Touring Turkey… Turkey Best | KSG Tours | Private Tours

Turkey Best

Sample itinerariesPrivate Tour: Turkey Best

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Duration

12 Days

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Departure

Everyday

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Best time for tour

Spring or Fall

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Guiding in

English

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Tour Type

Private tour with dedicated tour guide
Private touring vehicles in service

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Sample itinerariesTurkey Best

Covering Turkey in 12 days…
No set dates.

Day 01 /
International flights to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 02 /
All day touring Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 03 /
All day touring Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 04 /
Checking out from the hotel in Istanbul.
Driving from the European side of Turkey towards Dardanelles.
Visiting First World War sites of Gallipoli on route (if interested).
Taking a 30 minutes ferry ride to cross Dardanelles.
Now, you are on the Asian side of Turkey.
Overnight in Dardanelles.
Istanbul to Dardanelles: 200 Miles

Day 05 /
Checking out from the hotel in Dardanelles.
First stop of the day is Troy (of Helen & Paris).
Following the coastal route along Aegean Sea, we continue driving to Acropolis of Pergamon.
Visits to Asklepeion (ancient hospital) and the Acropolis of Pergamon.
After a late afternoon drive, we expect to arrive to Ephesus area around 6pm.
Overnight in Ephesus area.
Dardanelles to Ephesus: 260 Miles

Day 06 /
We have the entire day dedicated to visiting Ephesus (including the Terrace Houses of Ephesus), House of Virgin Mary and other sites in the area.
Overnight in Ephesus area.

Day 07 /
After checking out from the hotel, we have a 2.5 hour drive to Pamukkale. Once in Pamukkale, we will have enough time to visit Hierapolis (Roman, 2000 years old) and the travertines of Pamukkale.
Overnight in Pamukkale.
Ephesus to Pamukkale: 130 Miles

Day 08 /
This is a long day driving inland – offering a totally different landscape than coastal Turkey.
With an early departure, we expect to arrive in Konya around 3pm.
After a late afternoon visit to Museum of Whirling Derwishes, we have an early evening walking tour of Konya.
Overnight in Konya.
Pamukkale to Konya: 300 Miles

Day 09 /

An easy morning drive to Cappadocia.
A visit to one of the caravanserais (hotels of Silk Road caravan groups) en route.
After a 3 hour drive, we expect to arrive in Cappadocia around noon time.
Touring Cappadocia in the afternoon.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Konya to Cappadocia: 150 Miles

Day 10 /
All day touring in Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 11 /
Morning sightseeing in Cappadocia. Late afternoon flight back to Istanbul.
Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 12 /
International flights.

Please get in touch for further details.

Tour Overview

Day 1

International flights to Istanbul

Day 2

All day touring Istanbul

Day 3

All day touring Istanbul

Day 4

Visiting First World War sites of Gallipoli on route (if interested).

Day 5

Troy & Pergamon

Day 6

Ephesus, House of Virgin Mary

Day 7

Hierapolis & Pamukkale

Day 8

Konya

Day 9

En route to Cappadocia, afternoon visits

Day 10

Cappadocia

Day 11

Morning visits in Cappadocia, afternoon flight back to Istanbul

Day 11

International flights

Itinerary in detail

Every KSG trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests.
Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Istanbul

Dolmabahce Palace is a lavish 19th-century Ottoman palace on the shores of the Bosphorus, built as a symbol of the empire’s modernization and strong European influence. Inside, you’ll see grand crystal staircases, vast ceremonial halls, and one of the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandeliers, showcasing the wealth and ambition of the late Ottoman court.

Dardanelles

The ANZAC Day dawn service at the Dardanelles is a commemorative ceremony held every April 25 at Gallipoli to honor Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought and died there during World War I. Visitors gather before sunrise in silence to remember the fallen, reflect on the cost of war, and pay respect at the very beaches where the troops first landed in 1915.

Troya

Troya is an ancient city in northwestern Turkey that is famous as the legendary setting of the Trojan War described in Homer’s Iliad. Today, visitors can explore the layered ruins of several civilizations built on top of each other over thousands of years, and see a replica of the famous Trojan Horse.

Acropolis of Pergamon

The Acropolis of Pergamon is an ancient hilltop city in western Turkey that was once a powerful cultural and political center of the Hellenistic world. Perched high above the modern town of Bergama, it features dramatic ruins including a steep theater, temples, and the site of the famous Pergamon Altar.

House of Virgin Mary

The House of the Virgin Mary is a small stone house near Ephesus that many Christians believe was the final home of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Today, it is a peaceful pilgrimage site visited by both Christians and Muslims, who come to pray and reflect in its quiet surroundings.

Pamukkale

Pamukkale is a natural wonder famous for its bright white terraces formed by mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down the hillside. At the top of these “cotton castle” pools, you can also explore the ancient Roman city of Hierapolis and even bathe in warm thermal waters.

Museum of Whirling Derwishes

The Sema is a spiritual ceremony performed by the followers of the Mevlevi Order, often known as Whirling Dervishes. Through slow, controlled spinning and symbolic movements, participants seek to achieve spiritual closeness to God and inner harmony.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a unique region in central Turkey known for its otherworldly rock formations, called “fairy chimneys,” shaped by volcanic activity and erosion over thousands of years. Visitors can explore ancient cave churches and underground cities carved into the soft rock, and watch hundreds of hot air balloons rise into the sky at sunrise.

Ephesus

Ephesus is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the world, once a major port and trading center of the Mediterranean. As you walk along its marble streets, you’ll see impressive landmarks like the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre, which could hold around 25,000 spectators.

Need more inspiration?

Istanbul
Walks

Istanbul
Offer

Istanbul
The Old City

    
 
 
         
   Arewethereyet1107 
 
 
 
 Verified The highlight of our days in Greece and Turkey! KSG tours was the highlight of our entire vacation. We spent a whole day with Kagan and Illayda who showed us all the wonderful sights of Istanbul: the Hipperdrome, the Blue Mosque, Hagai Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. Kagan never tired of explaining the history of Istabul. He is so knowledgeable. And he was patient as we shopped. Illiayda picked us up from the airport late at night and returned up to the airport in the wee hours of the morning...all with a smile on her face. I felt like we had made new friends and look forward to returning one day. If you want to get a true live of Istanbul call KSG tours.
  
 
        
   Maggie e 
 
 
 
 Verified Book KSG tours. They do it right! We had two wonderful days with Lale. The first day was cultural with a wonderful lunch spot she chose. There were four of us and she was so warm and informative. The second day was spent at the Grand Bazaar shopping and meeting local shop owners. Then the spice market and a wonderful Turkish bath and massage. I dealt with Kagan to book the trip and he was so communicative and excellent with details and follow up. They are the best!
  
 
        
   Zihui Y 
 
 
 
 Verified Wonderful Guide to Istanbul! Could not have found a better guide to Istanbul than Lale! Spent the day seeing the major sights in Istanbul with her. Lale was so friendly and knowledgable, answered all of our questions about both history and culture, and provided incredible recommendations in Istanbul.
  
 
        
   Joanna S 
 
 
 
 Verified Best days in Istanbul with the lady in the hat We have just finished the most incredible three days in Istanbul with Lale. She was incredible. We were 2 families with 6 boys (19-29) she was soooo good she kept them interested, engaged. We are leaving Istanbul rich in knowledge about the culture, the food, the history, the people. She took us the perfect spots, the greatest restaurants and we really took advantage of every moment in Istanbul thanks to her. Her travel group KSG organized our transportation, a trip to Ephesus with a guide which was also incredible. I feel we got the best of the best everywhere, They were very prompt, very organized, very reliable. I would definitely recommend them eyes closed for any of your needs in Turkey. They are extremely knowledgeable and will guide you in the right direction. Even the Hammam we choose was perfect thanks to their recommendation. Thank you Lale and Kagan. Hope to see you again soon.
  
 
        
   Darryl S 
 
 
 
 Verified Wonderful visit to Turkey If you want true, authentic value for your tour dollar, KSG is the way to go. This family was so helpful in planning and carrying out our needs, I cannot say enough good things about them. They are flexible, accommodating and genuinely want to give you a wonderful, memorable experience. They love their country (it is beautiful) and want you to fall in love with it too. You cannot do better anywhere!
  
 
        
   Mike L 
 
 
 
 Verified Perfect Day in Istanbul Many family friends have used Kagan and KSG Tours over the years, so while in Istanbul on a cruise stop with my wife and two daughters we looked no where else. If you are going to be in Turkey, do yourself a favor and let Kagan and his wife, Lale, take care of all the details. Lale picked us up promptly at the port and handled all transportation. We were able to experience the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cisterns, carpet demo, Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. Because of Lale we did not wait in a single line and got to see and do far more than we could have on our own. If coming to Turkey, do yourself a favor and use KSG Tours!
  
 
        
   Richmac5 
 
 
 
 Verified Wonderful day tour of Istanbul with Lale/KSG Tours! Thanks! My wife and I were on an 11 day Celebrity cruise with an overnight stop in Istanbul. We made a great decision to hire a private tour company, rather than go through a cruise line tour. We found Lale and Kagan Kosagan through a recommendation in a Rick Steve’s book. I contacted Kagan directly, and he was able to set me up with a day tour of Istanbul with his wife Lale. Lale was awesome! She was able to set up a beautiful day in touring old historic Istanbul that exceeded our expectations. We were able to visit many main sites including the spiritual Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkaki Palace, the Grand Bazaar, and spice markets. Lale provided us with important information about the history of Istanbul and Turkey. Her knowledge and delivery of the information was unmatched with any other tour experience we’ve had before. We had a great lunch at the Pudding Shop. She also helped my wife with some great shopping finds. Perfect! We would love to use the services provided by Lale and Kagan again on our next journey to Istanbul! Thanks Lale!
  
 
        
   Jhan Y 
 
 
 
 Verified Türkiye - History, Cuisine, the Arts and More! Lale and Kagan are amazing! My friend and I got their names from a recommendation in a Rick Steves guide book, and they didn’t disappoint! Kagan’s communication is top notch, and Lale’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and energy are unparalleled. Together, their commitment to delivering experiences tailored to their clients, and their love of their country, make for a magical and unforgettable trip. In fact, we were so delighted with our adventures, and with the hospitality we experienced in Türkiye, that we made a second trip within two years. Lale says, “We put a taste of honey in your mouth so that you hunger to return!” Trust them. They are the best!
  
 
        
   Nancy F 
 
 
 
 Verified Turkiye 's BEST TOUR COMPANY My friend Jhan and I have worked with KSG Tours twice now. I cannot recommend them enough! This company was the BEST at every part of our tour, BOTH times. They provide a rich, incredible experience at every point! They are exceedingly honest, you get amazing value for your money, VERY thorough, VERY prompt at keeping you informed about all trip details before and during your time in Turkiye. They ANTICIPATE your needs and wants at every point. We not only toured Istanbul a second time but, we went to Adiyaman and Mardin, Turkiye. We saw Gobekli Tepe and Nemrut. ( The weather actually prevented us from going to the top of Nemrut, but WOW did they give it their best shot. They take you to where the locals go so you get a real Turkish experience in food customs. Lale can tell you how to cook all the Turkish dishes you taste! Turkish food is my absolute fav now due to the culinary encounters I experienced with KSG Tours. We stayed in incredible ,historical hotels . Lale and Khan are a complete delight to work with and get to know. Seriously , you will be thrilled with this tour group.
  
 
        
   Andy M 
 
 
 
 Verified Walking Day Tour of Sultanahmet Lale Kosagan took my wife and me for a fabulous private walking overview of the Sultanahment area of Istanbul. We walked and walked, 17,000 steps? I had been to Istanbul before, but it was new for my wife, so this was an excellent way to get a quick overview of the main tourist sites for a first time visitor. Late was patient and explained what we saw and provided the historic context. Highly recommended!!