Hashemite Kingdom, Istanbul & Cappadocia

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off for Madaba this morning to see the oldest mosaic map in the world, housed within the historic St. George Church. Continue to Mount Nebo, overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Believed to be the place where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land and later buried, take in the spectacular views of this sacred place. Next, drive to the fascinating Shobak Castle, a Crusader Castle dating back to 1115.

At the end of the visit, head to Petra and check in at the hotel. Spend the evening at your leisure, ready to discover the ancient city in the morning! If you can't wait, we recommend an optional Petra by Night excursion!* Dinner and overnight stay in Petra.

* Optional Petra By Night Excursion: Savour the opportunity to discover the legendary sights of Petra by night! Walk along the Siq Gorge before arriving at the iconic Treasury to admire its legendary candlelit facade. A spectacular sight!

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend today exploring the famed Nabatean capital with an excursion to Petra! During the visit, discover the most important and representative monuments, sculpted into the rock by this ancient civilization. Admire the Treasury, the famous and most internationally recognised monument, as seen in one of the Indiana Jones films and other highlights, such as the Colored Tombs and the Royal Tombs.

Let your imagination run wild as you learn about life here in ancient times. Petra is one of those places in the world that you must visit at least once in your life! A true wonder of the world, enjoy an unforgettable day exploring this bucket-list site. At the end of the visit, return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Petra.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, head to a lesser-known site named Little Petra, located north of Petra. A narrow gorge of 2 meters wide, this rocky landscape is adorned with typical Nabatean architecture, making this one of the most unique sites in the country. Originally, Little Petra was inhabited by the Nabateans and is home to a number of tombs, water tanks and riverbeds.

Next, continue to beautiful Wadi Rum, the desert made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. Take a 4x4 excursion across the lunar-like landscape for an unforgettable experience. We recommend an optional Stargazing Excursion to discover the secrets of the night's sky!* Dinner under the stars and overnight at the camp in Wadi Rum.

* Optional Wadi Rum Stargazing Experience: Discover the secrets of the night's sky! Head to an area without light pollution and enjoy a 20-minute presentation before viewing the incredible star constellations with the help of telescopes. This excursion is weather dependent. 

Breakfast at the camp. At the indicated time, return to Amman and spend the rest of the day at your leisure, soaking up the culture and atmosphere of the Jordanian capital. Alternatively, why not take an optional city tour to get to know the most emblematic sights in the city?* Dinner and overnight stay in Amman.

* Optional Amman City Tour with Dinner: Explore Amman this afternoon, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom founded 7000 years ago. See the city's most emblematic sights including Amman Citadel, Hercules Temple, the Byzantine Church and the Ummayad Palace and pay a visit to the fascinating Amman Archaeological Museum. Head downtown to see the incredible Roman Amphitheatre and the old markets before exploring the newer part of the city. End the tour with an authentic Jordanian dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast* at the hotel. It's time to discover the immense history and incredible landscapes of Turkey! Transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Istanbul. Arrive in the bustling melting-pot of Istanbul, once the capital of Turkey and a city of immense history, wonderful culture and delicious cuisine. Transfer to your hotel, get settled and, if time allows, enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure exploring this historic, lively city. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

* Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, head to the grandiose Suleymaniye Mosque, located on the third hill of Istanbul, boasting one of the most incredible panoramic views of the city. The mosque was designed by the imperial architect of great importance, Mimar Sinan, commissioned by ruler Suleiman the Magnificent, and built circa 1550.

After the visit, the rest of the day is at leisure to explore Istanbul at your own pace. Discover its labyrinthine bazaars, vibrant city life and eclectic architecture. To fully immerse yourself in the local culture and to ensure you discover the ins and outs of this intricate city, we recommend an optional full-day city tour of Istanbul* and/or an optional dinner show on the Bosphorus!** Bear in mind that if you choose to wander the city independently, there is no included transfer back to the hotel. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

* Optional Full-Day Istanbul City Tour: See the most emblematic sights in Istanbul, beginning with the incredible Hagia Sophia Basilica and the Topkapi Palace, once the residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Sultanahmet before continuing with a tour of the outside of the iconic Blue Mosque and the historic Hippodrome. End the afternoon at the bustling Grand Bazaar, home to more than 4000 shops!

** Optional Dinner Show on the Bosphorus: A great way to enjoy a traditional Turkish dinner on a cruise that sails down the Bosphorus at night. See the illuminated suspension bridges of Istanbul as they twinkle in the evening light. Enjoy exciting dance shows (belly dance and dervish), Turkish music, a delicious dinner and two drinks per person.

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the day with  the famous Spice Bazaar, established by the Ottomans and filled with exotic aromas. Next, head to a boat trip on the Bosphorus Channel, which runs through the heart of the city, marking the border between Europe and Asia. Appreciate captivating views of the old palaces of the Sultans and traditional riverside houses as you view the city from a different perspective. After disembarking, the remainder of the day is free to enjoy the delights of Istanbul at your own pace. We recommend an optional excursion to the Anatolian side of the city to see its more important sights and discover more of Istanbul!* Bear in mind that if you choose to wander the city independently, there is no included transfer back to the hotel. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

* Optional Half-Day Anatolian Istanbul Excursion with Lunch: Explore the Anatolian part of the city! This stunning region is home to some of the country's most beautiful architecture and waterfront attractions. From the iconic Beylerbeyi Palace to the murals adorning the winding streets, you'll be awestruck by the variety and beauty of the sights. Drive directly to the Camlica Hill, located in the underrated Üsküdar district. Take in the stunning panoramic views from the highest point and soak up the bustling atmosphere from the city below. With its rich history and vibrant culture, the Anatolian part of Istanbul is an unforgettable destination. Enjoy lunch included.

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your journey to Ankara, crossing the spectacular mountains of Bolu along the route. Arrive and enjoy a panoramic tour of Ankara, the Turkish capital and a modern and cosmopolitan city steeped in history and ancient culture.

Later, pay a visit to Anıtkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk. Inaugurated in 1953, it is dedicated to the founder of Modern Turkey. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Ankara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your journey to Cappadocia, famed for its unique geological formations, passing by the spectacular Salt Lake along the way. Arrive in Cappadocia, transfer to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure.

Alternatively, we recommend taking part in our optional jeep safari and sunset viewing* for an unfogettable experience. Dinner and overnight stay in Cappadocia.

* Optional Jeep Safari and Sunset in Cappadocia: Immerse yourself in the magical Cappadocia valley landscape, enjoying the sunset as you do impressive, adrenaline-pumping dips, donuts, and tricks in a 4X4 jeep. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Why not start the day with an unforgettable optional hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia.* Mid-morning, discover the fascinating region of Cappadocia, whose landscape was formed by the erosion of soft layers of lava and ash from ancient volcanic eruptions over 3 million years ago! Visit the Goreme Valley Open Air Museum, an incredible Byzantine monastic complex with beautiful frescoes.

Next, explore the Valleys of Avcilar, Pasabagi and Güvercinlik, where the so-called "Fairy Chimneys" are located. End the day with a visit to local carpet workshops. Afterwards you can enjoy the optional visit to Kaimakli, the subway city** or an authentic Turkish night in Cappadocia.*** Return to the hotel for dinner. Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

* Optional Hot Air Balloon Flight: Float over Cappadocia's fairy chimneys, tuff valleys and rock-cut churches and experience the sunrise from a unique viewpoint on a 40 minutes hot air balloon flight. Enjoy panoramic sunrise views and celebrate with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine and a personalized flight certificate. Minimum age limit for children: 6 years old.

Note: The optional hot air balloon flight depends on weather conditions at the destination and will be confirmed the day before. If the activity cannot take place, it will be refunded upon return.

** Optional Visit to Kaimakli, the Underground City: Visit the incredible Kaymakli, a maze of tunnels and rooms carved eight levels deep into the earth 20 km from the city of Nevsehir. Believed to have been built in the Hittite period, the widest of the underground cities in the region.

*** Optional Turkish Night in Cappadocia: A fun evening filled with typical dances from the different regions in Turkey, including the famous belly dance. Enjoy this colorful event and the party atmosphere as you take in the traditions of the area! Unlimited drinks (alcoholic and non alcoholic) during the show.

Breakfast* at the hotel. You're returning to Istanbul today. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport to catch a flight back to the city. Arrive in Istanbul, transfer to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day exploring at your leisure. Dive into Turkish cuisine, go shopping in the bazaars or enjoy some last-minute sightseeing! Overnight stay in Istanbul.

* Depending on the flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.