Turkey Travel

Detailed Day Wise Itinerary

• Day : 1 Arrival in Istanbul

  Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel.
  Visit the iconic Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
  Enjoy a leisurely walk around Sultanahmet Square.
  
  Hagia Sophia: A masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, a converted former church and mosque and a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul. Completed in 537 AD, it served as an Eastern Orthodox church, Catholic church, mosque, and museum before becoming a mosque again in 2020.
  
  Blue Mosque: An Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I. Known for its unprecedented six minarets and beautiful blue İznik tile decorations.
  
  Sultanahmet Square: Formerly the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the sporting and social centre of the Byzantine capital. Today it's a square known for its ancient monuments including the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpent Column.

• Day : 2 Istanbul City Tour

  Explore Topkapi Palace, former residence of Ottoman sultans.
  Wander through the vibrant Grand Bazaar for shopping and cultural immersion.
  Take a scenic Bosphorus cruise to see the city from the water.
  
  Topkapi Palace: A large museum and library that served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from the 1460s to 1856. The palace is a maze of courtyards, gardens, and buildings with architecture blending Islamic, Turkish, and European influences.
  
  Grand Bazaar: One of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, offering a fascinating maze of shops selling everything from spices to carpets, jewelry, leather goods, and traditional crafts.
  
  Bosphorus Cruise: Provides stunning views of the Bosphorus Strait, the waterway that divides Istanbul between Europe and Asia. Enjoy sights of historic palaces, waterfront mansions, and the merging of two continents.

• Day : 3 Travel to Cappadocia

  Fly to Cappadocia, known for its unique surreal landscape.
  Visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  Explore the stunning rock formations and fairy chimneys of Devrent Valley.
  
  Cappadocia: A semi-arid region in central Turkey known for its distinctive "fairy chimneys" - tall, cone-shaped rock formations. The area features Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes and later used as refuges by early Christians.
  
  Goreme Open-Air Museum: Well known for its fairy chimneys and rock formations, many of which were hollowed out in the Middle Ages to create Christian churches, houses and underground cities.
  
  Devrent Valley: Known for its lunaresque landscape with whimsical rock formations. Unlike other valleys in the area, it was never inhabited by humans, making it a unique geological wonder shaped by wind and water over thousands of years.

• Day : 4 Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride and Underground City

  Experience a breathtaking hot air balloon ride at sunrise over the fairy chimneys (optional).
  Discover the underground city of Kaymakli, a remarkable ancient complex carved into the earth.
  Visit local pottery workshops to see traditional craftsmanship.
  
  Hot Air Balloon Ride: A once-in-a-lifetime experience offering panoramic views of Cappadocia's stunning landscape from above at sunrise.
  
  Kaymakli Underground City: An ancient underground city that can hold up to 3,000 people and is over 85 meters deep. Features low, winding passages, steep stairs, rooms for various uses, water wells, storage spaces, and ventilation shafts.

• Day : 5 Return to Istanbul

  Fly back to Istanbul.
  Spend the day at leisure, exploring more of the city's vibrant neighborhoods or indulging in Turkish cuisine.
  Optional: Turkish bath experience for relaxation and rejuvenation.
  
  Turkish Baths (Hamams): Traditional bathhouses that offer a unique bathing experience following a traditional Turkish method including a series of sauna-like steam rooms, scrubbing, and massages.
  
  Turkish Cuisine: Rich and diverse cuisine that took its current form after numerous cultural interactions throughout centuries, known for dishes like kebabs, mezes, baklava, and Turkish delight.

• Day : 6 Departure from Istanbul

  Transfer to Istanbul Airport for your departure flight back to Kenya.
  Optional: Last-minute souvenir shopping for Turkish delights, ceramics, carpets, or spices.