Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Istanbul
Istanbul- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Grand Sirkeci Hotel)
Optional Activities
- Orientation walk to Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn
- Street food exploration near Galata Bridge
Landmarks Galata Bridge Blue Mosque Hagia Sophia Topkapi Palace Grand Bazaar 
- Day 2
Istanbul
Istanbul- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Turkish breakfast including fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, different kinds of cheese, eggs, jams, honey, clotted cream (kaymak), tea and fruit juice; western options also available at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Grand Sirkeci Hotel)
Included Activities
- Traditional Turkish breakfast at hotel
- Tram journey across the Golden Horn
- Ride the Tunel underground train to Galata
- Stroll through Istiklal Caddesi district
- Visit Inci Pastanesi bakery and café and taste profiteroles
- Try legendary Islak burger at Taksim Square
- Funicular railway descent to Kabatas shore
Optional Activities
- Visit Dolmabahce Palace (largest palatial residence in Turkey with 285 rooms on the Bosphorus banks)
- Visit Karakoy neighbourhood and try su boregi cheese pastry
- Explore Istanbul's nightlife and restaurants
- Book own dining experience for the evening
Landmarks Inci Pastanesi Istiklal Caddesi Taksim Square Golden Horn Tunel Galata Kabatas Dolmabahce Palace Karakoy - Day 3
Istanbul
Istanbul- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Sultanahmet Kofte at Selim Usta)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Grand Sirkeci Hotel)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Sultanahmet district
- Guided tour of Sultanahmet Square
- Visit the Blue Mosque
- Visit Selim Usta for Sultanahmet Kofte
- Explore the Grand Bazaar
- Turkish tea in the Bedesten area of the Grand Bazaar
- Visit the Mosque of Rustem Pasa
- Visit the spice market
- Taste baklava and lokum (Turkish delight) at the spice market
- Visit the Museum of Coffee and taste Turkish Coffee
Optional Activities
- Visit the 6th-century Sunken Palace cisterns
- Boat trip on the Bosphorus
- Climb the Galata Tower
Landmarks Sultanahmet Square Serpentine Column Obelisk of Theodosius Blue Mosque Grand Bazaar Mosque of Rustem Pasa Spice Market Museum of Coffee Sunken Palace Galata Tower - Day 4
Istanbul
Istanbul- Meals
- Lunch (Kuru Fasulye (bean stew traditionally cooked in the kitchens of the Suleymaniye Mosque complex))
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Grand Sirkeci Hotel)
Included Activities
- Tram journey along Golden Horn
- Visit to Iron Church (Bulgarian Orthodox Church)
- Cable car journey to Pierre Loti
- Visit to Suleymaniye Mosque
- Lunch of Kuru Fasulye (bean stew)
Optional Activities
- Try famous local tea at Pierre Loti
- Try sahlep (thick sweet drink made with Anatolian orchid tubers)
- Try Maras Dondurmasi (Turkish ice cream with sahlep flavor)
- Try Kokorec (grilled sheep intestine and spices)
- Cookery course
Landmarks Iron Church Pierre Loti Suleymaniye Mosque - Day 5
Istanbul to Konya
Istanbul to Konya- Meals
- Lunch (Cig kofte wraps (spicy mix of bulgar wheat and salca pepper-tomato puree on flat bread with salads and pickles)), Dinner (Konya etli ekmek (extremely long flatbread pizza with spicy meat, crisply cooked and served with salad; vegetarian versions available))
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Konya Bera Hotel)
Included Activities
- Metro journey under Bosphorus to Sogutlucesme station
- High-speed train journey to Konya
- Cig kofte wraps tasting at Kommagene
- Visit to Mevlana Museum
Landmarks Mevlana Museum - Day 6
Konya - Cappadocia
Konya - Cappadocia- Meals
- Lunch (Turkish classic lunch of lentil soup and doner kebab)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Zemi Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Catalhoyuk, the world's first true settlement
- Visit Sultanhani caravanserai
- Short walk and visit painted rock churches in Ihlara Valley
- Tour a wine cellar in Cappadocia
Optional Activities
- Try local wine of the Cappadocia area
Landmarks Catalhoyuk Sultanhani Caravanserai Ihlara Valley Goreme - Day 7
Cappadocia
Cappadocia- Meals
- Lunch (Turkish pide - savoury oval-shaped baked bread with various combinations of toppings or stuffings such as cheese and egg, or ground meat and red pepper. Alternative: Sucuklu pide embellished with garlicky spicy sausage from Kayseri)
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Zemi Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Goreme Open Air Museum with rock-carved churches and monastic buildings
- Visit Uchisar Castle for panoramic views over Cappadocia
Optional Activities
- Hot air ballooning (must book in advance; book yourself for today in case of cancellation to rebook for tomorrow)
- Walk through iconic valleys (Love Valley or Red Valley) lasting approximately two to three hours and covering 4-5 kilometres/3-4 miles
- Dinner with tour leader (try 'Kayseri yaglamasi' - Turkish taco cake made with thin layers of flatbread)
Landmarks Goreme Open Air Museum Uchisar Castle Love Valley Red Valley Cappadocia - Day 8
Cappadocia
Cappadocia- Meals
- Dinner (Pottery kebab (meat and vegetables cooked slowly in special clay pots sealed with dough, served hot in the sealed pot which is cracked open at the table))
- Accommodation
- Hotel 3* (Zemi Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Kaymakli Underground City
- Gentle walk in Soganli Valley
- Visit to rock churches in Soganli Valley
- Vineyard cellar tour and wine tasting (red, blush, white and dessert wines)
Landmarks Kaymakli Underground City Soganli Valley - Day 9
Goreme
Goreme- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer to Kayseri Airport (approximately one-hour drive from hotel)
Landmarks Kayseri Airport
