Itinerary
- Day 1
Airport to Cappadocia
Your driver picks you up at the hotel and takes you to catch a 1 hour 30 minute domestic flight heading to Kayseri. Once you land, it's about an hour drive into Cappadocia where your full-day exploration begins. Start by walking through Goreme Museum to see the rock-cut churches with their colorful frescoes carved right into the stone. From there, head to Devrent Valley where you'll see rock formations that actually look like animals, which is why locals call it Imagination Valley. Next comes Pasabagi, also called Monks Valley, where you can wander around the fairy chimneys and rock formations. Around midday, you'll have a typical Turkish lunch in Avanos and then get hands-on with local potters learning pottery-making techniques. Later in the afternoon, drive up to Goreme Panorama for sweeping views across the valley, then visit Uchisar Castle which sits high on a rock formation with more views of the landscape below. Once you've had enough exploring, head back to your hotel to settle in for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Typical Turkish lunch in Avanos with pottery-making experience)
Included Activities
- Visit Goreme Museum with rock-cut churches and colorful frescoes
- Explore Devrent Valley with animal-shaped rock formations
- Visit Pasabagi (Monks Valley)
- Experience pottery-making with local experts in Avanos
- Visit Goreme Panorama viewpoint
- Visit Uchisar Natural Rock Castle
Landmarks/POIs Goreme Museum Devrent Valley Pasabagi (Monks Valley) Avanos Goreme Panorama Uchisar Castle - Day 2
Cappadocia to Istanbul
After breakfast at your hotel, check out and continue exploring Cappadocia. Head to Rose Valley first where you'll see the distinctive pink and red-tinted rock ridges that give the area its name. Then walk through Cavusin village in the Red Valley to check out the rock-cut churches built into the valley walls. Later, you'll move to Pigeon Valley where countless dovecotes are carved into the rocks, creating an unusual landscape. The bigger experience comes next when you descend into the Underground Cities, which go down eight stories and have about 30km of corridors connecting various chambers where around 15,000 Christians once hid for safety. After exploring those tunnels, visit Ortahisar and see the castle-like rock formation rising from the center of town, plus the traditional stone houses where locals are known for being friendly and welcoming. By afternoon, your driver takes you to Kayseri Airport for the 1 hour 30 minute flight to Istanbul. Once you arrive, your driver meets you at the airport and that wraps up your tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Rose Valley with pink-tinted rock formations
- Explore Cavusin village and its rock churches in Red Valley
- Walk through Pigeon Valley with man-made dovecotes
- Tour the Underground Cities with eight stories and ancient chambers
- Visit Ortahisar with its rock castle formation
Landmarks/POIs Rose Valley Cavusin Red Valley Pigeon Valley Underground Cities Ortahisar
