Istanbul Trip Overview
Discover Cappadocia on this 2-day tour.
Day 1: Begin your tour with a visit to Derinkuyu Underground City. Meander through its many levels and see structures carved out of geological formations.
Pass by the bubbling waters of Nar Golu before reaching Ihlara Valley. Roam through the zigzagging canyon and hike up steps to find rock-carved churches and other glimpses of traditional rural life.
Stop at Selime Monastery, the biggest rock-cut monastery of Cappadocia, before returning to your hotel for dinner.
Day 2:Venture to Göreme Valley, a site sculpted by erosion. Discover how wind and rain have worked together to create a surreal landscape.
Continue to the citadel of Uçhisar, Climb atop the rocky outcrop, wander through tunnels, and find millstone doors. As you reach the top, marvel at the panoramic views of the region.
Visit Zelve, home of fascinating fairy chimneys. Complete your trip with Cappadocian wine and old pottery in Avanos.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Istanbul Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey
Discover Cappadocia on this 2-day tour.
Day 1: Begin your tour with a visit to Derinkuyu Underground City. Meander through its many levels and see structures carved out of geological formations.
Pass by the bubbling waters of Nar Golu before reaching Ihlara Valley. Roam through the zigzagging canyon and hike up steps to find rock-carved churches and other glimpses of traditional rural life.
Stop at Selime Monastery, the biggest rock-cut monastery of Cappadocia, before returning to your hotel for dinner.
Day 2:Venture to Göreme Valley, a site sculpted by erosion. Discover how wind and rain have worked together to create a surreal landscape.
Continue to the citadel of Uçhisar, Climb atop the rocky outcrop, wander through tunnels, and find millstone doors. As you reach the top, marvel at the panoramic views of the region.
Visit Zelve, home of fascinating fairy chimneys. Complete your trip with Cappadocian wine and old pottery in Avanos.
Itinerary
Day 1: Day I – Cappadocia Trip
Stop At: Kayseri, Kayseri, Kayseri Province
Flight to City of Kayseri to get to Cappadocia by land vehicle.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Uchisar Castle, Uchisar Turkey
The natural rock citadel of Uchisar Castle offers a panoramic view over the surrounding landscape of valleys, mountains, and towns. The tallest fairy chimney in Cappadocia is carved with numerous rooms, tunnels, stairs, rock tombs, and a large water cistern.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Zelve Open Air Museum, Zelve Yolu, Nevsehir Turkey
The Zelve Open-Air Museum, which once housed one of the largest communities in the region is an amazing cave town, honeycombed with dwellings, religious and secular chambers. Zelve is situated about 10 km out from Goreme on the Avanos road. Here, the Christians and Muslims lived together in perfect harmony, until 1924. Then Christians had to leave the Valley because of the exchange of minorities between Greece and Turkey, and the Muslims were forced to evacuate the Valley in the 50’s when life became dangerous due to risk of erosion. They left the site to set up a modern village, a little further on, to which they gave the name Yeni Zelve (New Zelve).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Avanos Oren Yeri, Kapadokya Cd., Avanos 50500 Turkey
he old city of Avanos, whose name in ancient times was Venessa, overlooks the longest river of Turkey, the Kızılırmak (Red River), which also separates Avanos from the rest of Cappadocia.
The most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery; it is also the most economic activity in the town. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites, and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has always been used. It is a popular destination because of its attractive old town with cobbled streets, and views over the river.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Goreme Open-Air Museum, Merkez, Muze Cd., Goreme 50180 Turkey
In the 2nd century AD there were ascetic monks who had adopted seclusion alone in the Cappadocia region, especially around Göreme. Although they were independent of monasteries and churches, they were an important social community. What made Cappadocia the centre of religious thought and life in the 3rd century was the presence of clergy with powerful character.
In the following century, the region was known as the hometown of the three great clergy. These were the Bishop of Kaisareia, Basileios, his brother Gregorios of Nyssagia and Gregorios of Nazianus. Basileios, known as the ‘Great’, returned to his hometown, Kaisareia, the headquarters of the Cappadocia region, to devote himself to the monastic life. He was also effective in spreading the monastery life collectively.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Karanlik Kilise, Goreme 50180 Turkey
An elaborate cross-in-square church, carved from the bedrock, a great example of a “negative” architecture, created by removing rather than adding material, its central dome showing the imposing figure of Christ Pantocrator (the All-Powerful), initially carried by four columns – only one of which remains today, leaving the dome seemingly afloat. Arches spring from the columns to pilasters, engaged columns attached to the walls, forming corner bays which are also roofed by small cupolas depicting the Archangels. Three apses define the sanctuary area on the eastern side of the church. In the central apse, fragments of an originally tall altar screen and of the rounded altar still remain in place. All in all, an interior space that had assimilated architectural and functional elements of built monuments and was transformed into the most fashionable compound church plan of its time, utilising the properties of the soft and easily sculpted local volcanic tuff.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a local boutique hotel, a 4-starred-hotel.
Day 2: Day II – Cappadocia Continues
Stop At: Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Turkey
The ancient name was Enegup. Caves may have first been built in the soft volcanic rock by the Phrygians, an Indo-European people, in the 8th–7th centuries B.C., according to the Turkish Department of Culture. When the Phrygian language died out in Roman times, replaced with Greek, to which it was related, the inhabitants, now Christians, expanded their caverns adding the chapels and inscriptions.
The city was greatly expanded and deepened in the Byzantine era, when it was used for protection from Muslim Arab raids during the four centuries of Arab–Byzantine wars (780-1180). The city was connected with Derinkuyu underground city through miles of tunnels. Some artifacts discovered in these underground settlements belong to the Middle Byzantine Period, between the 5th and the 10th centuries A.D. These cities continued to be used by the Christian inhabitants as protection from the Mongolian incursions of Timur in the 14th century.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Soganli Valley, 40Km Southeast of Urgup, and 25Km to the East of Derinkuyu, Kayseri 38800 Turkey
Soğanlı Valley is located in Yeşilhisar district, Kayseri Province, Turkey, in the southeastern part of the region of Cappadocia. The valley contains several rock-cut churches and other rock-cut buildings, carved from the soft tuff stone of the Cappadocian landscape.
The village of Aşağı Soğanlı (‘Lower Soğanlı’) is located at the southeastern end of the valley. The valley splits into northern and southern sections at the village of Yukarı Soğanlı (‘Upper Soğanlı’). The valley was inhabited by Byzantine monks from the 9th to the 13th centuries AD. They are responsible for around a hundred churches that have been found in the valley and connected rock-cut houses and cloisters, most of which are now buried, ruined, or used as stables. There are also notable dovecotes carved into the cliffs, with entry holes marked out on the cliff using white paint.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Sobesos Ancient City, 1 mile from Sahinefendi, Urgup Turkey
Sobesos Ancient City in Sahinefendi Village is located quite remote to the main sights in Cappadocia en route to Soganli Valley. The ancient city was discovered by some treasure-hunters working in the fields in 2002. Today, you can see the only Roman Ancient City in Cappadocia with the help of researches and excavations.
The archeologists have uncovered the Roman Bath Section, Agora, The Basilica and The Bouleterion buildings. There is still a lot to be excavated in this city, but as the government is not funding enough, the archeologists are only able to excavate every 2 years for around 3 months.
The Roman Bath section has a proper hypocaust (in-floor heating system) central heating system, which still can be seen. The Agora is located right next to the bath and is a basic shopping mall of ancient times.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Istanbul, Istanbul
Return flight to City of Istanbul to get transferred to your hotel.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
