6 Day Custom Family Tour Istanbul and Cappadocia

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul, Airport Pick-up

1. Istanbul
   1h
   It will be our great honor to accompany you in this 6-day Turkey tour package. Upon your arrival, our representative will pick you up on time and then escort you to the hotel. After check-in, please take a good rest and get ready for the coming explorations.

Day 2: Istanbul Old City: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar

1. 30m
   Today, our local guide will show you around the old city area of Istanbul with rich historical relics. The first stop will be the ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square) of the Byzantine Era (395-1453). It is one of the most frequented squares in the city, inviting you to trace the storied past by visiting those well-preserved buildings.
2. Blue Mosque
   2h
   Then proceed to visit the Blue Mosque. Standing as an iconic landmark in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque attracts you with more than 20,000 sophisticated blue and white Iznik tiles inside. These tiles have deep cultural connotations in addition to their outstanding artistic value. Blue is often linked with the sky and the sacred in Islam, so the tiles also represent devotion and a quest for the sacred.
3. 1h · Admission ticket included
   Hagia Sophia, once a church in Byzantine Era and a monastery in Ottoman Era (1299-1923), shows a perfect fusion of Christian and Islamic architectural styles. Its massive domes and soaring minarets blend together beautifully from a distance.
4. TopkapI Palace
   2h · Admission ticket included
   In the afternoon, we will go on to explore Topkapi Palace, the imperial palace and political center of Ottoman Empire from 15th to 19th century. In addition to traditional European elements, it incorporates Islamic and other architectural forms. Admire the ceramics, weapons, jewelry, and apparel that the Ottoman Sultans once used in this currently Turkey’s largest museum. We’ll visit the Basilica Cistern instead when the Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday.
5. Grand Bazaar
   1h
   Today’s tour will end at Grand Bazaar, the indoor fair with more than 4,000 shops on 65 streets. Please pay close attention to our guide to avoid getting lost in these maze-like passages. You will then be escorted back to the hotel by the guide and driver.

Day 3: Istanbul: Egyptian Bazaar & Bosphorus Strait Cruise, Fly to Cappadocia

1. Egyptian Bazaar
   1h 30m
   Today’s visit will begin with another bazaar, the Egyptian Bazaar, also known as the Spice Market. It is full of colorful spices, dried fruits and other daily essentials, making it a shopping paradise for locals. Turkey’s cuisine is the world third largest one, with spices playing a crucial role in that ranking.
2. Bosphorus Strait
   2h · Admission ticket included
   ★ Special Arrangement: Bosphorus Strait Cruise
   Next, the guide will accompany you to enjoy a 2-hour Bosphorus Strait Cruise. Bosphorus Strait separates Asia and Europe, so you can get a deeper understanding of cultures and histories here when passing by the Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace and Bosphorus Bridge. The cruise ship has two floors, and the seats are not fixed. Switch your viewpoint freely to take in the beautiful surroundings, but seats on the left side and second floor offer a more magnificent view.
3. Cappadocia
   1h 30m
   Following that, the driver will transfer you to the airport to take a 1.5-hour flight to Cappadocia. Upon your arrival, you will be escorted to the hotel.

Day 4: Northern Cappadocia Tour: Goreme Open Air Museum, Pasabag Valley & Devrent Valley

1. Goreme Open Air Museum
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After breakfast, our local guide will accompany you to explore the Northern Cappadocia. The first stop will be the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its volcanic rock formations. But the rocks are not unbreakable, Christians had painstakingly cut out more than thirty cave churches here. They even painted beautiful murals to adorn the churches. ★ VIP Ticket with Access to Dark Church
2. Avanos
   1h
   Then we’ll visit Avanos. Follow the guide to explore those special motifs in ceramic studios and porcelain boutiques here, unveiling the secret craftsmanship for generations. The Kizilirmak River, Turkey’s longest inland river, runs through Avanos. The red clay from the river is ideal for pottery-making, shaping Avanos into the ceramic haven it is today.
3. 1h
   The next stop will be the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), exuding entirely natural beauty with those prettiest fairy chimneys in Cappadocia.
4. Devrent Valley
   1h
   Then we’ll head to the Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley), a concentration of oddly shaped volcanic cones and the most obvious eroded landforms. Not to be missed are the camel-shaped cones, serving as unique landmarks to offer you unforgettable sight. Afterwards, you’ll be escorted back to the hotel.
5. 30m
   On the way, we will stop at Love Valley so you can snap photos of the breathtaking Cappadocia sunset.

Day 5: Southern Cappadocia Tour: Uchisar Castle & Kaymakli Underground City, Fly back to Istanbul

1. 1h · Admission ticket included
   Today, continue to visit the Southern Cappadocia. At first, the guide will accompany you to visit the Cavusin Village, a deserted ancient village rich in rock houses. And we’ll visit the Great Basilica (St. John the Baptist Chapel) here.
2. Rose Valley
   1h
   Then, go on to visit the Rose Valley, which is home to towering rocks. The mountain here appears in various colors as the angle of sunlight changes, through which you’ll have an illusion of being in a movie screen.
3. Red Valley
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Our next destination is Red Valley, and we’ll enjoy a 2-hour hiking here.
4. Uchisar Castle
   1h · Admission ticket included
   After that, you’ll be guided to the Uchisar Castle, a masterpiece of natural and ancient wisdom. The 60-meter-high rock was cleverly hollowed out into various caves. When foreign enemies invaded, they became natural havens with enough supplies to sustain the inhabitants for months.
5. Kaymakli Underground City
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Today’s final viewing destination will be Kaymakli Underground City, the largest and most popular one among more than 30 underground cities found in Cappadocia. Our guide will navigate you throughout its labyrinthine tunnels so you won’t get lost inside.
6. Istanbul
   1h 30m
   At the end of the day, we will escort you to the airport to take a 1.5-hour flight back to Istanbul. Upon your arrival at Istanbul airport, our local driver will greet you there and transfer you to the hotel.

Day 6: Istanbul Airport See-off

1. Istanbul
   1h
   At the agreed time today, our driver will escort you to the airport and see you off. Our service will end here. Hope you have had a great time with AgateTravel.

Pickup details

Upon your arrival, our representative will pick you up on time at airport hall and then escort you to the hotel.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels