7 Days / 6 Nights Private Cappadocia – Istanbul Tour

This captivating journey through Turkey combines the wonders of ancient civilizations, breathtaking natural beauty, and vibrant cultural experiences.

Cappadocia: Spend two full days exploring the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia. Witness the fairy chimneys, delve into the fascinating underground cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu, and enjoy breathtaking views from Uchisar Rock Castle.

Istanbul: Conclude your journey in Istanbul, exploring the iconic Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace, experiencing the vibrant blend of Byzantine and Ottoman history.

This tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the best of Turkey, from its ancient civilizations and stunning landscapes to its vibrant culture and warm hospitality.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Arrival in Istanbul – Türkiye / Flight to Cappadocia

You will arrive to the Istanbul Airport. From the international terminal, you will go to the domestic terminal and join the Cappadocia flight. Here, you will meet your warm travel agent employee to get a transfer to your authentic hotel. You will stay in Cappadocia for that night.

Meals : Dinner
Hotels : Misty Cave Hotel – Mustafa Resort Cappadocia – Gamirasu Cave Hotel

DAY 2- Cappadocia

After breakfast. Meet your private tour guide at lobby. Your tour commences with a hotel pickup at the scheduled time, typically between 9:30 and 9:45 am. The journey begins with a brief stroll through the Imaginary Valley (Devrent Valley). As you encounter the iconic fairy chimneys and the enchanting natural landscape they’ve shaped, you’ll find yourself immersed in imaginative contemplation.

The subsequent destination is the Zelve Open Air Museum, which comprises numerous rooms and passageways, also featuring pointed fairy chimneys with substantial stems, elevated approximately 12 meters (40 feet) above the valley floor. This site also housed Cappadocia’s earliest seminaries for priest training, forming a historical monastery. The Zelve Open Air Museum holds the distinction of being one of Cappadocia’s oldest-settled and last-abandoned monastic valleys.

Subsequently, we will visit Pasabag (Monk Valley), which features a chapel and living quarters where monks in Cappadocia used to worship and retreat in solitude. Our journey will also take us to Cavusin Village, known for its rock castle and troglodyte dwellings, which were inhabited by people until the 20th century. Following a delightful local lunch, we’ll explore pottery workshops in Avanos, a tradition that has endured for centuries. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to witness an engaging pottery demonstration. To wrap up the day, we’ll spend some time at the Goreme Panorama, offering a chance for your eyes to relax and take in the magnificent view of Goreme and the Uchisar Castle, the region’s highest peak, affording a panoramic vista of all of Cappadocia and Erciyes (Argeus) Mountain.

The tour will end around 5:00-5:30 pm, and you’ll be comfortably transported back to your hotel.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Misty Cave Hotel – Mustafa Resort Cappadocia – Gamirasu Cave Hotel

DAY 3 – Cappadocia 

Your day begins with a hotel pickup between 9:30 and 10:00 am, followed by a visit to Esentepe (Goreme), a panoramic viewpoint that offers breathtaking views of the town. You’ll have the opportunity to capture memorable photographs near the trees adorned with protective evil eyes.

We then proceed to the Kaymaklı Underground City. This underground complex is a labyrinth of tunnels and numerous rooms, extending eight levels deep into the Earth. However, only four of these levels are accessible to the public. The history of this underground city dates back to the Hittite and Phrygian periods, and it has evolved over the centuries. The dwellings you explore today were meticulously carved by early Christians during the 9th and 10th centuries to safeguard themselves from invaders who ventured into Central Anatolia in pursuit of captives and plunder.

A traditional local restaurant will serve lunch as part of the tour.

Following lunch, our next destination is Ortahisar Castle. The town of Ortahisar is renowned for its carved rock caves, which serve as naturally cool storage facilities for citrus fruits, enhancing their flavor as they mature. Furthermore, Ortahisar Castle, which underwent extensive renovations and was opened to the public in 2013, stands as one of the most captivating tourist attractions.

To conclude the day, we will embark on a hike through the Red & Rose Valley, an experience that promises to be visually gratifying and awe-inspiring. This valley is adorned with colossal, cone-shaped rocks and provides some of the most captivating hiking opportunities in the region. Notable attractions within the valley include the Cross Church (Haçli Kilise), the Columned Church (Kolonlu Kilise), and various other sites. The valley is particularly enchanting in the late hours of the day when the setting sun casts a rosy glow upon the stones. Your hike will culminate in Cavusin Village, where you will encounter a rock castle and troglodyte dwellings that were inhabited by people until the 20th century.

The tour is anticipated to conclude around 5:00-5:30 pm, and you will be comfortably transported back to your hotel.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Misty Cave Hotel – Mustafa Resort Cappadocia – Gamirasu Cave Hotel

DAY 4 – Cappadocia – Istanbul

You will be picked up from your hotel between 9:30 and 10:00 am to embark on a day tour. Our first destination is to the Sinasos Village, also known as Mustafapasa. This village, once inhabited by wealthy Greek merchants and Ottomans, features stylish stone mansions. However, the village’s residents were compelled to leave during the population exchange of 1923. Our next destination is Taskinpasa Village, a charming and traditional village distinguished by its exquisite, whitewashed stone houses adorned with distinctive carvings around the windows. This village boasts some of the finest examples of Seljuk architecture in the region. Before concluding our tour, we will visit the Sobessos Ancient City, a recently unearthed Roman archaeological site. And then Keslik Monastery, a cave monastery complex featuring two churches, namely St. Michael and St. Stephen. This site also encompasses a spacious refectory hall, a sacred spring, and an array of cave rooms.

After visits we will continue Local restaurant for lunch.  Our final stop is the Soganli Valley, where you will encounter numerous caves and stone rooms located above the town center. These caves and rooms served as the ancient village site. The local inhabitants crafted their homes by carving chambers into the hillside, utilizing quarried stones to construct masonry rooms in the front.

After the tour, transfer to Airport for evening flight to Istanbul. Arrival at Istanbul airport, meet our team. Transfer to your hotel in Istanbul.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Barcelo Istanbul Hotel – Hilton Bomonti Hotel

DAY 5 – Istanbul 

On this day of your Private Istanbul Tour.

You will visit the Byzantine Relics. When you travel to Turkey, you can see different cultures across the country. Byzantine culture is one of them. You will start your tour with the Hippodrome at the middle of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Cisterns. Here, you will see the Serpentine Columns and Egyptian Obelisk. You will also visit the nearby Wilhelm German fountain. You will take your lunch in a local restaurant. Next, you will go to Chora Museum also known as Kariye Museum to see the amazing Byzantine frescoes. Your tour will end in the Basilica Cistern known as the Yerebatan Cistern. After having your dinner, you will spend the night in Istanbul.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Barcelo Istanbul Hotel – Hilton Bomonti Hotel

DAY 6 – Istanbul

Your private guided tour will start with the Ottoman heritage in Istanbul. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and start the tour from Blue Mosque completed in 1616. Next, you will visit the famous Topkapi Palace. This palace has a comprehensive collection of the belongings of the sultans for the last five centuries. You can visit the Harem to witness the imperial lifestyle. You will walk the road to the Imperial Council called Divan Yolu. Next, you will have your lunch in a local restaurant. You will walk on the cobble stones streets to see the Rustem Pasha Mosque completed in 1561 by Sinan the Architect. Next, you will go to the famous Spice Market where the goods of the Venetians and Genoese and eastern spice were sold in the ancient times. Your tour will end at Grand Bazaar which was the most important shopping area of the ancient todays. After having your dinner, you will spend the night in Istanbul.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Barcelo Istanbul Hotel – Hilton Bomonti Hotel

DAY 7 – Istanbul – Departure

After breakfast you will transfer you to the Istanbul Airport three hours before your international flight. End Of Services.

Meals : Breakfast