Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul to Cappadocia
You'll meet your guide in Istanbul and spend the morning walking through several of the city's major sites. Hagia Sophia comes first, followed by Topkapi Palace where you can explore the former Ottoman royal residence. The Hippodrome sits nearby, and then you'll head to the Blue Mosque with its six minarets. Lunch happens before you make your way through the Grand Bazaar, which has thousands of shops selling everything from spices to textiles. By afternoon, you're transferred to Istanbul Airport for a domestic flight to Cappadocia (approximately 1.5 hours).
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hagia Sophia
- Guided tour of Topkapı Palace
- Guided tour of Hippodrome
- Guided tour of Blue Mosque
- Guided tour of Grand Bazaar
- Domestic flight Istanbul to Cappadocia (1h 30min)
Landmarks/POIs Hagia Sophia Topkapı Palace Hippodrome Blue Mosque Grand Bazaar - Day 2
Cappadocia
This morning starts at the Goreme Museum where rock-cut churches feature colorful frescoes inside the stone walls. After that, you'll head to Devrent Valley to see the unusual rock formations shaped like animals. Pasabagi (also called Monks Valley) comes next, where you can walk among hermitage sites carved into the soft volcanic rock. You'll have traditional Turkish lunch and then try your hand at pottery-making with local artisans in the town of Avanos. By late afternoon, you head to Goreme Panorama for views across the landscape, and finish at Uchisar to see its natural rock castle formation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Goreme Museum
- Guided tour of Devrent Valley
- Guided tour of Pasabagi
- Traditional Turkish lunch in Avanos
- Pottery-making experience with local experts
- Visit to Goreme Panorama
- Guided tour of Uchisar
Landmarks/POIs Goreme Museum Devrent Valley Pasabagi Avanos Goreme Panorama Uchisar - Day 3
Cappadocia
You start exploring Rose and Red Valley where the rock formations take on pink tones throughout the day, with especially nice colors at sunset. Cavusin village sits in the Red Valley area, and there you'll find rock-cut churches to walk through. Pigeon Valley comes next, where countless dovecotes have been carved directly into the volcanic stone walls. Then you descend into the Underground Cities, which once protected thousands of Christians across eight levels connected by around 30 kilometers of corridors underground. The day ends in Ortahisar where narrow streets wind through stone houses and you can see the large rock formation that dominates the village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Rose and Red Valley
- Guided tour of Cavusin village
- Walking tour of Pigeon Valley
- Guided tour of Underground Cities
- Guided tour of Ortahisar
Landmarks/POIs Rose and Red Valley Cavusin Pigeon Valley Underground Cities Ortahisar - Day 4
Cappadocia to Istanbul
You're transferred to Kayseri Airport for your domestic flight back to Istanbul (about 1.5 hours). Once you land, your driver meets you and takes you to your hotel. Tour services end here, so after check-in the rest of your day is free to rest or explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Domestic flight Cappadocia to Istanbul
