Day 1

Istanbul to Cappadocia

You'll get picked up from your Istanbul hotel early in the morning and head to the airport for a flight to Cappadocia. Once you land, a local guide meets you to start exploring the northern side of the region. First up is Devrent Valley, where the distinctive rock formations really stand out from the landscape. Then you'll move on to Pasabag to see the fairy chimneys up close. After that, you stop by a traditional pottery workshop in Avanos where you can watch artisans at work. The afternoon takes you to Göreme Open-Air Museum to walk through the ancient rock-cut churches carved into the hillside. Before heading to your hotel, you'll visit Üçhisar Castle for panoramic views across the region. You'll spend the night in Cappadocia.

Start point

Istanbul, Türkiye (Pick up from hotels in Istanbul)

Accommodation

Hotel (Romantic Cave Hotel)

Included Activities

Explore Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley) with unique rock formations
Discover fairy chimneys at Pasabag (Monks Valley)
Visit traditional pottery workshop in Avanos
Tour Göreme Open-Air Museum with rock-cut churches and monasteries
Panoramic views from Uçhisar Castle

Landmarks

Devrent Valley

Pasabag (Monks Valley)

Avanos

Göreme Open-Air Museum

Uçhisar Castle

Day 2

Cappadocia to Istanbul

If you want to add the hot air balloon experience, you'll need an early wake-up around 4:30 AM (weather dependent and costs extra). Back at your hotel after breakfast, the day focuses on southern Cappadocia. You'll hike through Red Valley and Rose Valley to see the colorful rock formations and find hidden cave churches scattered throughout. Çavuşin Village is next, where you can see abandoned rock houses that tell the story of the region's past. Then you explore one of the ancient underground cities to get a sense of how people lived below ground. Pigeon Valley comes after that, where thousands of pigeon houses are carved into the rock face. Once you finish exploring, you'll head to the airport for your return flight to Istanbul and transfer back to your hotel.

End point

Istanbul, Türkiye (Drop off to hotel in Istanbul)

Meals

Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)

Included Activities

Hike through Red Valley and Rose Valley with colorful rock formations and cave churches
Visit Çavuşin Village with abandoned rock houses and historical ruins
Explore ancient underground city
View Pigeon Valley with carved pigeon houses

Optional Activities

Hot Air Balloon Ride at sunrise (additional cost, weather permitting, pickup around 4:30 AM)

Landmarks

Red Valley

Rose Valley

Çavuşin Village

Pigeon Valley