4 Days Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul (Explore Package)

Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel & transfer to the airport
We collect you from your centrally located hotel in Istanbul and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia. The pick-up time is arranged according to your chosen flight, so you can start your Cappadocia tour in the morning, around midday or in the evening, depending on what fits best with your schedule.

Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia – flexible departure
You fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to Cappadocia. We offer you the best available flight times for your dates, and you choose the option you prefer. The flight takes about 1 hour 15 minutes and usually lands at Kayseri (ASR) or Nevşehir (NAV) Airport, depending on airline and availability.

Exact departure and arrival times, airline and choice of airports depend on your travel date and seat availability. All confirmed details will be clearly written on your travel documents once ticketing is complete.

Arrival in Cappadocia & transfer to your hotel
On arrival, our local team meets you at the airport with a sign showing your name. You then travel by air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel in a central Cappadocia town such as Göreme, Ürgüp or Uçhisar. During the drive, you get your first real views of the soft hills, rocks and villages that make the Cappadocia landscape so unique.

Driving time from the airport to your hotel depends on which Cappadocia airport you land at and current traffic conditions.

Check-in & free time in Cappadocia
After check-in, the rest of the day is free to enjoy at your own pace. You can walk through the town, find a viewpoint for sunset, visit cafés and small shops, or simply relax at your hotel after your flight. If you are interested in a Cappadocia hot air balloon tour, this is also a good time to talk with us about booking it for one of the next mornings (optional, extra cost).

Overnight in Cappadocia
Spend your first night in a boutique-style hotel in Cappadocia and get ready for the Red Tour on Day 2.

Breakfast at the hotel
Start the day with breakfast at your hotel. This is a good moment to prepare your camera, comfortable shoes and a light jacket if needed, as you will be outside for most of the day enjoying Cappadocia sightseeing.

~09:45 – Pick-up for the Cappadocia Red Tour
Your professional English-speaking guide meets you at the hotel and you begin the full-day Red Tour. This classic route focuses on the highlights of North Cappadocia: fairy chimneys, old cave settlements and the pottery town of Avanos.

• Devrent (Imagination) Valley – Walk among strange rock shapes that look like animals, people and objects created by nature. It is a playful, other-worldly valley where you can take fun and creative photos.
• Paşabağ (Monks Valley) – See some of the most famous fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, many with twin or triple caps. Your guide explains how monks once used the rocks as simple living spaces and why this valley is so iconic.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum – Explore an abandoned cave town with rock-cut houses, churches and tunnels. Walking through Zelve gives a strong feeling of how people once lived directly inside the soft volcanic rock.
• Avanos & Red River (Kızılırmak) – Visit the riverside town of Avanos, known for its traditional pottery. The red clay from the Red River has been used for ceramics since ancient times and continues to support local artisans today.
• Traditional Pottery Workshop – Stop at a local workshop to watch a live pottery demonstration on the wheel. You see how the clay is shaped by hand, and if you like, you can try making your own piece as a special Cappadocia souvenir.
• Göreme Panoramic Viewpoint – Enjoy a wide-angle view over Göreme and the surrounding valleys filled with cave houses and fairy chimneys. It is easy to imagine a Cappadocia balloon ride floating above the same landscape at sunrise.
• Uçhisar Castle (Exterior View) – End the touring day with a photo stop at Uçhisar, the highest natural point in the region. The rock castle and pigeon houses carved into the cliffs create a dramatic natural skyline.

Lunch at a local restaurant
A set-menu lunch at a local restaurant is included during the Red Tour. You can rest, enjoy simple Turkish dishes and chat with your guide and fellow travelers.

~17:00 – Return to hotel & free time
At the end of the tour, you are dropped back at your hotel. The evening is free for you to explore Cappadocia by night, try a local restaurant or simply relax and prepare for Day 3.