Tailor Made Holidays: Highlights of Anatolia

Tailor Made Holidays: Highlights of Anatolia (Turkey)

Prices from £2,500 per person

If you're eager to delve into the captivating history of Turkey, look no further. Our meticulously crafted itinerary seamlessly blends three of Turkey's most iconic destinations: Cappadocia, Istanbul, Ephesus, and Pamukkale. Get ready for an unforgettable journey through time and nature. Our travel experts ensure a seamless journey between these extraordinary destinations. Internal flights connect Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, and Pamukkale, making your exploration hassle-free. For the final leg of your journey from Pamukkale to Ephesus (or vice versa) , we provide a comfortable, English speaking escorted driver service.

Embark on this historical odyssey through Turkey, where each destination is a chapter in the epic story of this remarkable country. Discover the highlights of Turkey's history with us and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Explore Turkey's Rich History with Our Exclusive Itinerary

Day 1: UK to Istanbul

Embark on your journey as you fly to Istanbul. Our friendly driver/representative will be there to greet you and provide a private transfer to your hotel for a comfortable overnight stay.

Day 2: Istanbul

Kickstart your adventure with the "Istanbul Classics" tour. In just 6 hours, starting at 09:00 a.m from your hotel to join to small group of our regular daily Istanbul Tour (you can organise  private tour subject to extra cost), you'll visit the most iconic sites of Istanbul, including Aya Sofya Mosque, Byzantine Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Aya Irini church, and the Grand Bazaar. Enjoy a day of exploration with lunch and entrance fees included.

Day 3: Istanbul

Delve into the magic of Istanbul's "Two Continents with Bosphorus Cruise" regular tour, include ferryboat and visiting other classical sites. Departing at 09:00 a.m from your hotel, you'll experience the breathtaking Bosphorus, the strait that divides Europe and Asia. This 6-hour tour covers the Spice Bazaar, Rustempasa Mosque, Bosphorus Cruise, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, and Camlica Hill, all while enjoying lunch and entrance fees.

Day 4: Istanbul to Cappadocia

Bid farewell to Istanbul as we provide a pickup and private transfer from your hotel to Istanbul airport. You'll catch a flight to Cappadocia, where our local representative will meet you at Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for a seamless private transfer to your hotel.

Day 5: Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys & Göreme Tour

Start your day early with an optional Hot Air Balloon experience (weather permitting). If you choose to take flight, you'll be picked up around 5 am, ensuring you have time for preparation and a breathtaking 1-hour flight. Afterward, return to your hotel around 8:30 to 9 am for breakfast.

Following breakfast, embark on a full-day small group tour, commencing at 9 to 9:30 am from your hotel. Explore the Devrent Valley, witness unique 'fairy chimneys' at Pashabagi, and marvel at mushroom-shaped Pinnacles. Enjoy lunch at Avanos, visit ancient rock-cut churches, explore the Göreme Open Air Museum, and end your day with a visit to the natural castle of Üçhisar. Expect to be back at your hotel around 5 pm.

Day 6: Rose Valley and Kaymakli Underground City Tour

Another exciting day awaits as your tour guide picks you up from your hotel at around 9 am. This full-day small group tour includes exploring the Red Valley, hiking through the Gulludere Valley, visiting Cavusin with its historic houses and churches, exploring Pigeon Valley, and descending into the underground city of Kaymakli. Your day concludes with a visit to the natural castle of Ortahisar, and you'll return to your hotel around 5 pm.

Day 7: Izmir Airport & Aphrodisias & Pamukkale

Prepare to depart Cappadocia as our driver/representative whisks you away from your hotel for a private transfer to Cappadocia airport. You'll catch a flight directly to Izmir, where our driver/guide will be waiting to accompany you to Pamukkale. If you have a morning flight, take the opportunity to explore the remarkable ruins of Aphrodisias along the way. Entrance fees are included. You'll arrive in Pamukkale, where you'll spend the night.

(Note: If your flight is scheduled to Izmir for the late afternoon or evening, you'll be driven directly to Pamukkale. Maybe following day en route to Ephesus, you can explore Aphrodisias. Can not guaranteed  visiting Aphrodisias ruins)

Day 8: Pamukkale & Hierapolis

Your day begins with a visit to the enchanting Pamukkale, aptly named the 'Cotton Castle.' Marvel at this natural wonder from a distance, as it resembles a shimmering white fairytale castle or a snow-covered mountain. Explore the limestone-laden thermal spring waters that have created a landscape of white rocks and thermal pools. You can also explore the nearby World Heritage site of Hierapolis, with its Greco-Roman thermal installations, hot basins, and swimming pools. Entrance fees included and spend the night in Pamukkale.

Day 9-10: Pamukkale & Ephesus & The Basilica of Saint John

After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your Pamukkale hotel and transport you to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities. Ephesus boasts a rich history, including the Artemesium, the Library of Celsus, and its medical school. It's also where St. Paul delivered some of his most famous sermons and where the Virgin Mary spent her final days. Your journey continues with visits to the House of Mary and The Basilica of Saint John. Entrance fees included, and you'll spend 2 nights in Ephesus as one day free to relax before you return to home. 

Day 11: Return to home

Choose to extend your stay in Ephesus or unwind in the seaside resort of Alacati or the bustling resort of Kusadasi. If you opt to return to home, our team will provide a private transfer from your hotel to Izmir airport for your flight back home.

Unearth the treasures of Turkey's history on this meticulously planned itinerary. Book your unforgettable journey with us today!




 

Empire Palace Hotel

Istanbul - 4* - Bed & Breakfast

An authentic and comfortable hotel in a convenient location.

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MDC Cave Hotel

Cappadocia - 4* - Bed & Breakfast

The MDC Cave Hotel is located in a quiet and charming area within walking distance to the city centre and is surrounded by the extraordinary beauty and relaxing nature of the valleys and the unique fairy chimneys - a stunning location which makes the MDC Cave Hotel a special place to stay in Turkey.

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Richmand hotel

Pamukkale - 5* - Bed & Breakfast

Richmond Pamukkale Thermal 315 invites you to renew both spiritually and physically within its health-filled thermal waters, in the confines of its garden and Pine trees.

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Neo Efessos Boutique Hotel 

Ephesus - 4* - Bed & Breakfast

This exceptional boutique hotel offers true personal service and amazing architecture representing old glory days of Ephesus. 

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Istanbul

Istanbul is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of the Orient and the Occident, with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia. For the perfect Two-centre holiday, combine a stay in Istanbul with a Turkish coastal resort or Cappadocia or just the city break alone.

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Cappadocia

Cappadocia’s landscape was formed around 30 million years ago when volcanic activity left the region blanketed with ash. The ash solidified into what is known as ‘volcanic tuff’, this is an easily eroded material and as it wore away over many years, it left the distinctive rock formations seen in Cappadocia today.

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Pamukkale

Literally translated as ‘Cotton Castle’, this unique natural wonder appears from a distance as a shimmering white fairytale castle. Its limestone-laden thermal spring waters have created a magical landscape of white rocks and warm shallow pools, which are said to cure all types of ailments.

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Ephesus

Drive to Ephesus to visit this ancient Roman city, one of the best preserved and most visited in the world, with its grand marble streets and imposing library. Once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it was also here that St Paul preached some of his most famous sermons, and where the Virgin Mary spent her last days.

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Istanbul Daily Tours

Day 1 - Istanbul Classic Tour
Duration: 9 am to 4 pm.
Visit the most important popular sites of Istanbul in one full day tour.
St Sophia Museum, Byzantine Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar.

Day 2 - Istanbul Two Continents Tour
Duration: 9 am to 4 pm
One of the most beautiful sights in the world, the Bosphorus, is the strait separating two continents Europe and Asia. This tour includes a Bosphorus Cruise and visits the Spice Bazaar, Rustempasa Mosque, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorous Bridge and Camlica Hill

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Hot-air Balloon Tours

Cappadocia is known around the world as one of the best places to fly with hot-air balloons. The spectacular surrealistic landscape, combined with excellent flying conditions, allows the balloons to gently drift over and between fairy chimneys and pigeon houses hewn from the unique rock formations, through beautiful orchards and vineyards and impressive valleys with distinctive rock formations and features – and then float up over rippled ravines for breath-taking views across the region.

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Highlights of Anatolia - Prices from  Apr, May, Oct   Jun, Sep   Jul, Aug
Tailor Made Holidays 
 
        £2,500   £2,640      £2,680

Price Includes:

  • Return Flights, including internal flights
  • Private return transfer in Istanbul
  • 3 nights 4* BB in Istanbul
  • Private return transfer in Cappadocia
  • 3 nights 4*BB Cave Hotels BB in Cappadocia
  • 2 Days regular tours in Cappadocia
  • Internal direct flights from Cappadocia to Izmir
  • 2 nights in each Pamukkale  and Ephesus 
  • Private escorted tour to Pamukkale & Ephesus by guide 
  • Private return transfer 

Flights info: 
Return Flights are included in above prices with Turkish airlines (or British Airways where available) flight to Istanbul from Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester,  Birmingham, Edinburgh and Dublin. However prices are subject to change depending on flight departure airports and flight timings. We can book any flight from any airport on request. Once you book flights with us, we will issue ATOL certificate for all packages including flights and you will be protected financially for any airline failures.  

Early booking discounts & loyalty discounts

"Our holiday in Turkey exceeded our expectations. Cappadocia was interesting and beautiful. It was exciting staying in cave. Istanbul was amazing. We had very little previous experience of Turkey and Turkish people, so we enjoyed the beauty of the country and friendly hospitality of the people. We felt safe and not at all threatened in the city. The quality of food and service in restaurants was good. Efes beer is very tasty. We were a little confused on our first day in Istanbul as the tour details implied a bus tour, but all become clear when we realised how close all the sights were to our hotel. We had a memorable holiday. Thank you Akin."

Mr David Hyam

"Dear Mr. Koc,I've been meaning to write to you for some time, to say thank you for arranging such a wonderful holiday for us. We had 4 nights B&B at the Empire Palace Hotel in Istanbul, which was wonderfully central - with friendly, helpful staff - and then flew to Cappadocia, staying at the MDC Cave Hotel in Urgup, which was delightful. The location was outstanding and the hotel quite unique. We have travelled all over the world and I can safely say that this holiday was one of the best - full of new experiences including a trip in a hot-air balloon, visiting underground cities, ancient cave dwellings with amazing frescoes and fabulous landscapes. It was fun and exciting. For the first two days of tours in Cappadocia we went with the local representatives, who were excellent and our guide, Mustafa Sahin was outstanding. Thank you again for a brilliant trip and we will recommend your company. We may be interested in Croatia next year. Yours sincerely,"

Barbara Lewis 

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"I wanted to send you an e-mail now that we are back from our wonderful holiday. My wife and I wanted to express our sincere gratitude to you and the team at Diamond Star for arranging a truly unique style of holiday that we are still talking about to friends and family two weeks after we came home. The places we have visited, and the things we have seen were truly amazing, it will take a month or more to sort through our photos"  Andrew and June Welch - 24 Oct 2022

"Back from our holiday to Istanbul/Cappadocia what an awesome holiday. The hot air balloon was out of this world. Thank you Diamond Star for making it all possible special thanks to Nazan. I recommend this company to make your dreams come true."  Mrs Angela Bailey - 6 Oct 2022

"We arrived home from Fethiye on Monday, and would just like to thank you and Akin for planning an amazing trip. The gulet was fantastic and as usual, the Ece Saray Hotel was lovely. The staff there are some of the best we have come across, and the breakfasts were great. We are looking ahead to 2023 and were wondering if you could arrange a quote for a similar trip."  Sue and Mike Fedeczko - 28 September 2022

Speak to a Specialist

Akin has been to all these places and experienced all these holidays.

Give him a ring to discuss your holiday in detail on 0330 390 0999 or send an email.

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