Istanbul & Cappadocia

After breakfast at the hotel, your group will meet a local guide in the lobby and proceed on a full-day tour of Istanbul by private coach. During the tour, you will see the truly splendid attractions of Istanbul. Visit St. Sophia, the magnificent Byzantine Church that was pillaged by Crusaders, converted into a mosque by the Ottomans – and today survives as fantastic museum. See the ancient Hippodrome, the former center for sports and political activities in Constantinople, as well as the Obelisk of Theodosius from Egypt, the Serpentine Column and the German Fountain. You will also see Istanbul's spectacular Blue Mosque, a magnificent 17th-century mosque famous for its six minarets and for the 25,000 blue Iznik tiles that decorate the interior. Following a lunch break in the Old Town, you will visit Topkapy Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans for four centuries. The last stop on today's tour is the Grand Bazaar, which is famous for its 4,000 shops of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather and souvenirs. The tour will finish back at the hotel. Enjoy an evening at leisure.

After breakfast in the hotel, your group will meet a local guide for a morning visit to the Egyptian Spice Market, which was established in the 17th century. Afterwards you'll enjoy a boat cruise between Europe and Asia. As you cruise along – you'll enjoy views of 19th and 20th-century wooden houses, modern villas, beautiful mansions and the former Ottoman Palaces of Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi. After a group lunch at a fish restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus Strait (which separates Europe and Asia), your group will continue its tour with a drive to Camlica Hill, the highest point in Istanbul. It offers magnificent panoramic views of Istanbul and of the Bosphorus Strait. Also included on the tour is a visit to the small village of Beylerbeyi to visit the 19th-century summer palace of the Ottoman Sultans. Today it still contains the original furniture and maintains a magnificent garden. The tour will finish back at the hotel. Enjoy an evening at leisure.

After breakfast in the hotel, your group will meet a local guide for a full-day excursion to the city of Bursa, which was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire. Bursa is spectacularly situated at the foot of Mount Uludag – which in the time of the ancient Greeks was known as Mount Olympus. To arrive here from Istanbul, your group will catch the ferry across the Sea of Marmara to Yalova and then continue driving south to Bursa. Bursa has some impressive monuments from the early Ottoman period. It is also a popular thermal springs center. Your group will have lunch in a traditional Turkish restaurant before beginning the sightseeing tour, during which you will visit the Great Mosque, the Silk Market, the Green Mosque, the Tombs of Osman & Orhan and the Muradiye Complex. Return to the hotel in Istanbul in the late evening.

After breakfast, your group will depart for a half-day sightseeing tour during which your group will see Istanbul's ancient Theodosian Walls – which were commissioned by the Emperor Theodosius in the 5th century to protect the city of Constantinople – as well as the Valens Aqueduct, which was the major water source to the Eastern capital of the Roman Empire in the late 4th century. You'll also see the beautiful Chora Church, a superb example of Byzantine Church. During the Ottoman Empire, it was converted into a mosque, and today it is a secular museum. Nearby your group will see the Palace of Blachernae, which was once an imperial palace for the Byzantine emperors. The tour will finish at the hotel, and you will have free time this afternoon to explore Istanbul before departing on for an evening dinner show. Tonight's dinner menu will consist of traditional Turkish delicacies and drinks, and the musical show will feature belly dancers, Turkish music and folk groups from various areas. Transportation can be provided to and from the venue if requested.

After breakfast, a local guide will lead your group on a full-day excursion to the Prince Islands. During the tour you will cruise across the Sea of Marmara to the Prince Islands, docking in Buyukada, the largest of the islands and a very popular summer resort because of its lovely, sandy beaches and pinewood trees. (This was once a pleasure island of many Byzantine princes). Your group will tour the island in horse-drawn carriages before lunch (presuming your group isn't too large). In the afternoon you'll have time at leisure for exploring the beautiful harbor area. Return to Istanbul in the afternoon. Evening at leisure.

After breakfast your group's guided sightseeing in Cappadocia will continue with a visit to Pigeon Valley, an area spotted with many unusual caves. From here you'll continue to Derinkuyu, an underground city where thousands of people took refuge – along with their livestock- from persecution during the Byzantine period. See the wondrous Ihlara Valley, a gorge cut into volcanic rock than spans 10 miles. Walk along this incredibly scenic valley and stop for lunch in a restaurant by the river. Our last two sightseeing inclusions before returning back to the hotel are a visit to the Yaprakhisar village and to the Selimiye Monastery. A group dinner is arranged in the hotel tonight.

After breakfast in the hotel, enjoy another full-day guided tour of this incredibly unique region of volcanic landscapes and "fairy chimneys." You will begin by touring the open-air museum of Goreme. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its unusual rock formations. During today's sightseeing tour your group will visit rock-carved churches that contain ancient frescoes. After free time for lunch, your group will continue its tour by traveling to the Zelve Valley, the earliest-settled and last-abandoned monastic valley. Afterwards you'll see the natural Citadel of Uchisar – the tallest point in the Cappadocia region – before continuing on to the town of Avanos, which is famous for its earthenware pottery and ceramic trade that dates back to the Hittites. The tour will finish up back at the hotel, and the evening is at leisure.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul, connecting on to USA.