2-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul by Plane with Hot Air Balloon

Early morning pick-up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 AM and transfer to Istanbul Airport for your domestic flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir, departing between 6:00 and 7:30 AM. Upon arrival, our representative will greet you at the airport, and you'll travel to Cappadocia (approximately 1 hour) where your guide and fellow travelers will be waiting to begin a full day exploring North Cappadocia.

Your first stop is Devrent Valley, often called Imagination Valley, where wind and rain have sculpted the soft volcanic rock into extraordinary animal-shaped formations and Fairy Chimneys. From here, continue to Pasabag Monks Valley, where towering mushroom-shaped pinnacles rise dramatically from the valley floor — some once used as hermit dwellings by early monks. Next, the group visits Avanos, a charming town along the Kızılırmak River celebrated for its centuries-old pottery tradition. Watch local artisans shape red clay on the wheel, and try your hand at it if time permits.

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, you'll explore the Zelve Open Air Museum, a remarkable abandoned rock-cut settlement featuring ancient cave churches, dwellings, and a mosque carved directly into the stone — offering a vivid window into Cappadocia's monastic past. Göreme sits at the heart of the Cappadocia region, surrounded by hundreds of fairy chimneys and historic landmarks. Towards the end of the day, stop at Uchisar for panoramic photographs of the sweeping valleys and rock formations below.

Around 4:00 PM, transfer back to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in. The remainder of the evening is at leisure. For those seeking extra adventure, optional evening activities are available at additional cost: a traditional Cappadocian Turkish Night Show with dinner, a two-hour ATV tour, a two-hour horseback riding excursion through the valleys, or a one-hour Whirling Dervish show (one activity per person due to time constraints). Overnight in Cappadocia.

Your day begins before dawn with a spectacular 1-Hour Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride. This bucket-list experience offers you a unique opportunity to float over the fairy chimneys and valleys during the magical early morning hours. After the flight, you will return to your hotel for breakfast. Around 9:30 AM, your guide will pick you up to start the full-day South Cappadocia tour. You will first visit the stunning Red Valley to explore its famous rock-cut churches and hike 5 km through the scenic Rose Valley. The tour continues to Cavusin Village, known for its historic houses and churches carved into the rock.

After a break for lunch, you will visit Pigeon Valley, named after the pigeon houses carved into the soft tuff. In the afternoon, you will explore the depths of Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, ancient subterranean settlements built by early Christians for protection. At the end of the tour, around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your return flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul, our service concludes.

Please note that drop-off transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included.