Istanbul and Cappadocia: from the Golden Horn to Troglodyte Churches

Already included in the itinerary - Istanbul tour. Rather than a traditional guided tour, enjoy a more relaxed and impromptu meeting with a local and the city. Our guides are passionate about the city's cuisine, culture, art and geopolitics. They are knowledgeable representatives of the new Istanbul, this old city, which over the last half century, has embraced the age of globalisation without sacrificing its character. Nothing is planned in advance. Meet, talk about your interests and questions, then adapt to the pace of Istanbul residents. Your guide knows how to combine the most authentic Istanbul experience with your interests and curiosities. In their company, the contrasts, paradoxes and changes of one of the world's most intriguing cities are clearly explained and you feel like a local among locals. It's also a great opportunity to get valuable tips for your own explorations.

The hotel is next to the ruins of a medieval Turkish bath. The city's iconic landmarks – The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace Museum – are all within walking distance. After this brilliant introduction, venture into a city that is a little less confusing yet always surprising. Along the way, wander market stalls and enjoy tea, spicy kebabs, fish, hazelnuts, raisins, olives and moreish Turkish delight. There are inns and restaurants everywhere. Istanbul has been very cosmopolitan for years, its gastronomic repertoire is astonishingly varied and colourful. And then there are the 'hammams' (steam rooms), music – Ottoman classical, Turkish folk music, Sufi ceremonies – bazaars and much more. Istanbul is truly a delight for all the senses.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Kayseri. Collect your hire car and drive to Uchisar, on the edge of the Goreme park. Tuff (rock formed from volcanic ash) is soft, easy to work with and also provides good thermal regulation. Everything else is a matter of care and taste in how things are restored. This ancient building has been restored with meticulous attention to detail. And the white stone, semi-circular arches and generous spaces provide a soft and soothing atmosphere. Courtyards and terraces are perfect for relaxation; the garden has a deliciously lazy feel, lush with vegetation. From here, admire breathtaking Pigeon Valley with its fairy chimneys. This all nearly eclipses the quality of the meal in the hotel's restaurant... but not quite.

The valley of Goreme, protected by a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is emblematic of Cappadocia's volcanic tuff and what people have been able to do with it. The erosion of this rocky wonderland has resulted in a spectacular landscape littered with peaks, cones, fairy chimneys, needles, table mountains and rock-hewn valleys and canyons. Their pale hues reflect the light beautifully and offer an amazingly colourful sight at dawn and sunset. As the rock is easier to cut than granite, communities, religious and otherwise, settled here long ago and excavated the surroundings to suit their needs... To the point of completely shaping certain cliffs and hills. The churches, which here represented heaven on Earth, have preserved the rich palette of the Byzantine fresco and its theological references. In Cappadocia, the notion of cultural landscape takes on its full and impressive meaning.

Already included in the itinerary - The treasures of Goreme. Enjoy a captivating tour with a guide and visit some of the most beautiful churches in the valley. Tokali (Buckle) church, dates back to the tenth century and covers two periods of Palaeo-Christian art; the oldest part inspired by the Gospel of James, which presents a narrative of the birth and upbringing of the Virgin Mary. Snake church, named after St. George and Theodore Stratelates, who both battled dragon-snakes, dates back to the ninth century and is also worth a visit. The first development of the Zelve Valley troglodytic site also dates back to the ninth century and was inhabited up until the 1950s. Galleries and rooms dug into the rock make up a completely disorientating, upside down world. In the afternoon, enjoy a small hike in the valley of Gulludere (Rose Valley), admiring the beautifully decorated churches. On the way back, stop for a refreshing break in a cellar in the wine village of Urgup.