Istanbul and Cappadocia — with a balloon flight

Trip highlights

• A sunrise balloon flight of around an hour
• The Göreme Open-Air Museum — rock churches with frescoes
• The underground city of Derinkuyu — up to eight levels
• A night in a cave boutique hotel
• Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and a Bosphorus cruise
• Uçhisar Castle and the Devrent valley
• Avanos — a pottery workshop and local crafts

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 · Istanbul

   Arrival

   Meeting, check-in and an evening walk.

   Istanbul ★★★★
2. 2

   Day 2 · Istanbul

   The historic peninsula

   Hagia Sophia, the Sultanahmet Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace.

   breakfastIstanbul ★★★★
3. 3

   Day 3 · Istanbul

   The Bosphorus and the bazaars

   A Bosphorus cruise, the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar. An evening domestic flight to Cappadocia.

   breakfastGöreme, cave hotel ★★★★
4. 4

   Day 4 · Cappadocia

   Balloon flight and Göreme

   A pre-dawn balloon flight (weather permitting). After breakfast, the Göreme museum, Uçhisar Castle and Pigeon Valley.

   breakfastGöreme, cave hotel ★★★★
5. 5

   Day 5 · Cappadocia

   Underground city and valleys

   The underground city of Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı, the Devrent and Paşabağ valleys, a pottery workshop in Avanos. (If the flight was postponed, it takes place today.)

   breakfastGöreme, cave hotel ★★★★
6. 6

   Day 6 · Cappadocia

   Free day

   A free day: optionally an ATV safari, a horse ride or a walk in the Ihlara valley. An evening return to Istanbul.

   breakfastIstanbul ★★★★
7. 7

   Day 7 · Istanbul

   Balat and free time

   The Balat and Fener quarters and the Galata Tower. Free time in the afternoon for shopping or a hammam.

   breakfastIstanbul ★★★★
8. 8

   Day 8 · Istanbul

   Departure

   Check-out and transfer to the airport.

   breakfast

Prices and dates

Guaranteed departure dates

A 30 % deposit, the balance 21 days before departure. Cancellation terms: Payment and cancellation.

Included / not included

Hotels

Hotels may be substituted for equivalents of the same category.

Before you book

• The balloon flight depends on the weather. If cancelled, you fly on the spare day or receive a full refund.
• Departure for the flight is around 04:30–05:00 — an early start.
• The underground city has narrow, low passages; not advised for those with claustrophobia.
• Mornings and evenings in Cappadocia are cool — bring warm clothing.