10-Day Grand Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Antalya, Pamukkale, Ephesus & Cappadocia

Tour Overview

Duration	10 Days / 9 Nights
Country	Turkey — Comprehensive Grand Tour
Cities	Istanbul → Antalya → Pamukkale → Ephesus → Cappadocia
UNESCO Sites	5+ (Ephesus, Pamukkale, Goreme, Historic Istanbul, Xanthos-Letoon)
Tour Type	Private Tour — Ultimate Turkey experience with Mediterranean Coast
Best Season	April–October (Mediterranean swimming season May–Oct)
Price	From US$1,790 per person (4★ hotels, domestic flights included)

Data source: turkeytravel.com — the complete Turkey circuit with Mediterranean Coast

Day 1: Arrive Istanbul

Airport pickup, transfer to Sultanahmet hotel
Evening free — explore Istiklal Street or enjoy a traditional Turkish dinner

Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul Old City

Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome
Basilica Cistern
Topkapi Palace (full tour with Harem)
Grand Bazaar

Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: Bosphorus & Fly to Antalya

Spice Bazaar morning visit
Bosphorus cruise — see Europe and Asia from the water
Suleymaniye Mosque
Afternoon flight to Antalya (1h15min)
Evening stroll in Antalya’s charming Kaleici (Old Town) with its Ottoman houses, Hadrian’s Gate (130 AD), and marina

Overnight in Antalya.

Day 4: Antalya — Turkish Riviera

Duden Waterfalls — Spectacular cascade plunging 40m directly into the Mediterranean from a cliffside park
Antalya Archaeological Museum — One of Turkey’s best museums, with 13 exhibition halls spanning 5,000 years. See the Hall of Gods (Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite statues from Perge) and exquisite Roman sarcophagi
Konyaalti Beach — Free afternoon on the 7km pebble beach with stunning mountain backdrop (swimming in season)
Aspendos Theatre (optional) — Best-preserved Roman theatre in the world (15,000 seats, still used for opera festivals)

Overnight in Antalya.

Day 5: Antalya to Pamukkale

Perge Ancient City — Vast Roman city with colonnaded street, stadium, and well-preserved baths
Drive to Pamukkale — Scenic 3.5-hour drive through the Taurus Mountains
Afternoon at Pamukkale — Travertines and Hierapolis archaeological site
Cleopatra’s Pool — Optional thermal swim

Overnight in Pamukkale (thermal hotel).

Day 6: Ephesus & Kusadasi

Ephesus — Full morning exploring the ancient city including Terrace Houses
House of Virgin Mary
Temple of Artemis
Afternoon at leisure in Kusadasi — enjoy the Aegean seaside or shop at the bazaar

Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 7: Fly to Cappadocia — South Cappadocia

Morning flight from Izmir to Kayseri (via Istanbul)
Kaymakli Underground City — Descend into the subterranean world
Uchisar Castle — Panoramic views of Cappadocia’s moonscape
Pigeon Valley
Check into cave hotel

Overnight in Cappadocia (cave hotel).

Day 8: North Cappadocia

Optional hot air balloon at sunrise
Goreme Open Air Museum — Dark Church frescoes
Pasabag (Monks Valley) fairy chimneys
Avanos pottery town — lunch and workshop
Devrent Valley imagination walk
Evening: Turkish Night Show (optional) — Whirling dervishes, folk dances, belly dancing, unlimited local drinks

Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 9: Ihlara Valley & Selime

Ihlara Valley Hike — 4km walk along Melendiz River through the “Grand Canyon of Cappadocia”
Selime Monastery — Cathedral-sized rock-carved complex
Rose Valley — Late afternoon hike through rose-colored rock formations, ending at a panoramic sunset viewpoint
Farewell dinner at a local family-run restaurant