Turkey: Cave Churches & Fairy Chimneys

Arrive at any time. Shake off that jet lag and prepare for an evening buzzing with excitement. Head out with your group and CEO for drinks at a favourite local spot. After, feel free to do some exploring in the area on your own or with some fellow travellers. Kick-off your adventure in Istanbul with lively music, and a healthy dose of fun. Get the most out of your time in Istanbul by pre-booking the following activity to experience before your tour starts: Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise. If you do, we recommend booking accommodation for an extra night pre-tour. And don’t worry if you can’t decide now. This activity is available for pre-booking any time before your tour starts, while any of the optional activities listed can be booked independently upon arrival in Istanbul.

Included Experiences

• Connect With New Friends: Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
• Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Optional Experiences

• Welcome Dinner: You've arrived! Why not share a meal and a drink with your new travel mates?
• Istanbul Walking Tour and Bosphorus Cruise: Go even deeper into Istanbul, discovering diverse and lesser-visited districts with your CEO, and some of the best photography spots in the city! Today we will walk along the ancient Constantinople city walls; see Tekfur Palace(the Blaherne Palace) which has got thick walls adjacent to the landwalls ; stroll through the photogenic Fener (Greek) and Balat (Jewish) districts, known for their colourful wooden houses; enjoy lunch together; and cruise the Bosphorus Strait for stunning views of Ottoman palaces and the city skyline. Please note: this is a full day (6+ hours) day excursion. Lunch is included. Your CEO will collect you from the hotel lobby at 9am. Please bring sunscreen, a water bottle, and modest clothing/coverings for shoulders and upper legs for visiting religious sites. There will be a welcome note at the reception with more details from your CEO, so please check on arrival.

View the sights of Istanbul on an orientation walk with the CEO before travelling by bus to Ankara. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure after checking into the hotel.

Included Experiences

• Istanbul Orientation Walk: Enjoy an orientation walk of Istanbul. Each walk varies, allowing your CEO to show off their favourite spots around the city. Pass by city highlights such as the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia (also known as the Aya Sofya), and the Blue Mosque. Walks may also include the atmospheric Spice Bazaar or breathtaking Grand Bazaar.

After breakfast, visit Ataturk’s Mausoleum before setting off for the Cappadocia region. Make a stop on the way at Salt Lake, the second-largest lake in Turkey and enjoy the rest of the day to relax or to choose from some of the many optional activities available.

Included Experiences

• The Mausoleum of Atatürk: Visit a mausoleum commemorating the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The Mausoleum of Atatürk is located in Turkey's capital of Ankara and has become one of the sprawling city's must-see locations.

Optional Experiences

• Turkish Night: Attend a "Turkish night" and enjoy a delicious multi-course meal followed by local entertainment.

Enjoy some free time this morning. Opt to take part in a Hot Air Balloon excursion before touring the region and visiting the Göreme Open Air Museum. Explore the unique Open Air Museum, a site made up of a number of medieval painted cave churches. Carved by Orthodox monks, many of the churches are up to 1,000 years old and still retain their amazing colour and vibrancy. Enjoy the incredible landscapes and photo stop opportunities on the bus ride back to the hotel for the evening. One of the best ways to explore Cappadocia is on foot. Opt to join a trekking tour through one of the beautiful valleys. Ask your CEO about the many other walking and hiking options available in the area.

Included Experiences

• Bus Tour: Climb aboard and settle in for a bus tour of the region, pinpointing several local highlights and providing many photo stops to fill your camera roll.
• Göreme Open Air Museum Visit: Explore the unique Open Air Museum, a site made up of a number of medieval painted cave churches. Carved out by Orthodox monks, many of the churches are up to 1,000 years old and still retain their amazing colour and vibrancy.

Optional Experiences

• Cappadocia Trekking Tour: Explore Cappadocia by foot and trek past old houses, churches, and orchards, all boasting fabulous views. Finish the trek in the town of Uçhisar, which is well worth exploring. Be sure to see the natural castle-like fortress that's riddled with man-made cave homes and dovecotes, and dominates the skyline of Cappadocia. This is a great place to take a lunch break in one of the many restaurants before catching a local bus back to Göreme.
• Hot Air Balloon Ride: Cappadocia is captivating from the ground, but that’s just the half of it. See the seemingly hand-painted landscapes of Cappadocia as they deserve to be seen, from the air aboard a hot air balloon. Get up early and enjoy a simple breakfast before climbing in the basket and taking to the skies in one of the most favoured places in the world to experience a hot air balloon ride.
• Whirling Dervishes: Witness this spellbinding dance-like worship, practiced by followers of the Mevlevilik Sufi order.

Depart for Antalya this morning with a stop in Konya along the way for some time to explore, find some lunch or visit the Mevlana Museum and mausoleum of Mevlana Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic. After settling into the hotel in Antalya, head out with your CEO in the evening to get your bearings on a short orientation walk on the way to an optional dinner out.

Head off with your CEO this morning to the impressive ruins of Termessos, one of the best-preserved ancient cities of Turkey perched at the top of a mountain. Explore the site and take in the amazing views before returning to Antalya for a free afternoon to explore, laze on the beach or relax. In the evening, head out with your CEO and fellow travel mates for a night out on the town.

Included Experiences

• Termessos Visit: Take in the splendour of the ancient city of Thermessos. Found by the Solims who lived in the Psidia Region and born from the legend of Bellerophon. This mountaintop city is one of the best preserved sites in Turkey. It sits over 1,000 metres above sea level and the amphitheatre has stunning panoramic views of the Pamphylia region and the Taurus Mountains.
• Free Time: Take the afternoon to explore the city or hit a local beach.
• Big Night Out: Whether it’s a pub crawl, drink specials or a bonfire on the beach, celebrate late into the night with your new best friends.

Depart at any time.

Included Experiences

• Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.