Turkish Delight: Istanbul & Cappadocia Adventures with Sarah Toyin

Welcome to Istanbul, the first stop on your Turkish journey through the country’s expansive physical and historic landscapes. From Roman to Byzantine, you’ll find the relics of many empires scattered throughout the land. Every step you take around this majestic city will be filled with detailed architecture and stories that span centuries and rulers. Not only will you find a melding of cultural impacts within the architecture, but the food in Turkey tells a similar story of various time periods and leaders. You’ll find Asian and Italian classics, kabobs, and much more throughout the streets and in fine-dining establishments. Upon arrival, take your private transfer to your hotel, freshen up, and enjoy the vibrant city life in downtown Istanbul. From your hotel, you’re walking distance to the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, and much more. Grab a steller meal with the group and toast to an incredible journey together!

Good morning, travelers! After breakfast, you’ll meet your private, local guide for a full-day tour of Istanbul which will cover all the major landmarks and historical events of the country. You’ll start your day exploring Hagia Sophia, the religious center of the city during the Byzantine period. It’s the largest building on earth barring the Egyptian Pyramids or the Great Wall of China! Next, your guide will take you to Topkapi Palace, which was the imperial residence of the Sultan and the seat of government for the Ottoman Empire. You’ll continue on to the Hippodrome, built by the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus in 203 AD. From here, you’ll venture to the famous Blue Mosque, which was built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I in the year 1616 AD. Lastly, you’ll stop at the Grand Bazaar, a vibrant marketplace known throughout the world. The plaza features 18 entrances and more than 4000 shops! As the tour ends, your guide will take you back to your hotel where you can enjoy your final night in Istanbul with your group. Grab some food and prepare for tomorrow’s adventure!

We’ll start the day rather early with a private transfer from your hotel to the airport to catch your flight to the iconic region of Cappadocia. This area of Turkey is known for its “fairy chimney” rock formations, canyon houses, and rock-face churches. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by your guide and driven to the town of Göreme to explore the many rock-cut churches from the second half of the 9th century with colorful frescoes decorating the walls. From here, you’ll be taken to Devrent Valley, famous for its animal-shaped rocks. You’ll continue on to Paşabaği where you'll marvel at the famous fairy chimneys, later stopping for a traditional Turkish lunch in Avanos. You’ll even get a chance to try your hand at making some pottery with local experts! Next, you’ll head to Göreme Panorama for the best views of the fairy chimneys. You’ll have time to stop and take all the social-media worthy pictures. You’ll finish up the tour in Uçhisar, which features the highest natural rock castle in the world. Upon completion, your driver will take you to your posh cave hotel to rest and relax.

Rise and shine, adventure seekers! What a day we have in store! After an early breakfast, you’ll get to be a part of picture history as you soar over the rocky landscape in a hot air balloon. As the sun rises, you’ll float high above the beautiful terrain, marveling at the picturesque vistas will balloons and fairy chimneys all around. After your flight, you’ll get back on the road, where your driver will whisk you away to Rose Valley to see the pink sandstone cliffs. From here, you’ll head to Çavuşin, a village known for its rock-cut churches. Next, you’ll visit Pigeon Valley to see the manmade dovecotes (pigeon houses) that have been carved into the soft volcanic tuff. You’ll have time to walk through this gorgeous area and soak in the views. Up next is a tour of the Kaymakli Underground City where 15,000 Christians once took refuge until the end of the 7th century AD. Explore the bedrooms, church, food storage rooms, and more with your expert guide who will share the history and legends of this architectural masterpiece. You’ll finish up the tour in Ortahisar, famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets and lovely churches, as well as the castle-like rock formation after which the town is named. Once the tour is finished, your driver will take you back to the hotel, so you can enjoy one final night in this divine country.

Who can believe this Turkish adventure has come to an end? You’ve wandered through the cities and visited all the iconic landmarks. We hope you had a great time! After breakfast, it’s time to pack up and head to the airport to catch your flight back to Istanbul. However, you also have the option of extending your trip by traveling to the beautiful resort city of Antalya. (See add-ons below.) No matter where you end up next, we hope you enjoyed your trip. Safe travels!