Arrival Istanbul, Turkey - Accommodation at Istanbul
Istanbul - Welcome aboard Turkey! Upon arriving in Istanbul, we will meet you at our designated point to transfer you to your hotel. If this tour is post-cruise, the pick-up point will be Istanbul Galataport (Cruise Port). If it is pre-cruise, the pick-up point will be one of Istanbul’s airports.
Bosphorus - The Bosphorus, also known as the Strait of Istanbul, stretches for about twenty miles and is a narrow, natural strait of international significance. During your trip, you will visit the masterpieces along the Strait of Istanbul. Today, you have a free day (no tour). You can explore the Strait of Istanbul on your own or relax at your hotel.
Walking Tour at Sultanahmet District (Old City of Istanbul) - Accommodation at Istanbul
Sultanahmet District - We will pick you up from your hotel at approximately 8:30 AM for a walking tour of the historical sites around Sultanahmet District (Old City of Istanbul).
Topkapi Palace - Explore the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire at Topkapi Palace. Discover the complex of buildings, pavilions, and courtyards that formed a self-contained city. Wander through the outer-terraced gardens and enjoy the view over the Golden Horn.
Hagia Sophia Mosque - Continue to Hagia Sophia, a significant site of the Greek Orthodox religion in Istanbul, later converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Marvel at the basilica’s stunning dome, minarets, mosaics, paintings, and Roman columns. Learn about the impressive İznik tiles, the Virgin Mary mosaic, and the sultans’ tombs in the courtyard.
Historic Areas of Istanbul - Enjoy lunch at Deraliye Ottoman Cuisine Restaurant, a Michelin Guided restaurant in Istanbul.
German Fountain - A gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Sultan. Hear stories about this historical connection with the Orient.
Hippodrome - Visit the former circus built in 203 AD by Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. See the remaining monuments, including the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Constantine Column. Pause to view the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, supported by 8 marble columns.
Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque, constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I, is adorned with hand-painted blue tiles and illuminated by blue lights at night. It sits next to the Hagia Sophia. * There will be no visit to this mosque; you will pass by without stopping.
Grand Bazaar - One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, the Grand Bazaar is filled with small shops selling everything from handmade carpets to Turkish coffee. It’s a great place to practice your bargaining skills.
Istanbul - At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel in Istanbul.
Walking Tour at Eminonu District - Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia - Accommodation at Cappadocia
Eminonu Square - We will pick you up from your hotel at approximately 8:30 AM for a walking tour of the historical sites around Eminonu Square. Enjoy the market area, the lively city atmosphere, and the historic buildings. Stroll by the sea, watch the ferries, and relax at the various restaurants and cafes.
Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - Located in Fatih, the spice market is also known as the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) because Egyptian exports were sold there during the Ottoman period. The Bosphorus, a narrow strait between Europe and Asia, connects the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. Look out for the Rumeli and Anadolu Fortresses and the magnificent Ottoman palaces and mosques along the Bosphorus.
Rustem Pasha Mosque - Rustem Pasha Mosque (Rüstem Paşa Camii) is a hidden gem, often described as a miniature Blue Mosque without the crowds. Though tricky to find, its stunning interior is worth the effort.
Galata Koprusu - The Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul and has been featured in Turkish literature, theater, poetry, and novels since the late 19th century. * There will be no visit to this bridge; you will pass by without stopping.
Eminonu Pier - Eminönü Pier is located along the Golden Horn on either side of the Galata Bridge. * There will be no visit to this pier; you will pass by without stopping.
Istanbul - At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel in Istanbul and then transferred to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia.
Cappadocia - Upon arrival at Cappadocia airport, you will be met by your driver and driven to your hotel, approximately 1 hour from the airport. The driver will be waiting for you at the exit gate of the arrival terminal, holding a sign with your name on it.
Hot Air Balloon Ride (Included) - ATV Quad Bike Safari (Included) - Accommodation at Cappadocia
Cappadocia Tours & Hot Air Balloons - Hot Air Balloon Ride (INCLUDED): Experience a unique adventure in Cappadocia! We will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the balloon site to watch the balloon being prepared. The flight will be at sunrise, reaching an altitude of 700 to 1000 meters. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Cappadocia below. The flight lasts approximately 60 minutes, with a total activity duration of about 3 hours. Celebrate with champagne at the end of the flight and receive a medal as a souvenir. We will then drop you back at your hotel.
Cappadocia ATV & Horse Tours - ATV Quad Bike Safari (INCLUDED): We will transfer you to the ATV Quad Safari starting point for a one-hour safari with your private ATV. Drive through the amazing valleys and stop for photos. This outdoor adventure lasts approximately one hour.
Cappadocia Guided Tour - Flight Back to Istanbul
Urgup - We will pick you up from your hotel at approximately 9:30 AM for the Red Tour of Cappadocia. Visit the famous fairy chimneys known as the Three Beauties, the symbol of Urgup and Cappadocia.
Goreme Open-Air Museum - Explore the monastery, rock-cut churches, kitchens, wineries, storages, and living rooms left by Anatolian Christians. Goreme Open Air Museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ortahisar Panorama - The town is dominated by a 90-meter-high rock-castle, an extraordinary example of rock-cut architecture used as a refuge in Byzantine times. Enjoy a panoramic view of the rock-cut architecture.
Uchisar Castle - Uchisar rock castle is a major landmark in Cappadocia, offering beautiful views of the surrounding valley. * There will be no visit to the rock castle due to walking difficulties and safety risks. You will have a panoramic view of the castle and Cappadocia.
Goreme - Enjoy lunch at a Turkish Kebab Restaurant in Goreme. Vegetarian meals are also available.
Çavuşin - Cavusin is a small town with a beautiful castle carved into a mountain. The castle and surrounding houses are known as the old village.
Avanos Oren Yeri - Avanos is known for its attractive old town with cobbled streets and views over the river. The town, formerly known as Venessa, is famous for its earthenware pottery, a tradition dating back to the Hittites. The ceramic clay from the Kizilirmak (Red River) is still used today.
Devrent Valley - Also known as Imagination Valley, it contains many animal-shaped rocks, mostly red in color. The most frequent shapes resemble camels.
Fairy Chimneys - Cappadocia is renowned for its unique landforms, especially the Fairy Chimneys. On this tour, you will see many examples of these formations and the interaction between humans and nature.
Cappadocia - At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Cappadocia airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
Istanbul - Upon arrival in Istanbul, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your drop-off point. If this tour is post-cruise, the drop-off point will be your hotel in Istanbul center. If it is pre-cruise, the drop-off point will be Istanbul Galataport (Cruise Port). Please check the “Additional Info” section for the timing details of the drop-off/return to Istanbul.
- Round-trip domestic flights between Istanbul and Cappadocia
- All-day and half-day guided tours in Istanbul and a full-day tour in Cappadocia
- Multilingual professional tour guides (English, Spanish, Portuguese)
- Complimentary lunch during tours
- Included daily breakfast and 4 nights’ accommodation
- Entry to museums, national parks, and ruins as per itinerary
- Unique experiences: Hot Air Balloon Ride, ATV Quad Bike Safari
- Convenient port, airport, and hotel transfers in Istanbul and Cappadocia
- Arrival and departure transfers for Istanbul airports and Galataport
- Dinner & Drinks
- Entrance fees of the museums (Your guide will have pre-paid tickets to skip the line.)
Enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of Cappadocia with natural beauties. Walk on the streets of Ephesus which the second biggest Roman city in the world. You have unique experiences with the ATV Quad Bike Safari and Horseback Ride at the valleys of Cappadocia. Do not forget add a Cappadocia hot air balloon ride to your booking for an even more unforgettable experience.
- Hotel drop-off (return to Istanbul) timing : The departure time of return flight is between 08.00pm and 09.00pm from Cappadocia. That’s meaning, your return flight will be landing Istanbul airport or Istanbul SAW airport between 09.30pm and 10.30pm. After you arrived Istanbul, local tour operator will transfer you to your drop-opff point. If you will do this tour post-cruise, the drop-off point will be your hotel in Istanbul center for this transfer. If you will do this tour pre-cruise, the drop-off point will be Istanbul Galataport (Cruise Port) for this transfer.
- The prices of package are valid for accommodation at the double or triple room. If you would like make reservation for single room(s), there could be supplement cost. There are not going to be any extra cost for single / solo travelers. This cost already accounted on price of these travelers.
- The pre-planned hotels are “Hagia Sophia Mansions in Istanbul” - “The Magnaura Palace in Istanbul” - “Zeynep Sultan Hotel in Istanbul” - “Exedra Hotel in Cappadocia” - “1811 Cave Boutique Hotel in Cappadocia” - “Sedirli Konak Boutique Hotel in Cappadocia” for your accommodation on this travel. You can choose any of them while booking. If preferred hotel by you is not available for standard/superior rooms on your travel dates, local tour operator can replace it with an equivalent hotel.
- The check-in time of hotels is 02.00pm, and you can not start use your room before this time. This is about the check-in & check-out policies of hotels. If your arrival flight will be landing to Istanbul-Turkey before that time , you have to add one night more hotel reservation to package, or wait at the reception of your hotel until 02.00pm for check-in to hotel.
- The differences between the package options are about the hotel categories. Tour(s), airport transfer(s) and flight ticket levels will be same for all options.
- The local tour operator will send e-tickets of your domestic flights at six days before your departure date. You will not need print out copies of the tickets for domestic flights. Your passport and reservation number on the tickets will be enough for check-in to plane.
- The local tour operator can request your some passport details for the bookings of your flight tickets.
- You will have 15kg luggage + 8kg hand bag quota per person for each domestic flight. If you will need more luggage capacity, please inform that to local tour operator. There could be some extra fee for luggage quotas more than 15kg. This is exactly about the policies of airline companies.
- If your pick-up or drop-off hotel is inside of airports (IST and SAW airports) local tour operator do not provide any pick-up / drop-off service on this trip package.
- Hot air ballooning is a fully weather-dependent activity and the Civil Aviation Authority determines whether the flight will be held. If your flight is cancelled due to inclement weather conditions, you are entitled to a partial refund. In such a case, your refund will be processed by the day after of that trip.
- The Standard Balloon Ride has an One-hour approximately flight duration with 20 to 28 people capacity basket. The flight duration could be 50-55 minutes or 65-70 minutes. This situation depend the weather conditions before landing, and pilots are decide to that within the safety rules of Civil Aviation Authority. Total activity duration is approximately 3 hours.
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required.
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking.
- This tour is not available for the bookings to children who are 17 years old and under.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
