Quick Tour of Turkey (5 Days)

Flying Between Istanbul and Izmir

Choose Your Own Dates • Tour Turkey in Five days
Private Touring • Private Transfers

Whirling Dervishes | Wikimedia Commons

Give us five days, and we’ll give you the highlights of Istanbul and Western Turkey. Come see the wonders of “Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque” (late 19th century), the exotic romance of the “Paris of the East”, Istanbul, Ephesus and Izmir.

DAY 1 – ISTANBUL – Daily arrival – Year Round – Choose Your Own Dates – Private Touring – Private Transfers
Our local representative meets your plane and escorts you to your hotel. Explore Istanbul as you wish on your own. In the evening, your guide or local tour manager will go over the itinerary with you over a cup of Mint Tea.

DAY 2 – ISTANBUL (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today you see the best of Istanbul. We will tour the great Ottoman capital, visiting the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi, the palace of the sultans, with its fabulous Treasury and collections of priceless Chinese porcelains. In the afternoon we venture out to the great city walls to see the Kariye Museum (Chora Church), the church of St. Savior, resplendent with Byzantine mosaics. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Enjoy a guided leisurely afternoon walk of the Grand Bazaar and maybe some shopping.

This evening your guide will call on you for a leisurely walk (if the hotel is in Sultan Ahmet area, otherwise we will drive of course) to the Whirling Dervishes Ceremony in Istanbul, with entrance fees included. The ceremony held in Sirkeci area within an historic Turkish Bath structure, it will be your choice that we walk both ways or use the tram one way or even ride the tram both ways (for guests who are in the Sultan Ahmet Area). Tram tickets are included and will be purchased by your guide with our compliments.

We will follow the main street passing through the hearth of old city or using the tram down to Sirkeci station where also legendary final stop of Orient Express is located. The ceremony starts at 19.30 but we recommend getting to the place by 18.30, for the introduction ceremony. The Whirling Dervishes ceremony takes about one hour.

Day 3 – Istanbul – Izmir – By Air (Breakfast, Dinner)
In the morning proceed through the commercial area passing Ottoman monuments to the famous Egyptian Spice Bazaar for a short visit. Then take the local ferry to start an unforgettable excursion between two continents, Europe & Asia. The cruise takes you along the latest palaces of Ottomans, The Dolmabahçe Palace and Beylerbeyi, as well as 19th and 20th century, beautiful wooden Kiosks. Mansions and modern villas which form the elegant section of the city. Enjoy the scenery. After lunch transfer to airport and fly to Izmir and your hotel. Subject to the flight confirmation and arrival time, we will try to cover and tour some of Izmir highlights this afternoon such as ascending to Kadifekale, Izmir’s hill crowned by a fortress built by Alexander the Great, to enjoy the view. Overnight: Izmir.

Day 4 – IZMIR – Ephesus – IZMIR (Breakfast. Dinner)
After breakfast we leave the hotel for an hour drive to the magnificent site of Ephesus. Ephesus was the seat of the Council of Ephesus (if you are interested in visiting the Council of Ephesus, please let’s know in advance). Here at the great Amphitheater in Ephesus the rioters cried against St. Paul ” Great is the Diana of Ephesians”.

Ephesus is the best preserved of the Greek/Roman cities in Anatolia and while you are visiting the ancient ruins of this magnificent site and your guide will bring them alive. You will see the beautiful Celsus Library, restored and reconstructed according to its original form by the architect Friedmund Hueber in the 1970’s. The most spectacular building of Ephesus is the Grand Theater, built during the Hellenistic age to hold 24,000 spectators. It is there that St. Paul preached. Opposite the Temple of Hadrian are the Hill Houses, homes of Ephesus’ wealthy citizens. The city was also the hometown of great philosopher Heraclitus. After a visit to Ephesus Antique Site, you will arrive at Sirince Village. This old Orthodox Village, 30 km from Kusadasi, was once “Cirkince” (ugly). Indeed its inhabitants gave this name on the purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village. Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly and called it “Sirince” (pretty). Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture as of the 1920’s; after the Turkish Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all those typical Greek houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received the local layout inside. At Sirince Village you will have chance of seeing the local life at a village and purchasing some small local souvenirs and handicrafts.

The village is also famous for its local grape and other fruit wines. During the lunch, mingle with the local people of the village as you will be a guest in their house for a simple lunch of local specialties. Have a cup of traditional Turkish coffee at the main coffee house of the village. Time permitting, you may wish to check your future!! A gypsy fortune teller will be glad to read your coffee cup.

Day 5 – Izmir – By Air Fly Back to ISTANBUL (Breakfast)
Drive to Izmir international airport to fly back to Istanbul, air fare is included in economy class with tax. End of our services. Bon Voyage!

Rates include:

• All transfers on a private basis, air conditioned sedan (Mercedes Benz in most cases).
• Meals (Preset menu) as per itinerary.
• Private guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees.
• Hotel accommodation with tax.

Rate doesn’t include:

• International air fare from /to your home country.
• Visa Fee: (procure yours online in advance of travel at www.evisa.gov.tr/en/)
• Trip/travel insurance