Description

7-Days Istanbul and Cappadocia Package Tour

The magical land of today’s Turkey has many things to offer and many wonders to discover. There are countless places to see, things to do, people to meet and feelings to experience. You can spend years traveling from one sea to the other and from the hottest beach in the south to the chilliest peak in the mountains. But for the outside world, Turkey has several places that have gained worldwide recognition and popularity. Places like Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Antalya and so on are known to people across the planet and for justified reasons.

There are not many destinations in the world that can offer the same amount of excitement and awesomeness as these Turkish beauties. Here we offer you a tour package that combines in a perfect way two of the most splendid sights of the country, the magnificent Istanbul and the fascinating Cappadocia. You receive the best of both destinations, as well as some free time to try anything you might dream of. You will have enough time to see and feel everything there is to the best sights and spots in these destinations.

We invite you first to the ancient and magical city of Istanbul, the world on its own that you can discover and never forget. Next, you will fly towards Cappadocia, a land of myth and legend, where unique landscapes can be admired and discovered. All the transfers from and between destinations are included so you can just prepare yourself for the journey of a lifetime.

Short Tour Itinerary

• DAY 1 – Arrival to Istanbul
• DAY 2 – Istanbul City Tour
• DAY 3 – Bosphorus Cruise
• DAY 4 – Northern Cappadocia Tour
• DAY 5 – Southern Cappadocia Tour
• DAY 6 – Free Day in Cappadocia
• DAY 7 – Departure to Airport

Istanbul and Cappadocia Tour Itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrival to Istanbul

Istanbul, the city of dreams, awaits you for an adventure that you will not forget easily. If you arrive at the magnificent city for the first time, we assure you that you’ll be amazed and fascinated. The city that has maybe known and seen more things than most other famous tourist destinations, Istanbul has the heritage and legacy of several empires, civilizations, and religions, all leaving their strong mark in the city. Our staff will wait for you at the airport with a sign showing you name. You will be greeted and directed towards our private minivan, where our courteous staff member will load your luggage, taking you directly to your accommodation in Istanbul.

DAY 2 – Istanbul City Tour

The second day of this intensive Istanbul tour will be dedicated to the visit and discovery of Istanbul, visiting and admiring some of its best and most famous landmarks and attractions. You will be picked up from your hotel after breakfast, at about 8:30 and we will set out to discover the city, starting with the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans, it is one of the oldest and most beautiful palaces in Istanbul, now an insightful museum full of extraordinary exhibits from its most luxurious and opulent era. A visit to the Palace will take you back hundreds of years and show you the lifestyle of the sultans. You can also visit the Harem within the Palace if you like, for an extra fee. Next, we will pass over to the Blue Mosque, considered the most beautiful mosque in the city, this masterpiece of religious art and architecture is adorned with charming minarets and the interior is decorated with blue mosaic tiles. We will then visit the Roman Hippodrome, a Byzantine circus during Roman Constantinople, where all the life of the city used to be found, now it is a charming market with many ancient structures still standing.

After lunch, we will continue our tour of the sights found in central Istanbul, visiting first the Saint Sophia Museum, an impressive structure which used to be one of the most important Orthodox cathedrals and then transformed into a mosque. The Hagia Sophia now houses one of the most important museums in the city. From the museum, we will continue towards the Basilica Cistern, or Underground Water Palace, as it is known, a former water reservoir for the city in Byzantine times, with beautifully adorned columns holding the underground structure. Next, we will visit the Million Stone, an important ancient monument, marking the center of the city during Byzantine times. The Tomb of Sultan Mahmud is also an impressive sight and we will visit it next, admiring the beautiful Ottoman architecture, as well as the ancient Ottoman cemetery found in the vicinity. The Burnt Column (Cemberlitas) or the Column of Constantine is a tall monumental column, representing one of the most important ancient sights from Roman times, celebrating the declaration of Byzantium as the capital of the Roman Empire. The day tour will end with a visit to the Grand Bazaar at about 16:30, with some free time where you can explore the market and admire the great variety of merchandise. You will receive directions for getting back to your hotel.

DAY 3 – Bosphorus Cruise

The next day will be marked by a pleasant cruise on the Bosphorus, giving you a charming view of the city skyline, with its unique and unforgettable landmarks. We will pick you up from your hotel after breakfast, at about 8:30 and set about to see even more of the amazing Istanbul, starting with a bus tour of the Golden Horn one of the most famous areas of the city, showing its long and intense history. You will also visit the Egyptian Bazaar or Spice Market, where you can see the colorful and vibrant commercial life of the city. The Istanbul tour continues with a highlight of your visit, a unique boat cruise on the Bosporus, leaving the city and sailing along the history filled coastline.

You will have the chance to admire some of the most beautiful landmarks of the city from this charming boat cruise, including the many palaces, mosques, monuments, and bridges along the coast. During this wonderful tour, you will also admire the Imperial Gardens of Royal Yildiz Palace, the Ciragan Palace, Hotel Kempinski, Beylerbeyi Palace and many other beautiful sights. After this amazing cruise, you will be taken back to your hotel around 13:00. In the afternoon, you will have free time to explore the city and see or do whatever you like. Around 17:45, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight towards Kayseri. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for the first night in Cappadocia.

DAY 4 – Northern Cappadocia Tour

The second half of this amazing Turkey tour will take you to the magical Cappadocia, a land that seems stuck in time, with its surreal landscapes and settlements. This is one of the most interesting and unbelievable areas of Turkey and surely one of the highlights of the country. The first day in Cappadocia starts at about 9:30 in the morning after you have your breakfast. We will pick you up from your hotel and drive to the magnificent Devrent Valley, where the unusual landscape seems to take you to another world. The unusual rock formations formed in millions of years are unique to the area and will surely inspire you. Leaving this valley, we pass to the Fairy Chimneys in Pasabagi, unique rock pillars characteristic for this region.( More information about Cappadocia)

Next, we will drive towards the village of Avanos, famous for its pottery making art, where we have a delicious traditional lunch. From Avanos, we continue with the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO site where you can discover the beautiful Byzantine architecture and art in the cave churches and monasteries built in the rock formations. This is one of the most impressive and insightful places you will see during your tour. Next, the tour will continue with the Uchisar Castle, where you can take a marvelous view of the area from the top of the rock. We will return to the hotel at about 17:30.

DAY 5 – Southern Cappadocia Tour

Our second day on Cappadocia Tour will take us to the south of the region, with other interesting and inspiring places to be discovered and experienced. After you have breakfast, we will depart from your hotel at about 9:30 and drive to the Rose Valley, where you will have the chance to take a 4 km walk along this splendid landscape, admiring the old and beautiful churches. Next, we will visit the magnificent village of Cavusin, where an entire village was constructed on a rock, including churches and a monastery. Today, the village is in ruins, but the site is truly inspiring.

We will stop to have lunch in a truly inspiring place, the Pigeons Valley, where the birds have made shelter in the rock formations above, along with the ancient caves carved by humans for shelter. Continuing our drive along Cappadocia, we then visit the impressive Kaymakli Underground City, where the villagers from the village above constructed a true underground city for defense purpose, with several levels of dwellings, storage rooms, and even a real size church. Lastly, we will head on top of the Ortahisar Natural Rock Castle, from where we can have a totally amazing view over the landscape below. Finishing our tour of the Cappadocia region, you will be transferred to the airport for the 20:30 flight back to Istanbul, where you will be met and taken to your hotel.

#NOTE: You can add Cappadocia hot air balloon tour into your itinerary.

DAY 6 – Free Day in Cappadocia

A day totally at your disposal, allowing you to take your own time and choose whatever you want to see or to do in this amazing city. You can either just relax in one of the luxurious Turkish baths found everywhere in the city, go shopping in one of the many bazaars or shopping centers or even continue visiting the landmarks of the city. There are surely much more things to see in the city and you could arrange your day as you see fit. You can read this article: Best things to do in Cappadocia.

DAY 7 – Departure to Airport

Closing this rewarding tour of the Turkish beauties, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport, according to your flight time. If you have a late flight, you will have time to continue your discovery of the city and its landmarks.

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Inclusions of the Package Tour

• Complimentary Hotel pick-up & drop-off
• Round trip flight tickets
• 6 nights accommodation in 3 stars hotels with daily breakfast
• Entrance fees to the museums during guided tours
• Professional guiding services
• All meals mentioned in the itinerary
• Transportation with A/C
• All Local taxes