9 Days Turkey Tour with Hot Air Balloon: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale
About This Tour
Discover Turkey on a 9-day tour from Istanbul with a Cappadocia hot air balloon ride, domestic flights, hotels and guided tours of Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia.
9 Day Turkey Tour with Hot Air Balloon: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus
Discover Turkey on our 9 Day Turkey Tour with Hot Air Balloon, starting in Istanbul and combining four of Turkey's most iconic destinations: Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia. Explore Istanbul's Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, walk through the ancient city of Ephesus, see the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale and discover Cappadocia's extraordinary valleys, fairy chimneys and rock formations.
One of the highlights of this 9 day Turkey tour is an unforgettable Cappadocia hot air balloon ride, giving you the opportunity to experience Cappadocia's spectacular landscape from the sky. The itinerary also includes domestic flights, hotel accommodation, airport transfers and professionally guided sightseeing tours, making it an easy and well-organized way to travel between Turkey's major destinations.
This Turkey tour package from Istanbul is ideal for travelers who want to combine history, culture and Cappadocia's unique landscapes in one itinerary without arranging each flight, transfer and tour separately.
✨ Want to customize your Turkey tour?
Contact us to customize hotel categories, domestic flights or additional activities according to your travel plans.
Tour video
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Istanbul – Airport Transfer – Overnight in Istanbul
🚐 Private Airport Transfer: You will be transferred comfortably from the airport to your hotel in Istanbul.
🏨 Hotel Check-in: After check-in, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore Istanbul at your own pace.
Day 2 — Full-Day Byzantine & Ottoman Relics Istanbul City Tour
🕌 Hagia Sophia: Discover one of Istanbul's most iconic landmarks and learn about its remarkable Byzantine and Ottoman history. Entrance fee is not included and can be arranged upon request.
🕌 Blue Mosque: Visit the famous Sultanahmet Mosque, renowned for its impressive domes, six minarets and beautiful Ottoman architecture.
🏛️ Hippodrome & Obelisk: Explore the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople, once the center of chariot races, ceremonies and public life during the Byzantine era.
🛍️ Shopping Opportunity: Enjoy some time to discover traditional Turkish products and local handicrafts.
🛍️ Grand Bazaar: Visit one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, with its historic streets and thousands of shops.
🍽️ Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing the afternoon program.
🏰 Topkapi Palace: Discover the former imperial residence and administrative center of the Ottoman sultans. Entrance fee is not included and can be arranged upon request.
🚐 Tour End (around 17:00): After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Istanbul.
Day 3 — Half-Day Afternoon Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Tour
🚢 Bosphorus Cruise: Cruise along the Bosphorus, the famous waterway separating Europe and Asia. Enjoy views of Istanbul's waterfront palaces, historic mansions, bridges and landmarks along both shores.
🕌 Eyüp Sultan Mosque: Visit one of Istanbul's most important historic and religious sites and explore the surrounding Eyüp district.
🌄 Pierre Loti Hill: Enjoy panoramic views over the Golden Horn from Pierre Loti Hill, one of Istanbul's well-known viewpoints.
🚡 Cable Car Ride: Take the cable car from Pierre Loti Hill and enjoy views of the Golden Horn during the ride.
🛍️ Shopping Opportunity: Time may be provided for shopping and discovering traditional Turkish products and souvenirs.
🚐 Tour End (around 17:00–17:30): After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Day 4 — Leisure Day in Istanbul
🏙️ Free Day in Istanbul: Today is completely free for you to relax or explore Istanbul independently. Discover local neighborhoods, visit additional attractions, enjoy Turkish cuisine or spend time shopping at your leisure.
✨ Optional Activities: Additional tours, experiences or attraction tickets can be arranged upon request.
Day 5 — Flight to Izmir – Full-Day Ephesus Tour
🚐 Arrival in Izmir: Upon arrival at Izmir Airport, meet our local team and transfer to the Ephesus region to join your professional tour guide.
🏛️ Temple of Artemis: Visit the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and one of the most important religious sites of ancient Ephesus.
🏺 Ancient City of Ephesus: Explore one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean. Discover its marble streets, temples, fountains, the Great Theatre, Library of Celsus, marketplaces and other remarkable structures from the Greek and Roman periods.
🍽️ Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your tour.
⛪ House of the Virgin Mary: Visit this important Christian pilgrimage site, traditionally believed to be where the Virgin Mary spent her final years.
🚐 Transfer to Kusadasi: After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi and check in.
Day 6 — Full-Day Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour
🏛️ Hierapolis Ancient City: Explore the remarkable ruins of Hierapolis, including the Temple of Apollo, the ancient theatre, the Necropolis and the Roman baths. Learn about the history of this important Greco-Roman and early Christian city.
🍽️ Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.
💧 Pamukkale Travertines: Discover Pamukkale's famous white calcium terraces and thermal pools, formed over thousands of years by mineral-rich thermal waters.
🏊 Cleopatra Antique Pool: Guests who wish to swim in the Cleopatra Antique Pool may do so during the available free time. The entrance fee is not included in the tour price and must be paid separately.
🚐 Return to Kusadasi: After the tour, transfer back to your hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 7 — Flight to Cappadocia – Full-Day Cappadocia Tour
🚐 Arrival in Cappadocia: Upon arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport, meet our local team and transfer to Cappadocia. Meet your professional guide and begin your full-day tour.
🏜️ Devrent Valley: Discover Devrent Valley, famous for its unusual rock formations and fairy chimneys shaped by centuries of natural erosion.
🍄 Pasabag (Monks Valley): Visit one of Cappadocia's most distinctive landscapes, known for its impressive multi-headed fairy chimneys and extraordinary rock formations.
🏺 Avanos: Explore this historic town famous for its centuries-old pottery tradition and visit a traditional pottery workshop.
🍽️ Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.
⛪ Open Air Museum: Explore an important early Christian monastic complex with rock-cut churches, chapels and remarkable historical architecture.
🏰 Uchisar: Visit Uchisar and enjoy panoramic views across Cappadocia's valleys and unique volcanic landscape.
🚐 Tour End (around 17:00): After the tour, transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 8 — Hot Air Balloon Flight – Full-Day Cappadocia Tour – Flight to Istanbul
☕ Pre-Flight: Enjoy light refreshments while the balloons are prepared for take-off. Following the pilot's safety briefing, your hot air balloon experience begins around sunrise.
🌅 Balloon Flight: Enjoy an approximately 45-minute flight over Cappadocia's spectacular landscape, with views of its valleys, fairy chimneys and unique rock formations. The exact route and altitude are determined by wind and weather conditions on the day.
🥂 After Landing: Celebrate your flight with a traditional non-alcoholic or champagne-style toast after landing, followed by transfer back to your hotel for breakfast.
🚐 Hotel Pick-up (around 09:30): After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel for your second full-day Cappadocia tour.
🌄 Kizilcukur: Explore this beautiful Cappadocia valley, known for its colorful rock formations and rock-cut churches.
🏘️ Cavusin: Visit one of Cappadocia's historic settlements and discover its distinctive rock-cut architecture and panoramic surroundings.
🍽️ Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.
⛪ Hospital Monastery: Discover one of the historic rock-cut monastic sites of Cappadocia and learn about the region's early Christian heritage.
🕳️ Underground City: Explore one of Cappadocia's remarkable underground cities and discover its tunnels, rooms and ingenious underground structures.
🕊️ Pigeon Houses: See the traditional pigeon houses carved into Cappadocia's rocks and enjoy the surrounding valley scenery.
✈️ Flight to Istanbul: After the tour, transfer to Kayseri (ASR) or Nevsehir (NAV) Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. The exact flight time will be confirmed after ticketing.
🚐 Arrival in Istanbul: Upon arrival, meet our transfer team at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Istanbul.
Day 9 — Departure from Istanbul – Airport Transfer
🛍️ Free Time: If your flight schedule allows, you can enjoy some last-minute shopping or spend your remaining time in Istanbul at your own pace.
🚐 Private Airport Transfer: At the scheduled time, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) for your international departure flight.
✈️ End of Tour: Your 9-day Turkey tour concludes with your airport transfer. We wish you a pleasant journey home.
What’s included
- 5× Breakfast
- 5× Lunch
- ✈️ Private airport transfers between the airport and hotel as specified in the itinerary
- ✈️ Domestic flight tickets: Istanbul – Izmir – Kayseri – Istanbul
- 🏨 8 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
- 🎈 Cappadocia hot air balloon flight (approx. 45 minutes) with post-flight champagne celebration
- 🗺️ Full-day professionally guided tours in Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia
- 🍽️ Lunches during the guided day tours
- 👨🏫 Professional licensed local tour guides
- 🎟️ Museum and attraction entrance fees included in the itinerary, except optional entrance fees in Istanbul
- 🚐 Transportation during the guided tours
- 🚡 Cable car ride at Pierre Loti Hill
Not included
- ✈️ International flight tickets
- 🛡️ Personal travel insurance
- 🛂 Turkey visa and visa-related expenses
- 🥤 Drinks during lunches and other meals
- 💰 Personal expenses
- 🎟️ Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace entrance fees (available upon request at an additional cost)
- 🏊 Cleopatra Antique Pool entrance fee in Pamukkale
- 💵 Tips for guides and drivers
Tour programme
The full day-by-day plan on one page — take it with you or send it on.
Tour route
27 stopsDestinations on this tour
Highlights
- Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Flight: Experience an unforgettable sunrise balloon flight over Cappadocia — included in your 9-day Turkey tour, not an optional extra.
- Discover Istanbul: Explore the city's Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, enjoy a Bosphorus cruise and have free time to experience Istanbul at your own pace.
- Explore Ancient Ephesus: Fly from Istanbul to Izmir and discover Ephesus, including the Library of Celsus, ancient streets, temples and the Great Theatre.
- Visit Pamukkale & Hierapolis: See Pamukkale's famous white travertine terraces and explore the remarkable ancient city of Hierapolis.
- Experience Cappadocia: Spend two days discovering Cappadocia's valleys, fairy chimneys, rock formations and unique historical sites.
- Travel Turkey with Ease: Domestic flights, hotels, airport transfers, guided tours and major entrance fees are organized as part of your 9-day Turkey tour package.
Good to know
- Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace: Entrance fees are not included in the standard package. Tickets can be arranged upon request for an additional fee. Please note that mandatory security checks and waiting times may still apply.
- Comfortable Shoes: This itinerary involves considerable walking, especially at archaeological sites such as Ephesus and Hierapolis. Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended.
- Hot Air Balloon Flight: The Cappadocia hot air balloon flight is subject to weather conditions and approval by the aviation authorities. If the flight is cancelled due to weather conditions, the balloon flight amount will be refunded.
- Balloon Schedule: Hot air balloon flights take place early in the morning. The exact pick-up time will be confirmed locally according to the flight schedule and weather conditions.
- Domestic Flights: Flight times may vary depending on airline schedules and availability. Final flight details will be provided after ticketing.
Important information
- Hot Air Balloon Flight: Balloon flights are subject to weather conditions and approval by the aviation authorities. If the flight is cancelled due to weather conditions, the balloon flight amount will be refunded.
- Domestic Flights: Flight times may change depending on airline schedules and availability. Final flight details will be provided after ticketing.
- Hagia Sophia & Topkapi Palace: Entrance fees are not included in the standard package and can be arranged upon request for an additional fee. Mandatory security checks and waiting times may apply.
- Tour Itinerary: The order of visits may change due to weather conditions, traffic, flight schedules, opening hours or operational requirements without affecting the main tour program.
- Passport Information: Valid passport details are required for domestic flight reservations and ticketing.
Pick-up & Drop-off
✈️ Arrival Pick-up: Meet & greet at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) upon arrival, followed by a private transfer to your hotel in Istanbul.
🚐 Transfers During the Tour: Airport–hotel transfers related to the included domestic flights are arranged according to the itinerary.
✈️ Final Drop-off: On Day 9, after hotel check-out, private transfer from your Istanbul hotel to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) according to your international departure flight time.
Frequently Asked Questions 5
Reviews (18)
Daniel
I just finished this 9-day tour of Turkey, and honestly, it was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but everything blew me away from the places we visited to how well everything was planned. Cappadocia was a dream. The hot air balloon ride at sunrise was absolutely magical floating over the valleys and fairy chimneys felt unreal. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and it totally lived up to the hype. Istanbul was so full of life, history, and color. Seeing Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in person gave me goosebumps. And the Grand Bazaar ,I could have spent all day there. The guides were super friendly and explained everything in a way that actually made me appreciate the history. We also visited Ephesus and Pamukkale, and both were incredible. Walking through the ancient ruins of Ephesus felt like stepping back in time, and the white terraces in Pamukkale were even more beautiful in real life.The hotels were comfy especially the cave hotel in Cappadocia such a cool experience, the food was delicious, and the transfers and flights were all smooth thank you for this memorable tour.
Maya Kline
The hot air balloon in Cappadocia was pure magic! From Istanbul’s history to Pamukkale’s surreal terraces, every day brought something new and amazing. Super smooth transfers and great guides. Loved every second!
Idris Navarro
Unreal experience. The balloon ride at sunrise was unforgettable, and exploring Ephesus felt like stepping back in time. Food was fantastic, and everything was so well organized. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Alina Vosburg
Best vacation I’ve had in years. The mix of culture, nature, and relaxation was perfect. Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Kusadasi were all beautiful in their own way. Definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Turkey.
Ethan C. – Singapore
This 9-day tour exceeded all expectations. Professional service, beautiful locations, and that hot air balloon ride… unforgettable. Highly recommended!
