Istanbul Turkey Package Tours7 Day Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale
This 7 day Turkey tour runs from Istanbul to Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale and back, with three domestic flights built into the price. Tours Turkey sells it on Viator at $1,713 per person for 7 days and 6 nights, with boutique hotels, all breakfasts, 5 lunches, one dinner, a guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism and every entrance fee on the included tours. Groups are shared, up to 20 people. The long legs fly, so you spend your days at the sights rather than on the road. If you want to see how it stacks up against other packages, the comparison of all Turkey tour packages is the place to start. Compare it with the other Istanbul tour packages.
About This Tour
Tours Turkey runs this 7-day, 6-night route as a shared small-group trip that starts and ends in Istanbul. Three domestic flights cover Istanbul to Cappadocia, Cappadocia to Ephesus and Pamukkale back to Istanbul, with all transfers named in the itinerary included. Six nights go to boutique hotels with breakfast each morning.
A guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism leads the tours, entrance fees are paid for, and domestic taxes are in the price. Drinks with meals other than breakfast, tips and personal items are not. The listing says nothing about a hot air balloon ride, so ask the operator before booking if you want one.
$1,713 per person, listed on Viator. The listing sets age bands of infants 0 to 3 and adults 4 to 99.
7 days and 6 nights, starting and ending in Istanbul.
Hotel pickup is included, the exact window is not stated. Check availability for starting times.
Shared groups of up to 20, led by a professional guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism. Guiding is in English.
6 nights in boutique hotels, star class not stated. Three domestic flights are in the price.
All breakfasts, 5 lunches, one dinner and a meet and greet reception. Vegetarian meals available. Drinks with meals, tips and personal items are extra.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure for a full refund.
Check Dates and Availability
Starting times are shown when you check a date. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer The short answer
This 7 day Turkey tour costs $1,713 per person for 7 days and 6 nights, with 3 domestic flights, boutique hotels, all entrance fees and 5 lunches included, in groups of up to 20.
Key takeaways
- The flights, hotels and meals breakdown is in What the Price Actually Covers.
- The route day by day, from pickup in Istanbul to the return flight, is in What the Day Is Really Like.
- If you would rather have a capped group of 12 and a hotel class choice, the 7-Day Turkey Tour with Hotel Choice does that.
- Short on time? The 4-Day Small-Group Fly-In Tour covers the same three regions in four days.
What the Price Actually Covers
The listing is generous on flights, hotels, guiding and entrance fees, and clear about what it leaves out. Here is the line-by-line, taken from the operator's own inclusion and exclusion lists.
Included, and What Is Not
Three domestic flights are genuinely part of the price: Istanbul to Cappadocia, Cappadocia to Ephesus and Pamukkale to Istanbul. That removes the long road leg between Istanbul and Cappadocia. All entrance fees to the sights on the tours are paid, along with domestic taxes and every transfer named in the itinerary.
On the food side you get all breakfasts, 5 lunches, one dinner and a meet and greet reception, with vegetarian meals on request. Not included are drinks with meals (except what is served with breakfast), tips to the guide, driver or hotel staff, items of a personal nature and medical services. The listing is silent on a balloon ride and on a single-room supplement, so ask the operator about both before you pay.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic flights | Yes, 3 domestic flights | Istanbul to Cappadocia, Cappadocia to Ephesus, Pamukkale to Istanbul |
| Hotels | 6 nights | Boutique hotels with breakfast, star class not stated |
| Entrance fees | Yes | All sights during the included tours |
| Meals | Partly | All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 reception. No dinners beyond that |
| Drinks | No | Except drinks served with breakfast |
| Balloon flight | Not mentioned | Ask the operator if you want one |
| Tips | No | Guide, driver and hotel staff |
| Cleopatra Pool | Not mentioned | Not named in the inclusions, and the pool needs an additional ticket |
What to Budget on the Day
Set cash aside for dinners on the nights they are not covered, drinks, tips and anything personal. As a scale reference, if you ever add independent sightseeing, Hagia Sophia's upper gallery is listed at 25 EUR and Ephesus at 40 EUR for adults. One 2022 guide suggests a restaurant tip of about 10 percent.
None of these fees apply to sights already inside this tour, since the operator pays them.
Sources: Wikipedia: Turkey, Wikivoyage: Turkey
The Library of Celsus, Ephesus. Photo: Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What the Day Is Really Like
The itinerary follows the operator's listing: Istanbul first, then flights east and west, then home. Exact clock times are not published, so the shape below follows the stated sequence.
The Route, Stop by Stop
The tour starts in Istanbul with hotel pickup included. The listing names haggling in the Grand Bazaar, which has 61 covered streets and estimates of 3,000 to 4,000 shops.
A domestic flight then carries you to Cappadocia, about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 in the air. The plateau there sits over 1,000 m high, and Goreme, in the same region, lies at 1,104 m. Expect guided touring with entrance fees covered, and nights in the boutique hotels.
The next flight runs Cappadocia to Ephesus and the listing does not name the arrival airport. Izmir to Ephesus takes 60 to 75 minutes by road. Ephesus itself was founded in the 10th century BC, and the walk from Upper Gate to Lower Gate is about 3 km downhill.
Pamukkale follows, with the travertine terraces about 2,700 m long and the ruins of Hierapolis above them, inscribed by UNESCO in 1988. The final flight returns from Pamukkale to Istanbul, where the tour ends.
- Istanbul: pickup included and guided touring
- Flight 1: Istanbul to Cappadocia, around 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 in the air
- Cappadocia: guided days in the valleys, nights in boutique hotels
- Flight 2: Cappadocia to Ephesus
- Ephesus: ancient city touring, roughly 3 km of downhill walking gate to gate
- Pamukkale and Hierapolis: terraces and ruins, entrance fees covered
- Flight 3: Pamukkale back to Istanbul, tour ends in the city
A 7-Day Turkey Itinerary: Istanbul, Cappadocia and Beyond
A one-week route through the same regions as this tour. Third-party video by Nomadicsapiens. This site did not shoot it and has no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
No tour suits everyone. These are the limits this listing states, and the alternatives that fix each one.
Check This List Before You Book
The listing asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness, and Ephesus alone involves about 3 km of downhill walking. If you want a slower pace, a Private Istanbul Tour 1 to 3 Days lets you set your own rhythm.
Groups run up to 20 people and are shared, not private. If you want a smaller room, the 7-Day Turkey Tour with Hotel Choice caps at 12 and offers a choice of hotel class. Wheelchair access is not stated by the listing, so confirm directly if you need it.
The balloon flight is not mentioned in the inclusions, so if flying at sunrise is the point of Cappadocia for you, look at the 3-Day Cappadocia Tour with Balloon, which sells a with-balloon option. Dinners beyond the one included are on you, and drinks with meals are never covered. Free cancellation closes 24 hours before departure, which is short if your international plans are shaky.
- Moderate fitness required, so not the pick for limited mobility without checking first
- Shared groups of up to 20, so not for travellers who want privacy
- Balloon flight not in the price, so balloon-first travellers should look elsewhere
- 24-hour cancellation window, tighter than some trips offer
The fairy chimneys of Goreme, Cappadocia. Photo: Feridun F. Alkaya, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Getting There and What to Add
You start and finish in Istanbul, so your international arrival is on you. Here is how the city's airports work, and what you can add around the tour.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul has two airports. Istanbul Airport uses code IST, opened in 2019 and the Turkish Airlines hub. Sabiha Gokcen uses code SAW and opened in 2001.
The listing includes hotel pickup and does not state an airport meeting point, so ask the operator how you reach your first hotel. An Istanbulkart covers buses, metro, trams and ferries in the city.
Add Days Before or After
The common advice for an independent trip is 3 nights in Istanbul, 2 to 3 in Cappadocia and 1 in Pamukkale, which shows how much this tour compresses. If the itinerary skips Gallipoli and Troy, the 2-Day Gallipoli and Troy Tour runs from Istanbul by road and slots in before or after. For more time in Cappadocia itself, a 2 or 3-day add-on such as the 2-3 Day Cappadocia Tour with Flights works, or browse the guide to Cappadocia tours.
On visas, the Turkish Foreign Ministry lists ordinary US, UK and Canadian passports as visa-exempt for tourism up to 90 days in any 180, though some commercial pages say an e-visa is needed, so check the ministry page. The guide to the best time to visit Turkey covers seasons, and spring and autumn suit Pamukkale best.
- Add Gallipoli and Troy by road from Istanbul with the 2-Day Gallipoli and Troy Tour
- Extend Cappadocia independently with the 2-3 Day Cappadocia Tour with Flights
Day by Day
The listing does not publish clock times, so the steps below follow the stated sequence of the route.
-
Start
Istanbul arrival and meet and greet
Hotel pickup is included in Istanbul. The meet and greet reception is part of the itinerary, and its day is not stated.
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Early days
Istanbul touring
Guided days in Istanbul with entrance fees covered. The Grand Bazaar, with its 61 covered streets, is a stated highlight.
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Mid-tour
Flight to Cappadocia
The first of three domestic flights, Istanbul to Cappadocia, about 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 in the air. Transfers named in the itinerary are included.
-
Mid-tour
Cappadocia days
Guided touring on the high plateau with all entrance fees paid, nights in boutique hotels with breakfast. The listing does not mention a balloon ride.
-
Mid-tour
Flight to Ephesus
Cappadocia to Ephesus by air, the arrival airport is not named. Ephesus gives about 3 km of downhill walking from Upper Gate to Lower Gate.
-
Late tour
Pamukkale and Hierapolis
The travertine terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis, UNESCO-listed since 1988, with entrance fees covered. One dinner falls somewhere in the itinerary as stated.
-
Final leg
Flight back to Istanbul
The third domestic flight returns from Pamukkale to Istanbul, where the tour ends.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of what this listing does well and where it asks you to compromise.
What we genuinely like
- Three domestic flights are in the $1,713 price, which removes the long Istanbul to Cappadocia road leg entirely
- All entrance fees on the included tours are paid, so no ticket queues or surprise fees at the sights
- A guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism leads every tour
- Meals are unusually broad: all breakfasts, 5 lunches, one dinner and a reception
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
- Rated 4.9 from 93 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor
The honest downsides
- Groups run up to 20, larger than the 12-person cap on the closest rival
- The balloon flight is not mentioned, so you must ask the operator and pay extra if it is offered at all
- Star class of the boutique hotels is not stated, so you book the rooms sight unseen
- Only one dinner is included, so most evenings are at your own cost
- Exact departure times are not published until you check a date
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers who want a balloon flight in the price, a capped group of 12 or a private guide, all of which other listings sell.
Questions About This Tour
How much does this 7 day Turkey tour cost?
It is listed at $1,713 per person for 7 days and 6 nights, with flights, hotels, guiding and entrance fees included. For a lower 8-day base price, see the 8-Day Istanbul Ephesus Pamukkale Cappadocia by Plane at $1,012, noting that its flights are a selectable option.
Are domestic flights really included?
Yes, three of them: Istanbul to Cappadocia, Cappadocia to Ephesus and Pamukkale to Istanbul, along with all transfers named in the itinerary. The comparison table on the homepage shows which other packages bundle flights.
Is the hot air balloon ride part of the price?
The listing does not mention a balloon ride, so ask the operator before booking if you want one. If a balloon is the priority, the 3-Day Cappadocia Tour with Balloon sells a with-balloon option.
How big is the group and who guides it?
Groups are shared, up to 20 people, with a professional guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism and guiding in English. If 20 sounds crowded, the 7-Day Turkey Tour with Hotel Choice caps at 12.
What meals are covered?
All breakfasts, 5 lunches, one dinner and a meet and greet reception, with vegetarian meals available. Drinks with meals other than breakfast, and tips, which one 2022 guide puts at about 10 percent in restaurants, come out of your own pocket.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
Yes, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for a full refund. The listing states no refund terms inside 24 hours.
Do I need a visa for Turkey?
The Turkish Foreign Ministry lists ordinary US, UK and Canadian passports as visa-exempt for tourism up to 90 days in any 180 days, though some commercial pages say an e-visa is needed, so check the ministry page before you fly. The practical section of the Turkey package tours guide covers entry rules in more detail.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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