DAY 1 USA - Istanbul: Fly to Turkey

Board your flight to Istanbul.

DAY 2 Arrive in Istanbul: Arrival & Leisure Time

Arrive at Istanbul’s Ankara International Airport and meet your tour representative for a comfortable transfer to your 5-star hotel in the city center. After check-in, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax after your journey. You can take advantage of the hotel’s amenities or take a brief stroll around the surrounding area to start getting a feel for the city. Rest up for the sightseeing adventures that await you tomorrow.

DAY 3 Istanbul Old City: Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia

Start the day with breakfast at your hotel before meeting your guide this morning. Begin your exploration of Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district with a visit to the Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans, where you can admire its stunning courtyards and treasures. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue Iznik tiles, and the Hagia Sophia, a marvel of Byzantine architecture filled with incredible mosaics dating back to the 6th century. Wrap up your day’s tour and transfer back to your hotel for some rest.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch

DAY 4 Istanbul – Nevsehir – Cappadocia: Flight to Cappadocia + Fairy Chimneys Tour

Enjoy breakfast before transferring to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Nevsehir. Upon arrival, meet your local guide and check in at your hotel in Cappadocia. Spend the afternoon discovering Cappadocia’s unique fairy chimneys, impressive rock formations created by volcanic activity and erosion over thousands of years. Learn about the region’s rich Christian history, which dates back to the 1st century AD. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner

DAY 5 Cappadocia: Goreme Open-Air Museum, Red Valley, Pottery Demo & Optional Dervish Show

After breakfast, depart your hotel at 10 AM to visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases ancient churches carved into the rock, adorned with beautiful frescoes. Explore 15 churches, 7 refectories, and various storerooms and living quarters within this incredible cave complex. Continue to Zelve and the Red Valley, known for their distinctive red rock formations, and visit two of the most fascinating churches in the area: The Church of Grapes and The Fish Church. In the afternoon, visit Pasabag (Monk's Valley), where fairy chimneys with multiple caps rise dramatically from the ground. End the day in Avanos, famous for its ancient pottery craftsmanship, and take part in a pottery demonstration, learning about techniques that date back to the Hittites. Return to your hotel for dinner and afterwards, as an optional experience, you can attend a Whirling Dervishes performance at a historic 13th-century caravanserai, where the mystical Sufi dance expresses peace and compassion.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner

DAY 6 Cappadocia – Nevsehir – Istanbul: Flight to Istanbul + Grand Bazaar Visit

After breakfast, transfer to Nevsehir Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, visit the famous Grand Bazaar, one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks and one of the largest covered markets in the world. Explore its maze of shops selling everything from Turkish carpets to jewelry and spices. Enjoy dinner back at your hotel in the Old Town.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Dinner

DAY 7 Istanbul: Bosphorus Cruise, Spice Market & Aya Sofya

After breakfast, meet your guide for a scenic Bosphorus cruise, where you’ll sail through the strait that separates Europe and Asia. Take in stunning views of Istanbul's skyline, with palaces and mansions lining the shores, as well as key landmarks like the Dolmabahce Palace and Rumeli Fortress. After the cruise, explore the lively Old Spice Market, where you can experience the rich colors and fragrances of local spices, herbs, and Turkish delicacies. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant before continuing your tour with a visit to the Hippodrome, which once hosted chariot races and political events in ancient Byzantium. The day concludes with a visit to the majestic Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya Mosque), a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture with an enormous dome and intricate mosaics, showcasing the city’s diverse history. Return to your hotel for some rest and relaxation.

Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch

DAY 8 Depart Istanbul: Depart from Istanbul

Meet your driver at the hotel after breakfast for a comfortable transfer to Istanbul Airport. Board your outbound flight with unforgettable memories of your journey through Istanbul and Cappadocia.

Included: Breakfast at hotel