Your Beautiful Tales of Turkey Tour starts here, we will collect you on arrival in Istanbul from the airport and transfer you to your hotel so that you can get settled in and relax.

Overnight in Istanbul

After breakfast, we will see the enchanting ancient city of Istanbul. A true mix of old and new, Where Asia and Europe hold hands, a fascinating city to explore. Some of the sites that you will visit across the city are Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Obelisks and the Hagia Sophia and Museum. These places will fill your senses and touch your heart, Architecture on a grand scale that has kept its beauty for us to see, palaces of Ottoman king's, places of ancient history as relevant today as then, shopping like you have never seen before, arenas of the gladiators where life and death were fought daily on a scale we can barely imagine and places of worship that brings reverence, peace and joy. The city of Istanbul is truly like no other.

At the end of your tour, we will take you back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Our recommendation:
After the day's tour ends and you have your own free time, we recommend also visiting the Spice Bazaar to enjoy the sights and smells of Turkish tea, spices, and candies. You will be on your own here as its not part of your tour package, but you will have plenty of time and can make your own way back to your hotel.

Important Notes:
-The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
-Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays
-Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday
-Blue Mosque Entrance is limited on Fridays due to prayers, therefore we are unable to enter on Fridays.

We provide pickups from hotels in central areas in the following vicinities:
Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Laleli, Aksaray, Taksim area. Pickup from anywhere outside these areas may incur an extra charge. Speak to our crew if you have any questions.

Today will see you sailing down the Bosphorus Straights and along to the Golden Horn then heading to one of the best viewpoints over the whole city
Before your cruise, you will tour inside the Dolmabahce Palace, built between 1842 and 1853. The last 6 Sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived here. In 1923 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk resided here in the summers until his death in 1938. This palace is built the Neoclassical and Baroque Rococo styles. After leaving we will embark on our cruise that leads from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara one of the first famous sites you will see from the boat is the Maidens Tower. This tower has served as a lighthouse, a radio tower, a hospital, and now it serves as a restaurant and museum.  Sailing up the Bosphorus, You will also enjoy a panoramic view of the Old Constantinople Walls, which were built to protect Topkapi Palace from invaders. In its 1600 year history, these walls were only breached twice, saving the city from invasion on many other occasions.  

At the Kucuksu Palace, built by Sultan Abdülmecid, we will stop for one hour, Kucuksu translates to “small water”, although small it is grand in design. You will return to the boat and pass by the Ciragan Palace, the magnificent Sultans palace turned hotel. The main building burnt down in 1910, however, the exterior structure stayed intact and was rebuilt in the early 1990s. You will sail past the Ortakoy Mosque, with its distinctive pink mosaics, on your way to cruising under the mighty Bosphorus Bridge where you will get the best views of the Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer home of the Sultans. Then it's on to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, where, from the boat, you will see the mighty Rumeli Castle, built by Mehmed in 1452.

At the end of the cruise, we will change transport for a bus tour as we head back to the old city, the bus tour begins in the Sultanahmet district with our trusted guide it's then on over to the famous Pierre Loti Hill named after a French novelist, who had a great passion for Istanbul, this is one of the most romantic spots in the city. Here you will take a cable car to the top of this viewpoint overlooking Istanbul and the Golden Horn. Try Turkish coffee at one of the cafes, the ride back down has even more spectacular views of the city. The bus will take you around the Old City Walls before returning to your hotel around 17:00-18:00.

Important Note: Dolmabahce Palace is closed on Mondays and the tour will start two hours later on this day.
Dolmabahce Palace, Kucuksu Palace, and Pierre Loti Hill are the only sights you will tour by foot. The other sights will be seen from the boat or bus.

Overnight in Istanbul

We will pick you up at a pre-arranged time and go directly to the airport to catch a domestic flight to Trabzon in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Trabzon City Tour
This is a beautiful city full of history and some amazing architecture. Trabzon's original name was recorded as Trebizond in 756 BC. This northern area of Turkey is famed for its tea plantations. Ataturk’s Pavilion is here, this was the holiday destination for the first president and also where he died making it an important place in the hearts of most Turks. The pavilion is well preserved with original furniture and the gardens are beautiful and offer amazing views over the city. We will then go on to visit some incredible mosques such as Yavuz Sultan Mosque, Iskender Pasa Mosque, and Fatih Mosque.

Another place of worship we will visit whilst here is Kaymakli Monastery, an original Armenian church. The sister museum of the great Hagia Sophia of Istanbul is also here, Trabzon’s Hagia Sofia, once a Greek church now converted to a mosque, today the building is a museum.  We will also visit the beautiful Zagnos Bridge it is a historical monument, origins of the bridge are Roman, however, the bridge we see today was added to and renovated.

Overnight Stay in Trabzon.

Today's tour takes you to Uzungol Lake a protected area with a fantastic town on the lakeside, here modern life blends sympathetically with nature. There are many walking trails to be found here with great views of the mountains in the distance. It is one of the most beautiful regions in Turkey.

Overnight in Trabzon

Today you travel to Cappadocia you will head to the airport for a Domestic flight to Kayseri. On arrival, we will transfer you to your hotel in the Cappadocia

Overnight in Cappadocia

North Cappadocia Tour
You will enjoy a fantastic day in this spectacular region and soak up the sites all around. Today you will be picked up from your accommodation then travel on to visit some of the oldest settlements in the north Cappadocia region. You will visit the Three Beauties, Open Air Museum and the Devrent Valley. Along with visiting Avanos well noted for its handcraft industry especially pottery. Monks Valley and also one of the best areas for a panoramic view of this area Goreme Esentepe.

Overnight accommodation at a cave hotel in Cappadocia

 - Evening -  
OPTIONAL TOUR: TURKISH NIGHT SHOW & DINNER.
Tonight's tour is a special evening organized so that you experience Turkish Culture and Traditions and have a great night out. You will be picked up from your hotel in the evening and taken to a cave restaurant in the heart of Cappadocia, for a night you will always remember. (This is an extra part of the tour not included in the itinerary price and will cost extra).

Overnight in Cappadocia

- Early Morning - 
OPTIONAL TOUR: CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT
This activity is a must in Cappadocia it is the perfect way to start the day by seeing the impressive views of this landscape from above. Finishing off with a celebratory glass of Champagne (This Hot Air Balloon Flight is not included in the price of your tour and comes at an extra cost).

South Cappadocia Tour

Showcasing not only some of the most impressive scenery of the region but also highlighting one of the underground cities of Cappadocia. Your tour guide will show you the sites which include Meskendir Valley, Rose Valley, Red Valley, Cavusin Village, Pigeon Valley, Uchisar Castle Panorama, and Love Valley 

Overnight in Cappadocia

Transport to Kayseri airport, where you will catch your flight to your home or onward to your next destination.

We hope that your Beautiful Tales of Turkey tour has shown you many of the wonders of Turkey and has inspired you to come back again. We wish you a safe journey home.