3 Days 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 4:30 am and will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight from Istanbul to Ankara between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival at Ankara airport, you will be picked up and transferred to the Ankara city center. In Ankara, you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ankara.

Today you will visit the city and some of its most interesting landmarks, such as the Mausoleum of Ataturk, dedicated to the founder of the Turkish Republic, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with exhibitions from the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Hittite, and Phrygian Urartu past of central Anatolia.

After the tour, you’ll be transferred to Ankara’s main bus station. From here you will board the intercity day coach to Cappadocia/Goreme (duration 4 hours). Met on arrival and transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in.

• 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 be aware that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will be able to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at approximately 4:00 pm. The rest of the day will be at leisure.

• 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 around 9:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit Cavusin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. This will be the end of your full-day tour. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your late evening return flight around 7:00 – 10:00 pm (1 hour 20 minutes flight duration) to Istanbul. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.

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

Important notes:

• Please note that your return flight from Kayseri / Nevsehir to Istanbul will arrive at either the New Airport in Istanbul or at the Sabiha Gökçen Airport depending on the availability of flights on the ticket purchase date.
• If you have a preference to return to a specific airport in Istanbul i.e. Sabiha Gokcen or Istanbul New Airport, you must request your choice of the airport in Istanbul by email prior to your tour booking. Any changes requested once your booking is confirmed will incur an additional cost.
• Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, you will have to arrange your own pick-up service from Istanbul airport to your hotel in Istanbul. This transfer is not included as part of your package tour services with us. Our service ends upon your flight arrival at Istanbul Airport.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick up from 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 Nevsehir to Istanbul only.
• Intercity coach ticket from Ankara to Cappadocia.
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at 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.