Description
Day 1: Istanbul - Ankara
We'll pick you up from the meeting point in Istanbul that you choose at the indicated time and cross the intercontinental bridge to Ankara, the capital of the country, located 450 kilometres (279 miles) away.
After a 5 to 7-hour drive, we'll arrive at the hotel where we'll dine and spend the night. Rest up, tomorrow will be a long day!
Day 2: Ankara, Saratli and Cappadocia
After breakfast, we'll leave the hotel to start our tour of the capital of Turkey. During the visit, we'll see the most important sites of Ankara, such as the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, with Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian and Urartu remains, and the Mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic.
Leaving the capital behind, on the way to Cappadocia, we'll stop at Saratli, an underground city built by local communities to protect themselves from invaders. Saratli still preserves stables, rooms, and common rooms... Isn't that amazing?
We'll arrive in Cappadocia in the late afternoon, where we'll have dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Cappadocia
After breakfast, we'll set off to explore Cappadocia, Turkey's most famous region. Rock formations, fairy chimneys and lunar landscapes define the area.
During the Cappadocia tour we'll visit the Goreme Valley with cave churches and paintings from the 10th and 11th centuries, the village of Uçhisar with its cave houses, the Pasabag Valley, home to the most famous fairy chimneys, and the Derbent Valley, with its curious natural formations and countless craft workshops. We'll also have the opportunity to visit some of these workshops.
Having enjoyed an amazing day, we'll return to the hotel, where we'll have dinner.
Day 4: Cappadocia
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll conclude this 4-day tour of Cappadocia. If you prefer, you can return to Istanbul on your own or choose the return flight option. In the latter case, after breakfast, we'll take you to Cappadocia airport to board your flight. See you next time!
Accommodation
The tour includes 3 nights of accommodation in the following hotels:
- Ankara: Anadolu Downtown 5*, Point Hotel 5* or similar.
- Cappadocia: Dinler Urgup 5*, Avrasya Hotel 4*, Perissia 5* or similar.
Please note that the reduced ticket price for children is only valid when the child shares a room with two adults.
Pickup
The tour includes pickup from the following meeting points in Istanbul:
- Marmara University Cmapus (Sultanahmet) at 12 pm
- Ataturk Cultural Center (Atatürk Kültür Merkezi) at 12 pm
- Marmaray Yenikapi Station (Aksaray entrance) at 12:20 pm
- Marmaray Sirkeci Station (Sirkeci Gar entrance) at 12 pm
When booking, you have to indicate which meeting point you would like.
Flights Cappadocia - Istanbul
When booking, you can opt for a tour that includes return flights from Cappadocia to Istanbul. We'll take you to Cappadocia airport so that you can board your flight in good time. The estimated time of arrival in Istanbul with this option is 4:30 pm.
If you plan to return to Istanbul on your own or travel from Cappadocia to any other place, we recommend that you book your flight departure for the last day of the tour after 7:30 pm to avoid the risk of missing your flight.
Changes to the itinerary
The order of visits and excursions may vary according to the day of arrival or other factors, such as the celebration of fairs, religious festivals (especially on May 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th, July 31st, August 1st, 2nd and 3rd, October 29th and Sundays) and national holidays. Monuments such as the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market and the Ataturk Mausoleum may close without prior notice, so if this happens, you'll only visit the exterior.
