Meals: Welcome Dinner

Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, we’ll transfer to the hotel in the heart of Istabul. After checking into our hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. 

Over the centuries, many cultures have added their mark to Istanbul. Today, you can experience those influences firsthand by exploring its mahalles (neighborhoods). From the holy sites of Sultanahmet and the 19th-century European elegance of Beyoğlu to the high fashion of Nişantaşı, the vibrant cafe society of Kadıköy and the football-loving streets of Beşiktaş, it’s easy to see why travelers say that Istanbul isn’t just one city, but multiple cities within one.

Included - Welcome Dinner: In the evening we will meet up for a traditional Turkish meal.

Overnight: Bank Hotel Karakoy

 Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning. After breakfast, meet with your private guides and depart for a full day of Sightseeing.

St. Sophia: 

Hagia Sophia is mostly known as one of the most valuable and fascinating structures in the world of art and architecture. The walls of this beautiful piece of architecture are decorated with gorgeous mosaics. UNESCO accepts Hagia Sophia as The World Heritage because of its architectural beauty. ** St. Sophia is a mosque and you need to remove your shoes and cover your head, shoulders, knees. It is advised to dress respectfully during visiting.

Topkapi Palace:

You will visit the magnificient Topkapi Palace which was completed between 1465 and 1478. The Topkap Palace Museum is notable not only for its architecture and collections but also for the history and culture of the Ottoman Empire. Opulent, decadent and steeped in history, it offers visitors a chance to get to know the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire rather more intimately.

Hippodrome:

You will visit the Hippodrome Square which was built by Septimius Severus to entertain the public at the beginning of A.D 2nd century, in 196. 

Blue Mosque:

Blue Mosque, this breath-taking building is one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques in all of Turkey. The blue Iznik tiles covering the walls have given the mosque its popular name, Blue Mosque. Make sure you will spend some time in silence inside the magnificent mosque to admire its prayerful atmosphere and superb beauty. * It is a mosque and you need to remove your shoes and cover your head, shoulders, knees. It is advised to dress respectfully during visiting.

Basilica Cistern:

The largest surviving Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, it was constructed using 336 columns, many of which were salvaged from ruined temples and feature fine carved capitals. Its symmetry and sheer grandeur of conception are quite breathtaking. One of the two Medusa sculpted columns from the Roman period was placed underneath one of them and the other in the opposite direction.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Bank Hotel Karakoy

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning. After breakfast, meet with your private guides and depart for a full day of Sightseeing.

Spice Bazaar:

The historical Egyptian / Spice Bazaar is a colorful and mystical covered spice market lined with spice stalls in Eminonu coast, near the Yeni Mosque, in the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul. Spices, dried fruits, cheeses, sausages, jams, nuts and seeds, Turkish delight and other edibles fill most of the shops. You are able to find about every kind of herbs and spices at the market, and as well as ingredients for cooking, Turkish delight and Turkish coffee.

Grand Bazaar:

You will visit the Grand Bazaar. Before arrival to the Grand Bazaar you will have an opportunity to learn about the art of carpet weaving. One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, the Grand Bazaar dates from the 15th century. The world famous handmade carpets and kilims of Turkey, some of the most beautiful examples of Turkish silver art, souvenirs and decorations made of copper and bronze and high quality ceramics, onyx, and leather goods are for sale.

Afternoon and Dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Bank Hotel Karakoy

Meals: Breakfast 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning. After breakfast, meet with your private guides and depart for a full day of Sightseeing.

Private Bosphorus Cruise:

You will embark your yacht from a local pier to enjoy a private motor yacht cruise on the Bosphorus, the narrow strait of water separating the Asian and European continents and the life blood of Istanbul. Passing along the shores of the Bosphorus you will view magnificent palaces, restored Ottoman villas, impressive fortresses and the waterside residences of Istanbul’s elite. Enjoy soft drinks on the motor yacht and see a different perspective of Istanbul, described by a Byzantine visitor in the 12th century as “the city of the world’s desire”. Cruise takes app. 1½ hours.

Karakoy:

Karaköy is located right in front of the old town, near the Galata Bridge and down the famous Tower of the same name. It covers an area from the banks of the Golden Horn to the Bosphorus. Visiting this populer area brings you a new perspective on the city and its history. It will also make you aware of the cultural and artistic development of Istanbul while reminding you that every corner is part of the rich history Istanbul.

Galata:

Galata is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Istanbul located at the north of the Golden Horn, towards Taksim Square. Galata district and Beyoglu is an important cultural center for the local people of Istanbul and foreigners. In this neighborhood you will see many local boutiques, music shops, designers, trendy cafes and restaurants.

Istiklal Street Walking Tour:

Soak up the atmosphere along the grand boulevard Istiklal Caddesi. Until the mid 19th Century this district was know as Pera and the ‘European Quarter’ of town. The neighborhood went through a period of revitalization in the 90’s and now boast cafes, restaurants, boutiques and wonderful galleries. During your guided walk you will see; the Pera Gallery, the French School and nearby French Street, the Church of St Antony of Padua, the Flower Market and the Mevlevi Monastery and the ornate Dutch, Russian and Swedish Consulates.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Bank Hotel Karakoy

Meals: Breakfast 

This morning, we’ll have breakfast at the hotel before taking our domestic flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Lying in south central Turkey, the moonscaped region of Cappadocia, southeast of Ankara, is most famous for unique geological features called fairy chimneys. The large, cone-like formations were created over time by erosion of the relatively soft volcanic ash around them. Past cultures have dug into them to create dwellings, castles (like Uchisar) and even entire underground cities like Kaymakli and Derinkuyu, used as hiding places by early Christians.

After arriving we will hit the ground running and start exploring the magnificiant landscape that is offered in Cappadocia. After the tours we will check into our cave hotel, Yunak Evleri is a combination of 10 cave houses with a total of 120 private cave rooms dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries.

Devrent Valley: 

Unlike other valleys in the Cappadocia region, Devrent Valley was never inhabited by humans. There are no rock-hewn churches or ancient castles, nor are there any troglodyte caves or pigeon homes. Instead what draws visitors to Devrent Valley is the incredible pink-hued rock formations and geological anomalies that have been formed by centuries of erosion. Wind and water have worked away at the soft volcanic tuff to leave behind compelling pillar-like shapes and other odd forms. Many have dubbed this region the Lunar Landscape or Moonscape for its unearthly appearance and it is necessary to see the area from above to fully appreciate why it has earnt this name.

Pasabag Valley:

Paşabağ ("Pah-shah-bah") which is known in English as the Valley of the Monks. Paşabağ means "Pasha’s Vineyard", a name it received after the Byzantine Greek population left the region which is located in the middle of a vineyard. As you wander Paşabağ, there will be vineyards in sight. Paşabağ contains some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia with twin and even triple rock caps - formations that are unique even for Cappadocia! Locals refer to them as the mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys.

Zelve Valley:

You will visit Zelve Open Air Museum, where three valuable valleys meet. This glorious natural beauty consists of numerous pointed and large fairy chimneys, incredible cave town, honeycombed structures, religious and secular chambers.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel

Meals: Breakfast 

At sunrise you will head out for a magical hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia. As Cappadocia is famous for its natural beauties, fairy chimneys, rock-cut houses, open air museum and historical sites, the hot air balloon ride gives you an amazing opportunity to see a once in a lifetime view. 

This is one of the major attractions and best things to do in Cappadocia and is considered as one of the most interesting and exciting attractions in the world!

After your incredible experience, you will return to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast you will head out to explore more of Cappadocia. 

Kaymakli Christian Underground City: 

You will visit Kaymakli Underground City, used as a shelter for local inhabitants for several centuries throughout the Arab-Byzantine wars. During this time, it was significantly expanded to the point where it, eventually, became the widest underground city in Turkey. It’s estimated that, at its peak, the population of Kaymakli grew to around 3,500 people.

It is believed that the underground cities of Cappadocia were initially built during the eighth and seventh centuries BCE by the Phrygians, who carved their living spaces into the region’s soft volcanic rock. The idea behind the subterranean cities was to protect the inhabitants from foreign invasion, allowing thousands of people to live their lives in total secrecy. During the 14th century, the caves provided Christians with a safe haven from the threat of the Mongolians during the assaults on Timur. Even during the 20th century, they enabled people to save themselves from persecution during the Ottoman Empire.

It was not until 1923, after the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, that the underground cities were completely abandoned and, then, not rediscovered until 1963. After being opened to the public in 1964, it was awarded Unesco World Heritage status in 1985. It offers a fascinating window into the past, descending eight levels deep – although only the first four can be accessed by visitors, which lie at around 20m (66ft) below ground. While exploring Kaymakli, you’ll pass by stables, storage rooms (some of which are still used today), former homes, a church and communal kitchens, where meals were once cooked en masse for the city’s population.

Goreme Open Air Museum:

Visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum which is the miraculous and amazing small cave city that located at Cappadocia’ s famous Goreme Valley. The rich museum has been a member of UNESCO World Heritage Museum List since 1984.  This Unesco World Heritage site is an essential stop on any Cappadocian itinerary. First thought to be a Byzantine monastic settlement that housed some 20 monks, then a pilgrimage site from the 17th century, this splendid cluster of monastic Byzantine artistry with its rock-cut churches, chapels and monasteries is 1km uphill from Göreme's centre.

Avanos & Red River:

Visit the pretty town of Avanos, which has long been a center for pottery artisans as it lies on the banks of the Red River where clay supplies are abundant. Enjoy a visit to a pottery workshop to meet the artisans and see their collections displayed in a underground cave complex.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel

Meals: Breakfast 

After breakfast at the hotel you will head out to explore more in the area.

Pigeon Valley-Easy Hike

You will have a morning hike in the Pigeon Valley to enjoy a fresh morning air and have an opportunity of seeing the landscape closer. The valley’s name comes from the pigeon-cotes carved on its walls.

Mustafapasa Valley: 

You will visit the picturesque village of Mustafapasa, which is a perfectly preserved Greek village in the heart of Anatolia. The former Greek inhabitants left the town in 1923 during the population exchange between Turkey and Greece. The houses exhibit a wealth of carved stonework, wall paintings, and many reminders of their former inhabitants. There will be free time to explore the town.

Enjoy your afternoon at leisure.

Dinner at Leisure or Optional Whirling Dervish Show and Dinner (Additional $85 per person) 

Overnight: Yunak Houses

Meals: Breakfast 

Transfer this morning to the airport and back to Istanbul. Rest of day at leisure in Istanbul to shop, go to the hamman, or explore the city. 

 Included - Farewell Dinner: We will meet up to have a farewell dinner. 

Overnight: Bank Hotel Karakoy

We will have breakfast at the hotel and take a private transfer to the airport for your flight back to the USA.

Safe travels back to the USA. Thank you for traveling with Limitless Planet!