8-Day Istanbul, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul, Airport Transfer and Free Day

Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport(IST) or Sabiha Gökcen Airport(SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international line of the Airport, holding a sign with your name written on it. After which, you will be transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to spend at leisure. Alternatively, you can join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Accommodation: Antea Hotel OR Ayasultan Hotel OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Tour

After your breakfast, around 8:30 am, we will pick you up from your hotel to begin a full-day tour of this magnificent city. It includes an official English-speaking guide, tickets, lunch at a central city restaurant, and a visit to the most resplendent monuments that the Ottoman, Byzantine, and Roman empires have handed down to future generations: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque), Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square), Topkapi Palace and Historical Grand Bazaar, which houses more than 4000 stores. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at approximately 5:00 pm. The rest of the day will be at leisure.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Antea Hotel OR Ayasultan Hotel OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Fly from Istanbul to Konya – Half-day Guided Konya Tour – Travel by Intercity Bus to Cappadocia (237.9 km)

You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Istanbul Airport for your early morning flight to Konya. Upon arrival in Konya, a representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the city center to begin your half-day Konya Tour.

Konya Tour Itinerary:

• Tomb of Rumi & Mevlana Museum: Our first stop will be the Tomb of Rumi in the Mevlana Museum, a significant pilgrimage site for Muslims and admirers of Rumi alike.
• Sultan Selim Mosque: Adjacent to the Mevlana Museum, we will visit the Sultan Selim Mosque, a masterpiece from the Ottoman era.
• Lunch Break: Enjoy some free time for a lunch break at a traditional Turkish restaurant.
• Alaettin Hill & Alaaddin Mosque: We will drive along Mevlana Caddesi, Konya’s main avenue, to reach Alaettin Hill. Here, we will visit the Alaaddin Mosque, a thousand-year-old mosque where Rumi often prayed. The courtyard hosts the tombs of several Seljuk Turkish sultans who were contemporaries of Rumi.
• Sems-i Tabrizi Mosque and Tomb: We will descend the north side of Alaettin Hill, passing by the remnants of the Seljuk sultan’s palace. We will cross the street to view the ornate portal of the medieval Great Karatay Medrese before walking to the Mosque and Tomb of Sems-i Tabrizi, Rumi’s closest companion and spiritual mentor.

After the tour, you will be transferred to the Konya bus station. From there, you will board an intercity day coach to Cappadocia, a journey that will last approximately 3 hours. Upon arrival at the Göreme bus station in Cappadocia, you’ll be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Romantic Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: North Cappadocia Tour

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please be aware that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally, towards the end of the day tour, before returning to your hotel, you will have the opportunity to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. Please note that the interior of the Uchisar castles is not accessible for visits. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm. You will have the rest of the day free to relax, explore the city on your own, or take part in any optional activities that are offered.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Romantic Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: South Cappadocia Tour

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit Cavusin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm. The rest of the day is free for you to explore or relax at your leisure.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Romantic Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 6: Travel from Cappadocia to Ankara by intercity bus (294.0 km)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Göreme main bus station. From there, you’ll board an intercity day coach for a 5-hour journey to Ankara. Upon arriving at the Ankara bus station, a representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Ankara at your own pace.

• Overnight in Ankara
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Best Western Plus Center Hotel OR Holiday Inn Ankara or similar (Standard quality)

Day 7: Ankara Sightseeing – Fly back to Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up around 9:30 AM to start your city tour of Ankara. The tour begins with a visit to the Mausoleum of Atatürk, a site dedicated to the founder of the Turkish Republic. After exploring the Mausoleum, you’ll have some free time for a lunch break at a local restaurant. Next, the tour will continue with a visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, where you can explore exhibits spanning from the Palaeolithic to the Urartian periods of central Anatolia. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Ankara Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, a representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Antea Hotel OR Ayasultan Hotel OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 8: Departure from Istanbul – End of Tour Service

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel in Istanbul (hotel check-out is before 12:00 noon) and will then be transferred to the Istanbul International Airport according to your flight details. This will be the end of our tour and services.

•  Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers mentioned in this itinerary, including arrivals and departures.
• Domestic flight tickets (from Istanbul to Konya and Ankara to Istanbul) as specified in the itinerary.
• Intercity bus tickets from Konya to Cappadocia and from Cappadocia to Ankara.
• Accommodation for 3 nights in Istanbul at Special Class or 4-star Hotels, inclusive of breakfast.
• Accommodation for 3 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Accommodation for 1 night in Ankara at a 4-star hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Services of a professional licensed English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch).
• All entrance fees are as indicated in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• International Flight Tickets.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Drinks with meals.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed.
• On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.