3 Days Cappadocia Tour with Balloon Ride & Horseback Ride Options

Day 1: Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia – Accommodation at Cappadocia

1. Istanbul
   1h 30m
   Your Cappadocia experiences will start with a transfer to the airport. The driver will pick you up from the reception of your hotel (or your Airbnb, as long as parking is available). From there, you'll be taken to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia. The flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia will take approx. one and half hour. Once you arrive at Cappadocia Airport, another driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals terminal exit, holding a sign with your name. From there, you'll be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia, located about an hour’s drive away. Today is free-day. There will not be any tour/ride on today.

Day 2: Hot Air Balloon Ride (Optional) - SemiPrivate Cappadocia Tour with Underground City – Accommodation at Cappadocia

1. 3h · Admission ticket included
   Hot Air Balloon Ride (INCLUDED FOR OPTIONS OF “SILVER PACKAGE & DIAMOND PACKAGE”) : Get ready for a wonderful experience unique to Cappadocia! We will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the balloon site where you will have the opportunity to watch the balloon being prepared for your flight. The flight will be at sunrise time, where your pilot will climb to a comfortable altitude of about 700 to 1000 meters above ground level. It is from this elevation that you will marvel at the beauty of Cappadocia below you. During certain segments of the flight our pilots are also capable of flying as low as 1 meter above the rock formations which will allow you perfect photo taking opportunities. Duration of total activity is approx 3 hours, and total duration of flight is approx 60 minutes. There will be a champagne celebration at end of the ride. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia.
2. Urgup
   15m
   Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel to begin this carefully crafted day trip to Cappadocia’s top attractions. While most tours only offer panoramic views of some of the valleys and fairy chimneys, they often don't give you a full understanding of Cappadocia’s rich history and geography. After receiving hundreds of valuable guest feedback, we designed this itinerary for those who are eager to explore the historical, cultural, and architectural heritage of the region. Our semi-private daily tours, limited to a maximum of 10 guests per group, provide a deeper dive into Cappadocia’s ancient landmarks and awe-inspiring landscapes.
3. Kaymakli Underground City
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Kaymakli, one of the largest underground cities in Cappadocia, spans 8 levels. However, like many other underground cities, not all of its floors are accessible to tourists. The first level was specifically designed for animals, allowing them to move freely. Corridors connect the churches and other living areas, separated from the stables. Kaymakli Underground City is home to remarkable sections such as storage rooms, kitchens, cemeteries, a communal area, and a copper workshop. It is believed that hidden underground tunnels remain within the city, still waiting to be fully explored.
4. Goreme National Park
   Pass by
   Set in a stunning landscape shaped by erosion, Göreme National Park is home to rock-hewn sanctuaries that feature exceptional examples of Byzantine art from the post-Iconoclastic era. This tour will guide you through the Göreme Open-Air Museum and Tokalı Church, two of the park's most renowned landmarks.
5. Goreme Open Air Museum
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   The Göreme Open Air Museum is recognized as one of the earliest monasteries in Christian history. This rock-hewn settlement, where education was provided to spread Christianity, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985, renowned for its fresco-covered churches and rock-hewn living spaces.
6. TokalI Church
   20m
   The Tokalı Church (Buckle Church) in the Göreme Open Air Museum is considered one of the most beautiful of the Cappadocian cave churches. Its interior boasts some of the most outstanding frescoes, notable for their theological and artistic significance. The church is part of a larger complex that includes four churches and a hermitage, all dating back to the 9th century. Once the most famous church in the region, it remains one of the most impressive churches in the area today.
7. 40m
   Before stop for your comlimentary lunch at traditional local restaurant, you will continue for Weaving is a significant aspect of Turkish culture, with roots that trace back to Central Asia. This ancient tradition is still alive in Cappadocia today. During the tour, you’ll take a brief visit to a cooperative where world-renowned Turkish carpets are crafted, offering you the chance to learn about the intricate details of this age-old art form.
8. Cappadocia
   1h
   The lunch will be served by the famous Cappadocia ceramics at a traditional local restaurant in Cappadocia, where you'll have the opportunity to try delicious tasted from Turkish cuisine. (Vegetarian options are also available at the same restaurant.) The ceramic industry in this area, with its numerous pottery workshops, dates back to the Hittites, and the clay sourced from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has been used for centuries. You may have a short stop for get the experience about hand-made potteries.
9. Uchisar Castle
   20m
   Uchisar rock castle is one of the biggest landmarks of Cappadocia. It is the highest tuff hill in the area with beautiful views of the surrounding valley full of bizarre rock formations. (Visits to the rock castle are not included due to walking difficulties and safety concerns. Instead, you will have a stop for a panoramic view of the rock castle.)
10. 20m
    Located in the town of Uchisar, this spot offers one of the best panoramic views of the region. It is also home to numerous pigeon houses built by the area's ancient inhabitants. If you wish, you can also visit a renowned onyx stone factory in the region.
11. Fairy Chimneys
    Pass by
    Cappadocia is famous for its unique landforms. The Fairy Chimneys are the most obvious places to visit where these landforms are best seen and the common life of humankind and nature. On this tour, you will have seen many examples of the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia.
12. Cappadocia
    30m
    At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 3: Horseback Ride (Included) - Flight Back To Istanbul

1. 1h · Admission ticket included
   Horseback Ride (INCLUDED): In ancient times, Cappadocia was known as the land of beautiful horses, and even today there are few better ways to explore its vividly colored valleys than on horseback. We will pick you up from hotel and then you will join an experienced guide for this amazing ride through some of Cappadocia's most beautiful landscapes: Red Valley with its fairy chimneys, Rose Valley with its churches, and atmospheric Çavuşin village.
2. 1h
   At the end of the ride, you will be transferred back to your hotel for take your luggages and continue to Cappadocia airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
3. 1h
   When you arrive at the airport in Istanbul, your driver will be there to greet you and transfer you to your hotel.

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness