Day 1: Departure
At 11:00 am, you will be picked up from your Istanbul hotel and transferred to Istanbul airport. Your one-way flight ticket will be provided after making a reservation. Upon arrival at the Cappadocia airport, a representative will be waiting for you with your name written on a signboard for your transfer. You can then enjoy some relaxation time at your comfortable Cave Suite hotel.
Day 2
(Optional: Pre-sunrise hot-air balloon flight. Hotel pickup: around 06:30 during winter and 04:30 during summer. Dropoff: 8.00/30)
Embark on the Red Tour to explore the surreal landscape of Devrent Valley, also known as “Imagination Valley.” Next, visit Pashabagi, also known as Monks Valley, where Christian hermits once lived in hermit cells and churches located in three-headed pinnacles symbolic of the Holy Trinity. Marvel at the various stages of fairy chimney formation in this area.
Continue to Avanos, the pottery center of Cappadocia, located on the banks of the Red River. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the Goreme Open Air Museum. This remote valley was home to monks and nuns who pursued monastic life from the 3rd century onwards. Admire the best-preserved Byzantine cave wall paintings and frescoes from the Iconoclastic period to the end of Seljuk rule.
Take in the panoramic view from Esentepe, which offers a spectacular view of the Goreme valley, including fairy chimneys, rock formations, and cave houses. Finally, visit Uchisar Castle, the highest point in the Goreme region, before returning to your Cave Suite Hotel for an overnight stay.
Junoca –
I would definitely recommend this tour to all explorers. The tour guide had a wide knowledge about the history of the area and was able to make sure everyone in our small group is satisfied at the end of the day.