Istanbul Antalya Cappadocia Exploration

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 the vibrant city of 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 centre of chariot races and home to three notable 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 due to its stunning interior adorned with blue Iznik tiles. Opposite the mosque stands the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, formerly the Church of Divine Wisdom, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture that was the world’s largest church for a thousand years and features remarkable 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. Following the tour, we transfer you back to your hotel for an overnight stay in Istanbul.

After breakfast, we enjoy a traditional Bosphorus boat cruise along the waterway that separates Europe and Asia. The shoreline is dotted with historic wooden villas, marble palaces, fortresses and fishing villages. From the boat, we take in views of Dolmabahce Palace and the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. Along the coast stands Ciragan Palace, its impressive marble façade stretching 300 metres by the shore. We pass Ortakoy, a neighbourhood known for its longstanding coexistence of a church, mosque and synagogue. Next is Rumeli Fortress, built in 1452 by Mehmet the Conqueror in just four months to control the Bosphorus passage—an outstanding example of military architecture. We also see Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer residence of Ottoman sultans, restored to its original splendour with antique furnishings and gardens, including the Harem on Istanbul’s Asian side. We stop for lunch at a Turkish restaurant before visiting the Grand Spice Bazaar, where you can browse local foods, spices and souvenirs such as evil eye talismans. After the tour, we transfer to Istanbul Airport for your domestic flight to Antalya (flight not included). Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in and dinner. Overnight in Antalya.

After breakfast, we explore Antalya’s old town, Kaleiçi, beginning with the marina, Clock Tower, Hadrian’s Gate, the Broken Minaret, and Hidirlik Tower. Kaleiçi is a compact historic quarter that reflects Antalya’s layered past—from a Roman settlement through Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods. Hadrian’s Gate, also known as The Three Gates, is a triumphal arch built to honour the Roman Emperor Hadrian. The Broken Minaret belongs to the Korkut Mosque, originally a 2nd-century Roman temple, which explains the absence of a minaret in its initial design. Hidirlik Tower, constructed from tawny stone where Kaleiçi meets Karaalioglu Park, dates back to the Hellenistic era and was later modified in the 2nd century AD; it likely served as a fortification or lighthouse. After lunch, we visit the Duden Waterfalls, where several streams from the Taurus Mountains cascade into the Mediterranean, creating a series of picturesque falls. We return to the hotel for the remainder of the day at leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight in Antalya.

After an early breakfast, we set off for Konya, pausing en route for a coffee break to rest before continuing the journey. Upon arrival, we visit the striking green-tiled Mausoleum of Mevlana, the revered mystic and founder of the Sufi Whirling Dervishes. Following the tour, we drive on to Cappadocia, where you will check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner. Overnight in Cappadocia.

After breakfast, we will collect you from the hotel and drive to Özkonak Underground City, one of Cappadocia’s best-preserved subterranean settlements. Next, we visit the Göreme Open Air Museum, the region’s cultural heart, renowned for its 10th-century frescoes depicting the life of Jesus Christ and monastic scenes. We then explore Çavuşin, an abandoned village known for its old cave houses once inhabited by Greek communities. Lunch will be served at a restaurant in Avanos, followed by a visit to a pottery workshop to observe traditional pottery-making techniques. In the afternoon, we visit Love Valley, noted for its striking natural rock formations, and then Devrent Valley, also called Imagination Valley, where the rocks resemble various animals. Our final stop is the Three Beauties, a trio of iconic fairy chimneys symbolising Cappadocia. We return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time in Cappadocia to explore at your own pace. Later, transfer to Kayseri Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul (flight not included). Upon arrival, 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.