4-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul

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

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir airport, you will be picked up and transferred to Cappadocia. In Cappadocia, you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally, towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will have around 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of the natural Castle of Uchisar. (Note: Entry to the interior of Uchisar Castle is not permitted. However, the surrounding area is open for panoramic views and photography. Thank you for your understanding). After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in.

Optionally, attend a traditional Turkish Night show with dinner.

• 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 be aware that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast at approximately 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit Cavusin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm. You will have the rest of the day free to relax, explore the city on your own, or take part in any optional activities that are offered.

• 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 starts with a visit to Esentepe, offering a stunning panoramic view of Göreme. This spot is ideal for capturing the enchanting landscape of the Göreme Valley. From there, the tour takes you to the Derinkuyu Underground City, a remarkably well-preserved subterranean complex dating back to the Hittites and later utilized by early Christians. This ancient city, with its intricate design including stables, kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms, provides a unique glimpse into historical survival strategies.

Next on the itinerary is the Ihlara Valley, where you embark on a scenic 4 km hike. This beautiful valley, dotted with small churches from the early Christian period, is a peaceful haven with a meandering stream and the gentle sounds of nature. After the hike, you will enjoy a delightful lunch in Belisirma Village, situated charmingly by the river.

The adventure continues with a visit to the 13th-century Selime Monastery. The tour’s final stop is at Yaprakhisar, known for its breathtaking panoramic views and as a filming location for the famous “Star Wars” movie.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at approximately 4:00 pm. The rest of the day will be 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 around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to embark on the Blue Tour of Cappadocia. The first destination is the Kaymakli Underground City, one of Cappadocia’s most intriguing underground settlements. Initially carved out as eight floors, now four floors are open for exploration. This city could historically shelter about 5000 people in times of war.

Your journey continues to Soganli Valley, an open-air museum in a wild natural setting. This valley, near a typical Cappadocian village, is renowned for its distinctive style of rock-cut churches and frescoes, spanning from the 9th to 13th centuries.

The tour also includes a visit to Şahinefendi (Sobesos), a recently discovered archaeological site with mosaic houses. You’ll then proceed to the Keslik Monastery near Cemil, which houses frescoes visible only under torchlight. The tour concludes with a visit to Mustafapasha (Sinassos), an old Greek town known for its spectacular old Greek houses and architecture.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your return flight to Istanbul, scheduled between 7:00 – 10:00 pm. This marks the end of our tour services for the day.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick up from 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 only
• Accommodation for 3 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, inclusive of breakfast
• English-speaking guide during the tours
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: (B) breakfast, (L) lunch
• Visits and entrances 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.