REGULAR TOUR ITINERARY
1st day – Welcome to Istanbul (İstanbul’a Hoşgeldiniz!)
Upon your arrival at the Ataturk Istanbul Airport, you will be picked up by our private minivan to be transported to their accommodation in Istanbul. In the evening you will have their own free time to have a walk around Sultanahmet area and enjoy the romantic scenery at the Aya Sofya Meydani.
2nd – 3rd day – Free Days
Free and easy days in Istanbul. During the day time, grab this chance to visit other attractions such as the The Maiden’s Tower, Dolmabahce Palace in Besiktas, Egyptian Spice Bazaar etc.
Don’t forget to visit Istiklal Caddesi (Istiklal Avenue) in Taksim where most people come here for shopping, having a rendezvous at the local coffee shop or just to have a walk down the street throughout the whole day and witness one of the best nightlife scenes in Istanbul. Make sure not to miss the chance to hop on the Taksim nostalgic Tram which is the heritage tramvay system of Istanbul, Turkey!
4th day – North Cappadocia Tour
You will be picked up at around 5:00-5:15am from your hotel to be transferred to airport for your flight to Cappadocia at 6:55am this morning. Upon your arrival in Cappadocia in the morning, you will be picked up and will be joining a group of 15 people or less for Full day tour of North Cappadocia.
Devrent Valley:
Devrent is situated on the northern slopes of Aktepe, 1km from Pasabaglari (Monks’ Valley) and 5 km from Avanos. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys, which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems.
Monks Valley:
The best place to see three-headed fairy chimneys. Pasabag, the Pasha’s Vineyard, is surrounded by incredible natural rock formations; a spectacular scene.
Avanos:
A center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC, it is a town where you will be invited to visit a traditional pottery workshop, which is possibly set deep into the hillsides. The clay, which comes from the Red River passing through the town, gives life both to the land and to the local economy. Lunch will be served here in Avanos.
Goreme Open Air Museum:
Goreme was an important Christian centre in the early years of the Middle Ages, was a bishopric administered by Mokissos near Aksaray in the 11th and 13th centuries. Despite the vast number of monasteries, churches and chapels in the vicinity of Göreme, there are not many inscriptions bearing dates. For this reason, these religious buildings are mainly dated according to the iconography or architectural features.
Uchisar:
Uchisar is a troglodyte town situated right in the middle of Cappadocia. It is named after the enormous piece of rock in the center of the town, which was once used as a castle. This extraordinary rock is the highest peak of the area with the view of whole Cappadocia and Erciyes (Argeus) Mountain.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to the hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia. (Included meals: Lunch)
5th day – South Cappadocia Tour & Hot Air Balloon Tour
You will be picked up at 4:35am in the morning for the hot air balloon tour where you will be joining a group of 10-20 people per balloon (depending on the season). Have a chance to join the captivating sightseeing on the hot air balloon where you will be able to participate on an event that will be embedded into your mind forever. Certificate of the balloon tour will be given upon completion where you will then be brought back to hotel for breakfast around 8.30am before heading off for the full day South Cappadocia Tour later and will be joining a group of 15 people or less for Full day tour of North Cappadocia. On this day you will be able to see:
Kizilcukur (Rose Valley):
Is an isolated valley behind Urgup. It has beautiful rock formation with some great hidden rock-carved churches. The most interesting part of this area is the countless tracks connecting the small villages and towns through vineyards and gardens like a spider net. It is always possible to see villagers working in the area and offering grapes, apples or apricots to you.
Cavusin:
One of the oldest settlements in the area, Cavusin is situated 2km from Goreme, on the Göreme- Avanos road. The Church of St.John the Baptist offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintigs date back to the 5th century, making the oldest church in the region. It had a large courtyard which is unusual for Cappadocia, this has been eroded away however.
6th day – From Cappadocia Back to Istanbul
7th – 8th day – Free Days
9th day – Au Revoir, Istanbul!
Kaymaklı Underground City:
This underground city is contained within the citadel of Kaymaklı in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. First opened to tourists in 1964, the village is about 19 km from Nevşehir, on the Nevşehir- Niğde road. The ancient name was Enegup. The houses in the village are constructed around the nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city. The tunnels are still used today as storage areas, stables, and cellars
Ortahisar Castle:
Situated in the middle of Ortahisar as a huge chimney rock, Ortahisar Castle is an 86 m height cave in the period of Eti, the castle has been used strategically and for accommodation. It is also known as Chateau. There are available the samples of the civil architecture characteristic to Cappadocia at the outskirts of the castle. Furthermore in the stores of the rocks cave in almost the entire valley there are stored the agricultural products grown in the zone. The inside parts of the castle are caved with rooms and saloons. In Ortahisar the housed are raise step by step to the castle. The natural beauties, the old historic structures and the interesting citrus gardens near to the Göreme rock stones provide that the tourist to be attracted here.
After the tour you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia. (Included meals: Lunch)
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning to be transferred to the Kayseri Airport for your 11:55am flight back to Istanbul. Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will be picked up by our private minivan and will be brought to your accommodation in Istanbul.
You could also visit The Grand Bazaar on one of these days. The Grand Bazaar or known as the Kapalı Carşı means ‘Covered Bazaar’ in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. It is consisted of 61 covered streets with around 3000-4000 shops and is visited up to 400,000 visitors daily. There are a lot of interesting things in the bazaar, such as the beautifully decorated glass lanterns, shawls, pashminas and all sorts of other trinkets which are normally bought as a souvenir for friends or relatives back at home. The Grand Bazaar will normally closed at 19:00pm and is closed on Sunday. So make sure you don’t lose your chance to shop!
After breakfast you will have one last chance to have a walk down in the memory lane in Sultanahmet before you will be picked up from your hotel at 17:00pm to be transferred to Ataturk Istanbul Airport for your departing flight.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Bon voyage! End of tour.
- Full airport transfers.
- Transportation in non-smoking bus with professional English speaking guide and experienced driver.
- Return flight tickets to Cappadocia from Istanbul.
- 2 Full Day Tour of Cappadocia with lunch.
- Hot air balloon tour for 2 person in Cappadocia.
- Meals mentioned by the itinerary.
- Entrance fees for the places mentioned by the itinerary.
- 3 nights’ accommodation with breakfast at Golden Horn Sultanahmet Istanbul Hotel, Istanbul: http://www.goldenhornhotel.com/ or equivalent.
- 2 nights’ accommodation with breakfast at MDC Cave Hotel, Urgup, Cappadocia: http://www.mdchotel.com/ or equivalent.
- 3 nights’ accommodation with breakfast at Dosso Dossi Hotels, Istanbul: http://www.dossodossihotels.com/en/index.asp or equivalent.
- Services charges and local taxes.
- Personal Travel Insurance
NOT INCLUDED:
• Drinks, personal expenses and Customary Tip for Guide & Driver. IMPORTANT NOTICE:
- The order of visiting sights, may vary slightly from time to time
- Clothing: Please wear proper outfit for entrance to Mosques and Churches visited in our tours or you will risk not being allowed to enter the site.
- You are kindly requested to present yourself at the pickup point 15 minutes prior the pre advised pick up time
- Smoking is not permitted but all tours make frequent stops
Things to do in Istanbul
Stay in the old city. The Old city is on the European side. The must sites to do are:
Blue Mosque
Aya Sofphya
Tpokapi Palace
Suleymaniye Mosque
Grand Bazaar – Buy towels and bath accessories at Abdullah, Have coffee at FES Cafe
Spice Bazaar
Galatta Bridge
Bosphorus cruise – starts at € 15 a person (No frills boat ride) if booked at the Galata Bridge and goes up to almost a 100 with dinner and guide
Hamam – Go for scrub, bath, massage package. go to either the Çemberlitaş or Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam. The first is the oldest Hamam and the second the fanciest.
Hamdi pre book at (0212) 528 0390
Sultanahmet Köftecisi at the main street in SultanametThe above is what all tourists do. Below are a few things to do that the locals do:
Visit the Ortaköy one evening and just enjoy the crowds and atmosphere – eat at a cafe, sit by the seaside, send a burning wish lantern to the Gods..
Eat at Dedem Afrodit – its a 6 storey restaurant on the other said of the Galata bridge, just over the golden horn waterway – book in advance and ask/insist for a sea side table on the terrace. The lift takes you to the 5th floor from there you walk one more floor up. Call them at +90 212 249 07 86
After you finish dinner at the above place – walk 50 mts and come to Karakoy Gulluoglu to eat a Baklava – they have no other branch and offer the best baklava in the Country
And if you are feeling adventurous visit Istikal street – but its like any European town with all the Malls and big name shopping’s