Cappadocia, Turkey

Outdoor Adventures in Turkey: Tour for Active Travelers

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Turkey

Places Visited

Cappadocia, Istanbul

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Turkey isn't just evocative culture and history. The cityscapes and landscapes bristle with outdoor adventure, a thousand experiences to be had beneath dazzling Mediterranean skies. Cappadocia's surreal landscape offers an iconic playground; hot air ballooning, mountain biking, rock climbing. Then two continents are explored on two wheels and two legs in Istanbul.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Mountain bike through Cappadocia, exploring the troglodyte dwellings and bizarre chimneys of a surreal landscape
  • Enjoy a stunning hot air balloon flight above Cappadocia and then continue the aerial adventure with some of the world's finest rock climbing
  • Spend four days in Istanbul and take walking tours that reveal the old-world glories of a famous city
  • Delve into the heart of Istanbul with a cycling tour that explores evocative suburbs rarely seen by tourists
  • Take a river cruise along the divide between continents and wander through the Grand Bazaar, two more highlights from your time in Istanbul
  • Soak up the culture and history of Turkey with visits to rock cut churches, underground cities, and traditional villages 

Detailed Description

Think about Turkey and there's an evocative history that springs to mind. It's true that the country excels in revealing architectural brilliance and archaeological remains. The blend of East and West is also non-fiction and it fills the country with unrivaled charm. However, few are aware of the country's playground for outdoor adventures. Mountain biking, rock climbing, hot air ballooning, cycling across two continents in two hours; not only do the activities provide excitement, they offer a unique angle from which to explore the wonders of Turkey. Furthermore, experiencing this playground combines journeys into both world-renowned and off-the-beaten-track Turkey.

This itinerary includes four nights in Cappadocia and three nights in Istanbul. The destinations provide two very different landscapes and platforms to explore. First you will discover Cappadocia, where a strange concoction of geological chimneys and troglodyte caves fill valleys of intrigue. Immerse yourself in the lunar-like wonder with a full day mountain bike tour that weaves a trail through the bizarre rock formations. Hot air balloon above it all and revel in the scale. Then try some rock climbing and rappel down cliffs that stand above the caves. You'll also explore the region's fascinating history and longstanding culture; visit underground cities and rock cut churches, enjoy a home cooked dinner in a traditional village, and see the Greek style houses of Avanos.

On the morning of day five you fly to Istanbul where the adventure is all about two legs and two wheels. Take a private walking tour of the city's famous wonders on day five, including visits to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. Day six is about hidden Istanbul, a private cycling tour taking you across the Bosphorus as you cycle on two different continents. Explore markets and local suburbs, stop for photos of steeped domes, and then cruise back to your boutique hotel in Sultanahmet. You're staying in Istanbul's most historic suburb, so you're ideally positioned to soak up the charm in the evenings. The final day crosses off the remaining must-do Istanbul experiences; the scents of the Spice Market, a serene river cruise, and the opulence of Dolmabahce Palace.

Throughout the itinerary a number of lunches and dinners have been included. Each of these offers a unique take on local cuisine and ambiance. All tours are private and conducted by specialist local guides. This allows them to be handcrafted to your pace and fitness levels; for example, there are hundreds of miles of mountain bike trails in Cappadocia and your guide will meet with you to select an appropriate route.

Like all Zicasso itineraries, everything can be tailored to the most exacting of preferences. Be sure to browse the other tours of Turkey on Zicasso. Or, read the Turkey travel reviews section.

Starting Price

$2,699 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.91 stars based on 241 reviews.

Turkey Luxury Travel Review: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Kusadasi,...
"I would like to point out the effort and thoughts put into...

Reviewed By Ang K.

Turkey Vacation Review: Cappadocia, Hot-Air Balloon Tour,...
"We recommend our travel team and would use them again....

Reviewed By Lee D.

Turkey Luxury Family Travel Review: Istanbul, Cappadocia,...
"The trip to Turkey was amazing."

Reviewed By Jay B.

Turkey, Greece Vacation Review: Istanbul, Athens, Cappadocia,...
"Our Zicasso travel partner was fantastic. She was responsive...

Reviewed By Shinjini M.

Turkey, Egypt Luxury Travel Review: Cappadocia, Hot-Air...
"We had a wonderful time in Turkey and Egypt."

Reviewed By Diane H.

Turkey Luxury Vacation Review: Cappadocia, Hot-Air Balloon...
"We just returned from a wonderfully memorable trip to Turkey...

Reviewed By Dan F.

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