Arrival Istanbul, Turkey - Overnight at Istanbul
Istanbul - Welcome to Turkey! Upon arriving in Istanbul, we will meet you at our designated meeting point for your transfer from the airport to your hotel. Today is a free day for you to explore Istanbul at your leisure.
Flight from Istanbul to Izmir - Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary Tour - Flight to Cappadocia - Overnight at Cappadocia
Istanbul - Your driver will meet you at your hotel reception and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Izmir. The pick-up time is between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM, depending on your flight schedule. We will confirm the exact time once your domestic flight tickets are booked.
Izmir - Upon arrival at Izmir airport, your driver and tour guide will meet you and drive you to Selcuk, approximately one hour away. Your tour guide will be waiting at the airport’s arrival terminal exit gate, holding a sign with your name on it.
Ayasoluk Castle - During the drive to Selcuk, you will pass Ayasuluk (Selcuk) Castle, visible from your car. This castle, built by the Byzantines using stones from old Greek and Roman buildings, is located near the ancient city of Ephesus. The Basilica of St. John was built on the hill’s slope, with defensive walls extending from the castle, creating a citadel.
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary’s House) - Your first stop will be the pilgrimage site believed to be the Virgin Mary’s last home. The natural beauty surrounding the monument is breathtaking.
Ancient City of Ephesus - Next, you will visit the ancient city of Ephesus, a significant harbor city in antiquity and one of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelations. Highlights include the Celsus Library, Temple of Hadrian, Fountain of Trajan, Odeon, Agora, Fountain of Domitian, Hercule Gate, Grand Theater, Nike, and ancient toilets.
Selcuk - Enjoy lunch at a traditional Turkish restaurant.
The Temple of Artemis - The tour continues to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, first built during the Archaic period.
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport - After the Ephesus & House of Virgin Mary tour, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your flight to Kayseri.
Cappadocia - Upon arrival at Kayseri airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia.
Hot Air Balloon Ride (Optional) - Guided Cappadocia Tour - Flight Back to Istanbul - Overnight at Istanbul
Cappadocia Tours & Hot Air Balloons - Note: The Hot Air Balloon Ride is an optional activity and not included in this tour package. Prices vary by season and demand. Please request this activity in the special requests section when booking. The tour operator will provide details. Activity Description: Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the balloon site to watch the preparation. The flight occurs at sunrise, reaching altitudes of 700 to 1000 meters. The total activity lasts about 3 hours, with the flight itself lasting around 60 minutes. A champagne celebration and a medal presentation will follow the flight.
Urgup - We will pick you up from your hotel around 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM for the Red Tour of Cappadocia. Visit the famous fairy chimneys known as the Three Beauties, the symbol of Urgup and Cappadocia.
Goreme Open-Air Museum - Explore the monastery with rock-cut churches, kitchens, wineries, storages, and living rooms from Anatolian Christians. This museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ortahisar Panorama - View the 90-meter-high rock castle in the town’s center, an example of the region’s rock-cut architecture used as a refuge during Byzantine times.
Uchisar Castle - Uchisar rock castle is a major landmark in Cappadocia, offering beautiful views of the surrounding valley. Due to walking difficulties and safety risks, there will be a panoramic stop instead of a visit.
Avanos Oren Yeri - Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Avanos, with vegetarian options available. Avanos is known for its old town with cobbled streets and views over the Kizilirmak (Red River). The town is famous for its earthenware pottery, a tradition dating back to the Hittites.
Devrent Valley - Also known as Imagination Valley, this area features many red-colored, animal-shaped rocks, with camels being a common shape.
Fairy Chimneys - Cappadocia is renowned for its unique landforms, particularly the Fairy Chimneys. You will see many examples of these formations during the tour, though there will be no specific stop.
Cappadocia - At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Cappadocia airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
Istanbul - Upon arrival in Istanbul, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Return flight times are between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, arriving in Istanbul around 9:30 PM to 10:45 PM, allowing you to catch your return flight after the full-day Cappadocia tour.
Walking Tour at Sultanahmet District (Old City of Istanbul) - End of Services
Sultanahmet District - Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel around 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM for a walking tour of the historical sites in the Sultanahmet District.
Topkapi Palace - Explore the splendor of the Ottoman Empire at Topkapi Palace, a self-contained city with buildings, pavilions, and courtyards. Admire the outer-terraced gardens and the view over the Golden Horn. Note: Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays and will be replaced with a visit to the Basilica Cistern if your tour falls on a Tuesday.
Hagia Sophia Mosque - Visit Hagia Sophia, a significant site for the Greek Orthodox religion, later converted into a mosque. Explore the monument’s blend of mosque and church elements, including the stunning dome, minarets, mosaics, paintings, and Roman columns. Learn about the İznik tiles, the Virgin Mary mosaic, and the sultans’ tombs in the courtyard.
Deraliye - Enjoy lunch at Deraliye Ottoman Cuisine Restaurant, a Michelin Guide restaurant in Istanbul.
German Fountain - Hear the stories behind the German Fountain, a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to the Sultan.
Hippodrome - Visit the Hippodrome, a former circus built in 203 AD by Roman Emperor Septimus Severus. See the remaining monuments, including the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and Constantine Column. Pause at the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, made from eight marble columns.
Grand Bazaar - Explore the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with hundreds of shops selling handmade carpets, Turkish coffee, and more. Note: The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and the first day of religious feasts. If your tour falls on these dates, the visit will be replaced with a trip to the Spice Bazaar.
Istanbul - The travel package services end after this tour. No accommodation or airport transfer services are provided post-tour. Your tour guide will leave you at the end of the tour, concluding the services.
- Arrival and departure airport transfers for domestic and international flights
- Domestic Flights: Istanbul to Cappadocia to Istanbul
- Lunch included
- Day Trip(s): 1 full-day & 1 half-day tour in Istanbul, 1 full-day tour in Cappadocia
- Breakfast included
- Entrance fees for museums, national parks, ruins included
- Professional English-speaking tour guide
- Experience(s): Hot Air Balloon Ride, ATV Quad Bike Safari
- 4 nights accommodation with breakfast
- Hotel Pick-up & Drop-off Services
- Dinner & Drinks
Travel to two of Turkey’s beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites without the hassle of booking accommodation, tickets or a rental car. On this 4 days tour, visit the Derinkuyu Underground City, Devrent valley, Goreme open-air museum, Avanos, Ihlara valley, rock churches, unique landscape and rock-cut houses of Cappadocia. Explore the ancient city of Ephesus, walking among the ruins of grand buildings like the Celsus Library and the Temple of Artemis.
- Hotel drop-off (return to Istanbul) timing : The departure time of return flight will be at the afternoon. The local tour operator will inform you about exact timing after they booked your domestic flight tickets. After you arrived Istanbul, local tour operator will transfer back you to your hotel in Istanbul. This transfer duration will be approximately one hour.
- The prices of package are valid for accommodation at the double or triple room. If you would like make reservation for single room(s), there could be supplement cost. There are not going to be any extra cost for single / solo travelers. This cost already accounted on price of these travelers.
- The pre-planned hotels are “Hagia Sophia Mansions in Istanbul” - “The Magnaura Palace in Istanbul” - “Zeynep Sultan Hotel in Istanbul” - “Exedra Hotel in Cappadocia” - “1811 Cave Boutique Hotel in Cappadocia” - “Sedirli Konak Boutique Hotel in Cappadocia” for your accommodation on this travel. You can choose any of them while booking. If preferred hotel by you is not available for standard/superior rooms on your travel dates, local tour operator can replace it with an equivalent hotel.
- The check-in time of hotels is 02.00pm, and you can not start use your room before this time. This is about the check-in & check-out policies of hotels. If your arrival flight will be landing to Istanbul-Turkey before that time , you have to add one night more hotel reservation to package, or wait at the reception of your hotel until 02.00pm for check-in to hotel.
- The differences between the package options are about the hotel categories. Tour(s), airport transfer(s) and flight ticket levels will be same for all options.
- The local tour operator will send e-tickets of your domestic flights at six days before your departure date. You will not need print out copies of the tickets for domestic flights. Your passport and reservation number on the tickets will be enough for check-in to plane.
- The local tour operator can request your some passport details for the bookings of your flight tickets.
- You will have 15kg luggage + 8kg hand bag quota per person for each domestic flight. If you will need more luggage capacity, please inform that to local tour operator. There could be some extra fee for luggage quotas more than 15kg. This is exactly about the policies of airline companies.
- If your drop-off hotel is inside of airports (IST and SAW airports) local tour operator do not provide any drop-off service on last day of this trip package.
- Hot air ballooning is a fully weather-dependent activity and the Civil Aviation Authority determines whether the flight will be held. If your flight is cancelled due to inclement weather conditions, you are entitled to a partial refund. In such a case, your refund will be processed by the day after of that trip.
- The Standard Balloon Ride has an One-hour approximately flight duration with 20 to 28 people capacity basket. The flight duration could be 50-55 minutes or 65-70 minutes. This situation depend the weather conditions before landing, and pilots are decide to that within the safety rules of Civil Aviation Authority. Total activity duration is approximately 3 hours.
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required.
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking.
- This tour is not available for the bookings to children who are 17 years old and under.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
