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 on where to meet us at the airport.
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 iconic landmarks 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 grandeur of the Ottoman Empire at Topkapi Palace. Explore the complex of buildings, pavilions, and courtyards that once 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, which was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Marvel at the stunning monument that combines elements of both a mosque and a church. Admire the basilica’s impressive dome, minarets, mosaics, paintings, and Roman columns. Learn about the İznik tiles, the Virgin Mary mosaic, and the sultans buried 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 behind the German Fountain, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Sultan.
Hippodrome - Visit the Hippodrome, a 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 a historical mosque adorned with hand-painted blue tiles. At night, the mosque is illuminated by blue lights. It is located next to the Hagia Sophia. * There will be no visit to this mosque; you will pass by without stopping.
Grand Bazaar - Explore the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With hundreds of 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 and depart 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 around Eminonu Square.
Misir Carsisi (Spice Market) - Visit the spice market in Fatih, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi), where Egyptian exports were sold 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 - Discover the hidden gem of Rustem Pasha Mosque (Rüstem Paşa Camii), often described as a miniature Blue Mosque without the crowds. Its stunning interior is worth the visit.
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 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 1 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) - Cappadocia Guided Tour - 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 climbing to an altitude of about 700 to 1000 meters above ground level. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Cappadocia below. During certain segments, the pilot may fly as low as 1 meter above the rock formations, providing perfect photo opportunities. The total activity duration is approximately 3 hours, with the flight lasting about 60 minutes. Celebrate with champagne at the end of the flight and receive a medal as a souvenir. Afterwards, we will drop you back at your hotel.
Urgup - We will pick you up from your hotel at approximately 9:30 AM and depart for the Red Tour of Cappadocia. Meet the famous family of fairy chimneys known as the Three Beauties, the official symbol of both Urgup and Cappadocia.
Goreme Open-Air Museum - Visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring rock-cut churches, kitchens, wineries, storages, and living rooms left by Anatolian Christians.
Ortahisar Panorama - See the 90-meter-high rock-castle in Ortahisar, an extraordinary example of rock-cut architecture that served as a refuge during Byzantine times. Enjoy a panoramic view of the rock-cut architecture.
Uchisar Castle - Uchisar rock castle is one of the biggest landmarks of Cappadocia. It is the highest tuff hill in the area with beautiful views of the surrounding valley full of bizarre rock formations. (There will be no visit to the rock castle due to walking difficulties and safety risks. You will have a stop for a panoramic view of this rock castle and Cappadocia from the castle region.)
Goreme - Enjoy lunch at a Turkish Kebab Restaurant in Goreme. Vegetarian meals are also available.
Çavuşin - Visit the small, charming town of Cavusin, known for its beautiful castle carved into a mountain and the surrounding old village.
Avanos Oren Yeri - Explore Avanos, a popular destination with an attractive old town, cobbled streets, and views over the Kizilirmak (Red River). Avanos is known for its production of earthenware pottery, a tradition dating back to the Hittites.
Devrent Valley - Also known as Imagination Valley, this area contains many animal-shaped rocks, mostly in red color. Some of the most common shapes resemble camels.
Fairy Chimneys - Cappadocia is famous for its unique landforms, particularly the Fairy Chimneys. On this tour, you will see many examples of these fascinating formations.
Cappadocia - At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia.
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. This site has been used and developed over 2,000 years, serving various purposes throughout history.
Taşkınpaşa Medresesi - Taskinpasa Madrasah, built during the Karamanogullari Principality period, is estimated to have been completed in the 13th century. The complex includes a mosque, a madrasa, and tombs in the mosque’s courtyard.
Sobesos Ancient City - Discovered by accident in 2002, Sobesos Ancient City reveals Cappadocia’s history through its colorful stone motifs and floor mosaics with geometric patterns.
Kaymakli Underground City - Kaymakli, one of Cappadocia’s major underground cities, consists of 8 floors, though not all are open to tourists. The city features stables, churches, living spaces, warehouses, kitchens, cemeteries, a mughouse, and a copper processing workshop. Hidden underground tunnels remain unexplored.
Mustafapaşa - Mustafapasa Town, formerly known as
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Domestic flights between Istanbul and Cappadocia
- Lunch included
- 5-night stay with breakfast
- Entrance to museums and national parks
- English-speaking guide for day tours
- Hot Air Balloon Ride and ATV Safari
- Full-day and half-day tours in Istanbul and Cappadocia
- Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off Services
- Dinner & Drinks
Dive into the renowned white pools of Pamukkale, be in awe of the best-preserved Greco-Roman remains in Ephesus, stroll amid the remnants of magnificent structures like the Celsus Library. Also, journey into the subterranean domains and unique chimney-shaped formations of Cappadocia. Just relax and relish the exploration of some of Turkey’s most noted destinations. The package includes 2 nights stay at a cave hotel in Cappadocia, 1 night stay in Kusadasi, majority of the meals, entrance fees for museums, transport, airport shuttles, and domestic air travel.
- Hotel drop-off (return to Istanbul) timing : The departure time of return flight will be at the afternoon. The local tour operator will inform you about exact timing after they booked your domestic flight tickets. 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.
