4-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul

Day 1: Fly to Kayseri/Nevsehir from Istanbul – North Cappadocia Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir, departing between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to Cappadocia, where you’ll meet your guide and begin your full-day North Cappadocia tour.

Today’s first stop will be Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys and rock formations. Next, you’ll explore Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), home to stunning mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After enjoying these natural wonders, you’ll head to Avanos, a town renowned for its traditional pottery making.

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, where you will explore ancient rock-cut churches and caves, providing a glimpse into the monastic history of the region. Towards the end of the day, you will stop at Uchisar Castle for panoramic photos. While entry into the castle itself is not permitted, the surrounding area offers beautiful views of the landscape.

After the tour, at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace.

For extra activities, you can choose one from the following options: a traditional Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through the valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show. Please note that all activities are available at an additional cost, and you can join only one due to time constraints.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Zula Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: South Cappadocia Tour

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast, at approximately 9:30 am, your tour guide will pick you up to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. The guide will provide a briefing on the day’s activities before starting with a visit to the Red Valley, where you’ll explore renowned rock-cut churches and enjoy a scenic 5 km hike through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi).

Next, you will visit Cavusin Village, renowned for its historic houses and churches once home to Christian clergymen. Afterward, you’ll take a break for lunch around noon.

Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), known for its breathtaking landscapes. In the afternoon, you will explore either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians sought refuge.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the area at your own pace.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Zula Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Green Cappadocia Tour

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day Green Tour of Cappadocia. The day begins with a visit to Esentepe, offering a panoramic view of Göreme—perfect for capturing the stunning landscape of the Göreme Valley.

From there, the tour continues to the Derinkuyu Underground City, a remarkably preserved subterranean complex dating back to the Hittites and later used by early Christians. This multi-level city, with its stables, kitchens, and living quarters, reveals fascinating historical survival techniques.

Next, you’ll visit the Ihlara Valley, where you’ll embark on a scenic 4 km hike through the peaceful valley, dotted with rock-cut churches from the early Christian period. After the hike, enjoy a riverside lunch in Belisirma Village.

The tour continues with a visit to the Selime Monastery, a 13th-century monastery carved into the cliffs. The final stop is at Yaprakhisar, known for its scenic panoramas and as a filming location for the “Star Wars” movie.

After the tour, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm, with the rest of the day at leisure.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Zula Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: Blue Cappadocia Tour – Return to Istanbul

After breakfast, check out from your hotel, and around 9:30 AM, you will be picked up to embark on the Blue Tour of Cappadocia.

The tour begins with a visit to the Kaymakli Underground City, one of the most intricate underground cities in Cappadocia. Originally constructed with eight levels, four floors are open for exploration, providing insights into the remarkable sheltering techniques that could protect up to 5,000 people during conflicts.

Next, your journey continues to Soganli Valley, a unique open-air museum set in stunning nature. Near a quaint Cappadocian village, this valley is famed for its distinctive rock-cut churches adorned with frescoes dating from the 9th to the 13th century.

The tour also includes a stop at Şahinefendi (Sobesos), a recently discovered archaeological site featuring intricately designed mosaic houses. You’ll then visit the Keslik Monastery near Cemil, where you can view ancient frescoes illuminated only by torchlight, adding a mystical touch to the experience.

The tour concludes with a visit to Mustafapasha (Sinassos), a former Greek village celebrated for its stunning architecture and preserved Greek houses, a true blend of history and culture.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul, departing between 7:00 – 10:00 PM. END OF OUR SERVICE AND TOURS.

Please note that transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel and transfer to Istanbul Airport (on the European side of Istanbul only).
• Domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir and from Kayseri or Nevsehir to Istanbul.
• 3 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast.
• English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: (B) breakfast, (L) lunch.
• Visits and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Drop off transportation service from Istanbul Airport (IST) OR Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to Istanbul Hotel upon returning to Istanbul.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Drinks with meals.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

WHAT TO BRING:

• Hiking shoes
• Camera

IMPORTANT INFO:

• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• The normal arrival time in Istanbul is between 8:00 – 10:00 pm. If you are planning on reserving your plane back home that same day, we recommend you book a plane ticket from 1:30 AM onwards, to avoid missing your flight.
• On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked-in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.
• We offer hotel pick-up services for drop-off at the airport from locations on the European side of Istanbul, specifically in the districts of Taksim, Şişli, Sultanahmet, Eminönü, Fatih, Beşiktaş, Karaköy, and Bakırköy. Pick-ups are scheduled around 3:50 a.m., but this can vary based on flight schedules. If you’re situated on the Anatolian side or outside of these districts, you’ll need to arrange your own airport transportation.