ITINERARY

• Your journey to Cappadocia begins with a transfer to the airport if you booked the option of "from-to Istanbul Hotels". The driver will pick you up from the hotel reception or your Airbnb location, provided parking is accessible. From there, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia. The roundtrip airport transfers in Istanbul and roundtrip Cappadocia flight tickets from Istanbul will be included for the option of “from-to Istanbul Hotels”
• Upon your arrival at Cappadocia Airport, your tour guide and the driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals terminal exit, holding a sign with your name. You will then be transferred for in-depth exploration of Cappadocia’s ancient sites and breathtaking landscapes. This airport pick up service is available for the guests who booked the option of “from-to Istanbul Hotels” If you booked the option of “from-to Cappadocia Hotels”, your pick up will be from your hotel in Cappadocia.
• In a breathtaking landscape sculpted by erosion, Göreme National Park is home to rock-carved sanctuaries that showcase remarkable examples of Byzantine art from the post-Iconoclastic period. This tour will take you through the Göreme Open-Air Museum and Tokalı Church, two of the park's most iconic landmarks.
• The Göreme Open Air Museum is recognized as one of the earliest monasteries in Christian history. This rock-hewn settlement, where education was provided to spread Christianity, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985, renowned for its fresco-covered churches and rock-hewn living spaces.
• The Tokalı Church (Buckle Church) in the Göreme Open Air Museum is considered one of the most beautiful of the Cappadocian cave churches. Its interior boasts some of the most outstanding frescoes, notable for their theological and artistic significance. The church is part of a larger complex that includes four churches and a hermitage, all dating back to the 9th century. Once the most famous church in the region, it remains one of the most impressive churches in the area today.
• Ortahisar Castle, also known as the most spectacular fairy chimney of Cappadocia, is located in Ortahisar town of Nevşehir. Said to be one of the first multi-storey settlements in the world, this castle is surrounded by steep valleys on three sides. Its geography enabled the castle to be used for protection and shelter in ancient times. (Visits to the rock castle are not included due to walking difficulties and safety concerns.) After a panoramic visit to this amazing rock castle, you will continue for Weaving is a significant aspect of Turkish culture, with roots that trace back to Central Asia. This ancient tradition is still alive in Cappadocia today. During our tour, we’ll take a brief visit to a cooperative where world-renowned Turkish carpets are crafted, offering you the chance to learn about the intricate details of this age-old art form.
• Today's lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Avanos, where you'll have the opportunity to try "Testi Kebab," a traditional kebab unique to the Cappadocia region. (Vegetarian options are also available at the same restaurant.) Avanos is well-known for its charming old town with cobblestone streets and scenic river views. Formerly known as Venessa, the ancient city of Avanos overlooks the Kızılırmak (Red River), the longest river in Turkey, which separates Avanos from the rest of Cappadocia. A notable historical feature of Avanos, still prominent today, is its earthenware pottery production, which remains a key economic activity in the town. The ceramic industry in this area, with its numerous pottery workshops, dates back to the Hittites, and the clay sourced from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has been used for centuries. You will have a short stop for get this experience during your tour.
• Uchisar rock castle is one of the biggest landmarks of Cappadocia. It is the highest tuff hill in the area with beautiful views of the surrounding valley full of bizarre rock formations. (Visits to the rock castle are not included due to walking difficulties and safety concerns. Instead, you will have a stop for a panoramic view of the rock castle.)
• This valley, also known as Imagination Valley, is home to numerous rock formations shaped like animals, predominantly in shades of red. One of the most common shapes found here is that of a camel.
• The Pasabagi Valley between Cavusin village and Zelve Open-Air Museum is a fine example of Cappadocia's moonscape topography, with fairy chimney pinnacles of tawny tufa topped by dark rock bombs. It's easy to see the geology here. Pasabagi is a good lesson in stratification and differential erosion.
• Cappadocia is famous for its unique landforms. The Fairy Chimneys are the most obvious places to visit where these landforms are best seen and the common life of humankind and nature. On this tour, you will have seen many examples of the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia.
• At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia. Or transferred to Cappadocia airport for your flight back to Istanbul, if you booked the option of "from-to Istanbul Hotels".
• Upon your arrival at the airport in Istanbul, your driver will be waiting to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. *** The departure time for your return flight is between 8:00pm and 9:30pm, which means your flight will land in Istanbul approximately between 9:30pm and 10:45pm. This timing is ideal, allowing you to comfortably catch your return flight to Istanbul after your full-day guided tour of Cappadocia today. We do not recommend scheduling any other flight immediately after this return flight, as any potential delays on by the airline could put it at risk.