Roots Rails & Rambles

Istanbul, Konya, Cappadocia by Plane, Train, Ferry, Tram, Minibus, and perhaps even a hot air balloon!

This trip marries two of Turkiye’s most exciting immersion experiences – Istanbul, the vibrant heart of human history, and Cappadocia, an otherworldly landscape of cave houses, underground cities, and home to centuries of Hittites, Seljuks, Ottomans, Byzantines, and virtually every other political, religious and cultural grouping that ever passed through the region.

This trip is limited to 10 participants and is offered in two parts: 5 days in Istanbul, and 5 days in Cappadocia for a comprehensive exploration of these two very different regions.

Already visited Istanbul, but never made it to Cappadocia? Want to see it ALL? Choose one segment or both The beauty of our small group trips is that within the framework of our itineraries, we are able to tailor our daily activities to the interests of participants and move nimbly from place to place. You’re responsible for booking your flights to and from Istanbul, then we take care of the rest: hotels, trains, transfers, museums, excursions, meals, guides – with time built in for some independent exploration for those who wish it. It’s a wonderful way to experience this fascinating corner of the world in the company of a small group of other curious travelers without the intimidation factor of trying to organize it all yourself.

We’ll be traveling at what many consider the perfect time of year: days are still warm (but not boiling), evenings are refreshingly cool, the summer tourist crowds have thinned, and conditions are ideal for getting the most out of the adventure.

Segment One:  ISTANBUL, Türkiye

Istanbul is a city that has been plagued for centuries by an abundance of cliches:
• The crossroads between East and West!
• A foot firmly planted in two continents!
• A magical carpet woven from the threads of antiquity and modernity!

While all those overwrought claims have a ring of truth to them, we have a slightly different perspective on this great city. Your host for this trip, Sarah Ovenden grew up in Istanbul (a few decades ago, but who’s counting?) and while she has deeply-rooted affection and nostalgia for the place, she isn’t swayed by the hyperbole. She’s been leading small groups back to the city of her youth to explore not only the premier historical and cultural highlights, but also the lesser-known, off-the beaten path gems that lurk around so many corners.

The Istanbul of today can appear to be a slightly overwhelming and frenetic beehive, comparable to any modern urban center, but having been built on or around the masterfully-preserved remains of so many centuries of diverse civilizations, the history is inescapably woven into the fabric of even ordinary days. It is a city of stunning architecture from virtually every period of recorded human history, the cultural epicenter of art, music, and literature spanning thousands of years, and provides a fascinating view of the concurrent existence of both the secular and religious lives of its inhabitants.

Yes, we’ll explore the Big Stuff –the mosques, the bazaars, the cisterns, as well as the lesser-known archeological and historical treasures you quite literally trip over in the course of a typical day, but we’ll also spend time wandering the back streets, sampling the astonishing and delicious array of street foods, criss-crossing the Bosphorus on the ferry, hopping off to explore tea houses, fortresses, street markets, and small fishing villages, delving into some of the contrasts between modern and ancient Istanbul. Oh and did we mention the cats?!? If you haven't seen the film "Kedi", make a point of finding it for a delightful look into the rich lives of Istanbul's cats and the people who care for them. The city is veritably dripping with cats.

We’ll draw on the expertise of local historians and guides to ensure that you get the information and context with which to deepen your understanding and enjoyment of this great city, and we’ll leave enough breathing room in the itinerary for surprises, or to circle back to places that deserve a deeper dive. We’ve intentionally paced things a bit differently than most Istanbul tours – we’ll tackle just a few major attractions each day, leaving plenty of opportunities for relaxing with a potent cup of coffee in a shade-covered courtyard, or sampling Turkey’s national drink, raki, on a rooftop overlooking the Golden Horn.

Virtually all of your meals are included, we’ll take care of getting your museum tickets, your transportation passes (Istanbul has a massive public transit system of metros, trams, funiculars, and ferries we’ll be using daily), your airport pickup/drop off, and we'll be staying in the lovely Galata's Hotel in Karakoy -- one of the most lively and interesting neighborhoods along the Bosphorus. All you have to do is get yourself to and from Istanbul, which has a brand new airport with multiple flights daily from the US, Canada and points in Europe.

This trip is very intentionally limited to 10 participants. This gives us the agility with which to move efficiently as a group, dine in smaller, family-owned restaurants and take advantage of the expertise of our local guides – plenty of time for questions and conversation.

THE ISTANBUL ITINERARY

Our daily itinerary looks roughly like this, allowing for adjustments based on participants’ interests, energy levels, and the weather. If you're interested in arriving a day early to adjust to the time zone, we can help with getting you our group rate at our host hotel.

Monday October 4: Arrive Istanbul International Airport, get picked up by a driver and taken directly to our hotel in the Karaköy neighborhood, steps from the Galata Bridge and the Golden Horn. Depending on arrival times, we’ll have lunch or dinner at one of the neighborhood restaurants and get an overview of our upcoming adventure. As always, for those who wish to arrive a day early to adjust to the time difference and fend off jet lag, we will happily arrange hotel accommodations at our group rate.

Tuesday Oct. 5: Let’s knock off a couple of the “bucket list” items! We’ll head over the bridge to Sultanahmet, the area where some of the city’s premier attractions lie, and After explore the Blue Mosque the Hippodrome, then the Basilica Cistern.

A note about Hagia Sofia: While this magnificent attraction is on many bucket lists, the current reality is that it is in the early stages of a massive restoration effort which is predicted to last up to ten years. While still technically open to visitors, the entire structure is currently encased in scaffolding inside and out, and many areas are inaccessible. Sarah will be in Istanbul in Sept. of 2026 and will have a chance to see the disruption firsthand to determine whether it may or may not be worth a visit.

A quick tram ride back to our hotel gives us some free time in the afternoon for our first traditional çay evi (tea house) experience, or a sampling of baklava at the city’s largest pastry shop, then we can counter all the antiquity of our morning’s exploration with a visit to the Istanbul Modern, just down the street from our hotel. Our options for dinner are numerous: a traditional fish restaurant, a meyhane, or one of the trendy new restaurants that are sprouting up all over Karaköy.

Wednesday October 6: We’ll beat the crowds and head over the bridge to catch the opening of the legendary Topkapi Palace and spend the morning wandering through the 400 rooms of both the palace and the Harem. If we have sufficient energy and interest, we can also tackle the Istanbul Archeology Museum and/ or the Mosaic Museum. We’ll fortify ourselves with lunch at one of the classic Istanbul restaurants of Eminönü, where Sarah can give a tutorial on the art of haggling before heading into the bedlam of the Grand Bazaar. We’ll avoid the main thoroughfares of mass-produced and glitzy tourist kitsch and head into the secluded hans and bedestens – remnants of the original caravansarays – where we’ll have a tutorial on Turkish carpets from one of the bazaar’s most reputable carpet dealers (no pressure at all to buy – he’s just an incredibly knowledgeable and lovely guy). We’ll have a chance to see the true artistry of Turkish carpets, tiles, copper, textiles, and jewelry. Following some well-deserved down time back at the hotel, dinner awaits us at a neighborhood restaurant.

Thursday, October 7: Let’s take a break from the bustle and congestion of Old Istanbul and poke our way up and down the Bosphorus, using the local commuter ferry service. The ferry criss- crosses this strait (NOT a river! Only the tourists call it a river) between the European and Asian sides, with calling points in Üsküdar, Çengelköy, Arnavutköy, Bebek, Emirgan, and Istinye – each a neighborhood/village with its own unique character. The perspective from the water is ideal for understanding the scope of the city and its strategic importance in the many military conflicts it has endured over the centuries, and riding on the upper open-air deck of the ferry, sipping tea and tossing snacks to the swarming seagulls is a really lovely way to spend the better part of a day. We’ll travel under the very first suspension bridge to link Europe and Asia, and along the way get a chance to gawk at everything from the opulent and overly-ornamented summer palaces of the sultans, to the waterfront wooden yalis – some of which have been beautifully restored and some which are crumbling gracefully into the water. We’ll head back along the Asian side, stopping for lunch at a waterside restaurant, and an exploration of the local markets to see how the locals shop. Evening finds us back at our hotel with time to consider our options for finding some local music for the evening, or perhaps a sunset cruise up the Golden Horn.

Friday, October 8: Our last full day in the city, weather permitting, we’ll take a ferry ride out to the Prince’s Islands, an archipelago of nine islands still within the city limits. When first settled, the islands were a site of exile for out-of-favor princes and other royals in both Byzantine and Ottoman times. Later they evolved into a pine-forested resort enclave for wealthy Istanbulites whose their former mansions have been lovingly preserved. With a few exceptions for public safety, the islands have always been free of has-powered vehicles, so today a network of electric buses and bicycles transport locals and visitors. We’ll have a seaside lunch before heading back to the city.

This afternoon we’ll have an opportunity to really immerse ourselves in the Beyoğlu neighborhood, one of the oldest in the city, pre-dating the founding of Constantinople. Those who wish can ride the elevator to the top of the Galata Tower for a 360 degree view of the city and many of the landmarks that will now be familiar to you. While Beyoglu’s Istiklal Steet is often touted as one of the city’s prime shopping districts, in reality it has become a congested stretch of international chain stores BUT hidden down the side streets and alleys remain some of the most intriguing “passages” – narrow glass-roofed arcades housing cafes restaurants, used book stores, and antiques – well worth a visit. Historically, Beyoglu has been host to many foreign embassies, as well as some of the cities landmark hotels – the Pera Palas, the Büyük Londra and others which were the preferred lodging of luminaries disembarking from the Orient Express, notably among them Agatha Christie (who is rumored to have written “Murder on the Orient Express” in Room 411 of the Pera Palas), Ernest Hemingway, and Alfred Hitchcock. These “grand dame” hotels may be getting a little long in the tooth, but having a drink in their slightly over-the-top neo classical ambiance is a great experience. We’ll have a celebratory final night dinner tonight.

Saturday, October 9: For those leaving us today, we’ll have arranged private airport transfers to get you back to the airport and on your way to your next adventure.

Segment Two: Cappadocia, Central Anatolia, Türkiye

Though it may seem that in recent years Cappadocia has been overtaken by Instagrammers in hot air balloons, it remains one of the most historically, culturally, and geologically rich areas in the entire world. Remnants of the first human settlement (Çatalhöyük, ~7000 BC) and scores of Bronze Age settlements (3000–1000 BC) dot the volcanic landscape – most of them carved into the rock formations and/or entirely underground. Most cities in Cappadocia date back to Ottoman, if not Roman, times.

THE CAPPADOCIA ITINERARY

Saturday, October 9: Arrival in Istanbul for those joining us for Segment Two. Arrive Istanbul International Airport, get picked up by a driver and taken directly to our hotel in the Karaköy neighborhood, steps from the Galata Bridge and the Golden Horn. Depending on arrival times, we’ll have lunch or dinner at one of the neighborhood restaurants and get an overview of our upcoming adventure. Overnight at Istanbul hotel.

Sunday October 10: We’ll take the excellent and comfortable high speed train from Istanbul to the historical city of Konya – a great opportunity to see a good swathe of the western Anatolian highlands – the farms and olive groves as well as small, traditional Turkish villages. We arrive in Konya in mid-afternoon, where we’ll be picked up by our van and guide who will be with us for this portion of the trip. On our drive toward Göreme , we’ll see the landscape change as the volcanic ash and rock “fairy chimneys” start to pop into view. We’ll check into our comfortable hotel, and have a little decompression time before heading out for dinner overlooking the surreal landscape.

For the next 4 days we’ll be exploring this hub of geological, historic, cultural, and religious sites, visiting local artisans, and sampling local wines and foods. For those who wish to embark on individual add-on excursions at their own expense, we can set you up with hot air balloon rides, guided hikes, horseback riding or whatever suits your fancy.

October 11: We’ll head out this morning for an exploration of the Devrent Vadisi (Imagination Valley), thus named for the impressive rock formations in the shapes of camels, birds and other critters. We’ll stop for lunch at one of the areas delicious local restaurants, then head for Avanos, a small city known for its beautiful traditional red clay pottery, sourced from the Kizilirmak (Red River) that flows through town. We’ll have a chance to wander through the artisan workshops and see hands-on demonstration of this ancient art form. Time permitting, we may get a chance to visit the Chez Galip Hair Museum, a decidedly odd collection of over 16,000 locks of hair and associated artifacts made of human hair.
In the late afternoon we’ll return to our hotel for a chance to cool off in the pool and have some down time before heading out to dinner.

October 12: This may be the morning for a hot air balloon ride for those who are so inclined. These adventures are entirely weather-dependent, so we may need to shuffle our schedule around to accommodate. No worries for those who would prefer NOT to go up in the air – we can have a delightful sunrise breakfast and watch the balloons launch from a beautiful viewpoint.

Later this morning we’ll head for the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the epicenter of the region’s historical and cultural attractions. Because of the area’s history as a site for pilgrimage, monastic communities, and sacred cave burials, there is an astonishing concentration of churches, homes, burial sites, and monasteries, all carved into the We’ll visit the “Dark Church”, widely considered the finest example of a beautifully preserved painted cave church, festooned with colorful painting on every wall. We’ll stop for lunch inUçhisar, and visit Uçhisar Castle, an ancient fortress atop a towering 60-meter-high volcanic rock pinnacle carved with rooms, tunnels, and ancient dovecotes, with some of the most stunning an expansive views of the landscape. On our way back to our hotel we’ll make a stop in the fabled “Pigeon Valley” for more beautiful views of the “fairy chimneys”.

October 13: Today we go underground in the ancient city of Derinkuyu, the largest of the excavated underground Cappadocian cities – 85 meters underground and capable of housing 20,000 people AND their livestock. It’s a subterranean warren of residences, stables, churches, schools – and all the other amenities of cities of its time, carved into the soft volcanic rock with deep, vertical ventilation shafts and water wells that enabled communities to survive enemy sieges and religious persecution for extended periods of time. This evening we’ll attend one of the most ancient spiritual rituals of the region – a Sema ceremony at an authentic Dervish Lodge, and witness the “Whirling Dervishes” in their daily religious rite. Accompanied by haunting music played on traditional instruments, these dervishes of the Mevlevi Order perform this ritual that remains unchanged since the 13th century. It is a fascinating and rare privilege to witness. A celebratory farewell dinner ensues.

October 14: Today we’ll take the efficient option of returning to Istanbul and fly from Kayseri back to Istanbul, where it may be possible for some to make a same-day connection to their onward journey, and others may prefer to take a breather night at a seaside hotel close to the airport before flying onward the next day.

Pricing:

Istanbul Only Segment: $5289 per person. Pay in full for 5% discount. Pay a $1000 per person deposit, then then your balance payment will be split into a series of automatic monthly credit card payments on the card used for deposit, beginning the month following initial deposit.

Cappadocia only Segment: $5289 per person. Pay in full for 5% discount. Pay a $1000 per person deposit, then then your balance payment will be split into a series of automatic monthly credit card payments on the card used for deposit, beginning the month following initial deposit.

Istanbul AND Cappadocia Full Package: $8990 per person (15% discount) Pay in full for an even further 5% discount ($8540). Pay a $1000 per person deposit, then then your balance payment will be split into a series of automatic monthly credit card payments on the card used for deposit, beginning the month following initial deposit.

What’s included:

For both Segments:

• Hotel rooms (single occupancy for solo travelers) 6 nights in Istanbul, 5 nights in Cappadocia
• Private van transfer to and from Istanbul airport
• Train tickets, Istanbul to Konya
• Plane tickets Kayseri to Istanbul
• All local transport
• All entrance fees for museums, attractions, and experiences outlined in itinerary
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the tour

For Istanbul Segment only:

• Hotel rooms (single occupancy for solo travelers) 6 nights in Istanbul
• Private van transfer to and from Istanbul airport
• All local transport
• All entrance fees for museums, attractions, and experiences outlined in itinerary
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the tour

For Cappadocia segment only

• Hotel rooms (single occupancy for solo travelers) 2 nights in Istanbul, 5 nights in Cappadocia
• Private van transfer to and from Istanbul airport
• Train tickets, Istanbul to Konya
• Plane tickets Kayseri to Istanbul
• All local transport
• All entrance fees for museums, attractions, and experiences outlined in itinerary
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the tour

What’s not included:

• Flights to and from Istanbul at the beginning and end of the trip
• Add-on excursions/activities for things like hot air balloon rides or horseback riding
• Gratuities for local guides and drivers
• Travel Insurance
• Alcoholic beverages unless otherwise specified

ACTIVITY LEVEL/MOBILITY CONSIDERATIONS

At Roots, Rails, and Rambles we aim to encourage and empower people to travel as far, wide, and long as they are safely able. We recognize that none of us are getting any younger, and physical capacities can change over time, so we want to be honest and upfront about what you might expect on our trips. We also expect participants and potential guests to engage in forthright and pro-active dialogue with us about whether you have specific health concerns or mobility restrictions that may impact your enjoyment of the trip or the group’s ability to move efficiently through the itinerary. Wherever possible we are happy to provide reasonable additional support or accommodation, but we must be well-informed ahead of time about your needs.

This trip is best described as having a MODERATE level of physical activity. Participants should be able to:
- handle your own luggage. If you brung it, you're totin' it.
- walk up to ½ a mile while keeping pace with the group
- safely climb a few flights of stairs with or without handrails

THE FINE PRINT

Our customers are extremely important to us, and when travel disruptions occur, we are committed to working with you to minimize the financial impact. In the event that you need to cancel a trip for whatever reason, we will work with you to try and find a buyer for the space you are needing to give up. Often this works out well for all: the person needing to cancel recovers most, if not all, of their investment, and a person who might have been on a waiting list gets to go on the trip - however, there are no guarantees.

We understand that the new realities of travel are such that we need to be more flexible than ever before. We are also an extremely small business with many fixed costs that can't always be recovered if a trip needs to be postponed or cancelled due to health and safety concerns. We will be completely transparent if a scheduled trip looks like it needs to be adjusted in any way that might impact your enjoyment of the experience.

Please read through our cancellation policy carefully and feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Deposits, whether paid separately or as part of a full payment up front, are non-refundable. Outside of deposit and credit card fees, full refund will be given up until 90 days prior to start of trip. 50% refund 60-89 days. No refund less than 60 days prior to start of trip.

Reservations are fully transferable to another person. The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein.

EXPECTATIONS

Roots, Rails, and Rambles LLC is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming travel community free from violence, harassment and discrimination. All participants are expected to treat each other with respect and dignity, and to create a safe and respectful environment for everyone. We will not tolerate verbal or physical conduct toward others that is non-consensual, intimidating, hostile, or offensive including offenses based on an individual's race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or other protected characteristic. Such behavior may result in immediate removal from the trip.
If you experience or witness harassment or discrimination, please report it immediately to your Trip Leader. Your report will be kept confidential to the extent possible.

Roots, Rails, and Rambles LLC shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip or tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Roots, Rails, and Rambles LLC acts only as agent.

Roots, Rails, and Rambles LLC reserves the right (at its discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice or for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part.

Roots, Rails, and Rambles LLC shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Roots, Rails, and Rambles LLC reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time.

Roots, Rails, and Rambles LLC reserves the right to refuse service to anyone whom it considers incompatible with the best interests of its services or its guests.