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Discovery of Caucasus Holiday Planner Tours to Turkey Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ankara tour - 8 days (TR-06)

Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ankara tour - 8 days (TR-06)

Group size
2-8 people
Season
All year
Duration
8 days
Departs
Saturday
Starts
Istanbul
Ends
Ankara
Countries
Turkey
Cities
Ankara, Cappadocia, Istanbul
Ankara - 2 nights
Cappadocia - 2 nights
Istanbul - 3 nights
Price
from $1,695
Reservation
View dates and prices
This 8 day tour combines the highlights of cosmopolitan Istanbul and Turkey’s capital Ankara with the breathtaking landscapes of Cappadocia. You’ll begin in Istanbul, a sprawling city which spills over into two continents: Europe and Asia. There’s plenty to see, including historic mosques, palaces and bazaars that will help you gain an insight into its beguiling past. From there, we’ll fly inland to our next destination: Cappadocia. It’s one of the prettiest areas of the country, not least because this volcanic landscape is littered with quirky rock formations and cave dwellings. Last of the trio we’ll visit will be Ankara, the country’s bustling capital and commercial heart.

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IncludedServices included in the package price.
Not includedServices not included in the package price.
Practical informationAll you need to know about Best of Caucasus packages.
Istanbul
Day 1
Transfer from the airport to the hotel
Today you’ll land in one of the world’s greatest cities: Istanbul. Multi-faceted and magnificent, the place the Romans called Constantinople was once the hub of the Byzantine and later the Ottoman empires. 21st century Istanbul is thriving. After your transfer from the airport to your city centre hotel, we highly recommend you take a stroll through the neighbourhood to get your first taste of this mesmerising city. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2
Istanbul City Tour
Visit Grand Bazaar
We’ll begin today by concentrating on the oldest and most characterful parts of the city. On today’s itinerary are visits to the spectacular Hagia Sophia, which during its history has been a mosque, church and museum. We’ll show you around the fascinating Topkapi Palace, where the Ottoman sultans resided for more than four centuries. You can admire the cavernous Blue Mosque, officially the Sultan Ahmet Mosque - its nickname comes from the colour of the 20,000 or so Iznik tiles which cover its walls. You’ll also see the Serpentine Column and the Colossus (the column of Constantine Porphyrgenitus) and the Hippodrome, centred on a landmark Egyptian obelisk - it’s hard to believe that this was once a place where chariot racing took place. And of course no trip to Istanbul could be complete without a visit to the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Overnight in Istanbul. (Breakfast, lunch)
Day 3
Visit Egyptian Market
Bosphorus Cruise
This morning we’ll head to Istanbul’s second most famous bazaar as we take a look around the Egyptian Market, also known as the Spice Bazaar. Under its magnificent vaulted ceiling - in Istanbul you must always look up - you’ll find traders touting for business. They sell colourful pyramids of spice, nuts, dried apricots, boxes of Turkish Delight and tourist trinkets. Outside, the square is always busy, with people and pigeons. The birds come to feed on scraps discarded by the fishermen line the Galata Bridge which spans the Bosphorus. They sit patiently by their rods, chatting as they wait for a bite. Fittingly, our next activity today is a boat trip along this important waterway. As we head upstream at a leisurely pace, you’ll have plenty of time to admire the mansions and palaces that adorn its banks.
Overnight in Istanbul. (Breakfast, lunch)
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Cappadocia
Day 4
Transfer from the hotel to the airport
Flight to Cappadocia: Istanbul - Cappadocia
Cappadocia Sightseeing
This exceptionally beautiful region lies inland, so to reach it we’ll need to take a short flight from Istanbul and then complete our journey by road. The region’s soft volcanic rock is easy to carve. When coupled with the area’s turbulent ancient history, it’s not hard to see why in the past, people felt safer underground. There are around 200 subterranean settlements of varying scale, the most famous being Kaymakli and Derinkuyu. We’ll kick off our sightseeing programme underground exploring what it would have been like to live like this. The natural landscape is just as unusual and Cappadocia is best known for its fairy chimneys. These massively eroded pillars of rock are found in great concentrations in some of the nearby valleys, so we’ll make time for a stop at a scenic viewpoint so you can grab some pictures. Overnight in Cappadocia. (Breakfast, lunch)
Day 5
Cappadocia Sightseeing
Cappadocia’s caves provided the ideal refuge for persecuted Christian communities and many monasteries and churches, some with astonishing frescoes, litter the area. Goreme’s Caves of God, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will be our focus this morning as we venture into the hollowed out tufa to get a closer look at these places of worship. The bucolic valleys surrounding Goreme are also a delight to explore. There are numerous opportunities in the delightful Avcilar, Red and Pasabag valleys for short hikes and riverside strolls where you can admire cliffs pockmarked with dovecotes, fruit orchards and more of those fabulous fairy chimneys. We’ll wrap things up with a look at Uchisar’s ruined hilltop castle which will have you reaching for your camera once again. Overnight in Cappadocia. (Breakfast, lunch)
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Ankara
Day 6
Transfer by car / minibus: Cappadocia - Ankara
Ankara City Tour
Mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk
After breakfast we’ll transfer you to Ankara, making the three hour journey in comfort by car. This modern city, the country’s capital since 1923, is a commercial hub with modern shopping districts and office buildings. But it’s also where the founder of the Turkish Republic is buried. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is one of the 20th century’s great political leaders and at home he is considered a national hero. He rests in peace at a mausoleum called Anıtkabir. An included city tour will give you a feel for Ankara’s major landmarks, such as the Presidential Palace, and you’ll see how different it is from Istanbul. Overnight in Ankara. (Breakfast, lunch)
Day 7
Anatolian Civilisations Museum
This morning we’ll visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, which is housed close to the Citadel, the hilltop settlement founded by the Hittites some 3000 years ago. It’s highly regarded, considered one of the best archaeological museums in the country. Inside you’ll find an array of exhibits that tell the story of the ancient settlers in Asia Minor from the Stone Age. The Neolithic, Hittite and Phrygian works of art are especially impressive. Down the hill from the museum are the ruins of the Roman temple of Augustus and Rome. It’s not the only legacy of this once great empire, as Ankara is also where you’ll find the Column of Julian and the ruins of the Roman baths. There’ll be free time this afternoon for you to explore these sites and more on your own. If art’s your bag, we’d also suggest calling in at Cer Modern. Overnight in Ankara. (Breakfast, lunch)
Day 8
Transfer from the hotel to the airport
This is the end of your tour. Our driver will transfer you to the airport in time for your flight home.
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Dates and prices
Please read notes at the bottom of the table to learn more about the meaning of each pricing section
Travel package
Year of travel
Travel dates Excluding flights Single supplement Book
12/07/2024 - 12/14/2024 $1,695 $445 book now
12/14/2024 - 12/21/2024 $1,695 $445 book now
01/04/2025 - 01/11/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
01/11/2025 - 01/18/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
01/18/2025 - 01/25/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
01/25/2025 - 02/01/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
02/01/2025 - 02/08/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
02/08/2025 - 02/15/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
02/15/2025 - 02/22/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
02/22/2025 - 03/01/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
03/01/2025 - 03/08/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
03/08/2025 - 03/15/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
03/15/2025 - 03/22/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
03/22/2025 - 03/29/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
03/29/2025 - 04/05/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
04/05/2025 - 04/12/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
04/12/2025 - 04/19/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
04/19/2025 - 04/26/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
04/26/2025 - 05/03/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
05/03/2025 - 05/10/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
05/10/2025 - 05/17/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
05/17/2025 - 05/24/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
05/24/2025 - 05/31/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
05/31/2025 - 06/07/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
06/07/2025 - 06/14/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
06/14/2025 - 06/21/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
06/21/2025 - 06/28/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
06/28/2025 - 07/05/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
07/05/2025 - 07/12/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
07/12/2025 - 07/19/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
07/19/2025 - 07/26/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
07/26/2025 - 08/02/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
08/02/2025 - 08/09/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
08/09/2025 - 08/16/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
08/16/2025 - 08/23/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
08/23/2025 - 08/30/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
08/30/2025 - 09/06/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
09/06/2025 - 09/13/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
09/13/2025 - 09/20/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
09/20/2025 - 09/27/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
09/27/2025 - 10/04/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
10/04/2025 - 10/11/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
10/11/2025 - 10/18/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
10/18/2025 - 10/25/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
10/25/2025 - 11/01/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
11/01/2025 - 11/08/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
11/08/2025 - 11/15/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
11/15/2025 - 11/22/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
11/22/2025 - 11/29/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
11/29/2025 - 12/06/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
12/06/2025 - 12/13/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
12/13/2025 - 12/20/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
12/20/2025 - 12/27/2025 $1,695 $445 book now
Travel dates Excluding flights Single supplement Book
12/07/2024 - 12/14/2024 $1,995 $545 book now
12/14/2024 - 12/21/2024 $1,995 $545 book now
01/04/2025 - 01/11/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
01/11/2025 - 01/18/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
01/18/2025 - 01/25/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
01/25/2025 - 02/01/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
02/01/2025 - 02/08/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
02/08/2025 - 02/15/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
02/15/2025 - 02/22/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
02/22/2025 - 03/01/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
03/01/2025 - 03/08/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
03/08/2025 - 03/15/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
03/15/2025 - 03/22/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
03/22/2025 - 03/29/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
03/29/2025 - 04/05/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
04/05/2025 - 04/12/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
04/12/2025 - 04/19/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
04/19/2025 - 04/26/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
04/26/2025 - 05/03/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
05/03/2025 - 05/10/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
05/10/2025 - 05/17/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
05/17/2025 - 05/24/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
05/24/2025 - 05/31/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
05/31/2025 - 06/07/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
06/07/2025 - 06/14/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
06/14/2025 - 06/21/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
06/21/2025 - 06/28/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
06/28/2025 - 07/05/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
07/05/2025 - 07/12/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
07/12/2025 - 07/19/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
07/19/2025 - 07/26/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
07/26/2025 - 08/02/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
08/02/2025 - 08/09/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
08/09/2025 - 08/16/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
08/16/2025 - 08/23/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
08/23/2025 - 08/30/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
08/30/2025 - 09/06/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
09/06/2025 - 09/13/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
09/13/2025 - 09/20/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
09/20/2025 - 09/27/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
09/27/2025 - 10/04/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
10/04/2025 - 10/11/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
10/11/2025 - 10/18/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
10/18/2025 - 10/25/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
10/25/2025 - 11/01/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
11/01/2025 - 11/08/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
11/08/2025 - 11/15/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
11/15/2025 - 11/22/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
11/22/2025 - 11/29/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
11/29/2025 - 12/06/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
12/06/2025 - 12/13/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
12/13/2025 - 12/20/2025 $1,995 $545 book now
12/20/2025 - 12/27/2025 $1,995 $545 book now

Note on pricing:

  1. All prices are per person, in US dollars. All included services are listed in the tour dossier and the section "Included" in the tour description.
  2. Price "Excluding flight" does not cover airfare, you are free to book your own flights. Alternatively we can quote for flights from any international airport.
  3. Single supplement goes towards single room accommodation.
  4. Difference between packages.
Tour Route
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