10 days, 9 nights (journey)
Arrival at the airport of Istanbul: the adventure begins. A transfer will take us to the hotel in the historic center of Istanbul, Sultanahmed. From the terrace of the hotel we have one of the most impressive views of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, which are a couple of minutes walk. A welcome dinner on this terrace overlooking so much beauty may leave some people stupefied.
The morning is dedicated to the unavoidable visits to Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the impressive underground Yerebatan cistern. We will be guided by a bilingual Turkish Guide that will lead us by the hand through that universe of details of these impressive monuments and also you can find answers for those questions that only a Turk can answer about their own culture.
After eating, a walk through the Great Bazaar and surroundings and a visit to the masterpiece of the great architect Mimar Sinan, the Süleymaniye Mosque, is the best choice for this first day of adaptation.
At night we will visit the Şehzade Mosque complex that still preserve some magical corners as his ancient medersa and hamman; located in the north corner, now are converted into a restaurant. In it, we will have the privilege of seeing a Dervish ceremonial dance after we have enjoyed a delicious Turkey dinner.
Istanbul is the junction between two continents and the Bosphorus is the tangent separating them. Today we cross it in one of its ferries to the Asian side arriving to Kadiköy, animated and cozy district with an authentic local ambient. Its market and its narghile bars will lead us to one of its many restaurants that count with much of the Bohemian clientele of Istanbul.
Back to Europe for a deserved rest, transit between continents tires more than it seems. In the evening another ferry will take us to Ortaköy to see its exquisite mosque which by its small size and its beauty seems a pearl floating in the sea.
Today will be a day of hops between continents and neighborhoods, a chance to understand why Istanbul is the Bosphorus and vice versa. We mean a perpetual cross.
Today we go to Eminönu, the famous district for its ferry port and its captivating mosque of the same name. Beside it, the Egyptian or species Bazaar and a little further away the precious and tiny Rustem Phasa mosque part of an Ottoman complex where still remain hamman, hospice, wineries and medersa.
We eat under the famous Galata Bridge across the waters of the Golden Horn named by his old fishing wealth. Today this bridge link two modes to understand Istanbul, two concepts: modernity of the north side and the tradition and history of the South side. A good walking morning is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the Turkish pace, and to be open to the many opportunities Turkish people give you to get into their lives.
Afternoon free, for you to enjoy a Hammam, we will recommend the Chamberlitas one of the nicest and best preserve; or a coffee and narghile in Gazi Atik, a really curious location bar.
At night a transfer to the train station on the Asian side for our night journey through Anatolia with destination to the capital, Ankara.
The train cars are very comfortable and includes minibar.
We reach Ankara early morning where our private transport will be waiting for us. After breakfast we will visit the Museum of Civilizations, impressive ancient Turkish history tour. From here, and after about 4 hours crossing the Anatolian peninsula where we recognize the true vastness of the Turkish land we arrive to Göreme, the undisputed center of the Cappadocia.
His enchantment will begin to captivate us from the outset and we will need time to get used to this ancestral and almost magical landscape.
Today 100% Cappadocia. Our private transport and local guide will take us through this beautiful landscape where the Göreme Open Museum and the underground city of Kaymakli are our main visits. The Byzantine frescoes that adorn the chapels excavated in the rock of Göreme Open Museum are famous worldwide, and the feeling of being under these history-laden vaults is when less daunting.
At night, in the caravanserai Sarihan dating from the 13th century and one of the obligated stops on The Silk Route, we will see a Sema or whirling Dervishes ceremonial dance. I don’t dare to say that it will be a mystical experience but will be close to those terms. The dervishes or Mevlevis are born in the 13th century under the leadership of Grandmaster Rumi, founder of Sufism. Today his teachings are resurfacing with as much or more effectiveness than before.
Free morning to enjoy the abundant offer of activities: hot-air balloon, quads, bikes, motorbikes, hiking, horse riding, or the more relaxed pool and hamman of the hotel, by the way, a charming place itself. This hotel, which exudes authenticity and good taste, has been built using some of the houses and chapels excavated in the so characteristic chimneys of Göreme.
In the afternoon we go to Avanos where you will visit one of their famous pottery workshops. Later we will head to the beautiful village of Mustaphapasa to have dinner in a traditional style. We will be host in an old Orthodox Greek House that is still known by that name. This small town retains all the charm and the enchantment of the rural Cappadocia, away from the bustle of other locations with a more thriving tourism activity.
At twelve o’clock transfer to Neveshir airport to return to Istanbul. This time we will stay in the Beyoglû neighborhood in the most modern and cosmopolitan area of the city. Part of the authentic life heartbeat of the new Turkey arises in this bustling neighborhood, modern but genuine, sometimes frantic and sometimes paused and bucolic. Essential if you want to understand the contemporary Turkey outside of their topics. Essential is the Galata Tower, built by the Genoese in the 14th century to control this narrow passage, gives us an unparalleled view of the city at its feet. Also deserves a visit the St John's Church, the largest of Istanbul, based on the never sleeps, Istikal Avenue. Bursting with life Istikal kadesi never rests and its surroundings boil with nightlife: live music clubs, bars, restaurants and so many different styles and ambiences.
We cannot leave Istanbul without tasting one of their narcotic narghile or shîsha and one of the best places is just by the beautiful Kilic Ali Pasa mosque, resting in foam chairs scattered in the grass under a huge Bay tree and along with hundreds of Turks that every day gather in this place leaving behind office, traffic and urban frenetic. A little-known corner and personally one of my favorite.
At this point we shall be clear that this city of more than 12 million people is not only incomprehensible in space but mainly in its content. Napoleon said that if the earth was a single State, Istanbul will be its capital. And he was not lacking reason.
Soak it, to become infected from it, is easy: simply walking along its streets, leaving ourselves to get surprised by thousand and one beautiful corners and its friendly people, travelling the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn on ferry or losing the notion of time at the Pierre Loti Cafe on the Eyup Hill. Free today.
We have to go, but surely we will not want to do it without touchable memories of this world of worlds, so free morning for last-minute shopping.
Try not to be late to get the transfer to the airport.
They are high-level perfectly located 4-5 stars hotels
In Istanbul, we have decided to stay at two different hotels on arrival and departure, so you can understand the city in its true dimension, contrasting tradition and modernity.
In Cappadocia the hotel is simply spectacular, with swimming pool and hamman.
A varied ways of transports makes a trip a much richer experience. In Turkey, and more specifically in Istanbul, it is essential to understand its essence, because it is not in the figurative but physical sense, a crossroads. Throughout its history, its inhabitants took all types of transport to move and travel through this intercontinental bridge, ferries, trains, trams, vans, etc.... We will use all of them. Fortunately, the Turks do very well on transport, so don't worry. To transport in Cappadocia and the transfers we use a private van fully equipped.
All transport is included.