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Turkey: the Aegean, Ephesus, Pamukkale and the Turquoise Coast

10 days from Izmir to Antalya: Ephesus at opening and Şirince from Selçuk, Aphrodisias and Pamukkale at sunset, three nights in Kaş with a Kekova boat day and Patara, then Termessos and Kaleiçi.

10 days · Izmir to Antalya · up to 12 guests

The facts

At a glance

Length
10 days, 9 nights
Start and end
Izmir to Antalya
Group size
7 to 12 guests
Longest drive
5 h on day 5
Activity level

Moderate

Mostly easy walking on ancient paving and village lanes, with three longer mornings on foot: Ephesus (about 3.5 km downhill on uneven marble, 3 to 4 hours, little shade), the Pamukkale travertines barefoot on wet ridged limestone, and the uphill climb through Termessos at about 1,000 m (2 to 3 hours on rough stone paths). Each has an easy option, such as skipping the Terrace Houses stairs or stopping at the Termessos theatre. The boat day needs only a few steps on and off the deck.

Meals included
9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 3 dinners
Room of your own
+ CAD 830 (estimated price)
Season
April to June and September to October

Highlights

Why this trip

  • Ephesus from the upper gate at opening, with the Terrace Houses included
  • Lunch in the hill village of Şirince and a taste of its fruit wines
  • Aphrodisias, the marble city of the sculptors, far quieter than Ephesus
  • The Pamukkale travertines barefoot in the late afternoon, after the day coaches leave
  • A trout lunch over the river at Saklıkent Gorge on the way to the coast
  • A boat for our group to Kekova: the sunken city, Simena castle and swim stops
  • Patara's Lycian ruins and 18 km beach, then a free afternoon in Kaş
  • Termessos at opening and a dusk walk through Antalya's old town

What makes this trip different

  • Short drives, all published

    Every drive is listed day by day. The longest is 5 h, on day 5.

  • Free time is part of the plan

    Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.

  • Solo without the penalty

    A room of your own is + CAD 830 (estimated price).

Day by day

Itinerary

The longest drive is 5 h, on day 5.

LYCIATAURUS MOUNTAINSBÜYÜK MENDERES VALLEYAegean SeaMediterranean SeaGulf of Antalya12345IzmirDays 1 to 2SelçukDays 2 to 4EphesusDay 3ŞirinceDay 3AphrodisiasDay 4PamukkaleDays 4 to 5TlosDay 5Saklıkent GorgeDay 5KaşDays 5 to 8KekovaDay 6PataraDay 7MyraDay 8PhaselisDay 8AntalyaDays 8 to 10TermessosDay 9

Tap any stop on the map to open that day

Arrive in Izmir

Izmir Airport (ADB) to central Izmir

  • Dinner
  • Stay in Izmir
  • Drive about 30 min

Fly into Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB), about 18 km south of the city. A driver meets you in arrivals whatever time you land and takes you to a central hotel within walking distance of the Kordon, the long seafront promenade on the Gulf of Izmir.

Afternoon

If you land early, the afternoon is yours to rest or wander.

Evening

In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the ten days ahead, then walks you through Konak Square and its Ottoman clock tower of 1901 into Kemeraltı, the old bazaar quarter, where lanes of spice shops, coppersmiths and tea gardens wind past small mosques and old caravanserais. We finish on the Kordon as the sun goes down over the gulf. Dinner is together at a local restaurant, with Aegean mezze, olive-oil dishes and grilled fish, and a first chance to meet the people you will travel with.

Included

  • Pick-up at Izmir Airport (ADB)
  • Welcome briefing with your guide
  • Evening walk: Konak Square, the clock tower, Kemeraltı bazaar and the Kordon
  • Welcome dinner in Izmir

Free time: Free until the early evening briefing

  1. Izmir1 night
  2. Selçuk2 nights
  3. Pamukkale1 night
  4. Kaş3 nights
  5. Antalya2 nights
  • Overnight stop
  • Day trip
  • By boat or train
Print itinerary

Wildlife and weather: April to June and September to October keep the inland sites walkable and the sea warm enough to swim from May; July and August are very hot at Ephesus and Pamukkale. Loggerhead turtles nest on Patara beach from about May to October, when it closes at night.

Want this plan in your inbox?

Get the day-by-day itinerary by email, or ask us anything about this trip. A trip planner replies the same or next business day.

Before you book

Right for you?

Good for you if you want

  • Travellers who want Ephesus, Pamukkale and the coast without Istanbul and Cappadocia, or who have seen those already
  • Ancient sites with time to linger, and swimming on the same trip
  • Three nights in one harbour town, with a free afternoon
  • A ten-day trip that fits between two flights, arriving in Izmir and leaving from Antalya

Not for you if you want

  • Step-free access: Ephesus, the travertines, Termessos and Simena mean uneven stone, steps and wet limestone
  • A first trip to Turkey that must include Istanbul or Cappadocia (see our 14-day Turkey trip)
  • Travellers who cannot face one drive of nearly five hours
  • July and August heat inland

Book flights after we confirm your seat.

9 nights

Where you'll stay

Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.

  • Izmir1 night
  • Selçuk2 nights
  • Pamukkale1 night
  • Kaş3 nights
  • Antalya2 nights

One price

What's in the price

Included

Accommodation

  • 9 nights: 1 in Izmir (walkable to the Kordon), 2 in Selçuk, 1 in Pamukkale village, 3 in Kaş (walkable to the harbour), 2 in Antalya (in or beside Kaleiçi)
  • Central hotels of at least 3-star-plus standard, named when we confirm your dates
  • Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement

Transport

  • Pick-up at Izmir Airport (ADB) on day 1, whatever your flight time
  • Drop-off at Antalya Airport (AYT) on day 10
  • Our own air-conditioned vehicle and driver for all ten days
  • Full-day boat for our group from Üçağız to Kekova and Kaleköy

Your guide

  • A See Sight Tours guide with the group for all 10 days
  • Licensed local guides where a site or the law requires one
  • No shopping stops: your guide takes no commission from carpet, leather or jewellery shops, and none are on the route

Activities

  • Izmir: Konak, Kemeraltı and the Kordon walk, and the Agora of Smyrna
  • Selçuk: the Basilica of St John, the Temple of Artemis site and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum
  • Ephesus, with the Terrace Houses
  • Şirince village walk and a fruit wine tasting
  • Aphrodisias and its museum
  • Hierapolis and the Pamukkale travertines
  • Tlos
  • Saklıkent Gorge
  • Kekova: the sunken city from the boat, Simena castle and swim stops
  • Patara: the ancient city and the beach
  • Demre: Myra and the Church of St Nicholas
  • Phaselis
  • Termessos
  • Antalya: the Kaleiçi walk

Meals

  • 9 breakfasts
  • 8 sit-down lunches: Selçuk, Şirince, Geyre, Saklıkent, on the Kekova boat, Gelemiş, Demre and below Termessos
  • 3 dinners: welcome dinner in Izmir, Pamukkale, farewell dinner in Kaleiçi

Not included

  • International flights to Izmir and from Antalya
  • Visa or e-Visa fees, if your passport needs one
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not listed above
  • Drinks
  • Tips
  • The Antique Pool at Pamukkale, the House of the Virgin Mary, sea kayaking and other optional activities
  • The Kaleiçi Museum on the free afternoon
  • Sun loungers and umbrellas at beaches
  • Personal expenses

Extras

Room of your own
CAD 830 (estimated price)

When you can go

Dates and prices

Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.

Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.

Before you book

Booking terms

Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.

Business addresses

See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584

Guest reviews

What guests say

Reviews from guests on our day tours.

Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
google

5/5

Parminder did a great job guiding us around, giving us tips & teaching us the history of the falls. A great experience!

Jane
October 06, 2026
gyg

5/5

Good views of the surrounding area of Halifax in a comfortable minivan

Susan
October 06, 2026
gyg

5/5

June was brilliant- made good contact beforehand and really attentive and knowledgeable. Made me feel like I was special- something only experience can do. Thank you June.

Tom L
October 05, 2026
tripadvisor

5/5

Our host was very knowledgeable, friendly and even provided some humor.

MandL83
October 05, 2026
tripadvisor

5/5

Peter was a very good guide, giving us insight into the various parts of the Park, including parking lot congestion details, trail and viewing location suggestions.

Darren O
October 05, 2026
tripadvisor

5/5

Excellent morning spent with my guide Nancy. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Thoroughly enjoyed my trip

4.7/5 from 38,601 guest reviews

Good to know

Questions

What does the price include?

Nine nights in central hotels, 9 breakfasts, 8 sit-down lunches and 3 dinners, airport transfers at Izmir and Antalya, our own vehicle and driver, a full-day boat to Kekova for our group, your See Sight Tours guide throughout and every entry in the day plan, including the Ephesus Terrace Houses, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and Aphrodisias. There are no shopping stops.

How big is the group?

Between 7 and 12 guests, and never more. We do not merge groups, so the number you are told is the number you travel with. Twelve fits around one table at lunch, in one vehicle with room to spare, and on one boat at Kekova.

Who leads the trip?

A See Sight Tours guide travels with you for all ten days, from the Izmir arrivals hall to Antalya Airport. Where a site or Turkish law requires a licensed local guide, one joins us for that visit. We name your guide before you travel.

How fit do I need to be?

Moderate. Ephesus is about 3.5 km downhill on uneven marble, the travertines are walked barefoot on wet limestone, and Termessos is a 2 to 3 hour uphill visit at about 1,000 m. Each has an easy option, and the other days are easy walking.

I'm travelling solo. What does a single room cost?

A room of your own is CAD 830 more for the whole trip, shown before you book with no surprise at checkout. Solo travellers are welcome on every departure and join the same meals, boat and walks as everyone else.

When is the best time to go?

April to June and September to October. The inland sites are walkable and the coast is warm enough to swim from May. July and August are very hot at Ephesus and Pamukkale. In April the sea is still cool, and the gorge at Saklıkent can be too high to wade.

How does booking work?

Choose your style and start date and send a request to book. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request. Your hotels are named when we confirm your dates.

Can we travel privately or on our own dates?

Yes. The private style is your party only, with your own guide, vehicle and boat, on a date you choose, from CAD 8,810 per person. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote hotels, transfers and the boat day.

Do I need a visa for Turkey?

Not for Canadian or US passports on a tourist stay of up to 90 days in any 180, under the current rule. Other nationalities may need an e-Visa bought online before travel. Check the official Turkish e-Visa site before you book; we confirm the rule for your passport when we confirm your trip.

Is there enough time at Ephesus and Pamukkale?

Yes. Ephesus gets about three and a half hours from opening, with the Terrace Houses included, and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum the day before. At Pamukkale we arrive in the late afternoon, as most day-tour coaches leave, and stay on the travertines until sunset, then sleep in the village.

Why is there no Istanbul or Cappadocia?

This trip is built for western Turkey on its own: flying into Izmir and out of Antalya saves two to three days of travel back to Istanbul. If you want everything, our 14-day Turkey trip adds Istanbul and Cappadocia, or you can add nights in Istanbul before day 1 and we will quote them.

How long is the drive from Pamukkale to Kaş?

About four and three quarter hours, the one day over our four-hour cap. There is no good place to stop overnight between the two, so we split the day with a coffee stop, the rock tombs at Tlos and a trout lunch at Saklıkent Gorge, arriving in Kaş in the early evening.

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