Turkey Private Tour 10 Days with Hotels & Flights
Overview
Turkey Private Tour 10 Days with Hotels & Flights
Discover the best of Turkey's history, culture and natural beauty on a 10-day private tour. It begins in Istanbul, where you explore the city's wonders, cruise the beautiful Bosphorus, wander the colourful Fener and Balat quarter and admire the majestic Suleymaniye Mosque.
Cappadocia Balloons and Underground City
In Cappadocia you visit the Goreme Open Air Museum and the remarkable Kaymakli Underground City, with the option of a sunrise hot air balloon flight over its extraordinary landscape.
Konya, Pamukkale and Ephesus
You then travel through Konya, with the Mevlana Museum and the Sultanhan Caravanserai, to Pamukkale and its famous travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis. The tour ends in Ephesus with the Library of Celsus and the House of the Virgin Mary.
It covers all of Turkey's key highlights, with plenty of beautiful views and memorable moments along the way.
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.
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 (enjoy a Turkish coffee or tea with a view of the Golden Horn)
- Chora Church (Kariye Mosque)
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 5 - 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 6 - 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 7 - Transfer to Pamukkale via Konya
At 9:00 am your private guide and driver pick you up for the drive from Cappadocia to Pamukkale via the spiritual city of Konya. On the way you stop at the Sultanhan Caravanserai, one of the largest and most important caravanserais in Central Anatolia.
The drive to Konya takes about 4 hours. Your guide tells you about the sites along the way.
In Konya you visit:
- Mevlana Museum
- Karatay Madrasa
- Ince Minaret Madrasa
After lunch in Konya you continue to Pamukkale and are taken to your hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 8 - 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.
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.
Afterwards your guide and driver take you to your hotel in Kusadasi, closer to Ephesus. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Day 9 - 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
You are then transferred to Izmir Airport for your flight to Istanbul, where our representative meets you with a name sign and takes you to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 10 - 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)
- ✓Museum Tickets & Attraction Fees
- ✕Optional Activities & Tours
- ✕International Flights
- ✕Hot Air Balloon Ride (optional)
- ✕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
Turkey private tour, 10 days: what you need to know
This private ten-day journey takes you through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale and Ephesus, with every transfer arranged. In Istanbul you see Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar and the Bosphorus; in Cappadocia the Goreme Open Air Museum and the Kaymakli Underground City; in Konya the Mevlana Museum and the Ince Minaret Madrasa; then Pamukkale with Hierapolis, and Ephesus with the House of the Virgin Mary. Economy-class domestic flights, airport transfers, a private van, local guides and museum tickets are included. The price depends on your dates and group size, so we quote it on request.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 days |
| Price | Quoted on request for your dates and group |
| Type | Fully private, with local guides |
| Route | Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Ephesus |
| Included | Domestic flights, airport transfers, private van, local guides, museum tickets and attraction fees |
| Not included | Items not listed; hotel details are confirmed with your quote |
What makes this 10-day route different?
It travels from Cappadocia to Pamukkale by road through Konya, the city of the poet and mystic Rumi, instead of flying over the Anatolian plateau. That adds the Mevlana Museum, Rumi's tomb, and Konya's Seljuk madrasas, such as the Ince Minaret Madrasa with its museum of wood and stone carving, to the classic route.
What are the highlights?
| Region | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Istanbul | Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus |
| Cappadocia | Goreme Open Air Museum, Kaymakli Underground City, valleys |
| Konya | Mevlana Museum, Ince Minaret Madrasa |
| Pamukkale | Travertines, Hierapolis theatre, optional Cleopatra Pool |
| Ephesus | Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, Great Theater, House of the Virgin Mary |
How does it compare with other 10-day Turkey tours?
| Turkey tour | Style | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| This tour | Private, via Konya | On request |
| Grand Turkey tour package | Fixed-price package with hammam and Turkish night | $2,800 per person |
| Best of Turkey timeless journey | Fixed-price, private tours, Sirince | $3,299 per person |
| Turkey tour package, 9 days | Overland to Pergamon and Troy | On request |
| Best of Turkey private tour, 12 days | Adds Hattusa and Ankara | On request |
Can you add a balloon flight in Cappadocia?
Yes. The standard sunrise balloon flight starts at $199 per person and can be booked for your Cappadocia morning.
Who is this tour for?
Couples, families and small groups who want the classic highlights of Turkey with a private guide and vehicle throughout, plus a deeper look at the spiritual heritage of Konya. Because the tour is private, the pace, the time at each site and the stops along the road are set around you, and the route can be adapted to your interests.
When is the best time to go?
April to June and September to October are ideal. Summer is hot at Ephesus and Pamukkale and on the plateau; winter is cold in Cappadocia and Konya.
What should you bring?
Comfortable shoes, layers for the interior, sun protection, a bag for your shoes at Pamukkale, modest clothing for mosques, Rumi's tomb and the House of the Virgin Mary, 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 itinerary in writing, and you pay only after confirmation. For more ideas see our Konya tours and our Turkey tour packages.
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