Upon arrival in Istanbul, you’ll be met by an English-speaking assistant at Gate 9, who will help coordinate your private driver and accompany you to your accommodation.

A Welcome Package with a copy of your itinerary, domestic flight tickets (if relevant), and any other information that we deem you may find useful, will be provided to you in destination.

Hammams are an everlasting and honored ritual in Turkish culture. In fact, there are over 237 hammams throughout Istanbul alone, with almost 60 still active to visit today. Hammam means 'heating up' in Arabic – and as such, hammams focus on steam, soaps/scrubs, tea time and massage. Carefully integrated into exquisite spaces adorned with accents of marble and gold make these luxurious and languid experiences are fit for Sultans and Princesses. With some time at leisure, gift yourself the time to melt body, soul and spirit into the opulence of this cherished Turkish tradition. Within your final trip documents, you’ll receive a supplemental composition which showcases our suggestions for the best hammams in Istanbul, as selected by Kensington Tours Destination Experts.

Discover Istanbul's most storied landmarks on a private full-day exploration with your expert guide and driver. At Topkapi Palace, your guide brings Ottoman imperial life into focus through ornate chambers and collections. Hagia Sophia follows, its soaring dome and Byzantine mosaics reflecting the civilizations that shaped the city. Descend into the Basilica Cistern, where shadowed colonnades and Medusa-carved capitals speak to the ambition of ancient Constantinople. Continue to the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome before ending at Rustem Pasa Mosque, a tucked-away jewel of intricate Iznik tilework.

Savor the heritage of Turkish cuisine at Hamdi Restaurant, an Istanbul landmark overlooking the Bosphorus. Established in the late 1960s by Chef Hamdi Arpacı, who brought the authentic flavors of southeastern Turkey to the city’s heart, this five-story restaurant near the New Mosque continues to serve traditional kebabs and regional dishes true to their roots. With sweeping views of Galata, Sultanahmet, and the Golden Horn, Hamdi blends history, flavor, and a sense of place that reflects Istanbul’s culinary soul.

Please reach out to your Destination Expert should you wish to make a reservation ahead of your arrival. Payment for your meal is required on-site. All reservations are subject to availability.

Discover a different side of Istanbul on a private half-day exploration with your expert guide and driver, tracing the city's commercial and spiritual heart. At the Grand Bazaar, one of the worlds oldest covered markets, follow the rhythm of centuries-old trade through workshop-lined lanes and merchant stalls. Continue to Suleymaniye Mosque, where a vast interior, fine calligraphy, and wide views over the Golden Horn and Bosphorus reflect the scale of Ottoman Istanbul. The experience closes at the Spice Market, where fragrant stalls and everyday local trade bring the city's market culture into focus.

See Istanbul from the water on a private Bosphorus cruise, gliding between Europe and Asia as your guide brings the shoreline to life. Pass Ottoman waterfront mansions, palace facades, and hilltop fortresses, with the city’s domes and minarets reading differently from this calm, open vantage point. Private transfers connect you to and from the pier, keeping the experience smooth from start to finish.

Experience Galataport in the golden light of early evening, when the Bosphorus shimmers and the promenade transitions from day to night. Explore Istanbul Modern, designed by Renzo Piano, or the Museum of Painting and Sculpture before lingering along the reopened waterfront with views toward Galata Tower. Settle into a cafe or reserve a table at a waterside restaurant as ferries glide past and the skyline begins to glow. Your Destination Expert can share tailored suggestions or arrange reservations to shape your visit.

Upon arrival in Istanbul, you’ll be met by an English-speaking assistant at Gate 9, who will help coordinate your private driver and accompany you to your accommodation.

Board a flight in Istanbul with service to Cappadocia. The flight duration is approximately one hour.

A private vehicle with driver and English-speaking assistant will transfer you between the airport and your hotel.

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Few experiences capture Cappadocia’s sculpted landscapes like sunrise from a hot air balloon, when the valleys glow and dozens of balloons rise at once. Arrive before dawn at the launch field for your shared flight, then enjoy a light breakfast while the crew prepares the balloon and the burners bring it to life. Lift into the sky for about 1 hour as fairy chimneys and carved ridgelines unfold below in the first light. After landing, a non-alcoholic champagne toast and flight certificate mark the moment, with round-trip private transfers keeping the morning effortless from start to finish.

Explore Cappadocia’s signature landscapes with your private guide and driver, moving from sunlit rock churches to the hidden world below ground. At the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum, step into frescoed, rock-carved chapels as your guide explains the early Christian communities that shaped the region. Pigeon Valley follows with sculpted hillsides and old dovecotes cut into the stone, before Kaymakli Underground City reveals narrow tunnels and living chambers built for refuge beneath the surface.

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This morning, enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or simply unwind at your hotel and recharge for what is next.

Cook alongside local hosts in the village of Ayvali in a private home-style class that captures Cappadocia’s traditional flavors. With your guide and private driver handling the details, step into a family kitchen to prepare classic regional dishes and learn the techniques and ingredients that define this corner of Turkish cuisine. Once everything is ready, sit down together for a shared lunch that naturally rounds out the experience. Recipes are available to take home on request.

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A private vehicle with driver and English-speaking assistant will transfer you between the airport and your hotel.

Board a flight in Cappadocia with service to Istanbul. The flight duration is approximately one hour.

Nestled along the historic and mystical route of Karakoy, The Burdock Hotel offers an exclusive and refined retreat, infused with the spirit of connection. More than just a place to stay, it is a hub for travelers drawn to both tradition and transformation. Here, the pulse of the city meets the echoes of ancient times, surrounded by authentic and contemporary art, avant-garde design, and artisanal workshops. Every space is curated to inspire, blending rich heritage with modern elegance. The Burdock is not just a hotel; it is an experience, a cocoon for the curious, and a gateway to living new inspirations.

Gamirasu Cave Hotel provides some of the most distinctive and stylish accommodations in Cappadocia. Located in Avali Village near the town of Urgup, the hotel serves as an excellent base for exploring the otherworldly wonders of this mysterious and beautiful region of Turkey. All 35 meticulously designed rooms are housed in troglodyte caves, fully taking advantage of Cappadocia’s fascinating landscape. The hotel itself is a restored thousand-year-old Byzantine monastic retreat, offering modern conveniences without distracting from the spiritual character of the area. At Gamirasu Cave Hotel you are bound to experience the finest in Turkish hospitality in a most unique setting.