Arrival Istanbul, Turkey - Accommodation at Istanbul
Istanbul - Welcome to Turkey! Upon your arrival in Istanbul, we will be waiting for you at our designated meeting point to transfer you from the airport to your hotel in Istanbul. Please refer to the “Additional Info” section for directions to the airport meeting point.
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 with us, 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 in Istanbul.
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 and depart for a walking tour of the historical sites around the Sultanahmet District (Old City of Istanbul).
Topkapi Palace - Discover the splendor of the Ottoman Empire at Topkapi Palace. Explore the complex of buildings, pavilions, and courtyards that once formed a self-contained city, rarely left by its inhabitants. Wander through the outer-terraced gardens and enjoy the view over the Golden Horn.
Hagia Sophia Mosque - Continue to Hagia Sophia, the most significant site of the Greek Orthodox religion in Istanbul, and learn how it was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Marvel at the stunning monument with elements of both a mosque and a church standing side by side. Admire the basilica’s magnificent dome and minarets, as well as countless mosaics, paintings, and Roman columns. Learn about the impressive İznik tiles added over time, the creation of the stunning Virgin Mary mosaic, and why the Ottomans chose to bury their sultans in the courtyard.
Historic Areas of Istanbul - Enjoy lunch at Deraliye Ottoman Cuisine Restaurant, a Michelin Guided restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey.
German Fountain - Hear the stories of the gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Sultan and his connection with the Orient.
Hippodrome - Visit the former circus built in 203 AD by Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. Three monuments from the original structure remain: the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and the Constantine Column. Pause to view the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, made from eight marble columns.
Blue Mosque - The Blue Mosque, constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I, is a historical mosque located in the historical peninsula of Istanbul. The complex includes Ahmed’s tomb, a madrasah, and a hospice. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the mosque’s interior walls, and at night, the mosque is illuminated in blue as lights frame its five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. It is situated next to the Hagia Sophia, another masterpiece of the city. * There will be no visit to this mosque. You will pass by without stopping.
Grand Bazaar - The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With hundreds of small craft shops selling everything from handmade carpets to Turkish coffee, the atmosphere is vibrant, and 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 and depart for a walking tour of the historical sites around Eminonu Square. Enjoy the market area and lively city atmosphere amidst historic buildings, stroll by the sea, watch the ferries, and relax at the various restaurants and cafes around Eminonu Square.
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 is a narrow, navigable strait between Europe and Asia that connects the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. Look out for the Rumeli and Anadolu Fortresses at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus, as well as magnificent Ottoman palaces and mosques along the strait.
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, it is well worth the effort for its stunning interior and the feeling of discovering an oasis in a hectic area.
Galata Koprusu - The Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Since the late 19th century, the bridge has featured in Turkish literature, theater, poetry, and novels. * 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 in the Eminönü neighborhood of Istanbul. * 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 your arrival at Cappadocia airport, you will be met by your driver and driven to your hotel in Cappadocia, approximately one hour from the airport. The driver will be waiting for you at the exit gate of the arrival terminal, holding a signboard 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): Prepare for a unique experience in Cappadocia! We will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the balloon site, where you can watch the balloon being prepared for your flight. The flight will take place at sunrise, with the pilot ascending to a comfortable altitude of about 700 to 1000 meters above ground level. From this height, you will marvel at the beauty of Cappadocia below. During certain segments of the flight, the pilot may fly as low as one meter above the rock formations, providing perfect photo opportunities. The total activity duration is approximately three hours, with the flight lasting about 60 minutes. A champagne celebration will follow the flight, and you will receive a medal as a souvenir of this magnificent experience. Afterwards, we will drop you back at your hotel.
Cappadocia Atv And Horse Tours Ovizu - ATV Quad Bike Safari (INCLUDED): We will transfer you to the ATV Quad Safari starting point, where you will embark on a one-hour safari with your private ATV. This outdoor adventure will be amazing as you drive through the stunning valleys and stop for photos. You will feel like a pathfinder navigating the Moon. The duration of this outdoor adventure is approximately one hour.
Cappadocia Guided Tour - Accommodation at Cappadocia
Keslik Monastery - We will pick you up from your hotel at approximately 9:30 AM and depart for the southern part of Cappadocia. Keslik Monastery is a sprawling cave monastery complex with two churches, a large refectory hall, a sacred spring, and numerous cave rooms. Set in an idyllic garden, it is the most expansive monastery in Cappadocia. This site has been used and developed in various ways over the course of 2,000 years, serving as a gravesite in pre-Christian Roman times, a large communal monastery during the Byzantine era, and now a tourist site in modern Turkey.
Taşkınpaşa Medresesi - Taskinpasa Madrasah was built during the Karamanogullari Principality period. Although the exact construction date is unknown, it is estimated to have been completed in the 13th century. The Taskin Pasha Complex includes a mosque, a madrasa, and tombs in the mosque’s courtyard.
Sobesos Ancient City - Discovered by accident in 2002, Sobesos Ancient City is a mirror of Cappadocia’s history, unearthed through a three-year archaeological excavation. The excavations revealed many motifs embroidered on colored stones, with floor mosaics featuring interesting geometric patterns.
Kaymakli Underground City - Kaymakli, one of Cappadocia’s major underground cities, consists of eight floors, though not all are open to tourists. The first floor is designated for animals to easily exit. Corridors connect the churches and other living spaces to the stables. Kaymakli Underground City features astounding sections such as warehouses, kitchens, cemeteries, a mughouse, and a copper processing workshop, with hidden underground tunnels yet to be fully revealed.
Mustafapasa - Mustafapasa Town, formerly known as
- Arrival and departure airport transfers for domestic and international flights
- Domestic Flights: Istanbul to Cappadocia to Istanbul
- Lunch
- 5 nights accommodation including breakfast
- Entrance fees of museums, national parks, ruins mentioned in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking tour guide for the duration of day tours
- Experience(s): Hot Air Balloon Ride, ATV Quad Bike Safari
- Day Trip(s): 1 full-day & 1 half-day tour in Istanbul, 2 full-day tours in Cappadocia
- Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off Services in Istanbul & Cappadocia
- Dinner & Drinks
This brief getaway lasting three days and two nights enables you to explore the globally renowned fairy chimneys and Goreme Open-Air Museum. Your accommodation will be a unique cave hotel, an experience to remember for a lifetime! Inclusive of a hot air balloon ride, horseback ride, two nights of distinctive cave hotel stay in Cappadocia, two comprehensive day-tours to Cappadocia’s top attractions, round-trip flights from Istanbul to Cappadocia, and all airport transfers.
- 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 back you to your hotel in Istanbul. This transfer duration will be approximately one hour.
- 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 drop-off hotel is inside of airports (IST and SAW airports) local tour operator do not provide any drop-off service on last day of 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.
