Istanbul Cappadocia Journey

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, you have the rest of the day at your leisure to begin exploring Istanbul at your own pace. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

After breakfast, we begin the Istanbul City Tour with a visit to the Hippodrome, once the site of chariot races and home to three historic monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Next, we visit the Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque for its stunning interior decorated with blue Iznik tiles. Opposite the mosque stands the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, a remarkable example of Byzantine architecture that served as the worlds largest church for over a thousand years, adorned with magnificent 6th-century golden mosaics. After lunch, we take you to Asil Efendi, a lively shopping area where you can browse exotic spices, traditional Turkish sweets, coffee, souvenirs and more at reasonable prices. We then return to your hotel for some rest. This evening, you may choose to join an optional dinner cruise on the Bosphorus from 19:30 to 23:30. The cruise offers dinner with unlimited local drinks, along with entertainment including belly dancing, Turkish folklore performances and a DJ, providing a memorable night on the water where Europe meets Asia. After the cruise, you will be transferred back to your hotel for overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast, we take a traditional boat trip along the Bosphorus, the waterway dividing Europe and Asia. You will see a variety of historic sights from the boat, including the Dolmabahce Palace, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace, and the impressive marble faade of Ciragan Palace. We pass Ortakoy, a neighbourhood known for its longstanding coexistence of a church, mosque and synagogue. The route continues past Rumeli Fortress, a remarkable example of military architecture built in 1452 to control the Bosphorus. We also visit Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer residence of Ottoman sultans, preserved with original furnishings and gardens on the Asian side of Istanbul. After a lunch break at a Turkish restaurant, we explore the Grand Spice Bazaar, where you can browse local foods, spices and souvenirs. Following the tour, we transfer to Istanbul Airport for your domestic flight to Cappadocia (flight not included). On arrival, we transfer to your hotel for check-in. This evening, you may choose to join an optional Turkish Night Show at 19:30, featuring traditional Anatolian cuisine, local drinks, belly dancing, folklore performances and lively entertainment in authentic cave surroundings. Overnight in Cappadocia.

After breakfast, we will collect you from your hotel and drive to Ozkonak Underground City, one of Cappadocias best-preserved subterranean settlements. Next, we visit the Greme Open Air Museum, the heart of Cappadocia, renowned for its 10th-century frescoes depicting the life of Jesus Christ and monastic scenes. We then explore avu?in, an abandoned village known for its old cave houses once inhabited by Greek residents. Lunch will be served at a restaurant in Avanos, followed by a visit to a pottery workshop where you can observe traditional pottery-making techniques. Afterwards, we travel to Love Valley, a secluded area famous for its striking natural rock formations. Our next stop is Devrent Valley, also called Imagination Valley, where the rock formations resemble various animals. The day concludes with a visit to the Three Beauties, three iconic fairy chimneys that symbolise Cappadocia. We return to the hotel for dinner. There is an optional hot air balloon flight available, starting early at 5:30 am, offering a spectacular sunrise over the fairy chimneys and valleys. The flight lasts about an hour and ends with a champagne celebration and a flight certificate. Please confirm your participation with your guide the day before. Overnight in Cappadocia.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time to explore Cappadocia at your own pace. When ready, transfer to Kayseri Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul (flight not included). Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will connect with your onward journey home. We hope you found the tour rewarding and look forward to welcoming you on another trip in the future.