Explore the lunar-like landscape of Cappadocia and for a startling contrast view Istanbul’s most iconic urban landmarks. UNESCO deemed Cappadocia worthy of a World Heritage site designation for its otherworldly erosion-sculpted terrain, underground towns, rock citadels and cave churches. They provide great insight into how people lived in this barren setting more than a millennium ago. This fascinating glimpse into ancient life will be decidedly different than your experience in Istanbul, where you will see emblematic attractions such as the Topkapi Palace and browse the Grand Bazaar.
Note: Due to the amount of walking during the day tours, at times over uneven natural ground and /or steps, this program is not recommended for guests with walking or mobility difficulties or that rely on a wheelchair or scooter. Guests also must be able to get in and out of the tour coaches with little to no assistance.
Note: Guests travelling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour. Guests who need to use any type of oxygen concentrators or devices during the flight will need to provide a detailed hospital and/or doctor prescription to clearly show the usage dose and periods of your needs. Guests will not be allowed to use their own oxygen devices during the flight. The airline will provide its own oxygen device for security reasons.
DAY 1
Upon arriving at the Istanbul International Airport, you will be met at exit gate 8 and transferred to the Intercontinental Istanbul Hotel or a similar hotel in Istanbul for check-in. The remainder of the day will be spent at leisure, allowing time for you to settle in or to explore the city on your own. Meals will be on your own.
DAY 2
After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and drive through Istanbul to one of its premier attractions.
You will tour the famed Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, then, opulent Topkapi Palace, where Turkey’s sultans lived from 1453 until the middle of the 19th century. It is an extraordinary residence with beautiful courtyards, a harem, sacred relics and a treasury full of exquisite jewelry from the Far East, India and Europe. Lunch will be taken in the Sultanahmet area.
Following your exploration of Istanbul, you will drive to the airport for your flight to Kayseri. Upon arriving, you will transfer to the Utopia Cave Hotel or similar, where you will dine and spend the evening.
DAY 3
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for a full-day, all-encompassing tour of the area. A scenic drive will bring you to an underground city, a massive complex that includes churches, stables, wineries and storage rooms. It is one of the deepest of the 36 underground cities in the Cappadocia region.
Although the city was probably never used for long stays, it served as an excellent defensive hideout during the early Christian period. There are approximately 600 doors leading into the underground city, all of them hidden in courtyards on the surface.
After visiting the underground city, you will explore the former Greek village of Sinasos and the cave architecture in nearby Zelve, which was an important settlement and religious area between the 9th and 13th centuries. The now-abandoned settlement is spread over three valleys, which also contain numerous pointed chimneys with large stems. Lunch will be at Kosebasi restaurant.
Later in the afternoon, you will drive for an orientation tour and a visit to the town of Avanos which is known for pottery making. The clay has a beautiful red hue and comes from the banks of the Kizilirmak River that flows through town.
Afterwards, you will return to the hotel for dinner and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.
DAY 4
After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for a full-day tour of Cappadocia. The landscape here is stunningly surreal, almost lunar-like. Created by volcanic eruptions and shaped by thousands of years of erosion, the terrain features soaring fairy-tale rock chimneys and ancient dwellings carved out of the rocks. Few places on earth are so visually arresting.
You will then venture toward the town of Uchisar, whose natural rock citadel is the highest point in Cappadocia and visible from a great distance. You will also visit nearby Pigeon Valley, named for the thousands of pigeon houses that have been carved into rock cliffs since ancient times.
Then it’s on to the Goreme Open Air Museum, which contains the best-preserved examples of cave churches such as Tokali Church. You will notice that the frescoes adorning the walls are still brightly colored, even after centuries of exposure. More usual rock formations await you near Derbent at the fairy chimneys at Urgup.
Following the visits, you will drive to Cavusin Village, a small historic settlement located in the heart of Cappadocia between the towns of Avano and Goreme. Locals still live in the rock-cut dwellings and stone houses. The village has a variety of historical sites such as ruins from the Christian monks and some churches including the Church of St. John the Baptist, which was carved into the rock in the 5th century.
After the tour, you will return to the hotel and get ready for the Gala Dinner evening. You will first drive to Red Valley, a beautiful natural wonder with surreal rock formations, pinkish-red colors and ancient cave churches. You will be there near sunset to watch the colors blend together to create a spectacular landscape. Here you will celebrate with an exclusive champagne party before you move on to Uçhisar for an exquisite dinner at a reserved restaurant.
After the unique dinner, you will return to the hotel for the night.
DAY 5
Following breakfast, you will check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Istanbul. Upon arriving in Istanbul, you will transfer to the Sultanahmet area for lunch, before starting your tour of the city.
Your tour will begin with the Hagia Sophia, which was originally built as a church and became a mosque in the 15th century. Today, the Hagia Sophia (meaning “Holy Wisdom”) is a museum containing phenomenal mosaics, Christian and Muslim religious art and remnants of the church that stood here until 532 A.D., when it was burned in a riot.
Finally, you will have the opportunity to browse through the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, the largest and the oldest covered marketplace in the world. It contains more than 5,000 shops selling an absolutely amazing range of merchandise. Jewelry, carpets, antiques, old coins, furniture, prayer beads and copperware are only a few of the items in the bazaar, which has been operating since the 15th century.
Afterwards, you will transfer to the pier and embark on your cruise.
Land Program Details Step by Step
• The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change.
• Itineraries with up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.
• The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
• Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
• All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program
• If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 2:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.
• If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 2:00pm.
• If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Fly into Istanbul, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Check-in is 2:00pm. An earlier check-in is not guaranteed.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with meals on you own.
Overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel or a similar hotel.
Meet and Greet and transfers
• Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
• Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
• Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
• If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
AM Breakfast
9:00am Visit the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome
10:00am Visit Topkapi Palace
12:00pm Lunch in a local restaurant
1:30pm Depart for the airport
2:30pm Arrive at the airport
4:05pm Flight to Cappadocia (flight details TBA and subject to change)
5:35pm Arrive in Cappadocia
6:00pm Depart for your hotel in Cappadocia
7:00pm Dinner and overnight
Overnight at the Utopia Cave Hotel or a similar hotel
DAY 3
9:00am After breakfast, depart for the underground city
9:30am Visit the underground city
10:30am Visit Sinasos village
11:30am Drive to Zelve and Pasabag
12:30pm Visit the Zelve Museum (Byzantine Monastery)
1:30pm Lunch at a local restaurant
2:45pm Orientation tour to Avanos town and shopping stop
5:45pm Return to the hotel for dinner
Overnight at the Utopia Cave Hotel or a similar hotel
DAY 4
9:00am After breakfast depart for full-day tour in Cappadocia
9:30am Visit Uchisar
10:30am Visit Pigeon Valley
11:30am Visit Göreme Open Air Museum including Tokali Church
1:00pm Visit Çavusin village
1:30pm Lunch at a local restaurant
3:00pm Return to the hotel and relax
6:00pm Sunset tour in Red Valley with exclusive champagne service
7:00pm Gala dinner at a reserved restaurant (or similar)
8:30pm Transfer back to the hotel
Overnight at the Utopia Cave Hotel or a similar hotel
DAY 5
9:00am After breakfast depart for Cappadocia airport
10:00am Arrive at Cappadocia airport
11:00am Fly to Istanbul (flight details TBA and subject to change)
12:35pm Arrive in Istanbul
2:00pm Lunch in a local restaurant
3:00pm Visit Hagia Sophia
3:45pm Visit Grand Bazaar
4:00pm Depart for the port
4:30pm Approximate arrival to the ship for embarkation
Closed attractions: If an attraction is closed, it will be replaced in the following manner:
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays. We will switch the visits between Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace according to the museum closures
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. It will be replaced with the Spice Bazaar.
Expected Weather: Expect significant temperature differences between day and night in Cappadocia. Spring begins in March and lasts until May, and the average temperature for this season is about 15° Celsius (59° Fahrenheit). This is also when the region gets most of its rainfall. However, the rain usually comes in short intervals and lasts on average for only two hours.
Summer is between June and August. Summers in Cappadocia are very hot, with daytime temperatures approaching 38 degrees Celsius (100° Fahrenheit). However, nighttime temperatures fall into the 20’s Celsius (in the 70s Fahrenheit). Autumn starts in September and ends in November and is the high season for Cappadocia travel. Average temperature at this time is in the 20s Celsius (in the 70s Fahrenheit).
What to Bring: Due to the uneven walking surfaces, sport shoes are highly recommended. Also, pack sunscreen, light comfortable clothing and shoes, and a light jacket for the evenings.
There is a strict dress code at all the mosques and churches in Istanbul. Ladies must cover their heads, shoulders and arms. Shorts above knee length, tank tops, sleeveless shirts and t-shirts are not allowed for males or females.
Shoes must be taken off and put in the provided bags when visiting mosques.
Currency: Turkish Lira (TL).
Electricity: 220 volts AC/50 Hz. throughout Turkey. (Industrial 380 V)
Plug: European round / 2-prong plug
Bring a travel adaptor for electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements: A passport that is valid at least 6 months after travel is required and an e-Visa is required for all U.S. citizens entering Turkey. Please check with your local embassy for any visa requirements for your nationality.
VERY IMPORTANT – The name on your cruise booking, passport and any visas if required, must all be exactly the same for flight ticket purchase, otherwise guests may be denied travel by flight. Please ensure that all documents are identical in spelling to the names provided for your cruise reservation including first, middle and last name. Manifests generated by the cruise line must match your travel documents.
Failure to have the required documents ahead of time will result in denial of travel and guests will have to pay for any expenses incurred in order to not proceed with the program.
Luggage: For the domestic flights, the luggage allowance is 25 kilograms (55 pounds) per person. We advise you to pack a smaller bag for the extension, allowing your main luggage to be stored in a secure office in Istanbul until your return. Be sure to label any luggage staying behind appropriately and remember to take all medications and documents with you.
Carriage of Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines on internal flights per airline regulations (subject to change as each airline has their own regulations)
1. Guests must obtain a doctor’s certificate mentioning their medical condition and the need to carry this equipment with them on their flights.
2. The certificate should have attached a picture of the equipment with its description/specifications especially with regards to the type of batteries used (lithium/dry or any other type).
3. These documents need to be sent to the Land Program Team via Reservations at OCI at least one month prior to travel so that our local operator can begin the notification process with the airline(s).
4. Failure to comply with the above regulations may result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which Oceania Cruises nor our local ground operator will be responsible for.
Accommodations
Utopia Cave Hotel
Dua Yeri Mah. Istiklal 1 Sok. No: 6, 50400 Urgup, Nevsehir
Phone: +90 384 341 57 47
Intercontinental Hotel Istanbul
Gümüssuyu Mahallesi, Asker Ocagi Caddesi No:1, 34437 Beyoglu/Istanbul, Turkey
Phone: +90 212 368 44 44
We will only source different hotels in unforeseen circumstances. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and guests would be notified in advance of travel. If guests are not notified prior to travel of any changes, then the hotel listed above will be used.
Program Includes:
• 1 night at the Intercontinental Hotel or similar hotel including breakfast (Club Level Room)
• 3 nights at the Utopia Cave Hotel or similar (deluxe room) with breakfast
• All airport transfers
• Porterage at the airport
• Service of an English-speaking tour guide throughout the program or a local guide depending on the number of guests booked on the package
• Service of an air-conditioned vehicle
• Entrance fees to the visited sites and museums
• 2 lunches in Cappadocia with soft drinks
• 2 lunches in Istanbul with soft drinks
• 1 Gala dinner at Reserved Restaurant (or similar) in Cappadocia including limited local drinks
• Exclusive Sunset Champagne service at Red Valley in Cappadocia
• Domestic flights – direct flights not guaranteed
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated departure information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, a departure transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes:
• Gratuities for guides and drivers
• Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
• Meals and beverages not listed above
• Excess or overweight luggage fees
• Alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.
Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.