6-Day Private Istanbul & Cappadocia Tour with Flights
This private 6-day, 5-night tour starts and ends in Istanbul. You spend two guided days in the old city, then fly to Cappadocia for two days among the fairy chimneys and a night in a cave hotel. It includes boutique and cave hotels, return domestic flights, entrance fees, 5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, a private guide and all transfers.
5.0 on Tripadvisor · 145 reviews of our private tours
Your route
Tap a stop or open a day in the itinerary to see where you are.
- Private vehicle
- Domestic flight
- 1Overnight stop
- Day visit
Why travelers choose this itinerary
Istanbul and Cappadocia are the two places most visitors to Turkey put at the top of their list, and this tour links them with a short flight instead of a ten-hour drive. Your hotel in Istanbul sits in Sultanahmet, a short walk from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, so your touring days start right at your door.
Because the tour is private, your guide and vehicle are yours alone, and entrance fees are already covered. There are no tickets to buy and no queues to plan around. You set the pace, spend longer where you are curious, and end the trip with a final night back in Istanbul.
Highlights
- Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace in one guided day
- The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar
- A boat cruise on the Bosphorus, the strait between Europe and Asia
- A night in a cave hotel in Cappadocia
- Kaymaklı Underground City and Pigeon Valley
- The Göreme Open Air Museum, Paşabağ's fairy chimneys and Uçhisar Castle
- Entrance fees included, with tickets ready before you arrive
Day-by-day itinerary
-
Day 1Arrive in Istanbul
Your driver meets you at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen and takes you to your boutique hotel in Sultanahmet, the historic heart of the city. The rest of the day is free. An easy walk around the neighborhood is a good way to beat jet lag, and most of tomorrow's landmarks are only minutes away. If you are already in Istanbul, we collect you from your hotel instead. Send us your flight details when you book.
-
Day 2Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia to the Grand Bazaar
A full walking day with your guide in the old city. Start at the Hippodrome, once the chariot track of Constantinople, then step inside Hagia Sophia, whose dome has stood for nearly 1,500 years. Visit the Blue Mosque with its blue İznik tiles, and spend about two hours in Topkapı Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans. Finish among the covered lanes of the Grand Bazaar. Bring a scarf for the mosque visits.
-
Day 3Spice Bazaar and Bosphorus Cruise
Begin at the Spice Bazaar, where stalls are stacked with teas, dried fruit, spices and Turkish delight. Then board a boat for a cruise along the Bosphorus, the waterway that divides Europe from Asia, past wooden waterside mansions, Ottoman palaces and old fortresses, while your guide explains how the strait shaped the city's history. The afternoon is open for a Turkish bath, a ferry to the Asian side or more time in the bazaars.
-
Day 4Fly to Cappadocia: Fairy Chimneys and the Underground City
An early transfer takes you to the airport for the short flight to Cappadocia, where your guide is waiting. Start with a viewpoint over the valleys, then walk among the fairy chimneys, the cone-shaped rocks that made the region famous. Look down into Pigeon Valley and its carved dovecotes, and have a traditional Turkish lunch. In the afternoon, descend into Kaymaklı Underground City, several floors of tunnels and rooms once used for shelter. Check in to your cave hotel.
-
Day 5North Cappadocia, Fly to Istanbul
If you booked the optional balloon flight, you rise before dawn to watch the valleys from the air. After breakfast, visit Devrent Valley, known for rocks shaped like animals, and Paşabağ, where some chimneys have two or three caps. In Avanos, potters show you how they turn river clay on the wheel, followed by lunch. Tour the frescoed rock churches of the Göreme Open Air Museum and the views from Uçhisar Castle, then fly back to Istanbul.
-
Day 6Departure
After breakfast, your driver takes you to the airport in time for your flight home. If you leave later in the day, there may be time for a last walk around Sultanahmet or some final shopping. Let us know your flight time in advance so we can plan the transfer with a comfortable margin for Istanbul traffic. If you want to stay longer, we can add extra nights in Istanbul.
What's included
- 5 nights in hotels: 4 nights in a 4-star boutique hotel in Sultanahmet, 1 night in a Cappadocia cave hotel
- 5 breakfasts and 2 traditional Turkish lunches
- Entrance fees to the sites in the itinerary, with tickets bought in advance
- Bosphorus boat cruise
- Return domestic flights Istanbul to Cappadocia
- Professional licensed private guide
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- All airport and hotel transfers in the itinerary
Not included
- International flights
- Meals not listed above and all drinks
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Personal expenses
Optional extras
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels for every night of the tour
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (morning of Day 5)
- Turkish bath in Istanbul
- Extra hotel nights in Istanbul before or after the tour
Hotels (or similar)
- Istanbul: Yasmak Sultan Hotel or Dosso Dossi Hotels Old City, or similar
- Cappadocia: Yunak Evleri Cave Hotel or Gamirasu Cave Hotel, or similar
Price per person (USD)
The price depends on how many people travel together, because your guide and vehicle are private. Children 0 to 1 travel free; children 2 to 6 pay the child price and count toward group size.
| Travelers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $2,625 | $1,400 | $1,290 | $1,195 | $1,145 | $1,050 |
| Child 2–6 | – | $850 | $850 | $850 | $850 | $790 |
Prices valid as of October 15, 2026. Bookings close 10 days before the start date: book today and the earliest start date is October 25, 2026.
| Travelers | Adult | Child 2–6 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,625 | – |
| 2 | $1,400 | $850 |
| 3 | $1,290 | $850 |
| 4 | $1,195 | $850 |
| 5 | $1,145 | $850 |
| 6+ | $1,050 | $790 |
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels: +$285 per adult for the whole tour.
- Guide in English is included. Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese or Japanese: +$340 for the whole group, shared between the travelers (Chinese and Japanese on request).
Good to know
- Domestic flight baggage allowance: 15 kg (33 lb) checked plus 8 kg (17 lb) carry-on. You can leave larger bags at your Istanbul hotel, as you return there on Day 5.
- Topkapı Palace closes on Tuesdays and the Grand Bazaar on Sundays; your guide adjusts the order of visits.
- Mosques require modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf for women.
- Kaymaklı has low, narrow passages and steep steps. Tell your guide if you prefer to skip it.
- Bookings close 10 days before the start date. Reserve with a 30% deposit; cancellation is free up to 30 days before travel.
Your guide
Your guide will be one of our licensed team: classmates from Adnan Menderes University with 14 to 15 years of guiding each, plus trusted licensed colleagues in every region.
KübraEnglish, Spanish
Selçuk YılmazEnglish
Can AteşEnglish, French
Bahar ÖzdemirEnglish, Spanish, Arabic
Ege ErtaşEnglish
Osman DemirEnglish
From past trips on this route
Guests on this route
Photos our guests shared after their private tours.
What travelers say
Rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor from 145 reviews of our private tours. Excerpts quoted as written.
“Our minivan was very comfortable, the drivers were punctual and very helpful”
ElenaDit · August 2026 · Tripadvisor
“He was always on the phone when we have question.”
탁동 홍 · September 2026 · Tripadvisor
FAQ
Is this tour private?
Yes. Only your party travels, with a licensed guide and an air-conditioned vehicle reserved for you. You choose your start date and the pace of each day. Prices are per person and decrease as your party grows, and children 0 to 1 travel free.
Are entrance fees included?
Yes. Entrance fees for every site in the itinerary are included, and your guide buys the tickets in advance, so you skip the ticket queues. The only extras are optional activities, such as a balloon flight or a Turkish bath.
Are the flights included?
The domestic flights are. Your return flights between Istanbul and Cappadocia are included, with a 15 kg checked bag and 8 kg carry-on each. International flights to and from Turkey are not included, but airport pickup and drop-off are.
How many nights do I spend in Cappadocia?
One night, in a cave hotel. You arrive on the morning of Day 4 and fly back to Istanbul on the evening of Day 5, so you get two full touring days. If you want a second night for a better chance at a balloon flight, we can add it.
Is the hot air balloon ride included?
No, it is an optional extra on the morning of Day 5. Balloons fly at sunrise and depend on the weather, and with one night in Cappadocia there is no backup morning. Tell us when you book, and ask us about adding a second night.
How much does this tour cost per person?
For two travelers the price is $1,400 per person in US dollars. It falls to $1,050 per person for a party of six or more, and a solo traveler pays $2,625 because the guide and vehicle are reserved for one party. These are 2026 prices and cover everything listed under What's included.
What do children pay, and can we upgrade to 5-star hotels?
Children up to 1 year old travel free. Children aged 2 to 6 pay $850 to $790 depending on group size and count toward the group size. Upgrading every night of the tour to 5-star hotels costs $285 per adult.
How do payment and cancellation work?
You reserve with a 30% deposit by card in US dollars, processed securely by Stripe; for two travelers on this tour that is about $840. The balance is charged automatically 30 days before travel. Cancel up to 30 days before your start date and you get a full refund, including the deposit.