Enchantments of Istanbul and Cappadocia

Day 1 – Spain – Istanbul

Departure by scheduled flight to Istanbul.
Arrival and after baggage claim, reception and transfer to the hotel.
Free time.
Lodging.

Day 2 – Istanbul. Full day tour

After breakfast, meet your guide in the morning at the hotel reception.
Today we will enjoy a fantastic city tour to discover some of the peninsulas most famous historical sites.
Just minutes from our hotel, we begin the day with a visit to Topkapi Palace, the main residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years of their 624-year reign. In addition to a royal residence, the palace was the scene of state events and royal entertainments
Then our round trip takes us to the famous Hagia Sophia, considered one of the most important monuments in the world, a masterpiece and example of great architectural beauty
On the opposite side of Hagia Sophia is the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed), built between 1609 and 1616. The design is the culmination of two centuries of development of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church.
From the Blue Mosque we headed to nearby Hippodrome Square, once a circus that was the sporting and social center of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. The surviving monuments of Spina (the central barrier of the Hippodrome), the two obelisks (Obelisk of Thutmose III and Walled Obelisk) and the Serpentine Column, now sit in holes in a landscaped garden. Here it is also possible to visit the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, which includes remarkable examples of Islamic calligraphy, tiles and carpets, as well as ethnographic exhibits on various cultures from different periods and regions of Turkey, particularly nomadic groups.
Our last stop takes us to the famous covered bazaar (Kapali Carsi), one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3000 stores attracting between 250 000 and 400 000 visitors a day. The bazaar was founded by Fatih Sultan Mehmet after he conquered Constantinople, with the aim of forming a significant conclusion to the Silk Road.
We conclude the day with a traditional cup of Turkish tea, known as cay and then return to our hotel.

Day 3 and 4 – Istanbul

Free days to discover the city on your own or take optional excursions.

Day 4 – Istanbul – Kayseri Airport – Cappadocia

Pick up from hotel for transfer to airport for flight to Kayseri. Arrival and transfer to hotel in Cappadocia (Transfer time 1hr).
Arrival and lodging. Free afternoon.

Day 5 Cappadocia: Kiliclar Valley & Goreme Open Air Museum, Meskendir Valley & Red Valley Sunset

We recommend enjoying a balloon flight excursion (not included).
Meeting with the guide in the morning at the hotel reception.
After breakfast, meet the guide at the hotel reception. We start the day with a short walk through Kiliclar (Sword) Valley, one of the smallest valleys in the area with many interesting fairy chimneys and ruins. Sword Valley is known for its fantastic views of Cappadocia; on our route there are tracks where it is possible to explore abandoned caves that were dwellings of ancient inhabitants of this region.
In the early afternoon, we arrive at the open air museum of Goreme; one of the most beautiful valleys of Cappadocia. The Christian people in the heart of Cappadocia realized that soft rocks could be easily carved to form houses, churches and monasteries. These Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art from the post-iconoclast period. The frescoes inside Goreme’s open-air museum are a unique artistic achievement of this period. We then continue our hike through Meskendir and the Red Valley area, another beautiful valley in Cappadocia with spectacular formations and colors; replete with ancient cave houses, complexes and hidden churches of the ancient Christian civilization. Although not definitive, the common belief is that most of the churches and complexes carved into the cliff face date back to the 8th and 9th centuries and their decorative reliefs and frescoes were added in the 10th and 11th centuries.
In the early afternoon, we conclude the day with a visit to the red valley viewpoint, the best place for sunset in Cappadocia. The sunset here is glorious; the deepening light makes the colors of the rock formations richer than usual. Here, in a beautiful setting, we sip a cup of traditional Turkish tea while enjoying the beautiful scenery of ever-changing red, pink and yellow colors.
Hiking time: 4-5 h; walking distance: 12-14 km; ascent: 85m; descent: 225m.

Day 6 – Cappadocia – Akvadi Citadel to Uchisar; Cavusin village; Pasabaglari & Zelve Monastery Valley

After breakfast, meet your guide in the morning at the hotel reception.
We begin today’s fascinating tour of Cappadocia in the village of Uchisar, where we will visit the high lookout point known as “the fortress”. Many rooms carved into the Rock are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels and passages. The top of the Citadel offers a magnificent panorama of the surroundings.
Afterwards, we walk through the narrow, picturesque streets of the village to Akvadi, a famous valley that follows an ancient river bed, now used for vineyards. Especially worth seeing is a special section at the end of the valley.
In the early afternoon we reach the village of Cavusin, one of the oldest settlements in the Cappadocia area; a small village made up of rock-hewn dwellings and elegantly carved stone houses. From here a trail, close to beautiful rock formations and with magnificent views, allows us direct access to the nearby Pasabaglari (monk) valley. Here, the fairy chimneys are unique and feature bizarre large mushroom like caps that protect the rest of the chimney from erosion. The area was formerly a monastic retreat and used to be known as the valley of the monks and features a rock-hewn church dedicated to St. Simeon. Near Pasabaglari we also visited the valley of the Zelve monastery, where Christians once moved during the Persian and Arab invasions and the region, although recently uninhabited, became an important settlement and religious area. Stretching over three valleys, two of which are connected by a tunnel, the incredible cave city is famous for its honeycomb dwellings, religious and secular chambers. The monastery is rich in its own beauty; the main decorations are high relief crosses representative of iconoclastic doctrine. We conclude the day with a cup of traditional Turkish coffee and then return to our hotel.
Walking time: 3 h; walking distance: 10 km; ascent: 60m; descent: 350m.

Day 7 – Cappadocia

Free day to enjoy the surroundings and optional excursions.

Day 8 – Cappadocia – Spain