Magical Cappadocia & Istanbul

Flight to Kayseri via Istanbul. After landing, we will drive on to the heart of Cappadocia, a fairy-tale and unique part of Turkey that must be visited and experienced at least once. Check-in and dinner.

The unusual cone-shaped formations in various colours are a true natural phenomenon, created millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions, followed by long periods of transformation caused by different weather influences. In Cappadocia, it is not only nature that is beautiful and almost miraculous, but also the incredible masterpieces and imagination of the inhabitants who built underground cities and settlements here. Churches, monasteries, homes – and some families still live in the rocks. Fairy-tale nature leaves no visitor indifferent and offers the pleasure of views of cone-shaped sand sculptures with or without windows, cave monasteries, gorges, fairy chimneys ... In Cappadocia, besides tourism, pottery and carpet-making flourish. The town of Göreme is squeezed between rock walls and is an open-air museum; it dates from the era of early Christianity. We will be impressed by the churches carved into the rock, decorated with beautiful Byzantine frescoes. Zelve is one of the earliest inhabited valleys, known for its incredible chimneys and mushrooms of volcanic material, while the Devrent Valley resembles a lunar landscape with unusual stone sculptures of animals. Another typical town in this landscape is Ürgüp. Return to the hotel and dinner.

Cappadocia is famous not only for its unique landscape but also for its unforgettable balloon flights. Every day before sunrise there is an impressive view of a hundred or more balloons lifting visitors into the air and giving them an unforgettable experience and an unforgettable view of the fairy-tale landscape. A sight worth getting up early for. Early in the morning we offer a scene we will never forget. Return to the hotel for breakfast and continuation of the sightseeing. To date, 36 underground cities have been discovered in Cappadocia, and we will visit one of them – the city of Derinkuyu. It is estimated that there are at least 14 more. Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu are among the largest and most visited, and scientists believe they were inhabited around 3000 BC. Cappadocia is made up of numerous valleys, with a series of settlements, villages and small towns among them. Each valley has its own name. Pigeon Valley was named after the centuries-old dovecotes carved into the rocks, and Rose Valley after its colourful walls, which take on different colours at every time of day. Unforgettable is the Uçhisar fortress, carved into the rock and at the same time the highest point in Cappadocia. The day will not pass without a visit to a carpet-weaving factory and a ceramics workshop. Return to the hotel and dinner.

Drive to the airport and flight to Istanbul, the city on two continents. Istanbul offers its visitors a blend of two different worlds which, despite their differences, merge right here into perfect harmony. The crowds, tradition, noise, modernity and an enviable history have created numerous attractions and draw millions of visitors from all over the world every year. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and check-in. A day devoted to the city’s main sights: Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and Yerebatan Saray, or the underground basilica. A walk to the Blue Mosque with its mysterious blue haze, admiring the inner courtyard with its many domes and cascades. Evening walk through the Beyazıt and Sultanahmet districts, where the illuminated minarets of the mosques conjure up a true oriental fairy tale. Overnight.

For an additional fee we recommend a Bosphorus cruise between Europe and Asia, past the luxurious palaces of the sultans and the luxurious villas of the Turkish elite, beneath both bridges over the Bosphorus. As we sail through the strait between Europe and Asia, we will feel that the city truly is a link between the two continents. Istanbul offers numerous cultural and tourist attractions, and at the same time it is a shopping paradise. We will visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the city’s greatest sights. The bazaar is a true shopping mecca with more than 5000 shops, 16 entrances and as many as 82 streets, offering practically everything: if you love coffee, tea and the scent of spices, you will enjoy the Egyptian Bazaar, or Spice Bazaar. Expected transfer to the airport in the afternoon and flight from Istanbul.