Istanbul Cappadocia 5 Days

Istanbul - Cappadocia

DAY 1: ISTANBUL
Arrival in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 2: ISTANBUL OLD CITY CLASSICS AND HIGHLIGHTS
09:30 Departure from your Hotel. We continue to the Blue Mosque, which was built in the 17th century and is the only imperial mosque with 6 minarets. Then the Hippodrome, a stadium and meeting place in Byzantine times, the Serpent Pillar from Delphi and the Egyptian Obelisk, with the Fountain of Wilhelm. Visit the Caferaga Medresesi which was designed by the architect Sinan and built in the 16th century, now used as a learning center for traditional Turkish arts. We will then explore the Topkapi Palace. It was the home of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th-19th century A.D. We see the Imperial Treasury with the famous Spoonmaker Diamond. (Harem section is optional and due an extra entry fee). The tour ends in the Grand Bazaar, which has over 4000 shops full of treasures. Overnight Istanbul. (B)
This tour may be done completely as a walking tour.
Notes: Sunday the Grand Bazaar is closed - On Tuesday the Topkapi Palace is closed

DAY 3: ISTANBUL – CAPPADOCIA – GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM AND FAIRY CHIMNEYS
Pick up 2 hours before departure time
Transfer to Istanbul Airport and take the morning flight to Cappadocia. Arrive and meet you outside the arrivals gate and start with the tour. Visit Devrent Valley - natural rock formations with fantastic shapes, some of which are reminiscent of people and animals. Visit the Zelve area with Pasabagi for a walk in the vineyards among strange multiple "mushroom-capped" fairy chimneys, then continue to Avanos, which has been a center of terra cotta work since 3000 BC. See a pottery demonstration using the ancient kick-wheel technique. We will also visit Goreme Open Air Museum, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. See the best examples of Byzantine frescoes and symbols inside the rock-cut churches that date roughly from the 10th to the 13th along with the kitchens and dining halls of the monks in this extensive early Christian complex. The last stop will be Uchisar Castle where we climb up tunnels inside the rock citadel for an extensive panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia and even Mt Erciyes on a clear day. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B.)

DAY 4: CAPPADOCIA – UNDERGROUND CITY- ISTANBUL
09:30 Departure from your Hotel. Hike along the Red/Rose Valley, the most breathtakingly beautiful valleys in our unique area. Finish the hiking tour at the Cavusin Cave Village. After a 1 hour walking and Cavusin village visit continue to Kaymakli Underground City and explore four levels of this underground city which is a maze of tunnels where it is believed up to 3500 people may have lived. You will see storage rooms, kitchens and living areas with ventilation shafts. There are also wineries, stables and “millstone” doors which could be rolled to seal tunnel entrances from invaders. Parts of the underground city may be from the Hittite era but were also used by early Christians as a refuge as there is a small church. Last stop at one of the most important symbols of Cappadocia, the Legend of Three Beauties takes its name from the fairy chimney of two adults and a child. Transfer to Airport in Cappadocia and take the flight ot Istanbul. Arrive and meet you outside the arrivals gate and transfer to your Hotel. Overnight Istanbul. (B.)

DAY 5: ISTANBUL
Pick up 3 hours before departure time
Transfer to Istanbul airport and take your flight HOME. (B.)


***Meal Plan: (B = Breakfast L= Lunch D = Dinner)

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