This compact four-day programme links the volcanic valleys of Cappadocia with the imperial sights of Istanbul, and almost every meal is taken care of along the way. You fly from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir on your own domestic ticket, are met at the airport with a name sign and settle into your hotel for two nights in Cappadocia, with dinner on the first evening.
Day two starts before sunrise with a one-hour comfort hot air balloon flight. A light breakfast is served while the balloons are inflated, baskets carry 12 to 16 passengers, and the flight ends with a small champagne celebration and a flight certificate. After breakfast at the hotel you join the guided Red Tour: Uçhisar Castle, the highest point of the region; Göreme Open Air Museum with its 10th-century frescoes; the abandoned cave village of Çavuşin; lunch in Avanos followed by a pottery workshop; Devrent Valley, also called Imagination Valley for its animal-shaped rocks; a wine tasting stop in Ürgüp; and finally the Three Beauties fairy chimneys.
On day three a lunch box is prepared and you fly back to Istanbul from Kayseri. The Bosphorus by boat excursion shows the strait between Europe and Asia from the water: Dolmabahçe Palace, the pavilions of Yıldız Palace, Çırağan Palace, Ortaköy, Rumeli Fortress, completed in 1452 under Mehmet the Conqueror, and Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian shore. The programme also includes crossing the Bosphorus Bridge, the panorama from Çamlıca Hill and a shopping tour with carpet weaving, jewellery, handicraft and leatherwear demonstrations.
The final day is a guided Istanbul old city tour covering the Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine, the Blue Mosque with its Iznik tiles and Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. After lunch there is a stop at Ali Paşazade for spices, Turkish delight, coffee and souvenirs before your return airport transfer. Included are three nights of hotel accommodation (two in Cappadocia, one in Istanbul), three breakfasts, three lunches and three dinners, airport transfers in Kayseri/Nevşehir and Istanbul, air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking guide, the balloon flight and the entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary. The domestic flights between Istanbul and Cappadocia are not included.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 Days 3 Nights |
| Price | From €1,200 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 13 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours · TÜRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Fly from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir airport in the Cappadocia region (domestic flight not included). Our driver meets you with a name sign and transfers you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Pick-up from your hotel before sunrise for a one-hour comfort hot air balloon flight. A light breakfast is served while the crew inflates the balloons; after a safety briefing you glide over fairy chimneys, rock formations and hidden churches with licensed commercial pilots. The landing is celebrated with champagne and a flight certificate, and you are back at the hotel in time for breakfast. Between 08:00 and 09:30 you are collected for the guided Red Tour, starting at Uçhisar Castle, the highest point of Cappadocia, followed by Göreme Open Air Museum with its 10th-century frescoes and the abandoned village of Çavuşin with its old cave houses. Lunch is served in Avanos, followed by a visit to a pottery workshop. The afternoon continues with Devrent (Imagination) Valley, a wine shop in Ürgüp for tasting and the Three Beauties fairy chimneys. Return to the hotel around 18:00. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Early in the morning you take a lunch box from the hotel and transfer to Kayseri airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul (not included). From Istanbul airport you go straight to the Bosphorus cruise, sailing past wooden villas, Dolmabahçe Palace, the parks and pavilions of Yıldız Palace, Çırağan Palace and Ortaköy, where a church, a mosque and a synagogue have stood side by side for centuries. The programme also covers Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian side, the Bosphorus Bridge between the two continents and Çamlıca Hill, the highest point of Istanbul. After the cruise a shopping tour shows traditional carpet weaving, jewellery, a handicraft centre and a leatherwear show. The evening is free. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast the guided Istanbul city tour begins at the Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. You then visit the Blue Mosque, named after its blue Iznik tiles, and Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque with its 6th-century mosaics. Lunch break at 13:00, followed by a visit to Ali Paşazade for spices, baklava, Turkish delight, coffee and souvenirs. The tour ends with your return airport transfer. Please bring a headscarf for the mosque visits.
Arrival in Cappadocia → Balloon Flight & Red Tour → Bosphorus Cruise & Shopping Tour → Istanbul Old City Tour
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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👥 16+1 Seats
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Arrival in Cappadocia, Balloon Flight & Red Tour, Bosphorus Cruise & Shopping Tour, Istanbul Old City Tour.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!