Turkey 10-Day Luxury Private Tour

Yes. Your driver, vehicle and guides are for your party only, and the route is tailored with you before you book. Hotels, restaurants, balloon baskets, cruise boats and monuments are of course shared with other guests; exclusive access is only included when it is listed in your proposal.

Every package uses carefully selected properties. The Luxury Package uses high-end 4-star and standard 5-star hotels; Premium Luxury moves up to top 5-star hotels and boutique stays; and VIP All-Inclusive uses the most luxurious properties available at each stop, with suites where possible. In Cappadocia you can choose a cave hotel built into the rock. Your proposal names every hotel and room type before you book.

Entry for 2026. Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and most EU countries can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (Australians since April 2026). Other nationalities may need an e-Visa, which should only be bought on the official site, evisa.gov.tr. Your passport should be valid for at least 150 days from the day you arrive. Rules depend on your nationality, so please check them before you travel.

Mosques and what to wear. In mosques, shoulders and knees should be covered, women cover their hair (a light scarf in your bag is enough) and shoes come off at the door. Foreign visitors see Hagia Sophia from the upper gallery, with its own entrance, and mosques close to visitors briefly during the five daily prayers, longest at Friday midday, so your guide plans around them. Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. Elsewhere, dress as you would in any southern European city.

Weather. Spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) are the most comfortable seasons. July and August are hot, often 35°C (95°F) or more at Ephesus and Pamukkale, so visits start early and middays stay slow. Cappadocia is cold from December to February, often below freezing at dawn and sometimes snowy, and Istanbul winters are cool and rainy. The Aegean is warm enough for most swimmers from June to October.

The balloon flight. Your sunrise balloon flight is included, but it only goes ahead when the aviation authorities give permission for that morning, which they do not in strong wind, rain or fog. If it is cancelled, we try again on another morning in Cappadocia when the schedule allows. Pickup is about an hour before sunrise and the flight lasts about an hour. Most operators accept children only from age 6 and do not fly pregnant travelers.

Fitness. Average fitness is enough. Expect two to three hours on foot on most guided days, often on old stone and uneven ground; at Ephesus you walk about 1.5 km on marble paving, mostly downhill. At Pamukkale shoes come off on the travertine terraces, which feel rough and can be slippery where the water runs. The longest drives, to and from Pamukkale, are about three hours with a lunch stop.

Children and single travelers. Children aged 6–12 have a reduced price and infants aged 0–5 travel free. A single supplement applies if you travel alone; ask us for it.

Tips. Tips are not included and are always your choice. They are usually given in Turkish lira; as a guide, the equivalent of about US$10–15 per day for your driver and US$20–30 per guided day for your guide, per party. In restaurants, 5–10% is usual when no service charge has been added.

Safety. The places on this route are busy, well-run and welcoming to visitors. We follow official travel advice and adjust the route if needed, and our team stays in touch with you throughout your journey.

April to early June and September to October are the most comfortable months, with warm days and cool evenings, and the best conditions for balloon flights in Cappadocia. July and August are hot and busy on the coast and at the big sites, so we plan early starts. Winter brings snow to Cappadocia, which is beautiful, and more cancelled balloon flights.

Yes. This route brings together Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus, the four places most first-time visitors want to see, with three short domestic flights so that no road day is longer than about three hours. Some mornings start early, for the balloon flight or to beat the heat at Ephesus, and each is balanced by a free afternoon. We can adjust the pace before you book.

Absolutely. These itineraries are a starting point, designed for a first visit. Share your interests, travel dates and preferred style of stay, and we can add nights, change the route, include special experiences or upgrade your hotels. Returning to Turkey? Ask us about a tailor-made journey to the Lycian coast, the Black Sea or eastern Turkey. Your written proposal confirms everything.

Send us your preferred dates, the number of travelers and the kind of trip you would enjoy. Your travel specialist will confirm the route, hotels, included services and total price. A 30% deposit secures your reservations, and the payment schedule is set out in your proposal.

Your written proposal sets out the deposit, payment dates and cancellation terms before you book. Refunds depend on those agreed terms and on the arrangements reserved for your journey. We are always happy to explain anything you would like clarified.

Prices are per person in USD for the complete 10-day private tour, based on two adults sharing a double or twin room. Groups of four adults save approximately 20% per person and groups of six approximately 30%. VIP prices are starting prices. Your final quote confirms any seasonal supplements, optional upgrades and all included services.