We Love —
- Set off for a fascinating tour of Turkey - the land where east meets west. Start in Istanbul for a city experience before heading to Cappadocia to witness some incredible rock formations.
- Visit the picture-perfect Pamukkale and historic Izmir on this unique tour, allowing you to absorb the essence of the country with the aid of your guide.
- Stay in hand-picked 4* hotels along the way and enjoy the ease of transfers throughout!
Customer reviews —
Your Itinerary In Brief —
Explore the best of Turkey in Istanbul and Cappadocia.
With a 1,000 year history as the last remaining outpost of the Roman Empire, then called ‘Constantinople’, and a dramatic expansion under Ottoman rule from the 1500s until the city’s defeat in WW1, Istanbul has a fascinating heritage that draws travellers like bees to honey.
Cappadocia is a stunning area of otherworldly rock formations, subterranean churches and underground dwellings, the scale of which is overwhelming. Cappadocia was a refuge for early Christians, who escaped persecution by living and worshipping underground. There are an estimated 3,000 rock churches in the region, not all of which are open to the public, the existence of which was discovered by chance in 1907 by a French Jesuit scholar, who was travelling through the area.
Day 1: UK - Istanbul
Day 2: Istanbul
Day 3: Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia
Day 4: Cappadocia
Day 5: Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale
Day 6: Pamukkale - Izmir
Day 7: Izmir - Istanbul
Day 8: Istanbul - UK
Your Itinerary —
Day 1 (Sunday): UK - Istanbul (Dinner Included)
Fly to Istanbul. Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the Hotel Mercure Bosphorus or similar. Enjoy a relaxing dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 (Monday): Istanbul (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)
Wake up and dine on a breakfast at the hotel. Depart from the hotel and visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, where the chariot races were held. Visit the Hagia Sophia Church, where the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture can be found, constructed by Justinian to affirm the greatness of the Roman Empire. Visit the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) famous for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.
Enjoy lunch in a touristic restaurant and in the afternoon visit the Topkapi Palace (Harem section is optional), an opulent residence of the Sultans for nearly four centuries, the architecture of which with the magnificent décor and furnishings, bear witness to the power and majesty of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Grand Bazaar which is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with over 3000 shops.
Optional – Additional Payment
You may have the opportunity to participate in a cruise by the Bosphorus, the unique winding strait separating the two continents: Europe and Asia. Its shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present: a view of the skyline of minarets and domes, pine-covered hills and landmarks of Istanbul such as Dolmabahce Palace, Tower of Leander and Ortakoy Mosque. Return transfer to the hotel. Have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 (Tuesday): Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia (718 km) (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Take your morning departure to Ankara, the capital of Turkey. Cross the Bosphorus by driving over the Bosphorus Bridge. Arrive in Ankara and visit the Hittite Museum (Museum of Anatolian Civilizations). Lunch will be had in a well-known restaurant before you depart for Cappadocia. Delight in a chance to visit the Salt Lake en route. Transfer to Hotel Perissia or similar. Arrive at the hotel in the afternoon and check into your room. Dine on a sumptuous dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 (Wednesday): Cappadocia (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included)
In the early morning, you have the possibility to take a picture-perfect hot air balloon excursion over Cappadocia, catching fantastic views of the sunrise over the horizon (payable locally). Return to your hotel for breakfast. Today you will visit this interesting region which offers some of the most unique landscapes in the world.
The day is dedicated to exploring Cappadocia: Valley of Uchisar, Goreme Open Air Museum and its churches decorated with frescoes. Visit the Avcilar Valley and Ozkonak (or Saratli) one of the most famous underground cities in the world. After lunch in a touristic restaurant, visit one of the carpet stores and handicraft laboratory for gemstones, jewellery and silverware before you return to the hotel. Have dinner and stay overnight in your hotel.
Optional – Additional payment
After dinner, there is an opportunity to participate in a Whirling Dervishes Sema Ceremony or the Turkish Night with belly dancers (payable locally).
Day 5 (Thursday): Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale (634 km) (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included)
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Pamukkale via Konya. On route visit Caravanserai of Sultanhani and enjoy lunch in a restaurant. Arrive in Konya and visit the Monastery and Mausoleum of Mevlana, founder of the Mewlewiyya order of dervishes. Continue to Pamukkale and transfer to Hotel Colossae or similar. Check in to your room. Guests may have the opportunity to have a bath with thermal water in the hotel. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 6 (Friday): Pamukkale - Izmir (221 km) (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included)
Dine on a filling breakfast at the hotel and visit Hierapolis which is famous for its healing thermal and mineral baths and beautiful snow-white petrified waterfalls, a lovely Main Street and Gates and Masterpiece Theatre. Have lunch in a restaurant before you head off to visit Ephesus: the Temple of Hadrian, the Library of Celsus and the Grand Theatre. You will also visit the House of Virgin Mary before transferring to Hotel Kaya Thermal or similar. Have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 7 (Saturday): Izmir - Bursa - Istanbul (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included)
Wake up and have your included breakfast at the hotel before your departure for Istanbul via Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Visit the Grand Mosque and the Green Mosque, from 1424, testifies of the new Ottoman aesthetic and famous for its Iznik majolica. Enjoy lunch in a well-known restaurant. Cross over the Osmangazi Bridge and arrive at the Asian side of Istanbul in the evening. Transfer to your hotel at the Hotel Titanic Kartal or similar. Have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 (Sunday): Istanbul - UK (Breakfast Included)
Enjoy your last breakfast at the hotel, then take your transfer to the Istanbul Airport for the flight back to the UK.
Your Tour Hotels —
4* Hotels
Maximum room capacity
Istanbul: Hotel Mercure Bosphorus 4* (or similar)
Cappadocia: Hotel Perissia 4* (or similar)
Pamukkale: Hotel Colossae 4* (or similar)
Izmir: Hotel Kaya Thermal 4* (or similar)
Istanbul: Hotel Titanic Kartal 4* (or similar)
Your Dining Choices
This tour is based on a Full Board stay (Breakfast, lunch and evening meal served in the main restaurant - excludes drinks). Meals are as described in the itinerary.
Your Journey to K2 Turkey —
Flights:
You may choose from Economy or Premium class flights on sectors that they operate, at the next stage of the booking process. The flights included are with either a scheduled or no-frills airline and are subject to live availability and prices can change. You can choose your preferred departure times during the booking process. Please select your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ.
Transfers:
It may be possible to add return airport transfers at the next stage of the booking process for an additional fee (flight inclusive offers only - subject to availability). For inbound transfer arrangements, please confirm with your transfer provider when you arrive. Alternatively, please check with the reception of your accommodation. If you still require assistance, please call the transfer provider directly.
Your Destinations —
Istanbul
With an incredibly rich history and a reputation as the last remaining outpost of the Roman Empire, Istanbul has a fascinating heritage that draws in travellers all year round.
Situated on the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul has long been a bridge between Asia and Europe, both geographically and culturally. As the final stage on the legendary Silk Road, the cultural diversity of Istanbul is tangible to this day.
For a city with a fascinating history of 2500 years waiting to be explored, Istanbul also boasts cosmopolitan restaurants, bars and shops, cool boutique hotels and live music venues for those looking to be immersed in the fast-paced, modern lifestyle of Istanbul.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a stunning area of rock formations, subterranean churches and underground dwellings. Cappadocia was a refuge for early Christians, who escaped persecution by living and worshipping underground. There are an estimated 3000 rock churches in the region, not all of which are open to the public, the existence of which was discovered by chance in 1907 by a French Jesuit scholar. Some of the most impressive of the churches are located in the Goreme Open Air Museum, which date from the 9th and 11th centuries and have stunning wall paintings.
The village of Goreme itself is at the heart of the area's tourist industry, and many of its villagers still live in cave dwellings, some of which have been converted into boutique hotels. Surrounding the area are the amazing rock formations known evocatively as Peri Bacalari or 'Fairy Chimneys'.
There are hundreds of underground cities in the region. Two of the most impressive are Kaymakli, which has 8 levels, and Derinkuyu, which reaches down to 55 metres. To escape the crowds, visit the picturesque Soganli Valley, with its many houses, tombs and churches, displaying excellent examples of Byzantine paintings.
Your Destination
For a stay that brilliantly combines culture and relaxation, venture to Izmir, the third city and second port in Turkey, a destination full of surprises. According to legend, the city was founded by an Amazon queen, making Izmir a city with a thousand-year-old history, remnants of which can be discovered on walks throughout the city. A few kilometers away, delve deeper on a historical journey with a visit to Ephesus, an archaeological site recognized around the world. Uncover the secrets of these nearby historical sites by visiting the Izmir Archaeological Museum and feel free to explore the city from a greater height, taking an elevator that offers an exceptional panorama of the city, before strolling towards the Clock Tower or Kadifekale Castle.