Reasons for recommendation
- Must-see attractions in Türkiye to explore its exotic charm: Blue Mosque, Pamukkale, and the ancient city ruins of Hierapolis.
- Experience a one-night stay in a cave hotel and take a hot air balloon ride to admire the world's only fairy chimneys in Cappadocia.
- The entire trip includes 4-star hotels and three meals a day (except for lunch on the first day of arrival and lunch and dinner on the last day).
- Professional Chinese-speaking tour guide service
- A group of 6 people is required to form a tour, and each group shall not exceed 35 people. Tours depart every Saturday!
Route Overview
| Days | Itinerary Overview |
| D1 | Meet in Istanbul (free time) |
| D2 |
Istanbul
|
| D3 |
Istanbul ‣ Ankara
|
| D4 |
Ankara ‣ Cappadocia
|
| D5 |
Cappadocia Konya
|
| D6 | Konya ‣ Pamukkale |
| D7 | Pamukkale ‣ Antalya |
| D8 | Antalya airport drop-off |
Itinerary
Day 1: Istanbul airport pick-up
Travel independently to Istanbul, Turkey by plane. Airport pick-up at 3 PM will take you to the hotel, after which you will have free time.
Pick-up location: 3 PM at Istanbul Airport (IST).
Day 2: Istanbul
After breakfast, visit the famous Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia . The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, took seven years to build and is a landmark of Istanbul. Its walls are covered with blue glazed tiles from Turkey's famous porcelain town, featuring intricate patterns on a white background, filling the entire mosque with a blue hue. The mosque is the largest domed building in Istanbul, surrounded by six minarets, making it the only mosque in the world with six towers and one of the world's ten wonders. Hagia Sophia is a religious building located in present-day Istanbul, Turkey. With a history of nearly 1,500 years, it is world-renowned for its massive dome and is a prime example of Byzantine architecture that "changed architectural history."
After lunch, visit Topkapi Palace , also known as the Old Palace, located on a historic peninsula in Istanbul. It was once the site of state ceremonies and royal entertainment, and the residence and workplace of successive sultans. Then, tour Istanbul's famous Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth of 1,001 shops.
They checked into Istanbul that night.
Day 3: Istanbul to Ankara
After breakfast, visit the Constantinople Hippodrome , a Roman amphitheater sometimes called "Atmeydan" in Turkish, which was once the sports and social center of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Afterwards, travel to Ankara. Overnight in Ankara.
D4: Ankara Cappadocia
After breakfast , visit the Atatürk Mausoleum. The Atatürk Mausoleum (Anıtkabir), a symbol of the new era of the Republic of Turkey, was built to commemorate Mustafa, the father of modern Turkey. Designed by the renowned Turkish architect Emil Onat, construction began in 1944 and took nine years to complete. This architectural complex blends ancient and modern styles, creating a magnificent whole that remains one of the representative works of modern Turkish architecture.
Afterwards, we drove to Cappadocia . The desolate yet magnificent karst landscape is a highlight that attracts worldwide attention to Cappadocia. Arriving here feels like stepping into a Star Wars set, making one mistake it for a corner of an alien planet. We visited the Fairy Chimneys—a representative sight of Cappadocia's lunar landscape. Fairy chimneys are the most magical and unique landscape in Cappadocia. Stone pillars of various shapes rise from the ground, each wearing a strange hat. People believe that little fairies live inside, hence the name "fairy chimneys." Upon arrival, we visited a local pottery shop and a candy shop. Overnight in Cappadocia.
D5: Cappadocia Kong Ya
After breakfast, visit the Göreme Open Air Museum , a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its comprehensive collection of over 30 cave churches showcasing the natural and cultural history of Cappadocia. Pass by Sultanhana, the best-preserved ancient Silk Road caravanserai. Its high walls, archways, and spacious courtyard served as a resting and security area for camel caravans. The caravanserai has two main sections: a roofed shelter for winter warmth and an open courtyard for ventilation in summer. Drive to Konya . Visit local jewelry and carpet shops. Overnight in Konya.
D6: Kong Ya Pamukkale
Konya was historically the capital of the Sultanate of Rum and the Principality of Karaman. In cultural and artistic history, Konya is the final resting place of the Sufi poet Rumi and the birthplace of the Turkish whirling dervish dance. The city is renowned as a "natural museum of history and art" for its rich historical sites and cultural traditions. After breakfast, visit the Meurana Museum, built in the late 13th century. Within this vast mosque complex, a towering green minaret stands out majestically atop its varied, bowl-shaped roofs. Circumambulate the box containing the Prophet Muhammad's beard seven times, both as a form of prayer and a request for peace and happiness, striking the outer glass surface once with each circumambulation. Proceed to Pamukkale and spend the night there.
Day 7: Pamukkale Antalya
After breakfast, visit the cotton-textured hills, a scene resembling a beautiful fairyland. Pamukkale, with its romantic name derived from legend and its unique geological features, is located in Denizli, a major textile industrial region. Rich in hot springs, calcium carbonate-rich water cascades down the hillsides, forming layers of overlapping, semi-circular white natural terraces after over 10,000 years of calcification, resembling a castle or fluffy cotton balls from afar. Then, visit the ruins of Hierapolis, an ancient city built in the 2nd century BC by the Pergamon dynasty. Remnants of the ancient baths, arena, streets, theater, and cemetery remain. Visit local fabric and leather shops. Afterwards, drive to Antalya. Visit Antalya's Old Town and Old Port. Overnight in Antalya.
Day 8: Airport drop-off in Antalya
After breakfast, around 10:00 AM, we will take you to the airport to board your flight back home.
Attraction Introduction
Hagia Sophia Mosque
On July 10, 2020, the Turkish government reversed its decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a museum, restoring its religious status as the Hagia Sophia Mosque. While Istanbul boasts many important historical sites, Hagia Sophia (now a mosque) surpasses them all with its innovative architecture, rich historical significance, religious value, and extraordinary beauty. This nearly 1500-year-old religious building, renowned for its massive dome, is a prime example of Byzantine architecture that "changed the course of world architecture."
Blue Mosque
Also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Blue Mosque is the masterpiece of Mehmet Aga, a protégé of Sinan, one of the most outstanding classical architects in the Islamic world, and is one of Istanbul's most important landmarks. Construction of the Blue Mosque began in 1609, and it is named for the blue and white Iznik tiles used to decorate its interior walls. With its gracefully curved exterior, the Blue Mosque's tiered domes and six slender minarets are extremely striking, earning it a place among the world's ten wonders.
| Atatürk Tomb
The Mausoleum of Atatürk, one of Turkey's most famous modern buildings, sits atop a hill in Ankara, the country's capital. Designed by Turkish architect Emil Onat and built between 1944 and 1953, the complex is the final resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. Before the building's completion, Atatürk's remains were housed in Ankara's ethnographic museum. They were brought here on November 10, 1953, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his death. The mausoleum complex is massive, featuring a grand staircase called the Road of Honor, flanked by reclining Hittite lions, leading to the Court of Honor. The mausoleum itself and a museum dedicated to Atatürk's life are located here. For visitors to Ankara, this building is both one of the most prominent structures of mid-20th-century Turkey and a significant symbol of Atatürk and the birth of the Republic.
Cappadocia
Fairy chimneys are the most magical and unique landscape in Cappadocia. These uniquely shaped stone pillars rise abruptly from the ground, each topped with a strange hat-like structure. People believe that little fairies live inside, hence the name "fairy chimneys" or "spirit chimneys." These fairy chimneys are entirely formed by nature. Alternatively, one could say they are the masterpiece of the gods of fire, wind, rain, and time. The lava layers formed by volcanic eruptions have withstood millions of years of wind and rain erosion. The hardest top layer of rock has different resistance to weathering than the softer layers below, thus creating this unique and extraordinary landform.
Pamukkale
Here you'll find a unique and wondrous landscape. The underground hot springs of Pamukkale continuously gush forth from the ground, rich in minerals such as limestone. Over the years, the limestone has precipitated and formed cotton-like rocks, layer upon layer, creating a spectacular natural rock formation and pools.
Tour information
|
Line number |
3831 |
|
Departure date and location |
Pick-up at Istanbul Airport (IST) at 3 PM |
|
Dissolution place |
Antalya |
|
Days |
8 days 7 nights |
|
language |
Chinese speaking guide |
| Baggage rules |
Each passenger may bring only one piece of luggage with them. (Luggage must not exceed 30 kg and the sum of its three dimensions must not exceed 158 cm) For passengers carrying more than one piece of luggage (if there is sufficient space in the suitcase), an additional fee of 5 euros per piece of luggage per day will be charged as a handling fee for the driver. Please understand that we cannot accept wheelchair users' registration for the tour, as some bus models may not be able to accommodate wheelchair travelers. |
Fee Description
- 4-star hotels throughout the trip, including 1 night in a cave hotel in Cappadocia.
- Three meals a day throughout the trip (except for lunch on the first day of arrival and lunch and dinner on the last day).
- Full-time Chinese-speaking tour guide service (for groups of 6 or more; 4 guides will speak French).
- Airport pick-up and drop-off at the designated time of the trip
Fee not included
- Airfares from various locations to Türkiye
- Tickets to attractions listed in the itinerary
- Additional airport transfers outside of designated times: £35 per person per trip (minimum two people, English-speaking driver)
- Driver/guide gratuity (payable in Euros cash on-site): €5 per person per day, applicable to both adults and children.
- Istanbul/Antalya Accommodation (including hotel breakfast and dinner)
- Hotel upgrade to single room from £255
- Self-funded projects
- Personal expenses (laundry, hairdressing, telephone, fax, pay TV, drinks, tobacco, etc. in the hotel)
- Travel insurance
- For groups of 4-5 people requiring a Chinese-speaking guide, an additional fee of 120 euros per person will be charged to arrange a Chinese-speaking guide; otherwise, a French-speaking guide will be provided by default.
| Self-funded projects |
price |
| Hagia Sophia (Please bring a headscarf and headphones for the guided tour when entering) |
Audio guide included: 25 EUR (1240 TRY) 100 TRY with headphones Headscarf 30 TRY |
| Topkapi Palace | 2400 lira / 53 euros |
| Göreme Open Air Museum | 20 euros |
| Pamukkale and the ancient ruins of Hierapolis | 1460 lira / 30 euros |
| Bosphorus Strait Cruise | 40 euros per person |
| Turkish-style party | 60 euros per person |
| hot air balloon ride | €300 per person (Price varies greatly depending on the season and weather; please refer to the price on the day of purchase). |
| Riding in a four-wheel drive off-road vehicle | 60 euros per person |
Booking Information
Child policy
-
Children and teenagers under the age of 18 , pregnant women, or seniors over the age of 70 must be accompanied by an adult under the age of 65 and cannot make reservations alone.
Itinerary
- Please arrive at the designated departure point at least 30 minutes in advance, and close the vehicle doors 15 minutes before departure . All tours will depart on time. If a tourist does not arrive on time, the tour will be treated as a "NO SHOW," and no rescheduling or refund will be offered.
- In the event of major local events, attraction closures, or other force majeure events that cause changes to the itinerary or prevent entry to attractions, adjustments may be made or attractions may be changed to exterior views only. The final arrangements on the day shall prevail.
- All times during the trip will be as per the tour confirmation notice. The order of sightseeing and departure times on the day of the trip will be subject to the driver and guide's arrangements.
Accommodation and meals
- This tour cannot assist with room sharing. Single guests will need to pay a single room surcharge of £ 255 per person (single room accommodation/triple room available).
Special Note
- This tour price includes the tour fee, booking and credit card processing fees.
- This tour has a minimum group size requirement; if the minimum group size is not met, the tour may be cancelled. We will notify you 3 weeks in advance.
- Guests who intend to join the tour by purchasing airfare should do so only after receiving a "reservation confirmation".
Cancellation Terms
- If you do not show up on the departure day, 100% of the total tour fee will be deducted.
- All payments made within 14 days prior to departure are non-refundable and cannot be changed to another departure date;
- Cancellations must be made 14 to 21 days in advance. 50% of the total tour fee will be deducted, and the remaining amount will be refunded to your payment account.
- Once a booking is made, full payment must be made at least 14 days before the departure date. The company reserves the right to cancel the booking if payment is overdue or not made in full.
- Customer requests to change travel dates: No change requests will be accepted if the travel date is 14 days or less before departure.
- If you change your tour group 14 to 21 days in advance and there are still available spots, you must pay 50% of the total tour fee as a change fee.
-
If a guest needs to change the information of the tour participants: Changes can be made more than 21 days before departure, but a handling fee of 30 euros per person will be charged.
