CENTRAL TURKEY TOUR
Tour Name: Central Turkey Tour
Duration: 7 Days, 6 Nights
Transportation: Domestic Flights*
Visited Places: Istanbul, Cappadocia
ITINERARY
Day 1 (Half day Bosporus Cruise)
After your arrival to Istanbul airport, we will transfer you to your hotel in Sultanahmet area (old Istanbul). You will have free time until noon. You will feast your eyes on the hightlights of Bosphorus while enjoying a delicious grilled fish, chicken or meatball menu accompanied by fresh salads, Anatolian cheese and special Turkish desert Baklava. We will depart the cruise from Rumeli Fortress. Situated at the narrowest point of the Bosporus strait, this forrest was built to prevent aid from the Black Sea reaching Constantinople during the Turkish siege of the city in 1453 AD. You will have your lunch on the boat and see Poyrazkoy next. You will see a panoramic view of istanbul, Bosphorus and Black sea from the best point of view. Poyrazkoy is one of the villages nearest to the Black Sea and is located on the Anatolian side of the Istanbul. From the minaret a bridge leads out to the gun emplacements and ammunition stores and a great view. Although the village is located on top of a hill, there is a road leading to the beach just before the village. Poyrazkoy is an excellent place for a break or for shelter while sailing from Istanbul to the Black Sea.
After the cruise, we will transfer you back to your hotel.
Day 2 (Istanbul full day tour, flight to Cappadocia)
We will pick you up from your hotel at around 08:30 and to day begins with a visit to the amazing Topkapi Palace – home to the Ottoman Sultans for almost 400 years. Today, the palace houses amazing artifacts from the Ottoman period as well as many religious pieces and the famous Harem. The next stop is the Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque – built in the 16th century, this working mosque gets its names from the intricate blue Iznik tiles which adorn the inside. On to the Roman Hippodrome – this Byzantine scene was home to Constantinople's sporting and political life. Today we can see many monuments including a 3500 year old Egyptian Obelisk.
Our next destination is a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we continue with our walking tour by visiting the famous Aya Sofia (Hagia Sophia) museum – this architectural wonder was built in 360 A.D. and was used as a house of worship by different religions until finally being converted to a museum in 1935. The Basilica Cistern is our next stop – also known as the Sunken Water Palace, the Cistern has 336 marble columns and was built in 532 A.D. We continue on to the Tomb of Sultan Mahmud and the ancient Ottoman cemetery, the Cemberlitas – known as the Banded Column and finally onto the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar – the ultimate Old World shopping center with some 4000 shops After the tour, we will transfer you to hotel and than airport for the late Kayseri flight. Our representative will be waiting you at Kayseri Airport and you will come to Goreme in 1 hour.
You will stay in a cave hotel in Goreme
Day 3 (Cappadocia full day tour)
After your breakfast at the hotel, we will join a full day Cappadocia tour starting with Rose Valley Hike. Then take a shorter walk in Pasabag (Monks Valley). We will have lunch in Goreme. Kaymakli Underground City will be your second Unesco World Heritage Site in Turkey after historical parts of Istanbul and it dates back to Hittite times and penetrates five layers deep in the soil. Optional whirling dervishes ceremony can be viewed in the evening. Overnight in Goreme.
Day 4 (Cappadocia full day tour)
On your fourth day, you may have an optional hot air balloon flight with sunrise. After the breakfast, you will join a full day Cappadocia tour. We will start by pausing at Esentepe to enjoy the panoramic view over the Goreme Valley. Then we will drive to Ihlara Valley to see the most spectacular valley of Turkey which used to be a monastic center until 15th century. We will hike about 6km in the valley. After our lunch at a river by restaurant in the middle of the valley, we will drive to Selime Monastery and climb to this 8th century rock-cut monastery. Then we will drive you to your hotel at the end of the day.
Day 5 (Cappadocia half day tour, flight to Istanbul)
On your last day in Cappadocia, we will visit the undiscovered parts of the region. The tour begins with a pick-up at your hotel and a drive to Mustafapasa, the former Greek Village Sinasos with spectacular architecture. We will walk around the village, learning about the population exchange from 1924, the wealthy merchants and locals who once thrived in this town.
We then drive to the Sobessos Excavation Site. This site is currently being excavated and we will see the Roman bath, tombs, temple and beautiful mosaics already unearthed. The next stop will be Soganli Valley, one of the most secluded and tranquil valleys in Cappadocia. We begin our hike along one side of the valley, visiting many cave churches and we return along the other side of the valley to the quaint village. You will also have your lunch in this lovely valley.
After having lunch, we will drive to Derinkuyu Underground City. Used to be known as Melagobia, Derinkuyu was one of the biggest settlements in Cappadocia and its 8 level underground city is the deepest of the region today. We will explore the caves of this interesting city and talk about the way of life here. In the evening, we will transfer you to Kayseri Airport and you will fly to Istanbul. Our driver will be waiting you in Istanbul Airport to transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul
Day 6 (Half day Istanbul Tour)
The day begins with a pick up at your hotel around 08:30. Our first stop is the Yedikule Dungeons (also known as the Seven Towers) – located within the City Walls, this site was used as a prison, a dwelling for lions and a gunpowder factory before becoming a museum. We continue our tour with a drive along the City Walls – the 6.5 Km (4 miles) city walls were breached only twice in 1600 years. At the end of the City Walls we will visit one of the oldest and most important churches in Istanbul, The Church of Chora. Originally built in the early 5th century, the Chora Church (or Church of St. Savior in Chora) houses Byzantine mosaics and murals depicting the life of Christ.
Our next stop is a tea-coffee break at one of the most picturesque points over the Golden Horn. Inspired by the French poet, Pierre Loti – the Pierre Loti café. From here you can either take the cable car down to the Holy Eyup Sultan Mosque, or walk the path which takes you through a Muslim cemetery featuring tulip-carved gravestones. The Eyup Mosque is a place of pilgrimage for Muslims and has beautiful views of the city. We drive along the shores of the Golden Horn, through the towns of Fener and Balat – old Greek and Jewish villages. Our final stop is at the Orthodox Patriarchate in Fener. The drive continues to the Old City with views along the way of the Golden Horn Bridge. We reach the Old City and end our journey at 12:30.
You will have free afternoon Istanbul for last-minute visits and optional shoppings.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 7 (Flight back to home)
After your breakfast we will transfer you to Istanbul airport for flying back home.
*The rate of the itinerary may vary due to the flight ticket rates if the reservation is made in a very short notice to the actual travel dates.
The rate of Central Turkey tour is 850 Euro including;
Istanbul Yusufpasa Konagi Hotel (Standard Room, 3 Nights) with breakfast, Cappadocia Kelebek Hotel (Junior Suite Room, 3 Nights) with breakfast, Professional guiding and all entrance fees in the tours, lunches in full day tours,2 domestic flights (Istanbul - Kayseri and Kayseri - Istanbul) and airport transfersAccommodation costs are based on per person on double room. Single Supplement cost is 75 Euro.
| Optional Hotel Upgrade Packs: | |
| Istanbul Blue House Hotel | 20 Euro per night per person |
| Istanbul World Park Hotel (5 stars) | 35 Euro per night per person |
| Cappadocia Sultan Cave Suites | 20 Euro per night per person |
| Cappadocia Kelebek Boutique Hotel | 20 Euro per night per person |
| Cappadocia Anatolian Suites (Deluxe) | 110 Euro per night per person |
This tour can be expanded with Nemrut Excursion or Gulet Cruise between Olympos and Fethiye.
Please send us an email (info@goreme.com) for booking and further information
