Istanbul & Cappadocia Among Women

Your journey begins as you land in Istanbul, a city where Europe and Asia meet across the waters of the Bosphorus. Whether you arrive at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport, the local team will be waiting to welcome you and organise your transfer to the hotel in the historic part of the city.

This first day has deliberately been kept gentle. After travelling, you will have time to settle into your room, rest and slowly absorb the atmosphere around you. Depending on your arrival time, you might take a short walk through the nearby streets, order your first Turkish tea or watch the changing light over Istanbul’s rooftops.

It is also the first opportunity to meet the other women in the group. Some may have travelled alone, others with a friend or relative, but everyone arrives with the same desire to discover Turkey in a warm and supportive setting. There is no pressure to do too much today: this is simply the beginning, a moment to arrive both physically and emotionally.

After breakfast, meet your guide at approximately 09:30 and begin with Topkapı Palace, the former residence and administrative centre of the Ottoman sultans. Moving through its courtyards, pavilions and collections, you will discover not only imperial power but also the private world that existed behind the palace walls. The visit offers remarkable viewpoints over the Bosphorus and helps place Istanbul’s monuments within the wider story of the Ottoman Empire.

Later, board a cruise of approximately one and a half hours along the Bosphorus. This is one of the most beautiful ways to understand Istanbul: Europe on one side, Asia on the other, and a succession of palaces, mosques, fortresses and wooden waterfront homes unfolding from the deck. There is time to take photographs, breathe the sea air and simply enjoy the experience together.

The afternoon continues at the Spice Bazaar, where the atmosphere changes from imperial grandeur to colour, fragrance and everyday commerce. Spices, teas, dried fruits, sweets and traditional products fill the stalls. Your guide will help you recognise what you are seeing and leave room for tasting or shopping without rushing the experience.

At approximately 09:30, continue your exploration of Istanbul with the Blue Mosque, known for its elegant silhouette, six minarets and thousands of blue İznik tiles. Your guide will explain the architecture and the etiquette of visiting an active place of worship, allowing the group to appreciate the space respectfully and without reducing it to a simple photographic stop.

A walk through Sultanahmet reveals layers of Byzantine and Ottoman history. You will see Hagia Sophia from the surrounding historic area and hear how the monument has changed function and meaning over the centuries. The route then continues towards Süleymaniye Mosque, set above the city with wide views and a calmer atmosphere. Designed by the celebrated architect Sinan, it offers another perspective on Ottoman Istanbul.

In the afternoon, enter the Grand Bazaar, a vast network of covered streets and workshops. Rather than trying to see every shop, take time to notice the craftsmanship behind jewellery, textiles, ceramics and leather. There will be time to browse, ask questions and make purchases at your own pace while staying connected with the group.

Today marks the transition from Istanbul’s energy to the open landscapes of Cappadocia. After breakfast and according to the confirmed flight time, transfer to the airport for the domestic journey to central Anatolia.

On arrival, the scenery immediately begins to change. Volcanic formations, wide horizons and villages built into the rock replace the crowded streets of the city. A local transfer takes the group to the cave-style hotel, where the architecture reflects the character of the region.

The rest of the day is kept intentionally light. Settle into your room, enjoy the terraces and begin discovering the surroundings without a fixed programme. This pause is important: it allows the group to rest after the flight and prepares you for the walks, local encounters and slower rhythm of the days ahead.

At approximately 09:30, begin the first full day in Cappadocia with a gentle two-hour walk through Love Valley. The path passes among the unusual fairy chimneys and sculpted volcanic formations that have made the region famous. The pace is not competitive: there is time to stop, take photographs and appreciate how light and perspective transform the landscape.

Continue to Uçhisar, a village dominated by its rock citadel and panoramic views. A coffee break overlooking Ortahisar creates a quiet moment before the route continues to Mustafapaşa, a former Greek village known for its stone houses, carved details and layered history.

One of the day’s most meaningful visits takes place at a carpet-weaving centre where women continue skills passed through generations. Rather than seeing only the finished carpet, you will learn about the preparation, patterns, time and concentration involved in each piece, as well as the economic importance of this work for women and families.

In the evening, gather with the hotel’s host family for a cooking workshop. Preparing a traditional dish side by side creates a natural opportunity for conversation, laughter and questions. The experience is not about performing a perfect recipe; it is about sharing knowledge around the table and ending the day with a stronger sense of connection to local life.

Leave the hotel at approximately 09:30 for another gentle walk, this time through the Red and Rose Valleys. Their colours change with the light, from soft pink and ochre to deeper red tones, revealing layers of volcanic stone shaped by centuries of erosion.

Along the route, stop at the rock-hewn Church of Saint John the Baptist. The quiet interior offers a glimpse into the early Christian and monastic history of Anatolia, when communities carved places of worship directly into the landscape.

During the afternoon, visit a regional jewellery workshop. The experience offers another perspective on Cappadocia’s creative traditions and the way local materials, motifs and techniques are transformed into contemporary objects.

In the evening, the mood becomes festive during a folklore show featuring music and dances from different regions of Turkey. It is a colourful and joyful way to end the day together, combining cultural discovery with the simple pleasure of celebrating as a group.

For travellers choosing the optional balloon flight, the day may begin before sunrise. Weather and aviation authorisation always determine whether flights can operate, but when conditions permit, the view over Cappadocia’s valleys is unforgettable. Those who prefer not to fly can enjoy a slower morning at the hotel.

At approximately 09:30, travel to the underground city of Mazı or Özkonak. Rooms, storage spaces, ventilation shafts and narrow passages reveal how communities once organised life beneath the surface. Your guide will explain how these spaces were used and why they were created. Travellers who are uncomfortable in confined spaces should mention this before departure so that the visit can be discussed.

The afternoon turns towards wellbeing with a traditional hammam experience. Steam, exfoliation and soap massage offer time to slow down and reconnect with your body after several days of discovery. Privacy and practical details will be explained in advance so every woman can decide what feels comfortable.

The final cultural visit is dedicated to pottery, a craft closely connected to the earth and materials of the region. Watching the clay take shape brings the journey full circle: landscape, hands and inherited knowledge come together in one last creative tradition. An optional whirling dervish ceremony may also be proposed, depending on the confirmed departure.

Depending on the flight schedule, enjoy a little free time for a final walk, a quiet coffee, a last photograph or a souvenir chosen with more meaning after everything you have learned during the week.

The local team will organise the transfer to the airport for the return flight, normally connecting through Istanbul. This is the end of the organised programme, but not necessarily the end of the relationships created during it.

Women often join a trip like this without knowing anyone else. Eight days later, they leave with shared jokes, conversations, photographs and memories that belong to the group alone. Turkey remains behind, but the confidence of having travelled, learned and experienced it together travels home with you.