Best of Turkey Small Group Tour
Overview
Available languages
264 hours
Mobile ticket
The Best of Turkey: Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus Tour is the ideal travel choice for those who wish to enjoy the main historic sites and major attractions of Turkey.
We’ll explore Istanbul and it’s ancient structures, from the mosques to the Roman influenced architecture. Next, you'll take a one hour flight to Cappadocia where you'll experience an entirely new region of Turkey and be amazed by breathtaking landscapes.
While staying at a luxurious cave hotels at night, you'll explore the lunar like topography and cave mosaics during the day.
A quick flight departing Cappadocia to Izmir will allow you to experience the unique Aegean culture. In Antalya you'll enjoy a mix of touring and seaside lounging, where 8000 foot mountains rise from a backdrop of crystal clear waters.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What To Expect
Day 1: Istanbul
Accommodations
Overnight at Sultanhan Hotel
Sultanahmet District
*Your private guide will welcome you at the Istanbul Airport and take you to your hotel in the heart of Istanbul (All our hotel options sit atop the tallest of the seven hills of Istanbul in the historic Sultanahmet district.) *You will have time to become acquainted with the celebrated historic district of this bustling city before turning in for the night.
Day 2: Istanbul
Accommodations
Overnight at Sultanhan Hotel
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
*Today your guide will meet you at your hotel, and you will first visit the Hagia Sophia to explore it's incredible architecture and remarkable story. *Later you will also visit one of the Ottoman Empire’s greatest architectural achievements: the Blue Mosque. *Following lunch, you will marvel at the Hippodrome and the Basilica Cistern. *In the afternoon, you can browse the shops of the Grand Bazaar before retiring to the hotel for the night.
Day 3: Istanbul
Accommodations
Overnight at Sultanhan Hotel
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
TopkapI Palace
*Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you will take off to the Topkapi Palace! After conquering Constantinople in the 15th Century, the Ottomans built Topkapi Palace. You'll have the opportunity to explore the palace and its treasures, including the hidden chambers of the Imperial Harem. *Next, you'll make a visit to the Spice Market /Egyptian Bazaar before a tour of the Bosphorous Strait, and a quiet cafe offers a bit of rest in the afternoon. (Based our guides discretion, the morning and afternoon may be reversed in order to give you the best experience possible.) *You'll spend your final night in Istanbul.
Day 4: Istanbul to Cappadocia
Accommodations
Overnight at Kale Konak Cave Hotel
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Cappadocia
*Enjoy breakfast in Istanbul and then get ready to travel to Cappadocia. *Your private guide and driver will welcome you and you will start your tour. *Your tour will begin with a visit to Uchisar Fortress, OrtaHisar and Red Valley. *After a day of exploration and travel you will check-in to your hotel and retire for the night.
Day 5: Cappadocia
Accommodations
Overnight at Kale Konak Cave Hotel
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Zelve Open Air Museum
*Today, your Cappadocia guide will take you to explore Pasabaglari (Fairy Chimneys), and Zelve Open Air Musuem (houses carved in rock, Seljukian Mosque and remains). *Following lunch, continue to Esentepe for panoramic view of the Goreme Valley, Goreme Open Air Museum (rock cut churches, frescos, monastery) and Kaymakli Underground City. *Enjoy the incredible views of the Cappadocia landscape and enjoy the hospitality of your hotel in the evening before you retire for the night.
Day 6: Cappadocia - Ephesus
Accommodations
Overnight at DoubleTree by Hilton Kusadasi
Kusadasi
*In the morning, you will travel to Izmir. Once here, you will be met again by a guide and driver and have a tour of Sirince village as you make your way to your hotel on the coast in Kusadasi.
Day 7: Ephesus
Accommodations
Overnight at DoubleTree by Hilton Kusadasi
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)
*Today will meet you at your hotel and you will visit the magnificent ancient city of Ephesus. You will enjoy a leisurely exploration of the city, including the Terraced Houses, followed by trip to the Ephesus Archeology Museum. *Following lunch you will visit St. John’s Basilica, reputed burial site of the Apostle John, and see the ruin of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. *You will also make a stop at Mary's House, and from there you'll return to your hotel in Kusadasi for a relaxing evening.
Day 8: Pamukkale - Antalya
Accommodations
Overnight at Dogan Hotel
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Antalya
*Your guide will meet you at your hotel and a morning departure will take you overland to the much desired and highly photographed site of Pamukkale. With an optional chance to swim in the thermal waters of Cleopatra's baths, you'll see the beautiful white travertines and the remarkable site of Hierapolis. *Following lunch you will continue through the mountains to the pearl of the Mediterranean - Antalya. *Your hotel will be on the coast allowing you access to incredible views and seasonal swimming.
Day 9: Antalya
Accommodations
Overnight at Dogan Hotel
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Perge Antik Kenti
*Your guide will meet you in the morning and you will visit two amazing sister cities - Perge and Aspendos. Enjoy a relaxing day at both of these locations. *You may also visit an optional local waterfall before returning to your hotel in Antalya.
Day 10: Antalya
Accommodations
Overnight at Dogan Hotel
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
Termessos Orenyeri
*Today, you will tour Termessos, one of the best located historical sites in Turkey located on top of a mountain overlooking the sea. Your guide will meet you for an early morning departure. *After a morning outdoors, you'll return to see the magnificent Antalya Museum before touring the old town of Kaleici where you may choose to enjoy the nightlife, restaurants, or bars at your leisure.
Day 11: Departure
Antalya
*A private driver will pick you up from your hotel. Get ready to travel back home.
What‘s Included
International Flight Tickets
Pickup points
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Options
Best of Turkey Small Group Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
27 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Gökçen Art is a fabulous tour guide.
sbgarfinkle,,Nov 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gökçen Art is a fabulous tour guide, one of the bestI have ever had. Besides being extremely knowledgeable, she was warm and so accommodating. She added places to our planned itinerary that she thought we would find interesting. She bought us local foods that she wanted us to try. She played special music on a long bus ride. We all felt so well cared for. Gökçen Art beautifully represented Turkey, and everyone in our group had a fabulous time with her. I miss her already.
Best tour guide so far
hiyw0tt,,Nov 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sakis Leonidis is a very knowledgeable tour guide. He knows the history of the world by heart. While we were visiting the seven churches of the Revelation in Turkey from November 13-19, he was extremely nice, patient , charming and caring. Besides the seven churches, he arranged for us to visit 4 additional historical sites. When one of our travel members hurt her legs while walking , he went extra miles for us. After the day tour was over he took her ( including three family members)to the hospital , he stayed with them until 2 AM and translated all the diagnosis to the doctors in Turkish and to the family members in English. His sense of humor made our trip enjoyable , memorable and unforgettable. He is professional doing his job with enthusiasm , passion and eagerness . He educated us about the vast history of Turkey. We are happy and grateful to have him as our guide.
Turkey highlights
betric14,,Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing trip! All accommodations were excellent and our guides were very knowledgeable and accommodating. Excellent itinerary and nice perks to quick entrances.
Perfect size tour, perfect length, a jam packed and fascinating itinerary
Kerryfiona,,Nov 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour. Just the right size (10 guests). Comfortable mini-van. Sojourn organized everything (flights, hotel, sightseeing) so beautifully. The sights in Turkey are amazing. The Turks are lovely people, very hospitable and kind.
Sojourn for Turkey is your answer
scottlT8672FZ,,Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My fellow travelers, if you are going to Turkey and want a reliable, friendly, and beyond helpful tour company, Sojourn is your answer. They helped me (an actual travel professional who simply wanted someone to do all of my homework this time) with every one of my requests and they were many: 2 days of detailed Istanbul touring AND every element of a 3 day Cappadocia adventure including air, lodging, touring, hot air balloon, etc. Finally, all guides were superb. Sojourn = excellence.
Great Experience with Sojourn Tours in Istanbul
MarkSJ,,Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00First class from start to finish with Sojourn Travel Turkey. Very communicative and professional. Two couples traveling together, we booked a 3-night pre-cruise extension in Istanbul, staying in the lovely Hagia Sofia Mansions. We were assigned a private guide who took us around to the major sites -- Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, bazaar, day trip on the Bosphorus -- and provided in-depth historical and cultural descriptions. Everything was great, and a very good alternative to what was offered by the cruise line.
Very Impressed
sandrabI4709BT,,Oct 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Just returned from a trip to Turkey with Sojourn Tours. We did the best of Turkey Small Group Tour with modifications. I am so pleased with their service! The communication and organization before and during the trip was excellent as were all the local guides and drivers. The accommodations were wonderful, comfortable with great locations throughout. I really want to emphasize that the local guides were excellent, very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, flexible and friendly. I would without any hesitation recommend Sojourn for turkey tourism. Thank you Sojourn!
Gobeckli Tepe was on the bucket list and they did an incredible tour of that and much more. Phenomenal service and guide
SheilaOrtego,,Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The trip was fantastic, thanks to the incredible team at Sojourn Turkey! All drivers and guides were terrífic, accommodations lovely, and the sights were out of this world. The trip of a lifetime!
Can't imagine a better way to tour Turkey than with Sojourn tours!
timothyn575,,Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sojourn's 12-day Best of Turkey tour was a truly great experience. When we signed up, we made two choices that while we could not know for certain at the time, turned out for the best. First, we selected the Gold private tour with boutique hotels. Having now seen large group tours in Turkey, the value of having private guides that can get to know you and easily converse with you one-on-one cannot be overstated. The boutique hotels were all great with clean rooms, nice amenities and gracious staff. Second, during the payment process, we were offered to the option to prepay tips for the tour personnel. We wrestled with the decision a bit because we couldn't know in advance the level of service we would be receiving, but ultimately decided to prepay. That decision turned out to be a good one - the tips were well-deserved and it lessened our need to carry substantial amounts of Turkish lira. Sojourn's guides are what to us made our tour truly special. Each of the guides in the four locations we visited (Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Antalya) was personable and knowledgeable about the sites and ruins in their respective area, as well as restaurants, shopping and other places of interest. They all sought to accommodate our interests and needs, adjusted their pace for us (we are both in our 70s) and, in once case, immediately arranged with the hotel to have us moved to a larger room. All of the guides and drivers were timely and well organized, which we appreciated, and the guides made adjustments to the schedules to avoid crowded times at some of the sites. We also appreciated that the scheduled pick-up times allowed us more than enough time to negotiate the unfamiliar airlines and airports for flights between cities. As for visiting Turkey, we would say it's a must visit! The history, diversity of cultures, and warm and gracious people make it a really special place.
Outstanding one on one tour of the major sites in Istanbul
clarkw991,,Aug 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an outstanding one on one tour of Istanbul for 1.5 days in Aug of 2025! The agenda was solid , yet flexible, I was about to see the major tourists sites and get not only a historical perspective but also modern day update on political issues. We had prepaid tickets for many exhibits which saved time and made our visit much more efficient. My guide - Atilla, spoke English very well and was very knowledgeable about culture, religion and politics.
From US$4,300.00
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