Day 1: We will pick you up from your hotel in Istanbul between 5:00-6:00 am and transfer you to Istanbul or Sabiha Gokcen airport, depending on your pre-booked flight to Nevsehir or Kayseri airport. At your destination airport, our driver will meet you at the exit gate for domestic flights and transfer you to our agency in the center of Goreme. Here, you will meet your guide and start your exciting Northern Cappadocia (Red Tour).
Your tour will begin with a visit to Goreme Panorama, which offers a magnificent view of the fairy chimneys, followed by a visit to the Open Air Museum, an enormous cloistered site. Along the way, you’ll also see the Castle of Ortahisar Village, known for storing food in caves, and Dervent Valley, a red lunar landscape where you can see shapes of animals in rock formations. Your tour will continue with a visit to the old city of Avanos, a region known for pottery, and a chance to view the longest river in Türkiye, the Red River. You’ll also visit Pasabag, Monks Valley’s fairy-colored mushroom-shaped chimneys, and end the tour at Cavusin Village with its cut-rock dwellings, stone houses, and churches.
The tour ends between 4:00-4:30 pm, after which you’ll be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay in Cappadocia.
Day 2: Be prepared to rise early between 4:00-5:00 am for a pick-up and transfer from your hotel to the location of the balloon flight departure. Today marks an exciting day of adventure, offering a breathtaking experience that will leave you awestruck during your full-hour ride. As you watch the balloons being prepared to take off, you can enjoy soft drinks and snacks while many of them actually launch before your very eyes. Once your balloon is ready for departure, our team will provide safety instructions before taking you up into the sky where the views are unique from every angle. Our team will follow your balloon on the ground until the landing. After your flight, you will receive a commemorative certificate and celebrate your accomplishment with a toast of champagne.
Following your flight, you will be transferred back to the hotel for a break and breakfast before your full-day tour begins at around 9:00-9:30 am.
The second-day tour is just beginning, and even more adventurous times await in the breathtaking landscapes of Southern Cappadocia. You will visit the following sites:
First, you will see Uchisar Castle, the largest fairy chimney used historically as a fortress by numerous civilizations. Then, you will hike in the stunning Red Valley for approximately 4 km, towards Rose Valley, enjoying the beauty of rock churches. Your point of arrival will be Cavusin village, a region with one of the oldest human settlements, where the locals still use caves as houses and churches. We will continue our journey to more locations, and our next site will be the fascinating Kaymakli Underground City, the biggest shelter used by locals for several centuries and had saved Christians of that time from Roman persecution. Before reaching our final site, you will visit Pigeon Valley, where you can observe the beautiful pigeons living in their homes, and take in the special view of Uchisar Castle. Lastly, we will drive to Three Beauties Valley, where you can take in the lovely sights from above at the famous Urgup town, widely known for its wine factories. We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant where you can indulge in delicious Turkish cuisine.
Your second-day tour in Cappadocia ends with a pick-up and transfer to Kayseri/Nevsehir Airport. You will then check-in for your pre-booked flight to Izmir. Upon arrival, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to your pre-booked hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk for an overnight stay.
Day 3: After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your guide for the Ephesus tour at around 9:00-9:30 am. From there, you will join a group of fellow adventurers to explore some of the most fascinating historical sites in the area. The tour will start with a visit to the Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. You will then explore the city ruins of Ephesus, including the Hadrian Temple, Celsus Library, hammams, and the impressive amphitheater. Afterward, you will take a leisurely stroll through the old seaport and experience the unique atmosphere of the Isabey Mosque. During the tour, you will stop at a local restaurant in the region for a delicious lunch.
The final stop of the tour will be The House of Virgin Mary, where she spent her last five years. This location is considered a place of pilgrimage for Christians by the Vatican.
After an exciting day of exploration and discovery, you will be transferred to the Izmir airport to check in for your pre-booked flight to either Istanbul or Sabiha Gokcen airport. On arrival, our driver will be waiting to pick you up and take you to your hotel in Istanbul, where you will rest and relax after an unforgettable three days of adventure.
