6-Day Turkey Tour from Newark, NJ (Istanbul & Cappadocia)

6 Days

Group Size

1

Overview:

Begin with early morning pick up from your hotel or home address in New Jersey, USA and a shared shuttle transfer to the airport for your overnight flight to Turkey. On arrival in Istanbul, you will be welcomed and transferred to a quality hotel before joining fellow travelers for a guided discovery of the city’s imperial heart. Your guide will lead the group through unforgettable Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks, including Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the vibrant Grand Bazaar. The journey then continues by domestic flight to Cappadocia, where surreal valleys, ancient cave settlements, and volcanic landscapes create one of Turkey’s most magical settings. Explore the remarkable Zelve Open Air Museum, admire fairy chimneys, and visit traditional villages and underground sites that reveal centuries of local life. With guided group touring, carefully arranged airport transfers, domestic flights, and comfortable accommodations throughout, this 6-day itinerary offers a seamless and enriching introduction to Turkey’s two most iconic regions before your return flight to New Jersey.

Highlights:

Visit Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque
Explore Topkapi Palace with your expert local guide
Discover the colorful Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
Fly to Cappadocia for surreal volcanic landscapes
Explore Zelve Open Air Museum’s rock-cut cave dwellings
Marvel at Cappadocia’s iconic fairy chimney formations
Discover ancient underground cities and hidden cave passages
Enjoy comfortable hotels, guided touring, and seamless transfers

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day
1

Overnight Flight from New Jersey to Istanbul

According to your flight schedule, please make your own way from your hotel or address in New Jersey to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) for your overnight flight to Istanbul. Allow ample time for airline check-in, security screening, and passport control before boarding. Your transatlantic journey to Turkey will be operated according to your airline’s routing and service plan, with meals and beverages provided on board as applicable. Keep your passport, Turkey e-Visa confirmation, travel insurance details, and hotel information in your hand luggage for easy access. Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, follow the arrival instructions included in your One Nation Travel documents for meeting assistance and transfer arrangements to the city. Rest as much as possible during the flight before joining your guided group tour in Turkey. Overnight in In flight.
Day
2

Arrival in Istanbul - Welcome to Turkey

Welcome to Istanbul, the meeting point of Europe and Asia. After landing at Istanbul Airport, complete passport control and customs formalities, then proceed to the arrivals hall where a One Nation Travel representative will greet you with a name sign. Your included transfer to the hotel in the Sultanahmet or Old City area usually takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic. Check-in is generally available from 2:00 PM; if your room is not ready, the hotel can store your luggage while you relax in the lobby or take a short walk nearby. The rest of the day is free to recover from your overnight flight and adjust to the local time. Around 5:00 PM, you may wish to explore the streets near your hotel, enjoy tea at a local café, or have a casual Turkish dinner at your own expense. Your guide will confirm tomorrow’s group meeting details by hotel notice or message. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day
3

Istanbul Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, around 8:30 AM meet your guide and join fellow travelers for a full-day group tour of Istanbul’s classic monuments. Begin at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, admired for its vast dome, imperial architecture, and layers of Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. Continue to the Blue Mosque, known for its six minarets and elegant İznik tilework. A short walk brings the group to the Hippodrome, once the ceremonial and sporting center of Byzantine Constantinople. Around 12:30 PM, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with the group. In the afternoon, visit the Topkapi Palace Museum, the former residence of Ottoman sultans, with time to explore its courtyards and imperial collections; the Harem section is optional at additional cost. Finish at the Grand Bazaar Istanbul before returning to your hotel by about 5:00 PM. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day
4

Flight to Cappadocia - North Cappadocia Tour

Around 4:00 AM, transfer from your Istanbul hotel to the airport for the early morning flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir. Depending on hotel policy and flight timing, a breakfast box may be provided. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and drive approximately 1 hour into Cappadocia, where the group begins the North Cappadocia tour. Start at Devrent Valley, known for unusual rock formations shaped by volcanic tuff and erosion. Continue to Pasabag Valley, where mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys create one of the region’s most photographed landscapes. Next, visit Avanos, a pottery town beside the Red River, with time to see a traditional ceramic workshop. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the Zelve Open Air Museum, an abandoned cave settlement with rock-cut dwellings, churches, and community spaces. Around 4:30 PM, stop near Uchisar Castle for panoramic photos before checking in to your cave hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day
5

South Cappadocia Tour - Return Flight to Istanbul

Optional hot air balloon ride pickups usually begin before sunrise and must be pre-booked; flights operate only with favorable weather and aviation authority approval.

After breakfast at the hotel, around 9:30 AM your guide will lead the group on the South Cappadocia route. Begin with Red Valley, where walking paths pass colorful volcanic formations and rock-cut churches. Continue through Rose Valley, then visit Çavuşin Village, known for historic cave houses and early Christian sites. Around 12:30 PM, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, stop at Pigeon Valley for views of dovecotes carved into the cliffs. Then descend into Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, selected according to local conditions and the day’s schedule. Around 4:30 PM, transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your evening flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in and rest. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day
6

Departure from Istanbul - Flight to New Jersey

After breakfast, check out from your hotel in Istanbul and meet your tour representative in the lobby. You will then be transferred to Istanbul Airport (IST) according to your flight schedule, with assistance provided for check-in procedures for your international flight to New Jersey.

Your return flight will take approximately 10–12 hours, depending on the airline and routing. During the journey, meals and refreshments will be served on board in accordance with the airline’s service plan.

Upon arrival at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or your designated New Jersey arrival airport, this marks the end of our services.

Inclusions:

Round-trip international flights between Newark/New York area and Istanbul
4 nights hotel accommodation: 3 nights in Istanbul and 1 night in Cappadocia
3 nights in 4-star or equivalent hotels in Istanbul
1 night in a cave-style hotel in Cappadocia
4 breakfasts at the hotels or breakfast box when required by flight timing
3 lunches at local restaurants during scheduled guided touring days
Domestic flight: Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir
Domestic flight: Kayseri or Nevsehir to Istanbul
Airport transfers in Turkey as per the itinerary
Newark Liberty International Airport transfer to New Jersey accommodation on return
Professional English-speaking local guides during scheduled group tours
Entrance fees to attractions mentioned in the scheduled guided itinerary
Air-conditioned group touring vehicle
Local taxes and service charges

Exclusions:

Turkey e-Visa fee
Travel insurance
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Drinks during meals except water
Optional hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia
Optional Turkish Night Show with dinner in Cappadocia
Optional Topkapi Palace Harem entrance
Optional Bosphorus cruise or independent sightseeing during free time
Meals not specified in the itinerary
Gratuities for guide and driver
Anything not mentioned in the inclusions

FAQs:

Are international flights included from New Jersey?

Yes, this package includes round-trip international flights between the Newark/New York area and Istanbul, as listed in the inclusions. Exact flight times, airline, and routing are confirmed at the time of booking or ticketing.

Is this a private tour or a group tour?

This is a guided group tour. You will join fellow travelers for the scheduled sightseeing days in Istanbul and Cappadocia, with professional English-speaking local guides leading the visits.

Can I book the Cappadocia hot air balloon ride?

Yes, the hot air balloon ride can be booked as an optional activity at additional cost. It must be reserved in advance and is subject to weather conditions and aviation authority approval.

Which airport is used for Cappadocia flights?

Flights may operate through Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport, depending on availability and the best schedule for the tour dates. Both airports are commonly used for Cappadocia, with transfers included as per the itinerary.

Is the Topkapi Palace Harem included?

The main sections of Topkapi Palace Museum are included during the guided Istanbul tour. The Harem section is optional and requires an additional entrance fee if you wish to visit.

How much walking is involved?

This tour involves a moderate amount of walking, especially in Istanbul’s Old City and Cappadocia’s valleys and open-air sites. Guests should be comfortable walking on uneven surfaces and standing during guided visits.

What type of hotel is used in Cappadocia?

The Cappadocia stay is planned at a cave-style hotel or similar regional property, subject to availability. These hotels vary in layout because many are built into or adapted from local stone structures.

Will I travel with the same group and guide throughout the tour?

Our multi-day Turkey packages are regular group/shared tour arrangements, not fully escorted tours with one tour leader and the same guests from arrival to departure. Sightseeing tours are shared and usually operate with about 15-20 guests, but group size and participants may change by city or day as travelers join or leave different scheduled tours. Licensed English-speaking guides lead scheduled sightseeing visits only. Guides do not travel with guests on domestic flights, intercity buses, airport transfers, hotel transfers, or free-time periods unless this is specifically stated in the itinerary. For flights, buses, and transfers, guests are met by our driver or local representative at airports, bus terminals, or hotels and assisted with the planned transfer. One Nation Travel coordinates the full itinerary, hotels, domestic tickets, transfers, local guides, and support throughout the trip.