Spirit of Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Konya & Cappadocia in 7 Days
Overview
Spirit of Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Konya & Cappadocia in 7 Days
This 7-day, 6-night tour brings together three very different sides of Turkey: Istanbul, Konya and Cappadocia.
You start in Istanbul, where history and culture meet at every corner, with a day in the Old City and a second day at the Spice Bazaar and on the Bosphorus. A flight then takes you to Konya, a city known for its deep spiritual atmosphere and its Sufi traditions, home of the Mevlana Museum. From there you travel on to Cappadocia for two days among fairy chimneys, rock valleys and ancient cave dwellings, with an optional sunrise balloon flight.
The price includes 6 nights of accommodation, a professional guide, round-trip airport transfers and the domestic flights in the itinerary. International flights to Istanbul are not included.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul and Hotel Transfer
Arriving at Istanbul airport, you are greeted by a driver who brings you to the hotel. There are no further plans today. On the following morning at 09:30 AM your guide comes to meet you.
Day 2 – Classical Istanbul: The Old City
Today your guide leads a full-day walking tour through the core of Ottoman and Byzantine Istanbul.
- 09:30 AM – Hotel pick-up: Your guide collects you from the hotel to start the day.
- 10:00 AM – Topkapi Palace (optional): Walk through the palace where the Ottoman sultans once lived, known for its long history and fine architecture.
- 11:30 AM – Blue Mosque: See the famous mosque named after its delicate blue tiles, and admire its grand structure.
- 12:30 PM – Lunch break (not included): Stop for lunch at a local restaurant.
- 1:30 PM – Hippodrome: Stand on the site of the old chariot-racing track and see the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the German Fountain.
- 2:30 PM – Hagia Sophia (optional): Step inside Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see its Byzantine architecture and vast, majestic interior.
- 3:30 PM – Grand Bazaar: Wander the busy lanes of the Grand Bazaar, the oldest covered market in the world, and shop for souvenirs, spices and textiles.
- 5:00 PM – Hotel drop-off: You are driven back to your Istanbul hotel for the night. Breakfast is included.
Day 3 – Spice Bazaar & Bosphorus Cruise, Flight to Konya
Today you check out of your hotel, see more of Istanbul and then take your onward flight. The tour usually starts at about 09:00 and ends by 16:00 at the latest.
After breakfast, the first stop is the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. Follow the scents through the crowded market and browse its exotic spices, Turkish delight and other local products.
Next comes a relaxing Bosphorus Cruise between Europe and Asia. From the deck you see the city's mix of architecture and sail past grand Ottoman palaces, including Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi.
After the cruise you transfer to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Konya. At Konya airport we meet you and take you to your hotel, with breakfast included.
Day 4 – Konya: Mevlana Museum & Karatay, Overnight in Cappadocia
- 09:30 AM – Mevlana Museum: The day opens with a visit to the Mevlana Museum.
- 12:15 PM – Alaeddin Mosque and Hill: See the historic mosque and enjoy the calm views from Alaeddin Hill.
- 01:00 PM – Lunch at a local restaurant: Try Konya specialities such as etli ekmek or fırın kebabı.
- 02:15 PM – Karatay Madras: Look at the detailed Seljuk tilework and hear about the architectural heritage of the region.
- 04:00 PM – Transfer to Cappadocia: When the tour ends, you transfer to Cappadocia.
- 06:30 PM – Arrival: Check in at your hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 5 – Cappadocia: Zelve, Pasabag, Avanos & Love Valley
The guided tour usually starts at about 09:00 and ends by 16:00 at the latest. Today's highlights:
- Goreme Esentepe – Panoramic View: The day opens at the Esentepe lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme, with a wide view over the Cappadocian valleys, the fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum: Zelve was once a centre of monastic life and Christian learning. Its old monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-kept frescoes that tell the story of the region's past.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, the Monks Valley, is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys. Also called “Pasha's Vineyard”, it has some of the most dramatic rock pillars in Cappadocia.
- Devrent Valley: A short drive away, Devrent Valley looks almost like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed chimneys invite you to spot shapes of animals and mythical creatures in the rock.
- Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has been a pottery town since 3000 BC, and local craftsmen still work with clay from the Red River. At a traditional workshop you watch them shape their ceramics by hand.
- Love Valley: The last stop is Love Valley, where millions of years of erosion have carved cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys, some as tall as 40 meters. It is one of the strangest and most photogenic places in Cappadocia.
You then return to your cave hotel for the night. Breakfast is included.
Day 6 – Optional Balloon, Cappadocia Valleys & Return to Istanbul
- 05:00 AM – Hot air balloon ride (optional): Rise at sunrise for an optional balloon flight over Cappadocia's rock formations and fairy chimneys.
- 07:00 AM – Champagne toast and return to hotel: Celebrate the landing with a glass of champagne, then transfer back to your hotel.
Today you check out of your hotel, see more of Cappadocia and then fly to Istanbul.
The guided tour usually starts at about 09:00 and ends by 16:00 at the latest. Today's highlights:
- Meskendir Valley (4.4 km Trek): The day starts on foot with a 4.4 km walk through Meskendir Valley near Ortahisar. On the way you step inside Meskendir Church, decorated with bold red geometric patterns and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling, and enjoy the valley scenery around it.
- Rose Valley: Behind Ürgüp lies Rose Valley, one of the finest spots in Cappadocia, with unusual rock shapes and churches cut into the stone out of sight. Paths run through vineyards and gardens between small villages and towns, and locals sometimes offer walkers fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
- Red Valley: Red Valley shares the dramatic rock forms and old cave churches of its neighbour. Its trails branch out like a spider's web, tying together remote villages and fields, so you see the region's landscape and history side by side.
- Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin is one of the oldest villages in Cappadocia, its cave homes cut into the cliff in a maze of old dwellings. The village's Church of John the Baptist, dating from the 5th century, is the biggest cave church in the region.
- Underground City: Early Christians dug 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to hide from persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them. It goes down eight levels, and you walk through parts of it to see old wineries, kitchens and living rooms.
- Pigeon Valley: On the edge of Göreme, Pigeon Valley takes its name from the dovecotes cut into its cliffs over many centuries. Farmers once collected the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today the valley is a wide viewpoint and a favourite photo stop.
- Uchisar Castle Panorama: The final stop is Uçhisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its landmark is Uçhisar Castle, a tall rock outcrop once used as a fortress. From the top you can see across the whole region to Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.
After a day of walking and sightseeing, we bring you back to your hotel for the night at around 16:00.
Day 7 – Farewell to Turkey and Airport Transfer
After breakfast you check out, and our representative helps you with your transfer to the airport. This is where our services end.
Would you like more time in Istanbul? Extra nights can be added to your stay.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Cappadocia hot air balloon (Goreme): $310
- One extra night in an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
- Upgrade to a private tour: $350
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓6 nights accommodation
- ✓Professional guide
- ✓Round-trip airport transfers
- ✓Domestic Flight Fares in the itinerary
- ✕International flights to Istanbul
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Travel guides
- Cappadocia Tours from Kayseri Airport: 1, 2 or 3 Days, Prices 2027
- Cappadocia in January 2027: Weather, Snow, Balloons and Tours
- Erciyes Ski Resort from Cappadocia: Season, Lift Prices, Day Trip 2027
- Cappadocia in December: Snow Odds, Weather, Balloons and Tours
- Cappadocia Weather by Month: Temperatures, Rain, Snow and Balloons
- Cappadocia Mistakes to Avoid on a First Visit: 14 Errors and Fixes
- Why Cappadocia Balloon Flights Get Cancelled, and What Happens Next
- 3-Day Cappadocia Itinerary: Balloon, Valleys, Ihlara and Göreme
- Cappadocia Green Tour: Derinkuyu, Ihlara Valley and Selime Monastery
- Salt Lake Day Trip from Cappadocia: Pink Season, Sunset, Sultanhanı
Spirit of Turkey Tour, Istanbul, Konya and Cappadocia in 7 days: the key facts
This is a 7-day, 6-night group tour that adds Konya to the usual Istanbul and Cappadocia pairing. You spend two guided days in Istanbul, fly to Konya for the Mevlana Museum and the Seljuk sights, then continue by road to Cappadocia for two days of valleys, fairy chimneys and an underground city. Ephesus and Pamukkale are not on this route.
It suits travellers who care about Rumi and Sufi history as much as about landscapes, and who prefer a slower central Anatolia loop to a rush along the coast. The price is from $2,100 per person, with domestic flights, airport transfers, a professional guide and hotel breakfasts included.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Route | Istanbul, Konya, Cappadocia, back to Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour (private upgrade $350) |
| Start / end | Istanbul airport pickup on Day 1, airport transfer on Day 7 |
| Included | 6 nights' hotels, breakfast, professional guide, airport transfers, domestic flights in the itinerary |
| Extra | International flights, lunches, balloon ($310), extra Istanbul night ($65) |
Why does this tour go to Konya, and what do you see there?
Konya is the city of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, and Day 4 is built around him. The guided morning starts at 09:30 at the Mevlana Museum, where Rumi's tomb is, then moves to the Alaeddin Mosque and hill around 12:15. After lunch at a local restaurant you visit the Karatay Madrasa, known for its tile work. The road transfer to Cappadocia leaves at about 16:00 and you check in at around 18:30. If you want more time in the city, read our Konya destination guide or compare the shorter Istanbul, Konya and Cappadocia 5-day tour.
How do the flights and transfers work?
Day 3 is the flight day. After the Spice Bazaar and a Bosphorus cruise past Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi palaces (finished by about 16:00), you are taken to Istanbul Airport for the domestic flight to Konya, met on arrival and driven to your hotel. Konya to Cappadocia on Day 4 is by road; the page does not name the vehicle type, so ask. The Day 6 title says you return to Istanbul after the valleys tour, but the page text also mentions a final night at the Cappadocia hotel. Ask for the last night's city and the flight time in writing before you pay.
Which hotels do you stay in?
The page lists six nights in total: Istanbul, one night in Konya and cave hotel nights in Cappadocia. Hotel names and star ratings are not given, so ask for the hotel list for your date when you request a quote. A cave room in Cappadocia is a room cut into or built against the rock; some are small and some have steps, so mention it if anyone has trouble with stairs. Our guides to Cappadocia cave hotels and where to stay in Cappadocia explain the areas and room types.
Is the hot air balloon included?
No. The sunrise balloon over Goreme is an add-on at $310 per person, planned for Day 6 with a 05:00 pickup and a champagne toast after landing, about 07:00. You are back in time for the valleys walk at 09:00. Balloon flights only go ahead when Turkey's civil aviation office clears the weather each morning, and most cancellations happen in the colder months, so book it for the first possible morning if you can. Our Cappadocia balloon price page explains what affects the cost.
How hard are the walking days?
Istanbul days run from about 09:30 to 17:00 on foot around Sultanahmet, with stairs at Topkapi and uneven stones at the Hippodrome. The Cappadocia days are the most active. Day 5 is the red tour circuit (Esentepe, Zelve, Pasabag, Devrent, Avanos, Love Valley), and Day 6 starts with a 4.4 km trek through Meskendir Valley, then Rose and Red valleys, Cavusin, an eight-level underground city with low tunnels, Pigeon Valley and Uchisar Castle. Wear trail shoes with grip.
What should we wear at the Mevlana Museum and the mosques?
Cover shoulders and knees at the Blue Mosque, the Alaeddin Mosque and the Mevlana Museum. Women cover their hair in mosques, and scarves are usually lent at the Blue Mosque entrance. Shoes come off on mosque carpets, and at the Mevlana tomb visitors are generally given shoe covers. The Blue Mosque closes to visitors during the five daily prayers and for the Friday midday prayer, so your guide may change the order of stops. See what to wear in Istanbul.
Which entrance fees and meals are included?
Breakfast is included at the hotels. Lunch on Day 2 is not included, and the page does not say clearly whether the Konya lunch is covered, so ask. Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are marked optional, and the page does not list admission fees among the inclusions. Ask whether museum tickets are in the price or paid on the day. Our Hagia Sophia ticket price page shows the current fee.
Can we add nights or change the order?
You can add a night in Istanbul before or after the tour for $65 per person, which helps if your international flight lands late or leaves early. A private version with your own guide costs $350 extra. Bigger changes, such as a second night in Konya or adding Ephesus, are possible as a tailor-made Turkey tour and will change the price.
How do we book this tour?
Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, or send us a WhatsApp message with your travel dates and any questions about Konya, the flights or the balloon. We confirm the full plan in writing, including hotels, flight days and what is and is not included, before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is licensed by TÜRSAB under number A-15751.
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