi Palace Museum: more than a royal residence, it was the seat of Ottoman government for almost 400 years and remains a great monument of Oriental architecture.
- Hippodrome / Sultanahmet Square: the square where chariot races were held in Roman times, home to the Egyptian Obelisk from the Byzantine era and, today, the German Fountain.
- Hagia Sophia: built in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian and important to both the Christian and Islamic worlds. After the Ottoman conquest the bells, altar and sacred vessels were removed and many mosaics were covered when the church became a mosque.
- Blue Mosque: built in the early 1600s for Sultan Ahmed I, a true masterpiece whose proportions feel remarkably light for a building of its size.
- Grand Bazaar: one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with more than 4,000 shops selling ceramics, leather, rugs, carpets, handicrafts, clothing, silver and gold.
At the end of the tour your guide accompanies you back to your hotel.
*If one of the mosques cannot be visited, the Basilica Cistern is visited instead.
Day 3 - Istanbul Bosphorus Region Tour
Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby or at the cruise port to begin the Bosphorus tour:
- Spice Market
- Bosphorus Cruise: by public ferry between the European and Asian shores, passing Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Rumeli Fortress, old Ottoman mansions, the Bosphorus Bridge and waterfront mosques.
- Dolmabahce Palace
- Taksim Square
- Cicek Passage
- Istiklal Street
*Please let us know if you would prefer a private yacht for the Bosphorus cruise.
At the end of the tour your guide accompanies you back to your hotel.
Day 4 - Istanbul Golden Horn Tour
Your guide meets you in your hotel lobby or at the cruise port to begin the Golden Horn tour. You will visit:
- Suleymaniye Mosque
- Fener
- Balat
- St. Stephen Church
- Pierre Loti Hill and the cable car
- Chora Church (Kariye Mosque)
At the end of the tour your guide accompanies you back to your hotel.
Day 5 - Istanbul Asian Side Tour
At 9:00 am your guide meets you at the hotel for a tour of Istanbul's Asian side. With your guide's explanations you will visit:
- Beylerbeyi Palace
- Cengelkoy and Cinaralti
- The traditional houses of Kuzguncuk
- Camlica Hill
- A panoramic viewpoint over the Bosphorus
After the tour you are transferred to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Nevsehir, the gateway to Cappadocia. Our representative meets you on arrival with a name sign and takes you to your Cappadocia hotel by private van. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 6 - North Cappadocia Tour
(Optional) Early in the morning you are picked up for a one-hour hot air balloon flight over the valleys of Cappadocia. After landing there is a small celebration in the valley and a flight certificate ceremony, and then you are taken back to your hotel for breakfast.
At 10:00 am your private guide and driver pick you up for the North Cappadocia tour, which includes:
- Uchisar Castle
- Goreme Open Air Museum
- Avanos
- Valley of Monks (Pasabag)
- Devrent Valley
After the tour your guide and driver drop you off at your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 7 - South Cappadocia Tour
Your private guide and driver meet you at your hotel at 10:00 am for the South Cappadocia tour. With your guide's explanations you will visit:
- Kaymakli Underground City
- Rose Valley
- Love Valley
- Pigeon Valley
- Ortahisar Castle
- Mustafapasa (Sinasos)
After the tour your guide and driver drop you off at your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 8 - Hattusa and Yazilikaya Tour
At 9:00 am your guide meets you at the hotel and you drive to Hattusa and Yazilikaya.
Here you explore the ancient Hittite sites of Central Anatolia, listed by UNESCO as World Heritage.
After the tour you are transferred to your hotel in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Overnight in Ankara.
Day 9 - Ankara Tour
At 9:00 am your guide meets you at the hotel for the Ankara tour, which includes:
- Mausoleum of Ataturk (Anitkabir)
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- Ankara Castle
- Ankara Vakif Eserleri Museum
After the tour you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Izmir. Our representative meets you at Izmir Airport with a name sign and takes you to your Kusadasi hotel by private van. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 10 - Ephesus Tour
Your guide picks you up from your Kusadasi hotel and introduces the history of Ephesus before you explore the ancient city. With your guide's explanations you will visit:
- Great Theater
- Celsus Library
- Temple of Hadrian
- Harbor Street
- Terrace Houses
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Isa Bey Mosque
After the tour your guide and driver drop you off at your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 11 - Pamukkale Tour
At 9:00 am your private guide and driver pick you up for the Pamukkale tour, home to the natural calcium pools formed by thermal water. The drive takes about 3 hours, and your local guide tells you about the sites on the way.
You will visit:
- The calcium pools
- Necropolis
- Roman Baths
- Domitian Gate
- Latrina
- Frontinus Street
- Agora
- Byzantium Gate
- Triton Fountain
- Cathedral
- Temple of Apollo
- Plutonium (explained from outside because of ongoing excavations)
- Theater
- Hierapolis
(Optional, extra cost) If time allows, you can swim in the Cleopatra Pool.
After the tour you are transferred to Denizli Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Our representative meets you at Istanbul Airport with a name sign and takes you to your hotel by private van. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 12 - Departure from Istanbul
A free day in Istanbul to explore the city at your own pace.
You are transferred to Istanbul Airport in time for your international flight.
This is the end of our service. Thank you for travelling with us; we look forward to welcoming you again.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Private Tours
- ✓Local Tour Guides
- ✓Domestic Flights (Economy Class)
- ✓Transportation by Private Van
- ✓Airport Transfers (Mentioned)
- ✓1-Hour Hot Air Balloon Ride (Optional)
- ✓Museum Tickets & Attraction Fees
- ✕Optional Activities & Tours
- ✕International Flights
- ✕Hotel Bookings (Available Upon Request)
- ✕Meals & Drinks
- ✕Gratuity (Suggested)
- ✕Personal Expenses
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel free of charge up to 7 days before the tour for a full refund. Cancellations within 7 days of the tour are not refundable. All times are local time.
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Travel guides
Best of Turkey private tour, 12 days: what you need to know
This private twelve-day journey takes you through Istanbul, Cappadocia, the Hittite capital of Hattusa, Ankara, Ephesus and Pamukkale, with expert local guides and every transfer arranged. In Istanbul you see Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar, wander colourful neighbourhoods such as Balat and Kuzguncuk and sail the Bosphorus. Economy-class domestic flights, airport transfers, a private van, local guides and museum tickets and attraction fees are included; a one-hour hot air balloon ride can be added. The price depends on your dates and group, so we quote it on request.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 days |
| Price | Quoted on request for your dates and group |
| Type | Fully private, with local guides |
| Route | Istanbul, Cappadocia, Hattusa, Ankara, Ephesus, Pamukkale |
| Included | Domestic flights, airport transfers, private van, local guides, museum tickets and attraction fees |
| Optional | One-hour hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia |
What are the highlights of the 12-day tour?
| Region | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Istanbul | Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Balat, Kuzguncuk, Bosphorus |
| Cappadocia | Goreme Open Air Museum, Kaymakli Underground City, valleys, optional balloon |
| Central Anatolia | Hattusa, Ankara Castle, Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Anitkabir |
| Aegean | Ephesus, Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, House of the Virgin Mary |
| Pamukkale | Travertines, Hierapolis and its theatre, optional Cleopatra Pool |
12 or 14 days: which Best of Turkey tour?
| Turkey tour | Length | What is different | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| This tour | 12 days | Istanbul, Cappadocia, Hattusa, Ankara, Ephesus, Pamukkale | On request |
| Best of Turkey private tour | 14 days | Adds Priene, Miletus, Didyma and Laodicea | On request |
| Grand Turkey tour package | 10 days | Fixed-price package without central Anatolia | $2,800 per person |
| Private Turkey tour package | 8 days | The classic four regions | $2,250 per person |
Why include Ankara and Hattusa?
They add a chapter most visitors miss. Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire, with its Lion Gate and the rock reliefs of Yazilikaya, and Ankara's Museum of Anatolian Civilizations displays treasures from the Stone Age to the Romans, giving context to everything else you see. Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk, explains the founding of modern Turkey.
What is Kuzguncuk?
Kuzguncuk is a village-like neighbourhood on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, with colourful wooden houses, small cafes and a long history of mosques, churches and synagogues side by side. It is a peaceful contrast to the busy Old City.
How much is the hot air balloon?
The balloon ride in Cappadocia is optional. For reference, our standard sunrise balloon flight starts at $199 per person.
Are hotels included?
Hotel arrangements are confirmed together with your quote, based on your preferred standard. Tell us the style of hotels you prefer when you enquire.
When is the best time to go?
April to June and September to October are ideal for all regions. Summer is hot on the Aegean and inland; winter is cold in central Anatolia and Cappadocia.
What should you bring?
Comfortable walking shoes, layers, sun protection, a bag for your shoes at Pamukkale, modest clothing for mosques and churches, and your passport for the domestic flights.
How do you book?
Send us your preferred dates and the number of travellers through the form on this page or on WhatsApp. We confirm the price, hotels and full itinerary in writing, and you pay only after confirmation. For more ideas see our Turkey tour packages.
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