10 Days Turkey with Cappadocia

Istanbul Airport, Turkey - Istanbul Airport, Turkey
  • Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul
  • Galata Tower
  • Bosphorus Cruise
  • Pamukkale

Details

10 Days | 9 Nights

Tour Types: Private
Runs: Every Day
Accommodation: 4* Hotels
Minimum Age: 12

Tour Description


Start with a visit to the Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine church, now classified as a mosque, visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the 'Blue Mosque'. Walk across the Sultan Ahmet Square, once the Hippodrome, the former horse racing track in ancient Constantinople. Visit to Misir Çarsisi, the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, where spices, herbs and teas are sold, take a boat trip along the Bosporus, the waterway separating the continents of Europe and Asia. Visit Ankara, the capital of Turkey, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Visit the Mausoleum of Kemal Atatϋrk, the burial place of the national hero who founded the modern Republic of Turkey. In Cappadocia the Uchisar castle with its great views over the surroundings. Then to the Göreme Open Air Museum to see the cave churches with paintings and frescoes from the early Christian era. Have a 3 km hike in the Red Valley famous for the red-rose colour of the rocks. Visit Kaymakli as an example of the underground cities in Cappadocia.Visit the Mevlana Museum. Drive to Pamukkale lies ahead of us. You will be rewarded with the incredible natural phenomenon of the travertines. Visit the Green Tomb of Sulta Mehmed I and two of the largest mosques, the Green Mosque and the Great Mosque, both built in the early Ottoman style.

Highlights

  • Walking tour of the incredible Old City of Istanbul.
  • Marvel at the extraordinary fairy chimneys in Cappadocia.
  • Tour the interesting Kaymakli Underground City.
  • Visit the spiritual Mevlana Whirling Dervish Museum.
  • See the limestone cascades and springs at Pamukkale.
  • View the ancient Grand Mosque, the Ulu Cami, in Bursa.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Istanbul Airport - Istanbul    

1 Stop

1

Istanbul Airport

Welcome to Turkey! You will be met at Istanbul Airport and driven to your hotel in Istanbul to check-in. Rest of the day is at leisure or to start your own explorations of the city on two continents.

1 hour

4* Antik Hotel or similar

Day 2
Istanbul Old City Tour - Istanbul    

1 Stop

1

Istanbul Old City

Today discover the old city. Start with a visit to the Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine church, now classified as a mosque. Be amazed by the interior with its striking mosaics and frescoes. Next is a visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, better known as the 'Blue Mosque'. With its six minarets, it is unique in the Islamic world. It is considered the largest and most magnificent mosque in Istanbul and is a true work of art of Ottoman architecture. Walk across the Sultan Ahmet Square, once the Hippodrome, the former horse racing track in ancient Constantinople. See here the Obelisk of Theodosius and the German Fountain. In the afternoon, visit the Topkapi Palace, the centuries old residence of the mighty Ottomans. It houses the imperial treasury, holy relics and royal garments. After the tour, we transfer you to your hotel or leave you at the city centre.

6 hours

4* Antik Hotel or similar
Breakfast

Day 3
Spice Market - Bosphorus Boat Trip - Ankara    

3 Stops

1

Spice Market

Visit to Misir Çarsisi, the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, where spices, herbs and teas are sold since the 17th century. Time to stroll through the market with its colours and aromatic smells and shop for some tasty ingredients to take home.

45 mins

2

Bosphorus

Then take a boat trip along the Bosporus, the waterway separating the continents of Europe and Asia. Get a different perspective of Istanbul and sail past famous sights such as the Golden Horn - the 7 km long arm on the Bosporus -, and the Dolmabahçe Palace from 1856.

3 hours

3

Ankara

Then we start with a long-distance drive of 5 hours to Ankara in Anatolia. Check into your hotel.

5 hours

4* 2000 Kavaklidere or similar
Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4
Ankara Visit - Lake Tuz - Cappadocia    

3 Stops

1

Ankara

Visit Ankara, the capital of Turkey, with five million inhabitants. This makes Ankara the second largest city in the country after Istanbul and the seat of the Turkish parliament. In the oldest part of the city visit the Citadel from where you have great views. Then to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. It houses the most extensive collection of Hattis, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and Anatolian history from the Stone Age to the Roman era. Also visit the Mausoleum of Kemal Atatϋrk, the burial place of the national hero who founded the modern Republic of Turkey.

2 hours

2

Lake Tuz

Then journey about 300 km to Cappaddocia with a stop at the salty Lake Tuz along the way.

1 hour

3

Cappadocia

Continue to your hotel and overnight in Cappadocia.
4* Tourist Hotel or similar
Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5
Cappadocia Visit - Cappadocia    

1 Stop

1

Cappadocia

Over centuries volcanic eruptions, wind and weather have created a landscape with bizarre tufa formations in Capaddocia that is second to none. The locals call these towers romantic and poetic 'fairy chimneys'. Start with the Uchisar castle with its great views over the surroundings. Then to the Göreme Open Air Museum to see the cave churches with paintings and frescoes from the early Christian era. The nearby town of Avanos is well-known for its pottery workshops. The Monks Valley is another highlights with its cone topped rock pillars. The name of the valley derives from the many monk refuges carved into the rock cones. Then to the Pigeon Valley, where you find many carved pigeon houses. Overnight in Cappadocia.

6 hours

4* Tourist Hotel or similar
Breakfast & Dinner

Day 6
Red Valley - Kaymakli Underground City - Konya    

3 Stops

1

Red Valley

Departure from the hotel and start our day with a 3 km hike in the Red Valley famous for the red-rose colour of the rocks. You’ll have a chance to see many hidden cave dwellings and natural formations while ending up in Cavusin Village where you can picture the oldest church in the region dedicated to St. John.

1 hour

2

Kaymakli Underground City

Then visit Kaymakli as an example of the underground cities in Cappadocia. They had been built as shelter from raids and attacks, and Kaymakli was able to house up to 3,500 persons. You see here stables, churches, storage places, kitchen, wineries, ventilation shafts and a copper processing workshop.

1 hour

3

Konya

Afterwards we drive through the multifaceted landscape of Anatolia 3.5 hours to your hotel in Konya.

3.5 hours

4* Bera Hotel or similar
Breakfast & Dinner

Day 7
Konya Mevlana Museum - Pamukkale Visit - Pamukkale    

2 Stops

1

Konya Mevlana Museum

In Konya visit the Mevlana Museum. It was the home of the Whirling Dervishes and you find here the Mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. Rumi was a Persian poet and Islamic scholar of the 13th century, a famous Sufi mystic. Therefore Mevlana is still today a popular place of pilgrimage.
2

Pamukkale

A long distance drive of 6 hours to Pamukkale lies ahead of us. You will be rewarded with the incredible natural phenomenon of the travertines. Warm water dissolved in white calcium, erupts to the surface and by running down the hill the calcium forms beautiful snow-white travertines. For a swim in the thermal waters you have time to visit the Cleopatra Antique Pool (extra fee for swimming not included), on its bottom you see marble columns belonging to the nearby Temple of Apollo. Overnight in Pamukkale.

6 hours

4* Tripolis Hotel or similar
Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8
Pamukkale - Bursa Visit - Bursa    

1 Stop

1

Bursa

Start the day with a long 5 hours’ drive to Bursa, in the 14th century for a short while the capital of the Ottoman State and surrounded by sulfur springs. We visit the Green Tomb of Sulta Mehmed I and two of the largest mosques, the Green Mosque and the Great Mosque, both built in the early Ottoman style. Tour of the covered bazaar with many Turkish products from local farmers, offering a glimpse into the daily Turkish life. Spend this afternoon exploring the fascinating labyrinth of streets and old Ottoman warehouses, known as hans, for example the Koza Han, the old silk market. Bursa was the center of silk farming in Turkey. Overnight in Bursa.

5 hours

4* Divan Bursa Hotel or similar
Breakfast & Dinner

Day 9
Bursa - Istanbul Free Day - Istanbul    

1 Stop

1

Istanbul

Check out of the hotel for a 2 hours drive to Istanbul. Free afternoon to spend as you wish. Browse the Grand Bazaar with its 4,000 shops under one roof and 60 labyrinth-like alleys and streets. Visit the Galata Tower for the panoramic view or relax at one of the Turkish baths – the choice is yours!

2 hours

4* Antik Hotel or similar
Breakfast

Day 10
Istanbul - Istanbul Airport    

1 Stop

1

Istanbul Airport

Free time at leisure until we pick you up from the hotel lobby. Transfer to the airport to say farewell to Turkey.

1 hour

Breakfast

Inclusions


  • 3 nights at hotel with breakfast in Istanbul.
  • 6 dinner meals at hotels.
  • Professional licensed English speaking guide on tour days.
  • 1 airport transfer upon departure.
  • 1 airport transfer upon arrival.
  • Transportation in private, new, A/C vehicle.
  • 1 night at hotel with breakfast in Bursa.
  • 1 night at hotel with breakfast in Pamukkale.
  • 1 night at hotel with breakfast in Konya.
  • 2 nights at hotel with breakfast in Cappadocia.
  • 1 night at hotel with breakfast in Ankara.
  • Entrance fees to mentioned sites.

Exclusions


  •  Airfare. 
  •  Travel insurance. 
  •  Entry visa Turkey. 
  •  Meals and beverage not stated.  
  •  Tips, portage and private expenses.  
  •  PCR test.  

Practical Info


• Check-in time at hotels is 14:00, check-out time at hotels is 12:00 noon.
• The Istanbul old city tour is on foot as the places are in walking distance to each other. The order of visits may be reversed.
• The Hagia Sophia is open from 09:00-17:00 in the period November to March and from 09:00-19:00 in the period April to October. The last entry is one hour before closing time. Women need to cover their head, and everyone needs to move the shoes before stepping on the carpet. The Hagia Sophia is now a mosque, so do not walk in front of praying visitors and note that the Hagia Sophia might get busy during Friday prayers around noon.
• Opening Hours of the Topkapi Palace are 10:00-16:00 in the period October to March, 09:00-18:45 in the period April to September. The palace is closed on Tuesdays.
• The Blue Mosque is closed to non-Muslims 45 minutes before the call to prayer, 30 minutes afterwards, and on Fridays until 14:30.
• To respect the local culture please cover shoulders and knees, for mosque visit women need to cover their head.
• For swimming in the Cleopatra Pool of Pamukkale please pack towel, swimwear and bathing shoes.
• If you opt for a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, it only takes place in the early morning. We recommend to book as early as possible as this is a popular activity and subject to availability.
• Our staff is trained to follow hygiene and safety protocols.

How to Book this Tour


- After booking the tour with us online, one of our consultants will get in touch within 24 hours. You need to pay then a 30% deposit by credit card or by bank transfer. The full payment is due latest 14 days before tour start.
- Cancellations or changes need to be sent in written form. Charges are as follows:
• 30% of the total price of the trip for cancellations or changes made 21 to 7 days before departure.
• 100% of the total price of the trip for cancellations or changes made 06 to 01 days before departure or no show.
- For refunds we do not cover transaction fees charged by credit card companies and banks.
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