Istanbul & Cappadocia Tour - 8 Days/7 Nights

Arrive at Istanbul Airport and private transfer to the hotel. You’ll have free time after check-in. Discover to Istanbul yourselves.
Accommodation in Istanbul.  

After breakfast meet with guide in hotel.  ( 08:00 – 16:30 )  The first stop is at the famous Hagia Sophia, which occupies a prominent place in the history of art and architecture. It is one of the rare works of this size and age that has survived over the centuries. The Hippodrome Square was built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus towards for chariot races and sports activities.  We visit  The Blue Mosque, just opposite Hagia Sophia, is one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul, and is quite impressive with its domes and semi-domes, courtyards and six slender minarets. Topkapı Palace is a magnificent palace where the Ottoman Sultans and their families lived and ruled the empire for 400 years. We tale lunch in a local restaurant.
Afterwards visit Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, a 540-year-old covered shopping mall of 64 streets, 4000 shops, 22 entrances and 25,000 workers. 
It sells a plethora of items including Turkish carpets, glazed tiles and pottery, copper and brassware, apparel made of leather, cotton and wool, meerschaum pipes, jevellery, diamond, leather bags, souveneer.
Overnight in Istanbul ( Breakfast – Lunch )

Visit Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. Shops selling fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers etc.

Afterward The best way to get to know Istanbul is by taking a Istanbul Bosphorus tour  on a special boat along the Bosphorus Strait which separates the European and Asian continents. with a possibility to take photographs of marble palaces, ancient wooden Mansions of Ottoman architecture besides modern residentials and luxurious apartments.

Rumeli Fortress (from the boat – no interior visit), historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect the Bosphorus. A unique example of military architecture. Dolmabahçe Palace, (no etrance )  Famous with great collection of European antiquity.
We ake Lunch in a local Restaurant.

Afterwards drive to Camlica Hill. Via Bosphorus Bridge, unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another (Asia) in 2 minutes.

Visit Çamlıca Hill, famous for its beautiful sunset and the widest bird’s eye panoramic view of İstanbul from Marmara Sea to the Black Sea, gives a chance to see the Bosphorus and Golden Horn from one of the highest and most appealing places of the city.  We have break time for shopping in a Mall.

 Overnight in Istanbul ( Breakfast – Lunch )

Istanbul – Cappadocia  ( By Plane )
After breakfast private transfer to Istanbul Airport flight to Kayseri airport or Nevsehir Airport. ( 1.20 Hr )
Transfer to Cappadocia Hotel.  
OPTIONAL  EVENTS in CAPPADOCIA
* Horse Safari
* Quad Safari
Hot Air Balloon Tour
Dinner and Overnight in Cappadocia. ( Breakfast -  Dinner )

** Optional Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Tour will be added to the tour upon request. The flight takes place between 04:30 am to 09:00 am. You have to make a reservation with your guide or Turkish agency in advance. (Not included in the package) 
We will start our tour of the day after breakfast at 09:00 am. First, we will visit the Uçhisar Castle, situated at the highest hill of Cappadocia, shaped by flowing volcanic lavas. Next, we will visit the Pigeon Valley and Göreme Open Air Museum which is home to fantastic monasteries and chapels like the Dark Church, Apple Church, Snake Church, and Saint Barbara Church. You will see the sceneries and figures from the Old and New Testaments on well-preserved frescos from the iconoclastic period.  Afterward, we will explore the Çavuşin Village, one of the oldest Greek villages of this region, and visit Love Valley, a popular valley for hikers and photographers, to marvel at its tall fairy chimneys and other rock formations.

Afterward, we will have lunch in Avanos town, located nearby River Kızılırmak. Here, we will see how world-famous pottery and ceramic are made. You can also join a pottery atelier and learn how to use the traditional kick wheels and buy souvenirs if you like. Next, we will see the Paşabağı Valley. Some of the mushroom-shaped rock formations here are several meters high. Fairy chimneys shaped by erosion for many years were used as houses by various religious groups, therefore it is also known as the Monks Valley. Next, we will visit Devrent Valley, also known as Valley of Dreams, which is famous for its rock formations resembling different animal figures.
End of the tour and transfer to hotel. Accommodation in Cappadocia.(Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner )

Our tour will start after breakfast and the first stop of the day will be Mustafapaşa Village, an old Greek town formerly known as Sinasos, where Orthodox Greeks and Turks lived together until 1924. Here, we will observe the local life and see the authentic stone houses built by Sinasos architects. Afterward, we will visit the Keşlik Monastery. The frescoes inside the monastery will leave you fascinated. After examining these rare murals with our guide, we will continue with our next stop, Şahinefendi (Sobesos) excavation area. In the Şahinefendi Sabesos excavation area, you will see tombs, basilica, mosaic stones, and Roman baths. Soğanlı Valley is known as the third largest monk center in Cappadocia. You will see many churches while wandering in the valley. Note that, handmade dolls of the village women in Soğanlı Village are quite famous. Afterward, we will visit Kaymaklı Underground City which is believed to be the oldest underground city in Cappadocia. It is estimated that people have been living inside the houses built in the rocks since the Paleolithic Period. However, we know that they were mostly used for protection against Roman, Persian, and Arab attacks. They were also used as storehouses. You will be amazed to see how people lived in these underground cities with endless narrow tunnels and stairs.
Finally, we’ll watch a wonderful Whirling Dervishes performance accompanied by the authentic music of the Mevlevi.
Accommodation in Cappadocia. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner )

Cappadocia -  Istanbul ( By Plane )
Take breakfast in Cappadocia hotel. Private transfer to Kayseri airport Flight to Istanbul and transferred to Hotel.
Free day for shopping in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul ( Breakfast )

Free time until your airport transfer. Private transfer from the hotel to Istanbul Airport will be made 3,5 hours before your flight time.  ( Breakfast )