2-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul by Plane
Overview
This 2-day tour whisks you from Istanbul to Cappadocia by plane, giving you two full days to explore one of Turkey's most extraordinary landscapes. On Day 1 you'll discover North Cappadocia, from the unique fairy chimneys of Devrent Valley and the mushroom-shaped pinnacles of Pasabag to the carved caves and ancient churches of Zelve Open Air Museum and the natural castles of Uchisar.
Day 2 focuses on South Cappadocia, where you'll hike through the colourful Red and Rose Valleys, visit Cavusin Village and descend into the remarkable Kaymakli or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians once lived.
With domestic flights, a night in an atmospheric cave hotel, an English-speaking guide and daily meals included, this tour suits time-conscious travellers who want an efficient, richly rewarding taste of Cappadocia.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia and North Cappadocia Tour
We pick you up from your Istanbul hotel in the small hours and drive you over to Istanbul Airport for a short domestic flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir. One of our team is waiting as you land, and from there it’s about an hour into the heart of Cappadocia, where your guide and the rest of the group are ready to start a full day across the northern valleys.
Your first stop is Devrent Valley, sometimes called Imagination Valley, where wind and rain have worn the soft volcanic rock into shapes that really do look like animals, along with clusters of fairy chimneys. Next comes Pasabag, the Monks Valley, where tall mushroom-capped pinnacles rise from the ground — early hermits carved their cells into a few of them. Then it’s on to Avanos, a riverside town on the Kızılırmak with a pottery tradition going back generations; you’ll watch the potters at their wheels and, time permitting, try your own hand at it. Lunch is at a local restaurant.
Afterwards you explore the Zelve Open Air Museum, an abandoned rock-cut settlement of cave churches, old dwellings and even a mosque cut straight into the cliff, which says a great deal about the region’s monastic centuries. You’ll pass through Göreme, ringed by fairy chimneys, and finish at Uchisar for wide views over the valleys and rock formations below. You’re then dropped at your cave hotel to check in, with the evening free. If you’d like to add something, there are optional extras at extra cost: a Cappadocian Turkish Night with dinner, a two-hour ATV ride, a two-hour horseback trip through the valleys, or a one-hour Whirling Dervish show — one activity per person, as the timings overlap.
- Overnight in Cappadocia
- Included Meal(s): Lunch
Day 2: South Cappadocia Tour and Flight back to Istanbul
If you fancy it, an early hot air balloon flight can be arranged for an extra cost — a fine way to see the valleys from the air before the day begins. After breakfast at the hotel, your guide collects you for a full day across South Cappadocia. You start at the Red Valley, with its rock-cut churches, and walk a stretch of the Rose Valley on a hike of roughly 5 km. Then it’s on to Cavusin Village, known for its old stone houses and churches.
After lunch the tour continues to Pigeon Valley, and in the afternoon you go underground at the Kaymakli Underground City (or the Ozkonak Underground City), where early Christian communities once sheltered for weeks at a time. When the touring wraps up you’re driven to Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul, which takes around an hour and a half depending on the schedule. This is where our service ends. Please note that your transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) back to your hotel is not included in the tour price.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch
Inclusions
- Istanbul hotel pickup and transfer to Istanbul Airport
- Return domestic flights Istanbul–Kayseri or Istanbul–Nevşehir
- One night in a Cappadocia cave hotel with breakfast
- English-speaking licensed guide throughout
- Breakfast and lunch as listed
- Entrance fees to sites on the program
- Local taxes and service charges
Exclusions
- Airport-to-hotel transfer on return to Istanbul (IST or SAW)
- Hot air balloon ride
- Optional tours and evening activities
- Drinks with meals and dinners
- Personal expenses and tips
- Travel insurance
Featured hotels
Hand-picked hotels for your stay across the cities on this tour.
Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel
Heaven Cave House
Holiday Cave Hotel
Romantic Cave Hotel
Zula Cave House
Traveller reviews
14 reviews for 2-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul by Plane
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I booked our trip to Cappadocia with Gallipoli Tour. My daughter and I really enjoyed our trip. The tour guides are very professional and the drivers were very courteous. I will certainly recommend their services to any friends who want to visit Turkey.
We ordered 2 days tour from Istanbul to Cappadocia and traveled with group of friends. It was highlight of our Turkey trip, we visited all the possible sights on our way. Transportation and cave hotel was very good quality for reasonable price.
We booked a 2 day trip to Cappadocia with Gallipoli Tour. Our tour guides were very friendly and knowledgable. I enjoyed visiting the Goreme Open Air Museum, Kaymakli Underground City, Devrent Valley and Uchisar Castle. Overall an amazing tour, would highly recommend this to anyone.
We have had a great experience visiting Cappadocia, our tour guide Aylin was exceptional. We are all vegetarians and Aylin made special efforts to find vegetarian restaurants for us. I would definitely use this tour company again and highly recommend them.
This was my and my family’s first time traveling to Turkey, and I did not know what to expect. I was absolutely blown away by the knowledge, professionalism, and comfort that Gallipoli Tour Tours provided. They were very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, and very responsive to our needs. They made our 2 day Cappadocia trip a memorable, very enjoyable success.
We spent two days and one night on our trip to Cappadocia, it included everything we needed. The cave hotel we stayed in Goreme was wonderful. All in all, the company went out of their way to make our Cappadocia experience a good one. I would certainly recommend them to anyone.
Murat was a great guide. Flexible with our needs and very knowledgeable and proud of Cappadocia and the sites
I and my wife visited the beautiful Cappadocia for 2 days. Gallipoli Tour recommended a very nice program for us. We did a balloon ride, a daily tour and horseback riding. Which was perfectly enough for 2 days. I can recommend Gallipoli Tour and their service.
Ayhan was very professional and helpful. The trip was great with many wonderful sights. Our guide Aylin was excellent, and we had a great time on our two days in Cappadocia.
I highly recommend the Gallipoli Tour service if you want to go to Cappadocia. They were very professional and everything went exactly as they said it would. We had a great time!
Cappadocia 2 day tour. Everything went smoothly. Sightseeing was great but when they included cultural history experience from pottery, leather and carpet industry to jewelries it became excellent. I like how flexible they are to adjust when I booked an activity outside the tour like the ATV and hot air balloon rides and when I was not able to pay before flying to Kayseri until the tour started, they didnt make any problems with it. I recommend it to everyone. There is still more to see since I only had 2 days so I will probably back with friends next time
My family and I participated in the 2-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul, and it was an unforgettable experience! We stayed in a charming cave hotel that added a touch of magic to our trip. Our knowledgeable guide made the tour engaging, and the food was simply delicious. Highly recommend it for a unique getaway!
We joined the 2-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul and it was a marvelous journey. The mystical landscapes of Cappadocia left us spellbound. The unique experience of staying at the Heaven Cave House, which was exceptionally clean and comfortable, enriched our tour.
Each morning began with a good, hearty breakfast. The tour offered the perfect mix of awe-inspiring views, distinctive accommodations, and delightful food. A fantastic Turkish experience that we highly recommend!
I would recommend this 2-day Cappadocia tour for families, especially if you want the details handled. The pickup from Istanbul was early, but everything moved smoothly after that. Murat was patient with our family and kept the pace realistic for the kids, with enough stops for photos and breaks. Havean Cave House was clean and fun for them too. The days were full, and we were tired by the end, but in a good way. It felt safe, organized, and not rushed.