Compare Istanbul & Cappadocia by Heritage Tours Private Travel vs Walking the Ancient Trails of Cappadocia - Premium Adventure by Exodus Travels
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| Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days | 9 days |
| Price From | Check price | $ 3,915 |
| Price Per Day | Check price | $ 435 |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | No |
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| Meals Included | N/A | All breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners included. Typical meals: Breakfast: Typically, a selection of tea, coffee, bread, butter, jam, cheese, olives, cucumber, tomatoes and yoghurt. Lunch and dinner: A combination of set menus and buffet arrangements with several freshly cooked dishes. Kebabs are, of course, found everywhere. Most people find Turkish cuisine one of the most varied in the world and there is usually something to please everyone. Vegetarians will generally find themselves well catered for as many Turkish dishes are based on vegetables and dairy products. In Turkey, the availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets, eg gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring these specialised dietary items from home. Drinks are not included with meals (except breakfast) as a wide variety is normally available and this allows you greater choice. Mineral water, excellent fruit juices, beer and wine are generally readily available. Tea (usually taken in small glasses) is cheap, and so is Turkish coffee (strong, taken in small cups). European instant coffee and spirits can be more expensive. |
| Description |
Navigate mystic Istanbul and the surreal lunar landscapes of Cappadocia on this private 7-day, 6-night tour. |
The rock towers, caves and cultural history of Cappadocia are best discovered on foot. Following ancient volcanic eruptions, the region was covered with a blanket of soft ‘tufa’ rock that is easily eroded by wind and water. It has been inhabited for millennia, with many civilisations carving cave dwellings and churches into the towers and hillsides. In recent times, local entrepreneurs have used the same principle to create incredible, unique hotels, one of which is a highlight of our experience. Our programme of walks and activities will show you the best of the area, plus lesser-known routes and experiences. This trip is recommended to those who like exploring in style, and don’t settle with the ordinary.Explore the unique landscapes and cultures of Cappadocia on foot – from an extraordinary cave hotel |
Day 1
Accommodation: Park Hyatt - Maçka Palas – park king room.
Arrival at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, where you will be welcomed by your expert guide, private driver and vehicle and escorted to your hotel.
The very name of Istanbul conjures up images of a majestic skyline of slender minarets, domed mosques and sultans’ palaces that crown the hilltops of this majestic city. It calls to mind a city of intrigue and beauty at the terminus of the Orient Express, and as the place where two continents meet. Once-great, long-vanquished empires and twenty-seven centuries of history are embodied in this great city known at various times as Byzantium, Constantinople and Istanbul – names that recall the fabled wealth, magnificent art and compelling history of this incredible city. Istanbul’s great glory lies in its past, yet thrives on a vibrancy and energy very much rooted in the present.
Check in at the Park Hyatt Istanbul - Maçka Palas, in the fashionable Nisantasi district, known for its great shopping. The hotel is housed in an historic Art Deco building that features sleek, modern interiors. It is only steps away from Nisantasi’s chic boutiques and restaurants.
You will be staying in park king room. Rest and refresh at your hotel.
When you are ready, embark on a half-day of the historic center of Istanbul with your expert guide, private driver and vehicle.
Begin at Topkapi Palace, the legendary home of the Ottoman Sultans, and now one of the finest museums in Turkey. Your visit includes the once secret harems where the sultan’s many concubines were kept.
Enjoy a visit to the famous Spice Bazaar. This colorful, covered bazaar has shops selling all sorts of exotic goodies.
Istanbul has many excellent restaurants. We will send you a list of our favorites and will be happy to make reservations on your behalf.
Day 2
Accommodation: Park Hyatt - Maçka Palas – park king room.
Breakfast at your hotel.
This morning, your expert guide, private driver and vehicle will meet you at your hotel for a full-day tour of historic Sultanahmet.
Your day begins at the magnificent Hagia Sophia. Built at the command of the Emperor Justinian during the Golden Age of Byzantium, Hagia Sophia was the greatest church in Christendom for centuries. Visit the restored second floor to see the spectacular Byzantine mosaics up close.
Continue on to the Blue Mosque - one of the major monuments of Old Istanbul – with six minarets and its famous turquoise tiles.
Near the Blue Mosque is the small but rich Museum of Mosaics, many of which date from the 6th century.
Stroll through the Hippodrome - the center of Byzantine civic life for 1000 years. Over that time, it was home to coronations, Roman chariot races and more than one royal execution.
Explore the mysterious and surreal 6th century cistern under the streets of ancient Constantinople. Supported by over 300 Corinthian Columns and still filled with water, it is so extensive that transport was once small boats.
Your afternoon concludes in the largest covered marketplace in the world - the Grand Bazaar in the heart of old Istanbul, boasting more than 3,000 shops.
Day 3
Accommodation: Park Hyatt - Maçka Palas – park king room.
Breakfast at your hotel.
Enjoy a full-day tour with your expert guide, private driver and vehicle.
This morning you will have the very special opportunity to meet with one of Turkey’s most prominent and distinguished jewelry designers. Don’t miss the private showcase, which includes some of the world’s most profound and unique creations. The Byzantine influence found in the designs will take you back to this lost era.
This afternoon, drive across the first suspension bridge over the Bosphorus to the often overlooked Asian side of the city.
Visit the Beylerbeyi Palace, built by Sultan Abdulmecid on the site of another wooden mansion. The decorations on the seaside façade, the well-kept gardens, the hall with a pool in the central section and the spiral staircase are some of the eye-catching features of the palace.
Continue at the Sakirin Mosque. It is the first mosque in all of Islamic history whose interior was designed by a female.
Discover Kadikoy, a populous cosmopolitan district that is the cultural center of the Asian side of Istanbul.
Late this afternoon, enjoy a private cruise up the Bosphorus. Enjoy a leisurely exploration of this historic waterway between Europe and Asia (two hour cruise).
If you like, the cruise can conclude at the quay of one of the fine seaside restaurants where you can enjoy a relaxing dinner.
Overnight: Park Hyatt - Maçka Palas – park king room.
Day 4
Accommodation: Museum Hotel – deluxe room
Breakfast at your hotel.
This morning, you will be met at your hotel in Istanbul and escorted to the airport for your flight to Nevsehir.
Upon your arrival, you will be met by your expert guide, private driver and vehicle, and will begin exploring the surreal lunar landscapes of Cappadocia.
The so-called fairy chimneys and troglodyte dwellings leave an unforgettable impression upon visitors, no matter the season.
Intermingled in this photogenic world are a large number of monastic cave churches, some dating back to the 3rd century, with frescoes that are often intact. Some are well preserved and well-guarded. Others seem as if you are the first to enter them.
Begin your visit in Goreme Valley, an open-air museum comprised of dozens of early Christian chapels and churches carved from the soft stone and covered with millennium-old frescoes.
Visit the restored “Dark Church” at Goreme – just opened to the public after years of painstaking restoration of the frescoes.
See the natural citadel of Uçhisar, strategically cut into an entire mountainside, with a 60-foot, rock-carved Byzantine fortress on top. Continue to the town of Avanos, set on the banks of the Kizilirmak (also known as the Red River) the longest river in Turkey. The abundance of red clay found within the river gives the region’s renowned pottery its color. Check in at the Museum Hotel in Uchisar. This refined boutique hotel is built in the cave style of the region and is filled with art and a fabulous collection of antiques.
You will be staying in a deluxe room. Overnight: Museum Hotel – deluxe room.
Day 5
Accommodation: Museum Hotel – deluxe room
Breakfast at your hotel.
If you’d like, we would be pleased to make a morning reservation for a one-hour hot air balloon ride.
Enjoy a full-day tour with your expert guide, private driver and vehicle.
Begin your day at Sinasos, Mustapha Pasha in Turkish. The village’s Greek inhabitants left during the population exchange in 1923, but the village remains well-preserved.
From there, visit the village of Soganli, so quiet and undisturbed it’s as if the village has been frozen in time.
Depart for the vast underground city of Kaymakli, a virtual city buried beneath the surface of the earth designed to shelter and protect up to 15,000 civilians against the Arab raids of the 7th century.
Continue to Pasabag Valley, containing some of the region’s most striking fairy chimneys. Here you will see a chapel dedicated to St. Simeon and a hermit’s shelter built into one of the three-headed fairy chimneys.
This evening, enjoy a Mevlana performance of Whirling Dervishes at a 13th century caravanserai outside of Avanos. Round-trip transport is included.
Day 6
Accommodation: Museum Hotel – deluxe room
Breakfast at your hotel.
Enjoy a full-day tour with your expert guide, private driver and vehicle. Begin your day at the untouched site of the Eskigumus Monastery in Nigde.
Journey across the fertile plains to the beautiful sheer-sided canyon of Ihlara. Take a stroll through the valley to see the many rock-carved churches, before visiting the tiny villages of Belisyrma and Selimiye.
This afternoon experience Cappadocia on horseback! Enjoy a guided trail ride while you get an up close look at this region’s very special terrain.
Day 7
Breakfast at your hotel.
This morning, you will be met at your hotel by your private driver and vehicle and escorted to Nevsehir’s airport, where you will board your flight to Istanbul.
Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will connect to your departing international flight.
Bon voyage!
Day 1 Arrival in Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey. Today you arrive in Istanbul, one of the most important and inspiringly beautiful cities in the world. We have no activities scheduled for today, so you are free to arrive anytime. Premium accommodation: Kent Hotel, Istanbul (four-star)
Day 2 Morning calligraphy lesson; fly to Kayseri
We start our Turkish experience with a calligraphy lesson, where we learn the secrets of creating rich patterns on handmade marble paper and experience the sensuous flow of Ottoman calligraphy in the company of our highly skilled artist-craftsperson. Participation enables the school to generate the funds to continue supporting the retention of this ancient skill. For lunch, we have arranged a fabulous introduction to Turkish food, with a meal of Ottoman cuisine at the centrally located Matbah restaurant, which also has excellent views of Istanbul. In the late afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our 1hr 15min flight to Kayseri. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)
Day 3 Visit to the Goreme Open-Air Museum; walk through the colourful Rose Valley
Our first day in Cappadocia we start with a gentle climb up through the tunnels of Uchisar rock for a striking panoramic view, then continue to the extraordinary Goreme Open-Air Museum to see painted churches and troglodytic monastic dwellings. This afternoon, we drive to the rabbit warren-like village of old Cavusin and walk through the colourful Rose Valley, which is home to rock-cut churches, viewpoints, and stunning vistas to end at Sunset Point. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)
Day 4 Tour of Pigeon Valley; explore the cellars at Kaymakli Underground City; cooking class experience
We set off on foot along the scenic Pigeon Valley trail, walking downhill from Uchisar to Goreme. Pigeon Valley is named after the many dove cotes carved into the dwellings. From Goreme, we drive to Kaymakli to explore the cellars, stables and houses of this underground city, before continuing to the beautiful Soganli Valley for a taste of lesser-known Cappadocia. For lunch, we visit a local family for a cooking experience. Discover regional home-cooked food in a shared experience. The leader will be on hand to help with translations and demonstrations. We return to our hotel mid-afternoon. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)
Day 5 Optional balloon ride; walk through White Valley; discover Love Valley; afternoon at leisure
This morning is our chance to take part in the most iconic activity in Cappadocia – an early morning hot-air balloon ride. We have pre-booked slots for each group member, but to allow for possible weather-related delays or even cancellations, we will arrange final confirmation and payment through your leader for those who wish to take part. It's an early start and a short transfer, but the ride lasts for approximately 1h 15min, and ends with a cold glass of champagne. After a late breakfast, we continue our programme for the day, with a walk through the White Valley. It is a little more challenging than the other hikes, but it is one of our favourites. From Uchisar, we descend into a valley of smooth snow-white rock faces and follow an uneven riverbed along the valley floor before entering Love Valley, which offers archetypal Cappadocia views and fairy chimneys. The original name of this valley was Valley of the Vines, but it’s not hard to work out why it has been nicknamed Love Valley. After lunch, the afternoon will be at leisure. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)
Day 6 Visit the former monastic complex of Zelve; explore Sword and Red valleys; Jeep safari; late afternoon Whirling Dervishes performance
After breakfast we explore the former monastic complex of Zelve, then drive to Pasabagi – one of the most famous valleys in Cappadocia We drive to Goreme to begin our hike through the Sword and Red valleys to the rock-hewn Kizlar Kalesi monastery. The path takes us through more jaw-dropping scenery, past the giant shards of rock that give Sword Valley its name, and on to the richly coloured rock formations that make Red Valley so remarkable. After lunch, we take a Jeep safari and go a little further afield to hidden corners as the drivers take you through narrow canyons and to viewpoints. In the late afternoon, we visit the historic Saruhan Caravanserai to see the Sema Ritual performed by Whirling Dervishes. This traditional performance has a deep cultural significance in Turkey and is a spectacular, spiritual and often-moving experience. The evening is free to make your own choice of dinner venue. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)
Day 7 Day tour to Ihlara Valley; visit Avanos
After breakfast, we start our day tour to Ihlara Valley and one of the prettiest trails in Cappadocia. At 8.5mi (14km) long and up to 394ft (120m) deep, it is the largest historically inhabited canyon in the world. Ihlara has hundreds of churches and shelters made by the easy excavation of the rocks surrounding the valley plus the classic fairy chimneys. We finish with a visit to Selime Cathedral when we exit the valley. The last stop today is Avanos, the Cappadocia town established by the Hittites on the banks of Halys River. Making use of the red clay obtained from the shores, the Hittites created outstanding examples of pottery ware and used potters’ wheels as early as the second millennia BCE. We visit the studio of a local potter-artist and enjoy an interactive presentation on how to create masterpieces of pottery and ceramics. In the evening, we have a farewell-to-Cappadocia dinner at Elai restaurant, near the stone-carved Uçhisar Castle, where all the tables overlook the green valleys. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)
Day 8 Fly to Istanbul; optional Turkish bath experience
This morning, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Istanbul. We arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our central hotel. There will be an option for a Turkish bath experience at the luxurious 16th-century Hurrem Sultan Hamam. If you wish to explore the more classic sights of Istanbul, our leader will offer walking maps and suggestions, or can help you book guided experiences. In the evening, we enjoy our last group dinner at Hamdi Restaurant, revered for its traditional southeastern kebabs: it is the place to go for this much-loved Turkish dish. The popular restaurant is situated in the historic Eminönü district (West of Sultanahmet) and offers stunning views over the Golden Horn. Premium accommodation: Kent Hotel, Istanbul (four-star)
Day 9 End Istanbul
After breakfast, we say our goodbyes and start our return journeys home. If you’d like more time to explore magnificent Istanbul, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
