Istanbul 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 remainder of the day at your leisure to begin exploring the city at your own pace. Overnight 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 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 for its striking interior adorned with blue Iznik tiles. Opposite the mosque stands the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, originally the Church of Divine Wisdom and a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. For over a thousand years, it was the world’s largest church, famed for its 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 an overnight stay in Istanbul.

After breakfast, we take a traditional boat cruise along the Bosphorus, the waterway dividing Europe and Asia. You will see a variety of historic sights from the boat, including the elegant Dolmabahce Palace, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace, and the impressive marble façade of Ciragan Palace. We pass Ortakoy, a unique area where a church, mosque and synagogue have coexisted for centuries, symbolising tolerance. The route continues past Rumeli Fortress, a remarkable example of military architecture built in 1452 to control the Bosphorus, and Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer residence of Ottoman sultans, complete with original furnishings and gardens on the Asian shore. We stop for lunch at a Turkish restaurant before visiting the Grand Spice Bazaar, where you can browse a wide range of local foods, spices and souvenirs. After the tour, we transfer you to Istanbul Airport for your domestic flight to Cappadocia (flight not included). On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in and overnight stay in Cappadocia.

After breakfast, we will collect you from your 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 featuring old cave houses once inhabited by Greek residents. Lunch follows at a restaurant in Avanos, after which we visit a pottery workshop to observe traditional ceramic-making techniques. Our afternoon continues with a visit to Love Valley, known for its striking natural rock formations. We then head to Devrent Valley, also called Imagination Valley, where the unique shapes of the rocks resemble various animals. The final stop is the Three Beauties, a trio of iconic fairy chimneys symbolising Cappadocia. We return to the hotel for dinner and an 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 memorable and look forward to welcoming you on another trip in the future.