ISTANBUL & CAPPADOCIA (06 Days)

Suleymaniye, rather than a mosque, is an important historical symbol for the Turks. It unites Sinan with Suleyman, one representing the best of the arts and the other most powerful of political strength.

The Golden Horn, (in Turkish Halic) horn-shaped estuary divides European Istanbul . One of the best natural harbors in the world, the Byzantine and Ottoman navies and commercial shipping interests were centered here.

A fairy chimney is a conical rock formation, typically found in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. It consists of a cap of hard rock resting on a cone-shaped pinnacle of softer rock.

A fairy chimney is a conical rock formation, typically found in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. It consists of a cap of hard rock resting on a cone-shaped pinnacle of softer rock. In Cappadocia, houses have been carved from these formations, and they mak

Highlights: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Market, Bosphorus Cruise, Beylerbeyi Palace, Camlica Hill, Goreme Museum, Avanos, Devrent, Kaymakli Underground City, Rose Calley, Gulludere Valley, Uchisar, Ortahisar
Operates: All year-around / By flight
Package Rate: Please fill the form and tell us your travel dates & choice of hotels
Optional Tours: Turkish Bath (Hamam), Hot Air Balloon, Whirling Dervishes Performance
Note: Istanbul & Cappadocia tour is insuranced by TURSAB (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies)

DAY 01 – Arrival in Istanbul
Upon arrival in Istanbul, the city of two continents, you will be greeted by Veni Vidi Travel representative with Turkish hospitality & accompanied during your transfer to the hotel, where you will be briefed by your travel consultant with the remainder of day at leisure to relax &/or check out the city. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 02 – Bosphorous Cruise & Asian Istanbul Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Your day will start with journey along the Golden Horn, the arm of the Bosphorus peninsula which separates the old and new cities of Istanbul, also the location where the first colonies settled during Byzantine, now the residential area of Byzantines Jews, Italian traders and other non-muslim minoririties. Follow the traces of history in Balat at the Fener Orthodox Patriarchate, proceeding on to visit the Metal Church of St Stephen the Bulgarian, Ahrida Synagouge, Eyup Sultan Mosque and see the 21km long City Walls of Istanbul. Next stop, the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar), with mystical smells of different aromas of various spices, followed by a cruise along the Bosphorus on one of the iconic ferries of Istanbul offering you the opportunity to see Istanbul from a different perspective, the old wooden villas, Rumeli Fortress, Ortakoy Mosque and both bridges that link Asia & Europe. Disembarking the ferry and enjoy a trip over the Intercontinental Bosphorus Bridge to Camlica Hill, the highest hill in Asiatic Istanbul to enjoy breathtaking views of both shores. Head back to Europe with a stop at Beylerbeyi Palace which was the summer residence of the late royal Ottoman family. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 03 – Garden of Emperors Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Your day will commence with a visit to the ancient Byzantine Hippodrome where you will tour the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, Fountain of Wilhelm II, the elegant Blue Mosque famous with its heavenly six minarets and the Hagia Sophia Museum, built during the reign of Emperor Theodosius and burned down in the fire of Nika Revolt in 532 A.D. Then you will have a visit to the Underground Cistern, which known as the Basilica Cistern during the Roman period, as there was a Stoa Basilica above the pre-existing one at the time. Lunch will be served at Topkapi Palace, in a restaurant with panoramic view of the Bosphorus, Asia & Europe. After lunch you will be guided to visit the residence and administrative center of the Ottoman Sultans. Historical tour of Istanbul will conclude with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, exploring a labyrinth of streets and passages housing more than 4,000 shops. After the tour you will be leaded back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 04 – Flight to Cappadocia / Cappadocia Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Complete check-out and board your transfer to Istanbul Airport for the domestic flight to Kayseri (Cappadocia). On your arrival at Kayseri Airport, you will by your guide who will start you on your journey to the Devrent Valley which is perfect for exploring rock formations of the famous fairy chimneys and then off to Pasabaglari Valley, formerly known as the "Monks' Valley" (Rahipler Vadisi). Next you will visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and view the ancient rock-hewn churches sculpted in the hillsides almost a thousand years ago. After lunch, continue on to the small town of Urgup, which has many carved dwellings that are still inhabited. Stop at a local restaurant for lunch and then off to join in the Discovery Series “Art of Pottery in Asia Minor” event for the afternoon, offering you the opportunity to visit a cave pottery atelier.  You will continue with a visit to Uchisar Castle, situated at the highest point in the region. Your day will conclude with a visit to Piegon Valley, the famous grounds where pigeons were trained to deliver messages throughout Central Cappadocia, essential for communication. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 05 – Cappadocia Tour / Flight to Istanbul (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Check-out and start your second day tour of Cappadocia with a visit to Rose Valley, named after the pink tints visible in its weathered rocky sides. Along the way you will see the original and still currently inhabited rock-formed houses. Then proceed to Cavusin Village, one of the oldest settlements in the area, stopping at the Church of St. John the Baptist, offering panoramic view of the village. After lunch you will continue on to the south of Cappadocia to visit Kaymakli Underground City, carved underneath beneath a rocky hill (Kaymakli Castle). The day tour will finish with a stop at Ortahisar, famous for the Castle of Ortahisar situated in a 86m height cave during the period of Eti.  At the end of the tour you will be transferred to Kayseri Airport for the domestic flight to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 06 – Istanbul / Departure (Meal: Breakfast)
Breakfast, check-out & transfer to Istanbul International Airport as per your onward flight schedule.

Please take note of the following:
* We aim to respond to all requests within 24 hrs. We are happy to modify the itinerary upon request
* Smoking is not permitted in our tours but all tours make frequent stops

What's Included:
* Hotel accommodations in choice of preferred class
* Professional Guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
* Noted sightseeing tours on regular group or private guided basis
* Main entrance fees to sights mentioned by the itinerary
* Meals mentioned by the itinerary - Vegeterian meals available
* Required land transport including roundtrip airport transfers with A/C minivans
* Required internal flight tickets
* Local taxes & handling services

What's NOT Included:
* International flights to/from Turkey and personal travel insurance, any other expenses not noted in the above included section or airport tax, visa for Turkey (if required), any tips to guide, driver or staff at hotels, items of a personal nature, hotel extras (minibar, telephone/internet usage, laundry, etc), drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast) and medical services.