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Exploring Turkey

Culture and Caves

Our Culture and Caves itinerary is a personalised tour of Istanbul and Cappadocia, perfect for an unforgettable family holiday.

Starting with a few days exploring Istanbul’s bustling bazaars, imposing mosques and monuments, and the nearby Princes’ Islands.  A short internal flight to central Turkey and you will find yourself in the other-worldly landscape of Cappadocia.  This region is famed for its unusual rock formations, underground cities and cave dwellings.  We think staying in a unique cave hotel is just as exciting for adults as it is for the kids!

Both Istanbul and Cappadocia can be visited at any time of year, and Cappadocia is particularly magical with a dusting of snow in the winter months.

We have based this itinerary on a family of four, but we are of course happy to tweak the trip to suit your requirements. Below is a sample itinerary, simply contact our Turkey specialists for more details.

Your Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to Istanbul

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to Sirkeci – around 35 mins drive, depending on traffic.

Day 2 - Old City Tour

Half day private tour of ancient Sultanahmet, including visiting the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya, Hippodrome and colourful markets of the Grand Bazaar.

Day 3 - The Princes' Islands

A full day cruise over to Büyükada, the largest of the Princes’ Islands, stop for delicious lunch in a local fish restaurant before exploring the island by horse drawn carriage.

Day 4 - Final Day in Istanbul

Enjoy a leisurely final day, haggle your way through the markets, visit nearby Topkapı Palace or take a stroll through beautiful Gülhane Park, located opposite the hotel.

Day 5 - Enchanting Cappadocia

After a short flight from Istanbul to Kayseri you will be whisked off to Seraphim Cave Hotel in the pretty village of  Mustafapaşa.

Day 6 - Göreme Open Air Museum, Devrent and Love Valleys, Avanos and Uçhisar

Your guide will meet you at the hotel for your full day tour of the region.  Including a walk through Devrent Valley and its mushroom-like rock formations, a visit to the fairy chimneys of Love Valley.  Stop for lunch in Avanos, famed for its pottery dating back to the Hittite period.  Then it’s on to the Göreme Open Air Museum with its fascinating fresco painted chapels and monasteries.  Before heading back to your hotel, take in the panoramic views from Esentepe before returning to Uçhisar to visit the castle.

 

Day 7 - Jeep Safari

Discover off the beaten track Cappadocia with an exhilarating jeep safari.  On this 2 hour tour you will be driven through the magical lunar landscape of the region stopping for photo opportunities.

Day 8 - Time to Leave!

After breakfast head back to Kayseri Airport for your flight back to the UK via Istanbul.

What's included?

Includes

  • Airport transfers
  •  4 nights in Istanbul, 3 nights in Cappadocia
  •  ½ day city tour Istanbul
  •  Full day tour to Princes’ Islands including lunch (drinks payable locally)
  •  Full day tour of Cappadocia including lunch (drinks payable locally)
  •  2 hour jeep safari

Excludes

  • Additional or alternative tours
  • Additional meals
  • International flights
  • Personal expenditure, travel allowances
  • Gratuities

This is a sample itinerary and may have to be adjusted for days of the week and site closures. Some of these experiences may not be available on low season.

Contact us to tailor the trip for you and your travel dates.

Prices are dynamic and based on sample dates in November. Breakfast is included. Room upgrades are available, as are alternative hotel options.

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Istanbul
An intoxicating city and the only one in the world to sit across 2 continents. Enjoy breakfast in Europe and lunch in Asia, then back again for the evening.

Most of the popular sights, history and activity are centred on the European side in an area called Sultanahmet. But we recommend you explore further - taking in the Bazaars, cruising along the Bosphorous, and visiting the rooftop bars of Sultanahmet.
Cappadocia
The unique natural caves and ‘fairy chimneys’ in Cappadocia would be beautiful on their own, but they’ve been rendered even more interesting by their history as a refuge for Christians looking to escape Islamic armies. The result is fascinating carvings, frescoes and churches deep in caves.It’s easy to see why drifting over this region on a hot air balloon has become popular.

It’s probably the best region for serious hikers as well, offering challenging mountains and valleys for those who seek them, with rich scenic rewards.
Kalkan
Kalkan is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest holiday beach towns along Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. It calls visitors back again and again.

The charming cobbled-stone town is packed with excellent restaurants, and sits staggered down the hillside to the ocean, with dramatic mountains in the backdrop.
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Thrace Wine Region
A beautiful region producing wine since ancient times. Guided tours of vineyards are open from April to the October harvest.
Fethiye
The Fethiye region is beautiful, with its verdant valleys and dramatic mountains covered in sweet-scented pine forests, ancient tombs carved into the rock faces and simply magnificent beaches. The most famous are the blue lagoon at Ölüdeniz, and the neighbouring Butterfly Valley, aptly named due to the diverse species of butterflies that have made it their home.

For history and nature lovers this region ticks all the boxes, with its many ancient sites to visit including the ruined temples of Tlos Letoon, and the derelict old Greek houses in the ‘ghost village’ of Kaya Valley. Spring is a wonderful time to visit; with its unique flora and fauna, it is simply bursting with rare wild flowers.
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Göcek
Göcek, in the Fethiye region, is a chic, harbour-side town surrounded by 12 islands – stunning just to look at, and even more spectacular to explore onboard a gulet. More
Datça & Bozburun Peninsulas
For a real taste of unspoilt Turkey, visit the gorgeous peninsulas of Datça and Bozburun with their mountain hamlets, forests of pine and a myriad of fishing villages, beaches and secluded coves, just waiting to be discovered.

The southernmost of the two peninsulas is Bozburun, where the main village is renowned for building traditional gulets, splendid wooden Turkish yachts that are seen along the whole coastline.

The Datça Peninsula is home to ancient Knidos which lies at its tip, where the remains of this Dorian port city overlook 2 stunning bays.
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Bodrum Peninsula
Despite Bodrum being a bustling, cosmopolitan town, the old part is incredibly pretty and has remained unchanged for many years, with old white and blue stone houses in the backstreets covered in colourful Mediterranean flowers.

The area is also packed with ancient history. You can see Bodrum Castle from pretty much everywhere, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnussus (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) is tucked away here too.
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