3-Day Ankara and Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul

Day 1: Fly from Istanbul to Ankara – Ankara Sightseeing – From Ankara to Cappadocia by Intercity Bus (299 km)

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Ankara, departing between 6:00 – 7:30 AM. Upon arrival at Ankara Airport, you will be met and transferred to the Ankara city center, where you will join your professional tour guide for a full-day exploration of Turkey’s capital.

Today, you will visit some of Ankara’s most remarkable landmarks, including the Mausoleum of Atatürk, a grand tribute to the founder of the Turkish Republic. Next, you will explore the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, home to an extensive collection of artifacts from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hittite, Phrygian, and Urartian civilizations of Anatolia.

After the tour, you will be transferred to Ankara’s main bus station, where you will board a comfortable intercity coach to Cappadocia/Göreme (approximately 4 hours). Upon arrival in Cappadocia, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Cappadocia

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Lunch
• Accommodation: Holiday Cave Hotel OR Heaven Cave House OR Ottoman Cave Suites OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: North Cappadocia Tour

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles.

Afterward, you will drive to the town of Avanos, known for its pottery and ceramics, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Zelve Open Air Museum. This museum offers an insightful look into the region’s monastic history, featuring carved caves and ancient churches.

Finally, before returning to your hotel, you will have about 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of Uchisar Castle from the outside, as entry to the interior of the castle is not permitted.

After the tour ends at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore the city at your own pace, or participate in optional activities.

For additional activities, you can choose a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through Cappadocia’s valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show, where you can witness the mesmerizing Sufi tradition. Alternatively, you may opt for a Turkish Night show with dinner, which includes traditional Turkish music, folk dances, and a delicious meal. All these activities are available at an extra cost.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Holiday Cave Hotel OR Heaven Cave House OR Ottoman Cave Suites OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: South Cappadocia Tour – Fly back to Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and be picked up around 9:30 am to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your first stop will be the breathtaking Red Valley, where you’ll explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike 5 km through the serene Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi), renowned for its stunning pink-hued rock formations.

Next, you’ll visit Cavusin Village, known for its ancient cave houses and churches once inhabited by Christian clergymen. Around noon, you’ll take a break for lunch at a local restaurant, savoring authentic Turkish flavors.

After lunch, the tour will continue to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), where you’ll witness the valley’s iconic pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. In the afternoon, you’ll explore either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, both remarkable underground cities where early Christians took refuge.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul. Departure times are subject to flight availability, typically between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm, with the flight lasting approximately 1.5 hours. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.

Please note that transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel and transfer to Istanbul Airport (on the European side of Istanbul only).
• Domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Ankara and from Kayseri or Nevşehir to Istanbul only.
• Intercity coach ticket from Ankara to Cappadocia.
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast.
• English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch).
• Visits and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Drop off transportation service from Istanbul New Airport OR Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Istanbul Hotel upon returning to Istanbul.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Drinks with meals.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• The normal arrival time in Istanbul is between 8:00 – 10:00 pm. If you are planning on reserving your plane back home that same day, we recommend you book a plane ticket from 12:30 am onwards, to avoid missing your flight.
• On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.

WHEN TO BOOK?

• Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities.
• You can book up to 5 days before (Istanbul local time) if there are still places available. If less than 5 days before the start of your requested tour date, please contact us by email or phone as it would be a last-minute booking that will need to be checked for availability before your tour reservation is confirmed.