Istanbul and Cappadocia's Best: 5-Day Boutique Gateway
Tour of Istanbul - 2290

Istanbul and Cappadocia's Best: 5-Day Boutique Gateway

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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.

What's Included

  • Roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Cappadocia
  • Airport transfers in Istanbul and Cappadocia
  • 4-night boutique and cave hotel accommodation in Istanbul and Cappadocia
  • Daily breakfast at the hotel
  • 3 traditional lunches at local restaurants
  • Guided tours of Istanbul and Cappadocia's top attractions
  • All entrance fees to attractions mentioned in the itinerary
  • No hidden or extra costs


Not Included

  • Personal expenses
  • Drinks during meals
  • Optional tours that are not listed in the itinerary
  • Visa costs to enter Turkey (if applicable)
  • Tips for the guide, driver, and hotel sta


What to bring with you?

Before traveling to Turkey for 5 days, here are some items you might want to consider bringing with you:


1. Comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking and sightseeing.

2. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat for protection from the sun.

3. A light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings.

4. A camera or smartphone to capture memories.

5. Electrical adaptors and converters, as Turkey uses a Type F electrical plug.

6. Medications and necessary prescriptions.

7. A small backpack or day bag for carrying essentials during the day.

Languages ​​on tour

English Portuguese Spanish

Comments (18)

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

5 September 2024

During our trip to Turkey, we had planned to visit Cappadocia region, Ephesus, and Pamukkale. A friend in Istanbul had suggested to go through a travel company and recommend Tour of Istanbul. As time was short, I wrote to Chuck Militello with a brief plan of our proposed visit, and in 2 days we had agreed on a detailed plan which included air-transfers, airport pick-up & drop, hotel bookings, and daily sight-seeing tours. The entire program went smoothly. The airport pick-up guys waited patiently & politely despite two cases of late-night flight delays. The hotels suggested by Chuck were commendable, and the daily sight-seeing tours were planned & conducted very professionally. — L. Hemantn, Australia

14 July 2024

Tourofistanbul.com did an excellent job coordinating our 3 day tour in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. Even though it was 4:30 am in Istanbul, the driver showed up on time at our hotel and got us to the airport on time to fly to the Cappadocia region. When we arrived at the Kayseri airport, another person was there to pick us up and take us to the tour guide. After a day of touring the incredible landforms, monastery, and open air museum in a small group, we were dropped off at an exceptional hotel. The next morning, again at 4:30 am, a driver picked us up to go on our Hot Air Balloon adventure-an exceptional experience and we were then taken back to our hotel for breakfast. We were picked up again and toured with the same guide for another great day of more land forms and the underground city. The next morning we were taken to the airport and flew back to Istanbul, picked up by another driver who took us to our hotel. The scheduling was perfect, everything worked out as detailed, and the events and hotel were excellent. I would use this tour group again without hesitation. — JobRockman D. USA

30 September 2024

From being collected from our hotel in Istanbul at 4am to being dropped back the next day - our tour ran like clockwork. We had our own driver and tour guide who was not only friendly and helpful but also extremely knowledgeable on the region. We visited a number of amazing attractions. The accommodation in the cave was 5 star. We were advised to try Ziggy's restaurant in Urgup and we were not disappointed - their potatoes are a must. Next morning we were up early again for our hot air balloon ride (remember warm clothing), what fun and the views were breathtaking. Thanks Gokhan & Mehmet you made our trip memorable. — Tracey A. New Zealand

11 September 2024

We recently visited turkey early November . We Booked the 3days cappadocia tour under tourofistanbul.com and were very pleased with the service. Banu , especially, was very very accommodating . We were having doubts on going at all due to the recent bombings , and Ercin was ever so ready and prompt in replying our every question. VERY impressed . Kudos ! The cappadocia tour itself was well organised . We had our transportation settled for us , right till our accommodation back in Istanbul. the hot air balloon is a must. Everything ran smoothly. the only thing was that we visited one of the places twice due to a change in our tour group But it wasn't too much of an issue. The second tour guide was informative and friendly . We stayed in Gamirasu cave hotel , which was upgraded due to the off peak season . The hotel was fantastic. Great staff , great service and breakfast spread was definitely a good plus point . .— Victoria C. Canada

7 October 2024

Easy and Clear: I spent a lot of time trying to decide how to use my 5 day stay in Istanbul. I checked out at least five travel agencys for trips to Cappadocia and Ephesus. Some agencies were charging twice the price for these tours and I could not compare the differences. Volkan at Tour of Istanbul gave me several suggestions as to how to spend my 5 days and explained to me very clearly what his 2-Day Cappadocia Tour included. It was not the least expensive, nor the most expensive compared to other agencies and I could choose between two hotels. I chose the 5 Star cave hotel option which was a wonderful experience in itself! There were seven of us on our two day tour in a comfortable minivan with a driver and a guide, both were excellent. Our hot air balloon ride was cancelled because it was too windy. This was a disappointment, but that lets us know that safety is first! We received a full refund for the cancelled balloon ride. In summary, Volkan at tourofistanbul.com was wonderful and gave a very clear answer to every question I had. The trip was so easy and flawless! I will use them again for any trip to Turkey. .— Fran G USA

26 September 2024

We took the help of Tour of Istanbul company to plan our trip to Ephesus and Cappadocia for 6 days and then drop off in Istanbul, where we planned to explore on our own. But after experiencing their professionalism and hospitality, we took their help to see around Istanbul. Both Hotel rooms in Kusadasi and at Gamirasu Cave Hotel at Cappadocia were excellent both in terms of cleanliness and great breakfast. Hot air balloon trip organised by them was also very good. All of us enjoyed very much with out any hassles and its worth money we paid. Every thing went as per itinerary given by the company. The lunch arranged during tours were in very good restaurants where we enjoyed traditional Turkish dishes. Tour guides were well versed with history and good english speaking certified guides. I strongly recommend tour of Istanbul if any one of you planning to visit Turkey. All the best. 🙏🏼🙌🏼🌄 .— Surya S. South Africa

2 October 2024

What an amazing experience. We wanted to celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary in style and Volkan Yirtimci from Tour of Istanbul team made sure that's exactly what we did. He organised our tour of Cappadocia from our arrival in Istanbul right through to our flight to our flights to Dalaman where we finished our holiday. Everything he promised we got. Transport from our friends in Istanbul to the airport. All flights. Amazing Hotel, fabulous day trips exploring the wonders of Cappadocia with very knowledgable tour guides. Not to mention the highlight of our tour the balloon flight over Cappadocia. Could not fault this tour in any way. A very big Thank you to Volkan for your patience. You understood exactly what we needed and your patience was incredible. You answered all our queries in the months proceeding the holiday swiftly and was helpful & professional throughout. We will remember this holiday for a very long time. — Carol B. UK

10 October 2024

Could not have been more pleased with our full day private tour of Istanbul. And Cappodocia, from the Yunak Cave Hotel to the enchanting balloon ride at dawn, to two outstanding days of sightseeing with a terrific guide, They did a first class job. Thank you for a very special time. Ginny Husen Going Places Travel... Indio, California — G. Husen, USA

10 September 2024

We had a great trip in Turkey a. The tour, hotel and food was great. Mr Volkan planned everything for us. Most of the hotels are in a very good location, easy to move around ourselves. Highly recommended to contact Mr Volkan if you plan to go to turkey and have no idea about where to go and what to do. 2 of their guides Mr Hafiz in Cappadocia and Ms Nafia was a great guide. In overall, we enjoyed our trip so much. Tx Volkan and Tour of Istanbul team. 🙏🏼 .— H.G. Singapure

1 May 2024

With limited days outside of Istanbul, I randomly selected a tour company from "google". Mrs Banu from Tour of Istanbul responded almost immediately. I outlined what I was looking for and he gave me various options. I detailed our specific requirements and Mrs Banu immediately responded with the perfect package to offer us the best of Turkey in a limited time frame at an exceptionally good price. Their service was absolutely faultless, with drivers arriving promptly to collect us, and deliver us back to our hotel, even for very early pick up times for flights. The tours themselves were well organised, informative and well thought out. The meals that were included each day were typical Turkish fare and very enjoyable. We had four different guides on each of the four days of our tour but the two guides that really stood out for us as being extremely warm, friendly and very informative about were Nafia for our Ephesus tour day and Mostapha for our final day in Cappadochia including the underground city etc. We would love to return to Turkey one day and I would have absolutely no hesitation in contacting Tour of Istanbul team for all of our travel/tour requirements. Their all round service was absolutely outstanding. Exceptional Service! Highly recommended. —Lynne V. South Africa

7 September 2024

We arranged a 5 day side trip for us from Istanbul and back. Everything went perfectly: the hotels were fantastic, guides and drivers were knowledgeable and professional and caring (special shout out to guide Nafia and driver Moustafa). I especially enjoyed woking with Volkan who co ordinated our trip and was always available to answer our questions, both from the US by emil and when we were actually in Turkey! We recommend this organization highly! — Claire W. USA

22 August 2024

It was great, Nice hotels, Excellent hassle free balloon ride, Extremely punctual and clean pick up and drop Good travel guides ,Descent foods, Enjoyed the Turkish night too was an experience in itself, Best part wife was happy 😊 So worth the money we spent may could have opted for something cheap but would not recommend that as I have gathered great memories which are priceless. — Rahul G. UAE

2 September 2024

Thank you to Mehmet (Mr) for all your assistance organising my tour to Cappadocia that included the hot air balloon. Everything that I needed was provided to me in a very professional and friendly manner from Mechmet. I very much appreciated. It was an excellent unforgettable tour and all flights accomodation tours and tour guides were the best. I had the best time ever. Thank you once again for everything.

18 March 2024

A must do. Unforgettable: Amazing and unforgettable experience. The landscape is on of a kind. The staff is really kind, professional pilots and also funny. Absolutely secure and perfect assistance from Mehmet. Absolutely a must do here with this kindly team 🙏🏼🙌🏼🌄

11 April 2024

Amazing Sites, Slightly Rushed: The itinerary was jam-packed, which meant we got to see all the major sites, but it did feel a little rushed at times. That said, the tour delivered an incredible experience with wonderful guides, and the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia was the trip’s highlight!

11 July 2024

Perfect Tour for First-Time Visitors This was our first trip to Turkey, and this tour was the ideal introduction. We visited all the iconic spots, from Hagia Sophia to Göreme. Everything was well-organized, and we felt completely immersed in Turkey’s history and culture. Highly recommend this tour for first-timers!

17 May 2024

I recently went on a 6-day tour of Turkey and I have to say, it was absolutely incredible! The tour company took care of everything, from our accommodations to our transportation, and everything in between. The tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and made sure we had a great time throughout the entire trip. The itinerary was perfectly planned, with visits to some of the most stunning landmarks in Turkey such as Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and the ancient city of Ephesus. We also had the chance to experience the local culture and taste the delicious Turkish cuisine. One of the highlights of the trip was the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, which provided breathtaking views of the stunning landscape. Overall, I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore the beauty and culture of Turkey. It was an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. Merijn DB — UAE

2 May 2023
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