Istanbul and Cappadocia Tour

After breakfast, we’ll begin our first day of sightseeing in Istanbul. Our first stop is the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar), a shopping mega center built in the 17th century that now houses all sorts of delicious edibles, sweets, jewelry, and knickknacks. We’ll then board a private ferry for an exclusive sightseeing tour of Istanbul via the Bosphorus, the strait that separates Europe from Asia. Along the way, we’ll see various historical houses, palaces, and mosques. After lunch, we’ll continue our tour to the Topkapi Palace, one of the world’s largest remaining historical palaces and now a museum that houses some of the most ancient, historical, and precious royal relics. The day ends with some free time at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, the oldest and largest covered market in the world. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Today, we’ll pick you up from the hotel to continue our sightseeing tour of Istanbul. Our first stop is the Hippodrome of Constantinople, an ancient area of Sultanahmet that was once used for chariot and horse racing. Next, we’ll visit the Blue Mosque, a historical mosque with six minarets, dazzling domes, and spectacular blue Iznik interior tiles. Then, we’ll head to the Aya (Hagia) Sophia, a museum previously a Christian basilica converted to a mosque during Ottoman rule, now considered the jewel of Byzantine architecture. After lunch, we’ll continue our tour to Camlica Hill, one of the tallest hills in Istanbul that offers a picturesque 360-degree panoramic view of the city. Our last stop for the day is the Dolmabache Palace, the imperial residence of the last six Sultans with more than 280 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths, and 68 toilets. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

After breakfast, we are transferred to Istanbul airport for a flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival, we are taken to Goreme, where we check into our cave hotel. Our first stop is a gentle hike through the orchards and unique volcanic rock formations of Red Valley and Pasabagi, where we will see the famous fairy chimneys. We then visit the ancient village of Cavusin, where we explore the Great Basilica dedicated to St. John the Baptist and Cavusin Kilise or the “Great Pigeon House.” Next, we head to Goreme Open-Air Museum to view the numerous rock-carved churches, monasteries, and spectacular wall paintings from early Christianity. Lastly, we visit Uchisar, the tallest point in the region, to enjoy the panoramic views and visit the natural rock citadel. The day ends with a transfer back to the Cappadocia hotel for an overnight stay.

We start our day after breakfast by visiting the largest excavated underground city in Turkey, Derinkuyu. This ancient city has five floors that go down approximately 60 meters/196 feet, and was capable of sheltering around 20,000 people, as well as their livestock and food. We then proceed to Ihlara Valley, known for its more than 4,000 homes and 100 cave churches. After a stop for lunch in Belisirma village, we head to Selime, where we see the largest rock monastery in the region. Our last stop is the Agzikarahan Caravanserai, used to accommodate travelers and their animals during their travels on the ancient Silk Road. Finally, we are transferred back to the hotel in Cappadocia for the hotel check-out and a transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airports for a flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, we are transferred to the hotel for an overnight stay.

After check-out, transfers are available to Istanbul airport for the return flight home.