Tour Overview
If you are looking for something special and extraordinary, then look no further. Enjoy first-class service and guided transportation through the historical and picturesque sites of Istanbul and the underground cities of Cappadoccia. This is an exquisite tour for you, with all the bells and whistles. There are no long bus rides, just domestic flights getting you to your destination comfortably and relaxed.
Attractions
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia: Marvel at the architectural splendor of Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has served as a church, mosque, and museum over the centuries.
- Blue Mosque: Admire the iconic blue-tiled domes and six minarets of the Blue Mosque, one of Istanbul's most recognizable landmarks.
- Grand Bazaar: Lose yourself in the labyrinthine aisles of the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, offering an array of goods from spices to textiles.
- Bosphorus Cruise: Cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, enjoying panoramic views of Istanbul's skyline, historic landmarks, and waterfront mansions.
- Topkapi Palace: Explore the opulent Topkapi Palace, once the residence of Ottoman sultans and now a museum housing priceless treasures.
- Göreme Open-Air Museum: Explore the ancient rock-cut churches and monasteries of Göreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing Byzantine art and architecture.
- Hot Air Balloon Ride: Experience the breathtaking beauty of Cappadocia from above on a sunrise hot air balloon ride, drifting over fairy chimneys, valleys, and ancient cave dwellings. Uçhisar Castle: Climb to the top of Uçhisar Castle, the highest point in Cappadocia, for panoramic views of the surreal landscape below.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): Wander through Pasabag, known for its unique mushroom-shaped rock formations and fairy chimneys.
- Love Valley: Stroll through Love Valley, named for its phallic rock formations, and marvel at the natural beauty of the landscape.
- Underground Cities: Descend into the underground cities of Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu, marveling at the intricate network of tunnels, chambers, and ventilation shafts carved into the soft volcanic rock.
Itinerary
Upon our arrival at Istanbul International Airport, your guide will meet, assist, and transfer you to the hotel. Istanbul was the capital city of Byzantium, & the Roman and Ottoman Empires. It is a most fascinating city, which actually crosses two continents, Europe and Asia. It is a city of amalgamation of museums, bazaars, minarets, mosques, churches, palaces, and restaurants catering to everyone’s taste, customs, and fifteen million people. Overnight in Istanbul.
(Breakfast and Lunch included)
After breakfast, we have an Istanbul City Tour. Our first stop will be the HIPPODROME. The Ancient Hippodrome was the scene of chariot races, with three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Then we will visit SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE. Across from Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, it was built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet and is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Our next visit will be to HAGIA SOPHIA GRAND MOSQUE. The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, previously known as the Church of Divine Wisdom, is simply the best of its kind! The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is the greatest surviving example of Byzantine architecture. For 1000 years, it was once the largest church in the world, decorated with stunning 6th-century golden mosaics. Today, it is a mosque. At 13:00 p.m., there will be a lunch break. After lunch, TravelShop Group will take you to the beautiful souvenir shops with a unique atmosphere with reasonable prices for your shopping. Here you will find: exotic spices and herbs, Turkish Baklava, Turkish Delights, Turkish Coffee, nuts and fruits, small souvenirs such as ceramic handicrafts, Evil Eyes totems, all-natural olive oil, soaps, and many other goods in souvenir shops and stores. Return to your hotel after the tour.
OPTIONAL DINNER CRUISE ON THE BOSPHORUS TOUR: Tonight between 19:30 and 23:30, we have an optional Entertaining Dinner Cruise program on the Bosphorus, where Europe and Asia are connected. You will spend an unforgettable night on the Bosphorus with dinner, unlimited local alcoholic and non-alcoholic & soft drinks, a belly dance show, a Turkish Folklore show, a DJ performance, and great entertainment on Bosphorus Dinner Cruise. At the end of the entertainment at about midnight at 00:00 am, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Please remember to bring a headscarf when visiting religious sites such as the Blue Mosque and the Haghia Sophia Mosque.
(Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
After breakfast, enjoy BOSPORUS BY BOAT; a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion, you will see the magnificent sights of the following attractions from your boat. See Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble facade facing the shore. At Ortakoy, a great variety of artists, gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance, with a church, a mosque, and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries. RUMELI FORTRESS (view from the boat), built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul, was completed in only four months to control and protect the famous Bosporus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world. BEYLERBEYI PALACE (view from the boat), is the summer residence of Ottoman sultans that exists in its original renovated glory, featuring original antique furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian side of Istanbul. Lunch break at the Turkish restaurant.
After lunch, we will then take you to the GRAND SPICE BAZAAR, which is a unique atmosphere with reasonable prices for your shopping. Here you will find: exotic spices and herbs, Turkish Baklava, Turkish Delights, Turkish Coffee, nuts and fruits, small souvenirs such as ceramic handicrafts, Evil Eyes totems, all-natural olive oil, soaps, and many other goods in souvenir shops and stores. After the tour, transfer to Istanbul Airport for a domestic flight to Cappadocia. Transfer from the airport and check in to your hotel in Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Please Note: If you wish to join our optional activity of Cappadocia Hor Air Ballooning tomorrow, please contact your guide and register because it will take place early the next morning.
OPTIONAL CAPPADOCIA TURKISH NIGHT SHOW: During the evening at 19:30 PM., we have an Optional Tour to enjoy our Turkish Night Shows, which are traditions that have survived from the Ottoman Empire to the present day. You may have great fun in the real caves, with the rich Anatolian food menu, unlimited local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, a belly dance show, a Turkish Folklore show, a DJ performance, and the warm service of Anatolian Hospitality. Overnight in Cappadocia.
(Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
For our guests who will experience the Hot Air Balloon Tour, we will pick you up from your hotel in the most beautiful and unique area of the world at 05:30 am. in the morning before the sunrise. And we will go to the area where hundreds of Hot Air Balloon will take off through the air. We will watch the sunrise over those splendid fairy chimneys and valleys that impress people with their exquisiteness. After making our flight in about 1 hour, we will celebrate our experience with champagne when we land and collect our flight certificate. Then we will return to our hotel and have our delicious breakfast.
After breakfast, depart for the Cappadocia Tour at 09:30. We will drive you to Ozkonak Underground City, one of the best-preserved underground cities in Cappadocia. After the Underground City tour, you visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, the Heart of Cappadocia. The Goreme Open Air Museum is famous for frescoes dating to the 10th century describing the lives of Jesus Christ and monks. The next stop is Cavusin, which is an abandoned village with old cave Greek houses. After Cavusin, you go to the restaurant in Avanos to have lunch. After lunch, you visit a pottery workshop to see how they make pottery. Then you go to Love Valley. Love Valley Cappadocia is a hidden valley with scenic formations, to say the least. Despite the resemblance to man's hood, these amazing rock formations are far from man-made. The next stop is Devrent Valley, which is also called Imagination Valley, where you can see natural rock formations looking like animals. The last stop is Three Beauties, three beautiful fairy chimneys with their hats, which is the symbol of Cappadocia. This tour will end approximately at 18.00 and you will be returned to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast, you will have free time in Cappadocia. Today we will depart for Kayseri Airport for our domestic flight to Istanbul and then back home. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future on one of our tours again. Have a nice trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Booking.
Trip includes
Included
2 nights hotel in Istanbul The Central Palace Taksim
2 nights hotel in El Puente Cave Hotel
Please Note: If the above hotels are not available we will provide the similar category hotels.
Professional English - speaking tour guides
Guiding Method
Fully guided
4 open buffet breakfasts
3 lunches
2 dinners
All airport transfer services mentioned inside the itinerary
Arrival airport transfer to Kayseri / Nevsehir airport
Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
Return airport transfer
Guided Istanbul City Tour
Guided Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Tour
Guided Cappadocia Tour with Underground City and Goreme Open Air Museum
All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
Local taxes
Excluded
International flights
Domestic flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia
Domestic flight from Kayseri Airport to Istanbul
Insurance: All types
Turkey entry visa
Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry
Any other expenses which are not mentioned in the included section
Availability
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Book the tour by paying only 25% upfront, and settle the remaining amount 30 days before the tour departure.
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