Day 1: Cappadocia
Upon arrival in Cappadocia, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy dinner at the hotel (a cold meal will be provided for arrivals after 9:00 pm), followed by an overnight stay. (B)
Day 2: Cappadocia
After breakfast at the hotel, begin your day with a visit to the Göreme Open-Air Museum, the most famous and stunning valley in Cappadocia, renowned for its unique rock formations known as "fairy chimneys," which give the landscape a magical, storybook feel. Continue with an external visit to the Uchisar Citadel, carved into a natural cone of tuff rock. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Guvercinlik Valley, also known as Pigeon Valley and Love Valley, where you can view remarkable mushroom-shaped rock formations surrounded by vineyards. The tour continues to Mustafapasa, formerly called Sinasos, an incredible town that reflects the prosperous past of its Greek Orthodox inhabitants. The stone-built houses feature beautiful colonnades, carved windows and doors, and decorative celestial-painted designs, preserving the rich cultural heritage of the region. Next, stop at a local carpet cooperative to learn about traditional carpet-making techniques. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. In the evening, there is an option to attend a Whirling Dervish show (optional, for a fee). (B - L - D)
Day 3: Cappadocia
Start your day with the option to join a hot air balloon ride at dawn, offering a breathtaking view of Cappadocia’s unique landscape, subject to availability; the excursion may be postponed if the weather is unfavorable (optional, for a fee). After breakfast at the hotel, visit Pasabag Valley, also known as the Valley of the Monks, famous for its unique cone-shaped tuff rock formations, some of which served as shelters for hermits who carved high-ceilinged rooms from top to bottom. These formations originated around 8 million years ago from volcanic eruptions. Continue to Zelve Valley, an ancient rock village set across three adjacent valleys, where tunnels, rooms, passageways, churches, and homes are all carved into the rock. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Next, visit Devrent Valley, known for its whimsical rock formations resembling animals, including a camel-shaped tuff stone visible from the road. Continue to Cavusin, a remarkable troglodyte village perched on a cliff. Here, explore a labyrinth of abandoned rock-carved houses and see one of the oldest churches in Cappadocia, the Church of St. John the Baptist, near the top of the cliff. The tour then stops at a local cooperative known for its exquisite hand-painted pottery. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. In the evening, you can attend an optional folkloric show with a belly dancer (optional, extra fee). (B - L - D)
Day 4: Cappadocia
Start your day with the option to join a Jeep Safari excursion, a thrilling way to experience Cappadocia’s stunning landscapes, valleys, and unique rock formations, with stops for photographs and views of the iconic hot air balloons (optional, for a fee). After breakfast at the hotel, visit Kaymakli, one of Cappadocia's largest underground cities, dating back to the Hittite and Phrygian periods. The city was later expanded by early Christians to protect themselves from invaders. Explore its labyrinth of tunnels and rooms, reaching as deep as eight levels underground, though only four are open to the public. Next, explore the Ihlara Valley, renowned for its high concentration of Byzantine churches, chapels, monasteries, and hermit caves. Once a favored retreat of Byzantine monks, this valley—formerly known as Peristreme—features many riverside churches adorned with stunning frescoes. Enjoy a walk along the Melendiz River, where the canyon narrows and the banks grow lush with greenery. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Pink Valley, one of Cappadocia's most beautiful areas, known for its pink rock formations. You’ll also find a number of rock-carved churches scattered throughout the valley. Continue to Avcilar Valley for more scenic views before visiting a workshop specializing in the crafting of precious stones, gold, and silver. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. (B - L - D)
Day 5: Cappadocia/Departure And Journey Home
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)
