Hot air balloons rising over the valleys of Cappadocia
Istanbul · Cappadocia

Türkiye — Istanbul & Cappadocia

Hagia Sophia, a Bosphorus evening, and a balloon over Cappadocia — with the balloon caveat stated up front.

Suggested length
6–8 days
Best time
April to June, September to November
Good for
Couples, Honeymoon, Photography
Indicative, per person
from ₹98,500

What this trip is built around

  • Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi within a morning's walk
  • Bosphorus dinner cruise between two continents
  • A cave hotel in Göreme, which is the point of staying in Cappadocia
  • Hot air balloon at dawn — weather-dependent, and we say so before you pay

A suggested shape

A starting point, not a fixed plan. Every day here can move, stretch or go.

  1. 1–3

    Istanbul

    Sultanahmet, Grand Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, Bosphorus cruise.

  2. 4

    To Cappadocia

    Short flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir, cave hotel check-in.

  3. 5–6

    Cappadocia

    Balloon at dawn, Göreme open-air museum, Devrent and Pasabag, an underground city.

  4. 7–8

    Optional

    Pamukkale, or back to Istanbul for a last day.

Everything we can cover here

The full set for this destination. Your version won't include all of it — tell us which matter and we'll build around those.

Hagia SophiaBlue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed)Topkapi PalaceBasilica CisternGrand Bazaar & Spice BazaarBosphorus cruiseDolmabahçe PalaceGöreme Open-Air MuseumUçhisar CastleDevrent & Paşabağ valleysKaymaklı or Derinkuyu underground cityLove Valley & Red Valley sunsetPamukkale (optional)

Typically included

  • Hotels including a cave hotel in Göreme, breakfast daily
  • Internal flight Istanbul–Cappadocia
  • Istanbul old city and Bosphorus cruise
  • Cappadocia red and green tours

Not included

  • International flights
  • Hot air balloon (approx. €200–260 per person)
  • Türkiye e-visa
  • Most meals

Worth knowing before you commit

  • Balloon flights are cancelled for wind or low cloud often enough that a one-night Cappadocia stay is a real gamble. Plan two possible mornings.
  • The balloon is roughly €200–260 per person and we quote it separately rather than burying it in a headline price.
  • Hagia Sophia is an active mosque again — it closes to visitors during prayer times and women need a head covering.
  • Istanbul to Cappadocia is a 1.5-hour flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir; the overnight bus is 10+ hours.

Common questions

Will the balloon fly?

Flights are cancelled for wind or low cloud, and it happens often enough that you should plan two possible mornings. Cancelled flights are refunded by the operator; a one-night Cappadocia stay is a gamble we would advise against.

Is the balloon included?

No, and we would rather quote it separately than bury €250 a head in a headline price. We book it for you once you are there and the forecast is known.