Luxury Istanbul Ephesus Pamukkale Tour

ISTANBUL → EPHESUS → PAMUKKALE

Day 1: ISTANBUL 

Welcome to Istanbul! Where the continents meet.
Meet at Istanbul Airport: Once you arrive at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport, after the luggage claim, you will be greeted by a Romos Travel tour guide. And you will be informed about the tour schedule for the following days.

Transfer with a private vehicle to the hotel: You will be taken to your hotel, and after check-in, you will have time for leisure, and the rest of the day is yours.
Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 2: ISTANBUL 

Private Istanbul Old City Tour with The Whirling Dervish Show
Pick up from the hotel by your guide to start the Private Old City Tour. Your private, professional tour guide will be introducing the ancient sights of Istanbul.

Today you will explore the following highlights of Istanbul.

Hippodrome: An ancient Roman and Ottoman square where the chariot races were held. Within the square is some Roman remains, an Egyptian Obelisk, Serpent Column, and Constantine Columns.

The Blue Mosque: An Ottoman Imperial mosque built by Sultan Ahmet I in 1609-1616 CE, famous for the blue Ottoman tiles.

Topkapi Palace: The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II built the palace after the conquest of Constantinople. Topkapi Palace was the home of the royal family and the headquarters for the Ottoman Empire’s administrative center.

Grand Bazaar (Covered Market): The largest and oldest functioning shopping center in the world. The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II built the Grand Bazaar in the 15th century. The market consists of 5,000 stores, 66 streets, 24 gates, and much more eye-pleasing architecture. Your guide will be more than happy to assist you in finding your masterpiece of Turkish art upon your request.

Whirling Dervish Show: A whirling dervish show is a captivating and mesmerizing performance that showcases the ancient mystical tradition of the Sufi order known as the Mevlevi Order. Originating in 13th-century Turkey, the whirling dervishes are renowned for their graceful spinning, which represents a spiritual journey toward divine unity and enlightenment.

After the Istanbul Private Old City Tour and the Whirling Dervish Show, we are driving back to the hotel.
Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 3: ISTANBUL

Private Bosphorus Cruise Tour & Turkish Bath
Pick up from the hotel by your guide to start Private Bosphorus Cruise and the Old City Tour. Your private, professional tour guide will be introducing you to the Bosphorus. You are starting with 2 hours Bosphorus tour on a private boat.

Today you will be exploring the following highlights of the Bosphorus:

Spice Market ( Egyptian Bazaar): The Ottomans built the market in the 17th century. Unlike the Grand Bazaar, the Spice market is much smaller but full of beautiful fragrances of mixed spices, herbs, and traditional sweets. It consists of around 100 stores, 2 streets, and 5 gates.

Bosphorus Cruise with a private boat: The channel divides Istanbul into two continents and stretches about 32 km between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Along the Bosphorus, there are many settlements to see, such as great Palaces, hotels, yali (private houses), etc.

While you are on the boat, you will see the highlights of the Bosphorus including the Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, Çırağan Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, Rumeli Fortress, Küçüksu Palace, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge ( the second bridge on the Bosphorus), Maiden’s Tower to name a few.

Hagia Sophia: Once the largest cathedral of Christianity when it was built in 532-537 CE by the Roman Emperor Justinian; later converted into a mosque by the Ottomans.

Turkish Bath: We are having the traditional Turkish Hammam after the Old City Tour with a pampering process that starts with a detoxifying Turkish bath treatment that will transport you to a place of tranquility and rebirth.

After the Bosphorus Cruise – Old City Tour and the Turkish Bath, we are driving back to the hotel.
Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 4: ISTANBUL to KUSADASI & EPHESUS TOUR

Flight to Izmir
Pick up from the hotel Transfer with a private vehicle to the airport for a domestic flight to Izmir. After landing, drive to Ephesus and start the Private Ephesus Tour. Your private, professional tour guide will be introducing the ancient sights of Ephesus.

Today you will explore the following highlights of Ephesus Ancient City.

We will drive to Virgin Mary’s House, upon the dream of German nun Anna Katherina Emerich, the Lazarist priests followed the descriptions and the signs and then discovered the house in 1891 CE. According to Catholic belief, Mary was taken here by St. John, and she spent the rest of her earthly life there. 

After the Virgin Mary’s House, we proceed to Ephesus Ancient City, the capital city of Asia Minor during the Roman era. According to myth, Ephesus was founded by the Greek commander Androculos around 1,000 BCE. Moreover, Alexander the Great, Lysimachus, Coressus, and Antiochus II either invaded or ruled in this city.

While the excavations are still going on, you will see the ancient remains such as the State Agora (a marketplace and meeting point), Odeon (Bouleuterion) concert house and council, Town Hall and Artemis Sanctuary, Domitian Square, a complex consisting of temple fountain and a bath, Curetes Street colonnaded and monumental Street in Ephesus.

The Hadrian Temple dedicated to Emperor Hadrian dates to 200 BCE, Latrines the public toilets, and Celsus Library proves to us that how Ephesians were intellectual and date back to 200 BCE with the library having had 12,000 scrolls, Forum a commercial center located by the port and finally The Great Theater the largest ancient theater with 25,000 capacity.

After Ephesus ancient city, we drive to lunch at a local restaurant, and thereafter the next stop is Isa Bey Mosque, built-in 1375 by the Anatolian Seljuks. Unlike Modern Ottoman architecture, it has a geometrical architecture roof and two minarets.

The mosque is still functioning today for the five-time prayers. After Isa Bey Mosque, we drive to the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven ancient wonders of the World.

After the Private Ephesus sightseeing tour, drive to the hotel.
Overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 5: KUSADASI to PAMUKKALE

Private Pamukkale Tour
After check out, pick up from the hotel by your guide and drive to Pamukkale or Cotton Castle, one of Turkey’s most popular and beautiful spots. The town is located in Denizli province, southern Turkey. Pamukkale has hot springs that have come from underground for 14,000 years.

The hot springs color the slopes white because the water consists of calcium and carbonate. This site not only attracts tourists, but many people visit Pamukkale with Doctors’ advice.

The spring water is good for the skin and bones. It is believed that Cleopatra and Marcus Antonio also came to Pamukkale and swam in the ancient pool together.

Pamukkale also has an ancient city which is called Hierapolis. This city was founded by the Pergamon king Eumenes in 2 BCE. When the city passed to the Romans, they built ancient theatres, baths, forums, agora, and many waterways. Hierapolis has the largest ancient cemetery of all time.

After the apostle Philipe was martyred in 80 CE, the city became a pilgrimage center for Christianity. Today, apostle Philipe has a monumental tomb in Hierapolis/Pamukkale. After the Private Pamukkale tour, drive back to your hotel.

Day 6: PAMUKKALE to ISTANBUL

Private Transfer to the Airport
You will be picked up from the hotel with a private vehicle and transferred to the airport for a domestic flight.

After completing the amazing 6 Days Luxury Istanbul & Ephesus & Pamukkale Tour Package, Romos Travel wishes all guests a very healthy and wonderful life ahead…

Luxury Istanbul Ephesus Pamukkale Tour Details

Departure and Return Location

Istanbul Airport & Sabiha Gokcen Airport or Istanbul Cruise Port – Can be supplied depending on your International flight details.