Discovery Istanbul & Cappadocia 2026-27 "Prestige" New

Departure to Kayseri on scheduled Turkish Airlines flights – on arrival, transfer to the hotel in Cappadocia - dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – tour leader on hand - overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel – full day devoted to discovering the region of Cappadocia, counted among the wonders of the world for its natural landscapes sculpted by the elements and the treasures of Byzantine art it preserves - on this semi-desert plateau of central Anatolia, intense erosion has given rise to highly unusual geological formations, creating columns, cones, towers, pyramids and spires up to 30 metres high, known as “fairy chimneys” – visit to the Göreme Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, almost at the centre of rock-hewn Cappadocia, characterised by cones and rock walls riddled with openings, which preserves, in a kind of vast open-air museum, one of the most evocative monastic complexes in the entire region – continue with a visit to the Pasabag Valley, where tall tuff pinnacles paint a fairy-tale panorama: they are a legacy of volcanic activity, as are the stone cones known as “fairy chimneys”, sculpted over the millennia by wind, rain and watercourses - visit to the Avcilar Valley to admire the troglodyte valley - visit to the village of Esentepe, set in a breathtaking valley with a superb panorama over the region - lunch in a restaurant - return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure - tour leader on hand – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel - full day devoted to visits in Cappadocia – visit to the underground city of Kaymakli, on the surface a village like any other, but which hides beneath it a gigantic underground city of impressive size (the living quarters were spread over seven levels), probably dug out between the 6th and 10th centuries – continue to Mustafapasa, the ancient Sinassos, home to buildings carved out of the stone: churches, schools, libraries. The village is known for its grand mansions, boasting intricately carved doors and window frames. In the centre of the village, the church built in honour of Saints Constantine and Helena has imposing columns – in the afternoon, visits to landmark sites of Cappadocia: the village of Avanos, on the banks of Turkey’s longest river, this ancient town was the centre of Hittite pottery and today the same red and white clay from the surrounding hills is used to create its famous ceramics, and Uchisar, the village whose enormous tuff peak, pierced by a thousand cavities, makes it one of the most fascinating places in Cappadocia - lunch in a restaurant - return to the hotel - dinner at the hotel - evening at leisure - tour leader on hand – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel – transfer to the airport - departure to Istanbul on scheduled Turkish Airlines flights – fish lunch in a restaurant on the Golden Horn – in the afternoon, visit to the historic areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site - visit to the Roman Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque with its six minarets and blue tiles, and the magnificent Hagia Sophia Mosque, built in the 6th century by Justinian and regarded as the masterpiece of Byzantine art - arrival at the hotel – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Istanbul by night: a walk with the tour leader in the Galata district and Taksim Square – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel - full day devoted to visiting the city – panoramic visit of the Golden Horn, the Spice Market, the Byzantine walls and the old quarters of Fener and Balat, the Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by the famous architect Sinan, ferry trip on the Bosphorus, along whose shores you can admire 19th-century Ottoman villas, gardens and palaces - lunch in a restaurant – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Istanbul by night: excursion with private coach and tour leader to Sultanahmet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a magnificent view of the illuminated Blue Mosque – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel - full day devoted to a visit with a guide of the city and its historic areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the Yerebatan Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years after the conquest of Constantinople, the visit also includes the Harem section - lunch in a restaurant – in the afternoon, visit to the Grand Bazaar, a historic, lively and entertaining setting and a symbol of Istanbul, and free time for shopping – dinner at the hotel – after dinner Istanbul by night: excursion with private coach and tour leader to Galataport, Istanbul’s new port – overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel – free time for shopping – tour leader on hand – transfer to the airport - departure on scheduled Turkish Airlines flights back to Italy.

N.B. In Cappadocia there is the option of an optional hot-air balloon excursion at dawn. Whether the activity takes place depends on weather conditions and on the decisions of the local authorities responsible for flight safety. Bookings must therefore be confirmed directly on site during the tour, with no advance guarantee from Guiness that it will go ahead.

N.B. The planned visits may be switched between days according to museum opening hours or for operational reasons, but the programme remains unchanged.