Adventurous Turkey Tour

After breakfast, we’ll begin our sightseeing tour of Istanbul, starting with a visit to the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar). Then, we’ll take an exclusive sightseeing tour of Istanbul via the Bosphorus, seeing various historical houses, palaces, and mosques. We’ll break for lunch before continuing our tour to Topkapi Palace, one of the world’s largest remaining historical palaces. Lastly, we’ll have some free time at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, the oldest and largest covered market in the world.

Highlights

• Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar)
• Bosphorus Ferry Tour
• Topkapi Palace
• Grand Bazaar

We’ll start the day with a trip to the Old City of Sultanahmet to see the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Next, we’ll visit the Blue Mosque, a historical mosque with dazzling domes and beautiful blue Iznik interior tiles. Then, we’ll visit the Aya (Hagia) Sophia, a museum previously a Christian basilica and now considered the jewel of Byzantine architecture. We’ll break for lunch and continue to Camlica Hill for a 360 degree panoramic view of Istanbul. Lastly, we’ll visit Dolmabache Palace, the imperial residence of the last 6 Sultans.

Highlights

• Hippodrome of Constantinople
• Blue Mosque
• Aya (Hagia) Sophia
• Camlica Hill
• Dolmabache Palace

In the morning, we’ll fly to Cappadocia and check into a cave hotel. Afterward, we’ll go for a gentle hike through orchards, unusual volcanic rock formations, rock-cut houses at Red Valley and Pasabagi where we see the famous fairy chimneys. Next, we’ll visit the ancient Village of Cavusin to see the Great Basilica dedicated to St. John the Baptist and the “Great Pigeon House.” We’ll break for lunch and visit Goreme Open-Air Museum, then go to Uchisar, the tallest point in the Cappadocia region.

Highlights

• Red Valley and Pasabagi
• Cavusin Village
• Goreme Open-Air Museum
• Uchisar Rock Citadel

After breakfast, we will drive from Cappadocia to the Zamanti River for an unforgettable white water river rafting tour. The tour starts off with a basic level course on a grade 1-2 water section, then it increases to grade 3-4 (experienced) through an area known as the blue canyon which has huge walls. During the tour, there is plenty of time for exploring, body rafting, side tours, and games. We will break for lunch on the riverbank while enjoying a great view and relaxing. Lastly, if time allows, we will visit Kapuzbasi Waterfalls located in the Aladaglar National Park before setting up camp and having dinner by the riverbank for our overnight stay.

Highlights

• White Water Rafting at Zamanti River
• Yahyali Town
• Kapuzbasi Waterfalls

After breakfast, we will head back into the river for some more rafting. On this day, we go through about 20 kilometers/12 miles of a grade 4 course and rapids. Along the way, we travel between old chrome mines, explore deserted caves, and visit pastoral villages. We break for lunch on the riverbank once again to relax and enjoy the lovely atmosphere. Later we set up camp at Kup Koy to have dinner and for our overnight stay.

We proceed again with our adventures on the river today. On today’s course, we go through an 82 meters/269 feet natural cave tunnel and enjoy the best that the Zamanti River has to offer. We dine for lunch near the Seyhan River which is the longest river in Turkey that flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Later we arrive at the riverside camp where we will explore the ancient hydromechanics mill and where nearby we will have our dinner and for our overnight stay.

After breakfast on the riverbank, we head back into the river for our final rafting day. On today’s course, we go down the river experiencing some grade 4-5 rapids. Along the way, we enter “the wishing well gorge” and enjoy more of the river’s wild rapids before entering an area of the river which is a lot more calm and relaxed. Later we arrive at a village near the riverbank for lunch before departing back to Cappadocia. The drive back to Cappadocia is about 4 hours and along the way, we enjoy some breathtaking views and picturesque scenery. Upon arrival, we check into a hotel and have an overnight stay in Cappadocia.

After the hotel check-out, we are transferred to Kayseri Airport for the flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, we are transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for leisure or shopping. We have an overnight stay in Istanbul.

After the hotel check-out, transfers are available for Istanbul’s airport and the return flight.

This itinerary provides an exciting adventure, experiencing the thrill of white water rafting and exploring the stunning natural surroundings of Cappadocia, as well as Istanbul.