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4 Night 5 Days
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Tour Detail
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1: Istanbul Arrival: Welcome to Turkey Tour
Day 2: Istanbul's Historic Gems: Exploring the Marvels of the Old City
Day 3: Bosphorus Delight: Half-Day Cruise and Spice Market Tour and Flight to Cappadocia
Day 4: Discover the Hidden Treasures of Cappadocia's Red Tour:Journey to the North
Day 5: Exploring Cappadocia's Hidden Treasures: South Green Tour and Flight back to Istanbul
FULL ITINERARY:
Day 1: Istanbul Arrival: Welcome to Turkey Tour:
When you arrive in Istanbul, you will be greeted by a representative just outside of the arrival's gate. They will be holding a sign with your name on it, so you can easily identify them. After meeting your representative, you will be taken to your hotel by a private transfer. You'll spend the night in Istanbul, where you can relax and settle in before beginning your adventures.
Day 2: Istanbul's Historic Gems: Exploring the Marvels of the Old City:
After breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your guide in the lobby to begin your tour of the Sultanahmet district, which is the heart of old Istanbul. Your first stop will be the Hagia Sophia, an architectural marvel that was built by the Emperor Justinian in the early 6th century AD. Designed by Anthemius of Tralles and Isodore of Miletus, this church was converted into a mosque in 1453 and is now a museum. You'll be amazed by its massive dome, which still dominates the skyline of old Istanbul.
Next, you'll visit the Blue Mosque, named after the exquisite tiles that adorn its interior. Then, you'll head to the Hippodrome, the ancient Byzantine stadium that once held up to 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire. Afterward, you'll explore the Grand Bazaar, which was the commercial heart of the old city and has over 4,000 shops filled with treasures such as carpets, kilims, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons, and leather goods. You'll have plenty of time to indulge in some shopping, Ottoman style.
In the afternoon, your tour continues at Topkapi Palace, which was the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th century. You'll visit the fabulous Imperial Treasury and the Baghdad Kiosk, which displays some of the most exquisite Ottoman court costumes and ceramics. You'll see one of the world's finest collections of Chinese celadon ceramics, which were gifts from other rulers. Some of these ceramics have a special glaze that was said to change color in the presence of poison. You'll also visit the Imperial Armory, which displays centuries of Ottoman weaponry.
Topkapi Palace is now a museum, and one of its loveliest features is its courtyards with ancient trees. You can easily imagine the sultan strolling here, far from the cares of state and empire. After a day filled with history and culture, you'll spend another night in Istanbul.
Day 3: Bosphorus Delight: Half-Day Cruise and Spice Market Tour and Flight to Cappadocia:
Embark on a half-day tour of Istanbul's fascinating history and culture. Meet your private guide at your hotel and head to the City Walls. From there, visit the Spice Bazaar and explore the bustling market filled with exotic spices, herbs, and other goods. Afterward, head to the Golden Horn to enjoy the beautiful view of Istanbul's skyline.
Next, enjoy a scenic cruise along the Bosphorus, where you'll see iconic landmarks such as the Ciragan Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Military High School, Rumeli Fortress, and many more. Your private guide will provide fascinating commentary about the history and significance of each landmark.
After your tour, we'll head to the airport for you flight to Cappadocia, a region known for its unique landscapes and fascinating history. Upon our arrival in Cappadocia, we'll be met by our guide and transferred to our hotel. We'll spend the night in this enchanting region, eagerly anticipating the adventures that await us in the coming days.
Day 4: Discover the Hidden Treasures of Cappadocia's Red Tour:Journey to the North ( Optional Hot Air Balloon Adventure):
Get ready for an exciting day in Cappadocia with the Red Tour. Your first stop will be at the Goreme Open Air Museum, which is considered the center of the region and can be easily accessed from all directions. The museum comprises a vast monastic complex made up of several refectory monasteries placed side-by-side, each with its own unique church. The rock-cut churches at this site are some of the finest in the area, with beautiful frescoes that have retained their original colors and freshness over the years.
Next, you will visit Devrent Valley, which is situated about 1 kilometer from Zelve Valley. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys, which are home to several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems. You'll be amazed by the unique rock formations and the way they have been shaped over thousands of years by wind and erosion.
After Devrent Valley, you will head to the old village of Cavusin, which is one of the oldest settlements in the area. The Church of St. John Baptist here is particularly noteworthy, as it offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintings date back to the 5th century, making it the oldest church in the region.
Your final stop for the day will be in Avanos, which is known for its pottery and ceramics. The town's red clay, which comes from the Red River passing through the town, gives life to both the land and local economy. You'll have the opportunity to witness firsthand the beautiful terra cotta artwork created by the skilled artisans here.
After a day filled with adventure and exploration, you'll return to your hotel in Cappadocia for a well-deserved rest.
Optional Hot Air Balloon Adventure: Experience the breathtaking beauty of Cappadocia from high above with our optional hot air balloon adventure. Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the balloon site where you will be welcomed with a light breakfast before registering for your flight. As you watch us prepare the balloons for your adventure, the excitement builds. Once in the air, you will witness the stunning sunrise over Cappadocia and marvel at the surreal landscape below, including fairy chimneys, rock formations, and cave dwellings. As we ascend up to 3000 feet, you will feel like you are touching the sky. After landing, we will celebrate our flight with a champagne toast (or soft drink) and you will receive a flight certificate from your pilot. Please note that this is an optional tour and requires an additional fee.
Day 5:Exploring Cappadocia's Hidden Treasures: South Green Tour
On Day 5, you will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and driven to Ihlara Valley, a picturesque canyon formed from the volcanic ash of Mt. Hasan. You'll hike through the valley, which is watered by the Melendiz River and features stunning rock formations and lush greenery. Then, you'll continue on to Selime, a village known for its hollowed-out citadel and churches built into the steep hillside. Along the way, you'll make a stop at Yaprakhisar village to take photos of the unique landscape.
In the afternoon, you'll visit Derinkuyu Underground Village, an ancient complex of underground dwellings used as refuges by Christian communities in times of danger. The village features stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, churches, and wineries.
After the tour we'll head to the airport in Cappadocia for a flight to Istanbul. Upon our arrival in Istanbul, we'll be met by our guide and transferred to our hotel. End of our services.
I went on vacation this past September to Turkey with two other guys (all in our late 20’s and early 30s). We decided to make Istanbul the hub of our limited time in Turkey but we also wanted to see the ancient sites of Ephesus and Cappadocia as well. We decided it would be inefficient to try to see these sites on our own so we elected to go with a guided tour and found Tour of Istanbul Company. At first we were hesitant to use the online form on their website but quickly realized it was just a means to start email coordination with Ms. Banu Kurban. We basically laid out what we wanted: 1 day in Ephesus and 2 days in Cappadocia. Banu quickly replied, was very accommodating, and with a few email exchanges over a couple of days we had a full itinerary including hotel-airport transfer, plane tickets, meals, and sites to be visited. Highlight: the tour guides are phenomenal! If you’re going to Ephesus request Gül Demir as your guide. She is a lovely local girl, with a warm heart, and her love of Turkey shows when she describes the geography and history of Ephesus. She also taught us some Turkish phrases; it was a lot of fun. If you’re going to Cappadocia request Aykut Babadogan. He is very knowledgeable of the region and was funny; it was like hanging out with one of the guys. He was also attentive when one of the members of our group got sick. Overall, they are both wonderful human beings and when people in my country ask what Turkish people are like I will speak of them. Critique: The driver had trouble rounding up all the people that required shuttle service at the airport upon our return to Istanbul. So getting back to the hotel took longer than expected, but that sort of thing should be expected being in a busy airport with no cellphone service in a foreign country. However, the awesomeness of the trip overshadowed this issue. Tour of Istanbul is legit and reasonable priced. I highly recommend them! — Roxanne C., USA