Istanbul and Cappadocia 4 Night Package

Información

Istanbul, historically known as Constantinople has served as an Imperial capital for almost 1600 years and has a wealth of historical sites of great significance making this one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit.

Cappadocia is a spectacular region in central Turkey, famed for its’ lunar landscape. Here you can admire the multi-coloured rock formations and picturesque fairy chimneys created from volcanic rocks as a result of erosion over the centuries. The area has also been an important religious place and underwent intensive emigration by the first Christians.

On the second day, the full day tour covers some of the key sites in the Sultanahmet area of the city. The tour begins at the Haghia Sophia Museum which boasts the 4th largest dome in the world. This stunning building began as a Byzantine basilica built in the 6th century AD during the reign of Justinian and was an architectural innovation at the time. After this, the tour moves on to the nearby Blue Mosque, so called after the delicate designs of the Ottoman tiles which decorate the walls of the shrine; the mosque is identifiable by its’ six minarets. After lunch, the tour moves on to the Hippodrome, once the centre for sports and entertainment in old Constantinople, the Roman Capital; it was also a very important centre for politics. Finally, the tour ends with the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the Imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th century. Home to the Imperial Treasury and the Cabinet, as well as being the site of the barracks for the Janissaries, the elite of the army, every corner of the palace tells about the splendour of the Ottomans.

The following day the half day tour gives a comprehensive view of much of the city beginning with the remains of the Byzantine city walls and the Golden Horn, that atmospheric and much-photographed peninsula which geographically separates the historic centre from the rest of the city. It then proceeds to the Bosphorous Bridge which stretches across the Bosphorous Straits joining the continents of Europe and Asia, affording a panoramic view of the Asian shore. Before returning to the hotels at 13.30, there will be a shopping opportunity. Free time until transfer from hotel to Istanbul airport.

Day four is an exciting day exploring the highlights of the wonderful region of Cappadocia which includes Göreme Open Air Museum where you can see several churches built into caves by Christians between the 10th and 13th centuries. The tour also visits the multi-coloured rock formations of Pigeon Valley and Uchisar’s picturesque fairy chimneys; Avanos, a small town which has settled on both banks of the Red River (Kizilirmak) and is famous for its’ ceramics made with the red clay from the riverbank; Pasabaglar, known as Valley of Monks where you can see mushroom-like fairy-chimneys with multiple caps and stems situated in the middle of a vineyard and the Three Beauties of Urgup, three unique fairy-chimney shaped rocks.

The next day is the final one of the package with an early morning flight back to Istanbul. Tour assistance finishes at Kayseri Airport.

Meeting/pick-up point: Pick up from Istanbul Ataturk Airport on the first day (for transfers from Sabiha Gokcen Airport there is a return additional charge).
Duration: 5 days and 4 nights
Languages: in Russian.
Included: 4 nights accommodation in 5 star hotels on BB basis, transfers to and from airports, entrance fees to places of visit, the shuttle service for the tours, professional guide, 2 lunches.