Day 1 – depart Johannesburg
Make your way to OR Tambo International Airport for you overnight flight to Istanbul via Cairo.

Day 2 – arrive Istanbul
Arrive at Cairo International Airport and transfer to your onward flight to Istanbul.
Welcome to Turkey! On arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check in.
Overnight in Istanbul

Day 3 – Istanbul sightseeing
You will depart at 09h00 for the Istanbul city tour. You will begin with the ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Then onto the Sultanahmet Mosque across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is also known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Your last stop is the famous Hagia Sophia – this ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time.
Overnight in Istanbul

Day 4 – Istanbul / Bosphorus Cruise / Spice Market Tour & Cappadocia
Spice Bazaar – the air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice. Bosphorus on Boat – a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions and Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble façade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.

Rumeli Fortress – built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul was completed in only four months to control and protect Bosphorus. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world.

Beylerbeyi Palace – the summer residence of ottoman sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian. After the tour we will transfer to the Ataturk Airport for your domestic flight to Cappadocia. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and check in.
Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 5 – Cappadocia
After breakfast we shall start our Cappadocia tour including Goreme Open Air Museum, Dervent Valley, Pasabag Valley. After lunch, you will have a shopping opportunity in which you can see the ancient arts of Turkey like carpet weaving, leather manufacturing and jewellery making.
Overnight in Cappadocia

Day 6 – Cappadocia & Istanbul
After breakfast we head to one of the most interesting sites of Cappadocia: Kaymakly Underground City. The Christians hid from the armies of Rome and the raids of hostile tribes in these self sufficient cities in which there were halls for stocks of crop, barns, rooms, kitchens and ventilation channels. The second part of our Cappadocia tour will include Uchisar Castle, Avcylar and Pidgeon Valley. After the tour head back to the hotel and check out. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul. Arrive at Istanbul airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul

Day 7 – depart Istanbul
Check out of the hotel after breakfast. You will be transferred to Istanbul Airport for your departure flight via Cairo back to Johannesburg

Day 8 – arrive Johannesburg
Early morning arrival at OR Tambo International Airport.

Included:
• Airfare on Egypt Air – JNB/CAI/IST/CAI/JNB (subject to certain seats & conditions)
• Domestic airfare – IST/KYA/IST
• Return airport transfers in Istanbul
• Return airport transfers in Cappadocia
• 3 nights accommodation at a 3* hotel in Istanbul incl. breakfast
• 2 nights accommodation at a 3* hotel in Cappadocia incl. breakfast
• Guided Istanbul city tour & Bosphorus Cruise
• 2 x fully guided different Cappadocia tours
• All entrance fees mentioned in itinerary
• Transportation in fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
• Professional English speaking tour guide