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- In the Footsteps of Saint Basil & Saint Nicholas Tour from Istanbul by Flight | Biblical Cappadocia & Demre
In the Footsteps of Saint Basil & Saint Nicholas Tour from Istanbul by Flight | Biblical Cappadocia & Demre
In the Footsteps of Saint Basil & Saint Nicholas
Day 1
Early morning, pick up from your hotel in Istanbul and transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Kayseri, the birthplace of Saint Basil.
Highlights of the day:
- Ancient Caesare
- Archaeological Museum
- Historical city center
- Remains connected with early Christianity
Upon the end of the tour, return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2
Early morning pick up from your hotel and drive to Cappadocia.
Highlights of the day:
- Open Air Museum
- Underground city
- Rock churches
- Monastic settlements inspired by Basil traditions
Upon the end of the tour, return to a cave hotel for overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Optionals:
Cappadocia Balloon adventure
Vintage Car Sunrise ride with Cappadocia Balloon views
Cappadocia Horseback Riding
Cappadocia Turkish Night Celebration
Cappadocia Whirling Dervishes Ceremony
Day 3
After breakfast pick up from your cave hotel and join the tour which includes a monastery that reflect the spiritual movement established by Saint Basil.
Highlights of the day:
- Ihlara Valley
- Selime Monastery
- Soganli Valley
- Mustafapasa (Sinassos)
At the end of the tour, return to the cave hotel for overnight stay.
Day 4
After breakfast, pick up from the cave hotel and transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Antalya. Upon arrival, we will drive to Ancient Patara.
Highlights of the day:
- Ancient Patara
- Birthplace of Saint Nicholas
- Roman Parliament
- Ancient harbor
- Early Christian remains
At the end of the tour, return to Patara region for overnight stay.
Day 5
After breakfast, pick up from the hotel and drive to Demre (Myra)the place where Saint Nicholas served as a bishop and where he was originally buried.
Highlights of the day:
- Saint Nicholas Church
- Ancient Myra
- Roman Theater
- Lycian Rock Tombs
After the tour, return to Antalya for overnight stay.,
Day 6
After breakfast, pick up from your hotel to visit Kaleici village.
Highlights of the day:
- Kaleici
- Hadrian's Gate
- Early Christian history
- Mediterranean churches
After the tour, return to the hotel for overnight stay in Antalya.
Optionals:
Konyaalti Beach. Ideal for relaxing, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, enjoy a drink or ice cream at one of the best front cafeterias, walk along the palm-lined promenade and watch the sunset over the Beydaglari mountains.
Lara Beach. Long sandy shoreline, calm water in summer, water sports, numerous beach clubs & restaurants.
Mermerli Beach (closed to Old Town). Ideal for visitors exploring Kaleici. Ideal for swimming in crystal waters, relax on sunbeds, enjoy lunch or drinks overlooking the harbor.
Day 7
After breakfast, pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel.
This is a private or small-group cultural and pilgrimage tour starting from Istanbul with domestic flights included.
The tour operates in all seasons. Please dress according to the weather conditions.
Domestic flight schedules may require an early morning departure or a late evening return.
Entrance fees are included only if specifically mentioned in the tour inclusions.
The itinerary may be adjusted due to weather conditions, local events, or flight schedules while ensuring all major highlights are visited.
This tour is suitable for history enthusiasts, pilgrims, cultural travelers, students, and anyone interested in the early history of Christianity in Anatolia.
Saint Basil served as Bishop of Caesarea (modern Kayseri), while Saint Nicholas served as Bishop of Myra (modern Demre, Antalya). Both are among the most influential saints of the early Christian Church.
What's Included
- Round-trip domestic flights from Istanbul
- Airport transfers
- Private air-conditioned transportation throughout the tour
- Professional licensed English-speaking guide
- Hotel accommodation (according to the selected package)
- Daily breakfast
- Entrance fees (if specified in the selected package)
- All scheduled sightseeing and visits
- Local taxes and service charges
Not Included
- Lunches and dinners (unless otherwise stated)
- Personal expenses
- Drinks during meals
- Optional activities
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities for guides and drivers
- Valid passport or government-issued ID
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Weather-appropriate clothing
- Light jacket (especially during spring, autumn, or evenings)
- Sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- Reusable water bottle
- Camera or smartphone
- Personal medications
- Small backpack for daily essentials
- Scarf or shawl for visiting religious places
- Cappadocia Balloon adventure
- Vintage Car Sunrise ride with Cappadocia Balloon views
- Cappadocia Horseback Riding
- Cappadocia Turkish Night Celebration
- Cappadocia Whirling Dervishes Ceremony
- Konyaalti Beach
- Mermerli Beach
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, provided participants are comfortable with moderate walking. Some underground sections may be narrow and involve stairs, so guests with mobility concerns should consult us before booking.
This unique journey combines two of Turkey's most important Christian heritage regions in one itinerary:
- The spiritual homeland of Saint Basil the Great in Cappadocia.
- The episcopal city of Saint Nicholas in Demre.
- UNESCO-recognized landscapes and world-famous archaeological treasures.
- Expert-guided interpretation of biblical, historical, and cultural heritage.
- Comfortable travel from Istanbul with domestic flights, allowing you to maximize your time exploring these remarkable destinations.
Absolutely. The itinerary offers valuable insights into:
- Early Christianity
- Byzantine history
- Biblical geography
- Church Fathers
- Ancient monasticism
- Archaeology
- Roman and Lycian civilizations
Yes. Private departures can be organized for families, universities, pilgrimage organizations, and cultural associations.
The most comfortable seasons are:
- Spring (April–June)
- Autumn (September–November)
These months generally offer pleasant temperatures for sightseeing.
No. Balloon flights are optional and can usually be added during booking or before travel, subject to weather conditions and availability.
Breakfast is included daily. Other meals depend on the package and itinerary. Please check the "Included" section before booking.
Yes. Carefully selected hotels with breakfast are included according to the itinerary.
Yes. Licensed professional English-speaking guides accompany sightseeing visits and provide historical, biblical, and cultural explanations.
Yes. Airport transfers at the destinations are included unless otherwise stated in the tour description.
Yes. Domestic flights between Istanbul and the tour destinations are included according to the itinerary.
This tour is ideal for history enthusiasts, theology students, professors, cultural travelers, and anyone interested in the lives of Saint Basil the Great and Saint Nicholas of Myra.
Yes. Depending on operational conditions, you will explore either Kaymakli or Derinkuyu Underground City, where early Christians sought refuge during periods of persecution.
Most of Saint Nicholas' relics were transferred to Bari, Italy, in 1087, although the church in Demre remains one of Christianity's most important pilgrimage sites and archaeological excavations continue in the area.
Yes. You will visit the beautifully restored Church of Saint Nicholas in Demre, where the saint served as bishop. Visitors can admire Byzantine frescoes, mosaics, and the famous marble sarcophagus associated with Saint Nicholas.
Saint Nicholas served as Bishop of Myra (today's Demre). He became famous for helping the poor, protecting children, sailors, and travelers, and performing many acts of generosity. His life inspired the legend of Santa Claus. He was buried in Myra before most of his relics were transferred to Bari, Italy, in 1087.
Saint Basil the Great (330–379 AD) was born in Cappadocia and became one of Christianity's greatest theologians. He established monastic traditions, defended the Nicene faith, promoted education, and founded charitable institutions that influenced Christian communities throughout the Byzantine world.
It is both. The tour combines biblical and Christian heritage with archaeology, history, Byzantine culture, and the unique landscapes of Cappadocia and the Mediterranean coast.
Depending on the itinerary, highlights include:
- Open-Air Museum
- Rock-cut churches and monasteries
- Kaymaklıior Derinkuyu Underground City
- Uchisar and the Cappadocia valleys
- Demre (Ancient Myra)
- Church of Saint Nicholas
- Lycian Rock Tombs
- Ancient Roman Theater of Myra
The journey follows the legacy of:
- Saint Basil the Great, one of the Cappadocian Fathers and a key figure in Christian theology.
- Saint Nicholas of Myra, the 4th-century bishop whose generosity inspired the modern tradition of Santa Claus.
The tour begins and ends in Istanbul, with domestic flights to Cappadocia and Antalya included according to the itinerary.
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