| Day 1 - Welcome to Istanbul!
You'll be met at the airport and escorted directly to your hotel. A complimentary bottle of chilled sparkling wine will be waiting for you in your 5 star suite. The rest of the day is yours to relax or gather your first impressions of this exciting new city. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 – Old City Tour
Following breakfast, you set out on a private tour of the 'Old City' where we visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, the famous Blue Mosque, and Santa Sophia on a private tour. Once a church, then a mosque, and now a museum, Santa Sophia will take your breath away with its sheer size and magnificent dome. Next we will visit the spectacular Topkapi Palace. Explore the mysterious Harem where women planned and plotted their way into Ottoman history and view the extravagant Treasury, home of the world-famous Topkapi Diamond and millions of dollars of priceless gems and jewels. Following lunch we will travel by coach to the Suleymaniye Mosque, built by master architect Sinan during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. The last stop will be Grand Bazaar which is the biggest "souk" in the world with nearly 4000 shops of antiques, jewelry, gold, carpets and leather apparel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3 – Egyptian Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, and Dolmabache Palace
Your morning starts with a private visit to the aromatic Spice Bazaar, where the smells of cinnamon, cloves and thyme, rise from hundreds of colorful muslin bags at every store-front. We then board our ferryboat for a relaxing cruise along the shores of the legendary Bosphorus, the natural gateway that divides Asia and Europe. As you sit back and enjoy Turkish coffee or well-brewed tea, summer palaces and palatial homes pass by on either side. At the northern end of the Strait, we stop at our favorite restaurant for a tasty meal of local seafood. In the afternoon, we tour Dolmabache Palace. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4 - Transfer to Cappadocia
Breakfast in the hotel. In the afternoon, a short 1 hour and 20 minute plane ride puts you in the heart of Turkey - within the lunar landscape of Cappadocia; a magical place of rock formations unlike anywhere else on earth! We’ll transfer you to the amazing Museum Hotel and give you some time to settle in. After lunch, you will have a private light walking tour of Goreme in the afternoon with a local guide on hand to answer your questions. The rest of your afternoon is free for you to take in this lovely heritage-protected town. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 5 – Underground City and Ihlara Valley
After breakfast at the hotel, we pick you up for a day of exploring the outer edges of Cappadocia. Visit the fascinating Derinkuyu Underground City, where whole villages of Christians hid underground from prosecutors and invaders. Next, hike through the cool, green Ihlara Valley, visiting some of the rock-cut churches along the way. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant the end of your walk and then on to Selime for a panoramic view of a rock-cut village. Also stop at the remote Agzikarahan Caravansarai, an ancient rest stop along the silk road for traders and their camels. Private tour. Overnight in Cappadoccia.
Day 6 – Hot Air Balloon Ride and Free Day
One hour before sunrise, you are transferred to the launch site of Cappadocia’s hot air balloons. Enjoy breakfast while the balloons inflate and then you are off just as the sun rises in your own private balloon, with only your balloon operator for company. This is a truly unique perspective on this already fascinating landscape. There will be a champagne breakfast waiting for you upon landing. Free day to relax. Overnight in Cappadoccia
Day 7 – Private Tour of Avanos, Mustafapasha and Urgup (and everything in between!)
After breakfast we’ll take you on a private tour of the unique rock formations of Devrent valley and the picturesque fairy chimneys of Pasabag. We stop for lunch in Avanos, a centre of terra cotta works of art since 3000 BC. and take in a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. At the next stop are the cave houses and fairy chimneys of Urgup, where we also stop at a winery and sample some of the local wines. The old Greek village of Mustafapasha is next, where the old Greek mansions are being restored to their former glory. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 8 – Goreme Open Air Museum and Uchisar Rock-Castle
Free morning to relax. In the afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century). Lastly, we stop at Uchisar Rock-Castle for a panoramic view of the sunset over Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 9 – Free day in Cappadoccia
We understand that some honeymooners need some time to themselves so we have left this day free for just you!
Day 10 - Kayseri to Istanbul
After breakfast the hotel, you will be picked up and transferred to the airport in Kayseri for your flight back to Istanbul. Upon landing in Istanbul you will be met again and transferred to your hotel in Sultanahmet. Free day for you to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 11 – Free day in Istanbul
Your last day is free for shopping for those last-minute souvenirs, enjoying the city’s nightlife or relaxing in one of the cool cafes near the Bosphorus! Your choice! But whatever you do, don’t overdo it! Save some energy for Turkish night, an evening of good food and live entertainment, featuring high-energy dances from the black sea to the mesmerizing spinning of the Whirling Dervishes.
Our suggestions…
Taksim Square and Galata Walking Tour - A wonderful and enjoyable half day walk includes these places: Taksim, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Pera, Galata Tower, Tunel, Galata Bridge and the Egyptian Bazaar and the flower market.
Old City Walls and The Kariye Museum - Built by Constantine the Great, the Kariye Museum (Church of the Holy Savior in Chora) has the best Byzantine mosaics in the region. If you can spare a few hours, you must see them. (Note: the museum is closed Wednesday.)
The Princess Islands – Sandy beaches, pinewood scenery, and restored wooden houses, once the pleasure island of Byzantine princes. Tour the islands with horse-drawn carriages, (there are no cars on the island) before lunch at a local restaurant. There is also a 6th century Byzantine monastery on the island, which is open to visitors.
Traditional Turkish Bath (Hamam) – Featured on several “100 things to do before you die” lists, this is one of those unique experiences you’ll be telling your friends about for years! Don’t be shy! Where else can you bathe in a luxurious marble bath built by Mimar Sinan, the chief Ottoman architect for sultans? The entrance fee includes a locker for your belongings and a wash and massage. (Ask your guide for recommendations as quality varies greatly.)
Day 12 - Transfer to the Airport
We transfer you and your belongings to the airport in plenty of time for your flight. Good-bye and we hope to see you again next year!
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