Day 1 – Arrival In Istanbul: Arrivals to Istanbul throughout the day. Welcome dinner at hotel & overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 – Istanbul: Today starts early so you can beat the crowds in exploring the Sultanahmet neighborhood of Old Istanbul. See the interior of the Blue Mosque, then Hagia Sophia Museum, and finally the Basilica Cistern. Then tour the incredible Topkapi Palace. You’ll have some free time to keep exploring (potentially the archeology museum) or you can walk back from the area to the hotel. Dinner will be part of a Turkish cooking class.
Day 3 Istanbul: Today is all about being transported to another era. You’ll head to Grand Bazaar for a day of shopping for rugs, lamps, and your perfect Turkish accessories, snacking on local foods, and visiting spice shops. You’ll do both a guided tour and then have free time to just explore and shop independently.
Day 4 Istanbul: This unique day starts with experiencing Istanbul from the water. You’ll go aboard a lunch-time Bosphorus river cruise. You’ll see all the historical sites along the banks and enjoy getting a feel for how Asian versus European sides of the city differ. Then in the later afternoon you’ll head to a Traditional Turkish Bath for an authentic hammam experience. Finally, dinner tonight will be at a restaurant with a special live show and music.
Day 5 Travel To Cappadocia: You’ll have the morning at leisure and time to explore and shop on your own. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to the airport and fly to Kayseri (the closest airport to Cappadocia). You’ll then drive to check-in at your unique cave hotel!