Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus
10 days in Turkey: three nights in old Istanbul, three in a Cappadocia cave hotel with the balloon flight included, two beside Ephesus and a last night in Karaköy.
10 days · Round trip from Istanbul · up to 12 guests
Balloons at sunrise over Cappadocia. Photo: Wolfgang Moroder, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hot_air_balloon_ride_at_sunrise_in_Cappadocia.JPG)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Istanbul
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
You are happy on your feet for 3 to 4 hours on cobbles, stairs and uneven ancient paving, with two valley walks of about 2 hours and some early starts for sunrise.
- Meals included
- 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 700
- Season
- Spring and autumn
Highlights
Why this trip
- Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern at opening, before the queues
- A sunrise hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia, included, with a spare morning if the weather stops it
- Three nights in a Cappadocia cave hotel, with a sunset walk to the Red Valley
- The Göreme Open Air Museum at 8 am, before the coaches
- Ephesus from the upper gate at opening, with the Terrace Houses included
- A Bosphorus cruise in the late-afternoon light and sunset on the Galata Bridge
What makes this trip different
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 700.
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Istanbul
Istanbul airport to your hotel in Sultanahmet
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Istanbul
- Drive about 1 h
We meet you at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) and drive you to your hotel in Sultanahmet, the old city on the peninsula between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara.
Afternoon
The ride from IST takes about an hour, so aim to land by mid-afternoon.
Evening
The group meets in the early evening and your guide walks you into Sultanahmet Park at blue hour, when the lamps come on and the floodlit domes of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque face each other across the fountain. It is the calmest the square gets, after the day visitors have gone and before tomorrow's queues. We end with a welcome dinner nearby, where you meet the group and hear how the next ten days fit together.
Included
- Pick-up at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
- Blue-hour walk in Sultanahmet Park with your guide
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Afternoon free before the group meets
Old Istanbul: palace, church and mosque
On foot in Sultanahmet
- Breakfast
- Stay in Istanbul
An early start pays off today. At about 7.30 your guide walks you through the Hippodrome, where the chariot track of Byzantine Constantinople ran, past the Egyptian obelisk and the bronze Serpent Column while the square is still empty. We are at the gates of Topkapi Palace when it opens. For nearly four hundred years the Ottoman sultans ruled from its courtyards, and your ticket includes the Harem as well as the treasury and the terraces over the Bosphorus.
Afternoon
After lunch on your own we go into Hagia Sophia, finished in 537 for the emperor Justinian, through the gallery entrance and ticket that foreign visitors now use. The Blue Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616 and lined with Iznik tiles, comes last, timed between prayers. Dress for mosques: shoulders and knees covered, a scarf for women.
Included
- Early walk through the Hippodrome
- Topkapi Palace entry, with the Harem
- Hagia Sophia gallery entry for foreign visitors
- Blue Mosque visit between prayer times
Free time: Lunch on your own; evening free
Activity: About 4 hours on foot, with cobbles and stairs. Topkapi is closed on Tuesdays, so this day never falls on one.
Bazaars, Sinan and the Bosphorus
Old city on foot, then a Bosphorus cruise from Eminönü
- Breakfast
- Stay in Istanbul
- By boat
We go down into the Basilica Cistern when it opens, before the queue builds: a 6th-century underground reservoir held up by 336 columns, two of them standing on carved Medusa heads. Then the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world, with about sixty streets under its vaults. Your guide shows you how it is laid out and leaves you time to browse; we have no shops we take you to and no commissions. Up the hill, the Süleymaniye Mosque, built by the architect Sinan for Süleyman the Magnificent in the 1550s, has a garden terrace looking over the Golden Horn. We walk down past Rüstem Pasha's small tiled mosque to the Spice Bazaar.
Afternoon
In the late afternoon a boat for our group takes you up the Bosphorus past Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy and the Rumeli Hisarı fortress, in the best light of the day.
Included
- Basilica Cistern entry at opening
- Guided walk through the Grand Bazaar
- Süleymaniye Mosque and its terrace
- Rüstem Pasha Mosque and the Spice Bazaar
- Two-hour Bosphorus cruise in the late afternoon
Optional experiences
- Whirling dervish ceremony in the evening
Free time: Time to browse the Grand Bazaar; lunch on your own
Activity: The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays, so this day never falls on one.
Fly to Cappadocia
Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir by air, then Göreme
- Breakfast
- Stay in Göreme
- Drive about 1.5 h
Morning
A short morning flight, about an hour and a quarter, replaces the long road and rail days other trips use to cross Anatolia. We fly from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir, whichever has the better time that day, and drive to your cave hotel in Göreme or Uçhisar, home for three nights. After you settle in, we climb Uçhisar Castle, a tall rock riddled with old rooms and the highest point in the area, for a first look over the fairy chimneys towards the cone of Mount Erciyes, snow-capped in spring. Below it, Pigeon Valley is lined with dovecotes cut into the rock, once used to collect droppings for the vineyards.
Evening
In the late afternoon we walk the Rose and Red valleys, past small rock-cut churches, and reach the Kızılçukur ridge as the tuff turns pink at sunset.
Included
- Flight from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir
- Transfer to your cave hotel
- Uçhisar Castle entry
- Pigeon Valley viewpoint
- Guided sunset walk in the Rose and Red valleys
Easier option: Drive round to the Kızılçukur viewpoint instead of the walk
Activity: The valley walk is about 2 hours on dirt paths with some short climbs.
Balloon at sunrise
Göreme, Kaymaklı and Avanos
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Göreme
- Drive about 1.5 h
The balloon flight is in the price.
Morning
The operator collects you about an hour before sunrise, you watch the envelopes fill in the half dark, and the flight lasts about an hour as the sun clears the horizon and lights up the valleys around Göreme. Civil aviation decides each morning whether balloons may fly; if today is cancelled, we try again tomorrow, which is why we spend three nights here. After breakfast and a rest, we visit the underground city of Kaymaklı, carved into soft tuff, where narrow passages lead down past stables, kitchens and chapels; four of its levels are open.
Afternoon
Lunch is in Avanos, on the Kızılırmak, Turkey's longest river, followed by an hour at a potter's wheel using the river's red clay, a craft made here for thousands of years. The late afternoon is free.
Included
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight of about an hour
- Kaymaklı Underground City entry
- Lunch in Avanos
- Hands-on pottery session in Avanos
Your choice: Sunrise balloon flight, about an hour / Watch the balloons rise from a sunrise viewpoint with your guide Included in the price.
Free time: Late afternoon free
Activity: Kaymaklı has low, narrow passages and steep steps; skip it if you dislike tight spaces.
Rock churches and a village dinner
Göreme Open Air Museum and Love Valley
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Göreme
- Drive about 30 min
Morning
This is the spare balloon morning: if yesterday's flight was cancelled, you fly today. If not, sleep in, or come with your guide to Lover's Hill above Göreme to photograph a hundred balloons rising out of the valleys. We are at the Göreme Open Air Museum when it opens, about 8 am, before the tour coaches arrive at mid-morning. Monks cut these churches and refectories into the rock between the 10th and 12th centuries, and the Dark Church, which your ticket includes, keeps its frescoes bright because so little light gets in.
Afternoon
Mid-morning we walk into Love Valley, known for its tall smooth pillars, and the afternoon is yours: sleep, read on the hotel terrace or try a Turkish bath.
Evening
In the evening we drive to a village for dinner cooked by a local family in their home.
Included
- Spare balloon morning if day 5 was cancelled
- Göreme Open Air Museum entry at opening, with the Dark Church
- Guided walk in Love Valley
- Dinner with a local family
Free time: Afternoon free
To the Aegean and Şirince
Cappadocia to Izmir by air, then Selçuk and Şirince
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Selçuk
- Drive about 1.5 h
Morning
After breakfast we fly from Kayseri or Nevşehir to Izmir on the Aegean coast; ops choose a direct flight where one runs, or a short connection in Istanbul. From Izmir Airport it is about an hour's drive south through olive country to Selçuk, the small town beside Ephesus, where we stay two nights.
Afternoon
In the afternoon we walk up Ayasuluk Hill to the ruins of the Basilica of St John, built by Justinian over the saint's traditional tomb, and look down on the 14th-century İsa Bey Mosque. Late in the day we drive about 8 km into the hills to Şirince, a village of white stone and timber houses that was Greek until the 1920s and is now known for its fruit wines.
Evening
We taste a few, watch the light go off the valley and eat dinner together in the village.
Included
- Flight from Kayseri or Nevşehir to Izmir
- Transfer to Selçuk
- Basilica of St John entry
- Wine tasting in Şirince
- Dinner in Şirince
Ephesus at opening
Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and Selçuk
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Selçuk
- Drive about 45 min
Morning
We are at the upper gate of Ephesus when it opens, about 8 am, long before the cruise-ship coaches reach it in mid-morning. From there the old city runs downhill, so the walk is easy on the legs: past the Odeon and the Temple of Hadrian on Curetes Street, to the Library of Celsus, whose two-storey facade from the early 2nd century AD faces the morning sun. The Terrace Houses, Roman homes with mosaics and wall paintings under a protective roof, are included, as is the Great Theatre, which held about 25,000 people. After the walk we drive up to the House of the Virgin Mary on the wooded hill above, a place of pilgrimage visited by three popes.
Afternoon
Lunch is in Selçuk, then a short look at the Ephesus Museum and its statues of Artemis. The afternoon is free.
Included
- Ephesus entry at opening, with your guide
- Terrace Houses entry
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Lunch in Selçuk
- Ephesus Museum entry
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: About 3 hours on foot over uneven marble paving, downhill; bring a hat, there is little shade.
Back to Istanbul
Selçuk to Izmir, fly to Istanbul, Karaköy
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Istanbul
- Drive about 2 h
On the way to the airport we stop at the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, of which a single rebuilt column now stands in the marsh, often with a stork's nest on top. The flight from Izmir to Istanbul takes about an hour and ten minutes, and we drive you to your last hotel in Karaköy, the old port district below the Galata Tower, across the Golden Horn from the old city.
Afternoon
The afternoon is free: cafes and galleries line the streets here, and the tower, built by the Genoese in 1348, is a short walk uphill.
Evening
We meet at sunset on the Galata Bridge, where anglers line the rail and the mosques of the old city stand dark against the sky, and end with a farewell dinner together.
Included
- Temple of Artemis site
- Flight from Izmir to Istanbul
- Transfer to your hotel in Karaköy
- Sunset walk on the Galata Bridge
- Farewell dinner
Free time: Afternoon free
Depart Istanbul
Karaköy to Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen
- Breakfast
- Drive about 1 h
Morning
Your trip ends after breakfast, and the morning is yours until we drive you to the airport for your flight home, at whatever time it leaves. If your flight is late, there is time for one more thing. The public ferry from Karaköy to Kadıköy on the Asian shore takes about twenty minutes and costs very little, with the old city skyline behind you. Dolmabahçe Palace, where the last sultans moved in the 19th century, is a short ride up the Bosphorus shore and is closed on Mondays and Thursdays. Istanbul Modern, the city's art museum, sits on the waterfront in Karaköy itself. Your guide will help you plan the timing so you are back at the hotel for the transfer. The drive to Istanbul Airport takes about an hour, so allow for it.
Included
- Drop-off at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
Free time: Morning free
- Istanbul3 nights
- Göreme3 nights
- Selçuk2 nights
- Istanbul1 night
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Balloon flights depend on wind and are cancelled on some mornings, more often from December to March. Ephesus has little shade and is hot from June to August.
Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- First trips to Turkey
- Early starts for sunrise and the balloon
- Walks of 2 to 3 hours
- Travellers who would rather fly than spend days on a coach
Not for you if you want
- Step-free access
- A beach stay
- Travellers who want Gallipoli in the core trip (ask about the extension)
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
9 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Istanbul3 nights
- Göreme3 nights
- Selçuk2 nights
- Istanbul1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 9 nights: a hotel in Sultanahmet (3), a cave hotel in Göreme or Uçhisar (3), a small hotel in Selçuk (2) and a hotel in Karaköy (1)
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
- Flights from Istanbul to Cappadocia, Cappadocia to Izmir and Izmir to Istanbul
- A van with driver in Cappadocia and between Izmir, Selçuk and Ephesus
- Two-hour Bosphorus cruise
Activities
- Sunrise hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia, with a spare morning
- Topkapi Palace with the Harem, Hagia Sophia gallery, Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque
- Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye Mosque, Rüstem Pasha Mosque and the Spice Bazaar
- Uçhisar Castle, Pigeon Valley and a sunset walk in the Rose and Red valleys
- Kaymaklı Underground City and a pottery session in Avanos
- Göreme Open Air Museum with the Dark Church, and a walk in Love Valley
- Basilica of St John, and a wine tasting in Şirince
- Ephesus with the Terrace Houses, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Ephesus Museum and the Temple of Artemis site
Meals
- 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners, including a dinner with a local family in Cappadocia
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip
Not included
- International flights to and from Istanbul
- Travel insurance
- Turkish e-visa or visa fees, where your passport needs one
- Lunches and dinners not listed
- Drinks, apart from the Şirince tasting
- Tips for drivers, local guides and balloon crew
- Nights before day 1 or after day 10
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 700
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We confirm your departure within 24 hours.
Want your own dates? We can book the same 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 confirmation.
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+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the trip include?
9 nights in hotels, including three in a Cappadocia cave hotel, 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 4 dinners, three domestic flights, airport transfers at both ends, a See Sight Tours guide throughout, the sunrise balloon flight, the Bosphorus cruise and every entry named in the day plan, from Topkapi and its Harem to the Terrace Houses at Ephesus.
Is the balloon flight really included, and what if it is cancelled?
Yes, it is in the price. Turkish civil aviation decides each morning whether balloons may fly, so we keep day 6 as a spare morning. If neither morning flies, we refund the cost of the flight. If you would rather not fly, you can watch the launch from a viewpoint with your guide instead.
How much time is spent travelling?
Very little on the road. Three flights of about an hour or a little more do the long legs, and the longest drive on any day is about two hours, split around stops. There is no overnight train and no day-long coach ride.
Why no Gallipoli or Troy?
Adding them means two long road days in a row, which is the main complaint about shorter Turkey trips. If Gallipoli matters to you, ask us for an extra day before the trip: we can arrange a day at the battlefields from Istanbul.
Are there shopping stops?
No. We do not take you to carpet, leather or jewellery shops and take no commissions. The pottery session in Avanos is a lesson at the wheel, and in the Grand Bazaar your guide helps you shop only if you ask.
When is the best time to go?
April to early June and September to October: mild days, balloons fly on most mornings and Ephesus is not too hot. July and August are hot and crowded; winter brings snow to Cappadocia and more balloon cancellations.
What should I wear to visit mosques?
Cover shoulders and knees; women also cover their hair. Shoes come off at the door. Visits pause during prayer times, and your guide plans the day around them.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose. If you would rather travel on your own on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the same route, flights and stays with transfers.
How much does it cost?
Prices are per person sharing a room, with taxes, and differ by style: small group or private. The small group starts from CAD 3,370 per person, and a room of your own is from CAD 700 more. Pick your start date when you request to book, and we confirm your trip within 24 hours. Nothing is charged until then.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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