Turkey sits between Europe and Asia and has the history of both. This eight-day trip pairs Istanbul, the old capital of two empires, with Cappadocia, the strange volcanic landscape of rock cones, cave churches and hot-air balloons in central Anatolia.
You spend four nights in Istanbul, fly to Cappadocia for three, and travel with local guides for the sightseeing days. Istanbul is walkable and served by trams; Cappadocia needs a car and a guide to reach the valleys and underground cities. Flights to Turkey are not included.
Trip facts
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Istanbul
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April to June, September to October
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Old-city hotel and a Cappadocia cave hotel
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Domestic flight and private transfers
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1 to 14 guests
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Easy to moderate
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Breakfast daily
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Cultural
Overview
Turkey sits between Europe and Asia and has the history of both. This eight-day trip pairs Istanbul, the old capital of two empires, with Cappadocia, the strange volcanic landscape of rock cones, cave churches and hot-air balloons in central Anatolia.
You spend four nights in Istanbul, fly to Cappadocia for three, and travel with local guides for the sightseeing days. Istanbul is walkable and served by trams; Cappadocia needs a car and a guide to reach the valleys and underground cities. Flights to Turkey are not included.
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace in Istanbul
- The Grand Bazaar and a Bosphorus cruise between two continents
- Sunrise hot-air balloon over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, an optional add-on
- The rock-cut churches of the Goreme Open-Air Museum
- An underground city carved eight levels deep
