Enchanting Turkey adventure with Istanbul & Cappadocia

About this City Break

Discover the wonders of Turkey’s Anatolia region with a fantastic tour from Istanbul to Ankara, and Cappadocia – includes all travel & excursions

Day 1-4: Istanbul

Your adventure begins in the country’s capital, Istanbul, known for its vibrant markets, historic landmarks, and of course, strong coffee. Discover the city’s labyrinthine bazaars and eclectic cafés, all before a visit to the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent, a masterpiece of Ottoman Architecture. You also have the option to add a city tour to your second day, beginning at the Hagia Sophia and ending at the iconic Blue Mosque. On day three, an optional boat trip down the Bosphorus with dinner and a show awaits, while an optional Anatolian tour will take you to Beylerbeyi Palace, the Eyüp neighbourhood and the hilltop Pierre Loti Cafe for lunch.

Day 5: Ankara

It’s time to leave the sights and sounds of Istanbul behind as you venture to Ankara, crossing the amazing mountains of Bolu on the way. When arriving in Turkey’s cosmopolitan capital, enjoy a visit to the monumental complex of the Mausoleum of Ataturk, dedicated to the founder of Modern Turkey. Spend the night in Ankara.

Day 6-8: Cappadocia

Next up is Cappadocia, home to a sprawling city framed by ‘fairy chimneys’ that rise out of the earth, thanks to the erosion of soft lava and ash from centuries ago. During your stay in this enchanting region, enjoy a visit to the Salt Lake, and embark on a full-day city tour. The Byzantine monastery complex of Goreme impresses with its rock-cut churches and awe-inspiring frescoes, while the natural beauty of the Avcilar, Pasabagi and Büvercinlik Valleys await in the afternoon. Once you’ve taken a tour of local carpet, onyx and turquoise-stone workshops, you’ll head back to your hotel.

If you’re keen to make your visit even more special, a host of optional excursions are available – up the thrill factor with a Jeep safari and sunset experience on day 5, and on day six, choose between a hot air balloon experience, a visit to the underground city of Kaymakli, and a Turkish night.

Please note, while all planned excursions and trips will take place, the order of the itinerary and any trips may vary depending on the schedule of the internal flights, traffic and other logistical reasons. The itinerary also changes according to your arrival date and is determined based on the days you travel to Cappadocia, which are on a Tuesday and a Friday.

Therefore, the four nights in Istanbul are distributed accordingly:

• Monday and Friday arrivals: three nights in Istanbul at the beginning, one night in Ankara, two nights in Cappadocia and one final night in Istanbul.

• Tuesday and Saturday arrivals: two nights in Istanbul, followed by one night in Ankara, two nights in Cappadocia and a final two nights in Istanbul.

This is a fast-paced itinerary that includes a comprehensive number of sights and activities in order to give you the most complete experience of Turkey! You can expect several early morning departures and a full daily schedule of activities.