Turkey: Istanbul & Cappadocia

Turkey8 Days / 7 NightsMax 20 travellers

Eight days across two of Turkey’s defining landscapes — imperial Istanbul and the valleys of Cappadocia.

Overview

The classic Turkey itinerary, and deservedly so. Four nights in Istanbul cover Sultanahmet, the Bosphorus and the bazaars without rushing; three nights in Cappadocia allow for a balloon flight, the open-air museum at Göreme and an underground city.

Balloon flights are weather-dependent and cancel more often than travellers expect — booking three nights rather than two gives a second chance if the first morning is grounded.

Trip highlights

Hot-air balloon over Cappadocia at sunrise
Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace
Bosphorus cruise between two continents
Göreme open-air museum and Derinkuyu underground city
The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar

Day-by-day itinerary

Airport transfer and hotel check-in. Evening free in Sultanahmet.

Meals:: None
Overnight:: Hotel in Istanbul

What is and is not included

What is included

Seven nights’ hotel accommodation with daily breakfast
Domestic flight Istanbul–Cappadocia–Istanbul
All airport and intercity transfers
Guided Istanbul old city tour with entrance fees
Bosphorus cruise
Full-day Cappadocia north and south tours
Two nights in a cave hotel
Turkey visa documentation support

Not included

International flights to and from Istanbul
Hot-air balloon ride (quoted separately — it is priced dynamically)
Lunches and dinners
Travel insurance
City taxes where applicable

Accommodation, transport and meals

Where you stay

Four-star hotels in the Sultanahmet or Taksim area of Istanbul, and a cave hotel in Göreme or Ürgüp for the Cappadocia nights — the cave rooms are a genuine highlight rather than a gimmick.

How you travel

Private transfers for all airport legs, air-conditioned coach for tours, and a domestic flight between Istanbul and Cappadocia to avoid an eleven-hour overnight bus.

Meals

Breakfast daily. Lunches and dinners are left free — Istanbul is a city where choosing your own dinner is half the pleasure.

Important information

A visa is required for Pakistani passport holders. The current process changes periodically; our visa desk confirms requirements and helps assemble the file, but the decision rests with the consulate.

Balloon flights cancel for wind or cloud, often at short notice. We book the first available morning and re-book on a later day where the schedule allows.

Istanbul involves a lot of walking, much of it on cobbles and slopes. Comfortable shoes matter more here than almost anywhere else on our list.

Cancellation policy

Deposits secure your place and cover costs we commit to on your behalf. Our standard terms are:

More than 30 days before departure — the deposit is retained, the balance is refunded in full.
15 to 30 days before departure — 50% of the package price is retained.
Fewer than 15 days before departure — the package price is non-refundable.

Airline tickets, visa fees and non-refundable hotel bookings follow the supplier's own rules, which we will set out in writing at the time of booking. Where a trip cannot proceed because of road closure, weather or a decision by the authorities, we will offer a rescheduled departure or refund whatever we can recover.