4-Day Tour of Konya, Cappadocia & Ankara

Day 1: Flight from Istanbul to Konya, Konya Tour and coach to Cappadocia

You will be collected from your Istanbul hotel and transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Konya. On arrival, meet your guide and begin a half-day exploration of the city. Visit the Tomb of Rumi at the Mevlana Museum, an important pilgrimage site for Muslims and admirers of Rumi’s writings. Continue next door to the Ottoman-era Sultan Selim Mosque, followed by lunch at a traditional Turkish restaurant.

Travel along Mevlana Caddesi to Alaettin Hill, an ancient tumulus, where you will visit the thousand-year-old Alaaddin Mosque. Rumi is known to have prayed here, and the courtyard contains the tombs of Seljuk sultans who ruled during his lifetime. Walk down the northern side of the hill, passing the remains of the Seljuk sultan’s palace, then view the ornate entrance portal of the medieval Great Karatay Medrese. The final visit is the Mosque and Tomb of Sems-i Tabrizi, Rumi’s close companion, spiritual teacher and a major inspiration for his poetry.

After the tour, transfer to Konya bus station for the intercity coach to Cappadocia. You will be met at Goreme bus station and taken to your hotel.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Lunch

Day 2: North Cappadocia Tour

An optional early-morning Cappadocia hot air balloon ride is available at an additional cost. After breakfast, join your guide for a full-day tour of North Cappadocia, beginning at Devrent Valley, known for its unusual fairy-chimney formations. Continue to Pasabag Monk’s Valley, where distinctive mushroom-shaped rock pinnacles rise from the valley floor.

After travelling to Avanos and stopping for lunch, visit the Zelve Open Air Museum. Its rock-cut churches and former Christian settlements reflect centuries of religious life in Cappadocia. Later, see the natural rock castles of Uchisar before returning to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: South Cappadocia Tour and coach to Ankara

After breakfast, meet your guide for a full-day South Cappadocia tour. Start at Red Valley, where you can explore rock-cut churches before walking approximately 5 km through Güllüdere (Rose) Valley. Continue to Çavusin Village, known for its old houses and churches associated with Christian clergymen.

Following lunch, travel to Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon, explore either Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christian communities once lived underground.

At the end of the tour, transfer to Goreme bus station for the intercity coach to Ankara. On arrival at Ankara bus station, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

• Overnight in Ankara
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Ankara City Tour and flight to Istanbul

After breakfast, discover Ankara’s principal historical landmarks with your guide. Visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, dedicated to the founder of the Turkish Republic, then continue to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Its collections cover central Anatolia from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods through the Hittite, Phrygian and Urartu eras.

After the tour, transfer to Ankara Esenboga Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. The flight may arrive at either Istanbul New Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport, depending on flight availability. Airport-to-hotel transfer in Istanbul is not included.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

Inclusions

• Istanbul hotel pickup and domestic airport transfer
• Domestic flights from Istanbul to Konya and Ankara to Istanbul
• Intercity coach tickets from Konya to Cappadocia and Cappadocia to Ankara
• Two nights’ cave-hotel accommodation in Cappadocia with breakfast
• One night’s 4-star hotel accommodation in Ankara with breakfast
• English-speaking guide, program entrance fees and local transport
• Meals stated in the itinerary

Exclusions

• Istanbul airport-to-hotel transfer after the return flight
• Cappadocia hot air balloon ride
• Optional tours
• Dinners and drinks with meals
• Personal expenses and gratuities
• Travel insurance