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Istanbul & Cappadocia Discovery

7
 days from $
4221
 per person
Operated by: 
Kensington Tours
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Istanbul, Cappadocia

  • Greet dawn while gliding over sublime hills and valleys on a hot air balloon.
  • Embark on a culinary adventure in one of Istanbul’s most fashionable districts.
  • Tour the legendary Golden Horn with a private guide.
  • Explore labyrinthine, subterranean cities in Cappadocia.
  • Featuring a handpicked selection of premium accommodations.
Itinerary at a Glance

DAY 1

  • ISTANBUL Here we Go!
  • Airport - Private Transfer

DAY 2

  • ISTANBUL It’s All Ancient History
  • Old Istanbul City Highlights with Grand Bazaar - Private Tour

DAY 3

  • ISTANBUL Cultural Immersion
  • Grand Bazaar, Suleymaniye Mosque & Spice Market (5.5 hrs) - Private

DAY 4

  • ISTANBUL Sail the Seas
  • Bosphorus Cruise (3 hrs) - Private

DAY 5

  • ISTANBUL TO CAPPADOCIA The Journey Continues…
  • Airport - Private Transfer
  • Air - Istanbul - Cappadocia [Direct - 1 hr] - Economy
  • Airport - Private Transfer
  • Shared Hot Air Ballooning with Private Transfers

DAY 6

  • CAPPADOCIA A Bird’s Eye View
  • Shared Hot Air Ballooning with Private Transfers
  • Cappadocia Highlights: Goreme Open Air Museum, Pigeon Valley & Kaymakli (5.5 hrs) - Private

DAY 7

  • CAPPADOCIA TO ISTANBUL Until Next Time…
  • Airport - Private Transfer
  • Air - Cappadocia - Istanbul [Direct - 1 hr ] - Economy

DAY 1

  • ISTANBUL

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Tomtom Suites
  • Here we Go!
  • Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will be greeted by an English-speaking guide waiting for you in front of the Gloria Jeans Cafe. Your representative will help you coordinate meeting with your private driver and accompany you to your accommodation.

DAY 2

  • ISTANBUL

slide 5 of 2

Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque
Tomtom Suites
Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque
Tomtom Suites
Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque
Tomtom Suites
  • It’s All Ancient History
  • With a private driver and guide, explore the highlights of Istanbul’s storied Golden Horn on a full day tour. Begin with a visit of the remarkable Hagia Sophia, the pride and glory of the Byzantine architecture and one of Istanbul’s most renowned structures that dominates the Golden Horn’s skyline. Enter this majestic complex and feel immediately in awe of its sheer grandeur and beauty. Take in the intricate mosaics and tiling and let your guide explain how Hagia Sophia is an architectural reflection of the city’s fascinating past. Continue to the ornate Topkapi Palace, the grand residence of the sultans of the past. Marvel at its incredible architecture and opulent decor as your guide introduces you to the history of the Ottoman empire. Next, meet the Blue Mosque head on and prepare to be amazed at its glorious interior and the iconic hand-painted blue Iznik tiles that earned the mosque its name. Continue to the nearby Hippodrome for a glimpse at what used to be the hub of the local civic life centuries ago and where chariot races were once held. Transfer to the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. Stroll through the vibrant lanes dotted with countless shops and expose your senses to this melting pot of colors, sounds, and scents. Watch the skillful local artisans and craftsmen work on their masterpieces and try out your bargaining skills. Your tour concludes with a return transfer to your hotel.

DAY 3

  • ISTANBUL

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Suleymaniye Mosque
Suleymaniye Mosque
Tomtom Suites
Suleymaniye Mosque
Suleymaniye Mosque
Tomtom Suites
Suleymaniye Mosque
Suleymaniye Mosque
Tomtom Suites
  • Cultural Immersion
  • Experience Istanbul’s lively bazaars and explore one of the most celebrated mosques in the city on a privately guided tour. Start your day with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. Accompanied by your private guide, stroll through the vibrant lanes dotted with countless shops and expose your senses to this melting pot of colors, sounds, and scents. Watch the skillful local artisans and craftsmen work on their masterpieces and try out your bargaining skills. Continue to the Süleymaniye Mosque and enjoy a guided tour of this unmissable and majestic structure that has shaped the landscape of Istanbul for centuries. Walk through the vast, airy interiors and keep an eye out for some of the finest examples of calligraphy in the city. Head to the adjacent gardens for a chance to appreciate stunning vistas of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. Next, make your way to the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Market. Wander through this captivating marketplace with your guide and take in the myriad of sights, flavors, and aromas. Stop by numerous stalls selling fragrant herbs and decadent treats, or perhaps grab a cup of hot Çay and simply watch the local life go by.

DAY 4

  • ISTANBUL

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Bosphorus Cruise
Bosphorus Cruise
Tomtom Suites
Bosphorus Cruise
Bosphorus Cruise
Tomtom Suites
Bosphorus Cruise
Bosphorus Cruise
Tomtom Suites
  • Sail the Seas
  • See Istanbul’s iconic landmarks from aboard a private boat cruise, accompanied by your knowledgeable guide. Journey between two continents as you make your way down the Bosphorus straight. Pass by old wooden mansions and posh marble palaces dotting Istanbul’s shoreline and look out for the majestic mosques of the Golden Horn with their ubiquitous minarets reaching up into the sky. Take in the views of the old Ottoman fortresses and sail past the city’s charming neighborhoods. A cruise down the Bosphorus allows you to experience this magnificent metropolis in a whole new way.

DAY 5

  • ISTANBUL TO CAPPADOCIA

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Hot Air Balloon
Hot Air Balloon
Gamirasu Cave Hotel
Hot Air Balloon
Hot Air Balloon
Gamirasu Cave Hotel
Hot Air Balloon
Hot Air Balloon
Gamirasu Cave Hotel
  • The Journey Continues…
  • A private transfer will be provided from your hotel in Istanbul to the airport.
  • Board a flight in Istanbul with service to Cappadocia. The flight duration is approximately one hour.
  • A private vehicle with driver and guide will provide a transfer between the airport and your hotel.
  • There is simply no better way to experience Cappadocia and its extraordinary landscapes than from aboard a hot air balloon. Early this morning, meet your private driver for a transfer to the launch site where you'll join fellow adventure seekers and get an opportunity to appreciate one of the most poetic sunrises of your lifetime. Energize on a light complimentary breakfast while your crew completes the necessary preparations before take-off. Once everyone is on board, your aircraft raises slowly into the morning sky and the magnificent vistas of Cappadocia immediately unfold in front of your eyes. Watch dozens of balloons harmoniously lift up above the horizon in preparation for one of Nature’s greatest shows. As the sun beings its slow ascent, the warm rays light up your serene surroundings. Glide over the sublime hills and valleys of Cappadocia and get a true sense of the region’s fairy tale terrain. After about an hour in the air, your pilot beings the gentle descent and lands the balloon. Enjoy a glass of nonalcoholic champagne as keepsake certificates are distributed to all guests. Afterward, return to your hotel by private driver.
  • Weather dependent. This decision is made by an organized weather organization in Cappadocia & can be cancelled within 24 hrs of ride

DAY 6

  • CAPPADOCIA

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Gamirasu Cave Hotel
Hot Air Balloon
Hot Air Balloon
Goreme Church Murals Paintings
Goreme Church Murals Paintings
Gamirasu Cave Hotel
Hot Air Balloon
Hot Air Balloon
  • A Bird’s Eye View
  • There is simply no better way to experience Cappadocia and its extraordinary landscapes than from aboard a hot air balloon. Early this morning, meet your private driver for a transfer to the launch site where you'll join fellow adventure seekers and get an opportunity to appreciate one of the most poetic sunrises of your lifetime. Energize on a light complimentary breakfast while your crew completes the necessary preparations before take-off. Once everyone is on board, your aircraft raises slowly into the morning sky and the magnificent vistas of Cappadocia immediately unfold in front of your eyes. Watch dozens of balloons harmoniously lift up above the horizon in preparation for one of Nature’s greatest shows. As the sun beings its slow ascent, the warm rays light up your serene surroundings. Glide over the sublime hills and valleys of Cappadocia and get a true sense of the region’s fairy tale terrain. After about an hour in the air, your pilot beings the gentle descent and lands the balloon. Enjoy a glass of nonalcoholic champagne as keepsake certificates are distributed to all guests. Afterward, return to your hotel by private driver.
  • Weather dependent. This decision is made by an organized weather organization in Cappadocia & can be cancelled within 24 hrs of ride
  • Cappadocia's fairy tale scenery has sparked the imaginations of adventure seekers from around the globe for years. Today, explore the highlights of this fascinating region accompanied by your private driver and guide. Start your adventure by visiting the Goreme Open Air Museum. This UNESCO World Heritage Site showcases some stunning examples of Byzantine art and marvelous frescos in a series of churches carved into the rocky surroundings. Let your guide introduce you to the rich history of this fascinating area as you stroll through the mystical landscape. Continue to the picturesque Pigeon Valley, yet another natural gem of this stunning part of Turkey. Relish in its wonderful scenery and don’t forget to take plenty of photographs. Marvel at the otherworldly rock formations and keep an eye out for the countless pigeon houses sculpted into the hillsides around you. Next, transfer to Kaymakli for an opportunity to explore one of Cappadocia’s subterranean cities. Descend into the underground labyrinth and learn the fascinating story of the 7th century Christians who established these dwellings in an attempt to flee persecution. Feel amazed at this surreal settlement and appreciate the clever ingenuity of its creators as you make your way through the narrow passages. Your tour concludes when you are transferred back to your hotel.

DAY 7

  • CAPPADOCIA TO ISTANBUL
  • Until Next Time…
  • A private vehicle with driver and guide will provide a transfer between the airport and your hotel.
  • Board a flight in Cappadocia with service to Istanbul. The flight duration is approximately one hour.

Tomtom Suites

Gamirasu Cave

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