CAPPADOCIA TWO DAYS FROM SIDE

• Embark on a journey to Cappadocia and immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty and mysteries of one of Turkey's most enigmatic regions. Experience the stunning lunar landscapes sculpted by volcanic tuff and basalt, explore underground cities and monasteries where Christians once sought refuge from persecution, and delve into the rich history and cultural heritage at the Göreme Museum. A hot air balloon ride over these surreal landscapes will surely be a highlight of your trip. Discover the captivating world of Cappadocia!
• Check out the latest prices and detailed program descriptions on our website. Book your excursion today and pay on the bus. We have ensured that traveling with us is not only interesting but also comfortable, so the price includes transfers from hotels in Gundogdu, Colakli, Evrenseki, Kumkoy, Side, Sorgun, Titreyengol, Kizilot, and Kizilagac. Enjoy your vacation with us.

Tour Program

Day 1

• Hotel pick-ups from 05:00 - 05:30
• Breakfast stop
• Visit to the underground city of Saratlı
• Arrival in Cappadocia
• Lunch in Ortahisar
• Optional visit to Göreme Open-Air Museum (free time for those not visiting the museum to enjoy the Göreme panorama)
• Visit to Love Valley
• Visit to Devrent Valley
• Visit to a pottery workshop
• Check-in at Alp Hotel Cappadocia
• Dinner at the hotel (included)
• Optional Cappadocian Night (dance show)

Day 2

• Optional hot air balloon ride
• Breakfast at the hotel (included)
• Uçhisar panorama
• Visit to Pigeon Valley
• Visit to an onyx workshop
• Visit to the Tepesi Delik Caravanserai
• Lunch in Konya
• Return to hotels by 19:30 - 20:30

More about the Tour

• Our tour program begins between 05:00 and 05:30, when we'll pick you up from your hotel's security gate and set off for the stunning Cappadocia. The journey from Antalya's coastal resorts like Antalya, Alanya, Belek, Kemer, and Side to Cappadocia is approximately 500 km. Our guide will entertain you with fascinating stories about the upcoming tour and the sites you'll visit, while you enjoy the ever-changing scenic views from the bus window.
• Day 1
• The first stop will be for breakfast. Please note that breakfast is not included in the tour price. You can order from the café menu or arrange a lunch box at your hotel's reception the night before the tour.
• After breakfast, we will continue our journey to Cappadocia.
• The next stop is Saratlı, home to one of the largest multi-level underground cities. Of the seven levels discovered by archaeologists, three are open to tourists. The guide will explain the purpose and history of these shelters and show you the most interesting parts.
• After visiting the underground city, we will have lunch in the charming town of Ortahisar, known for its rock fortress rising 90 meters above the ground.
• Post-lunch, you'll have the opportunity to visit Göreme, a unique open-air museum complex and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you choose to visit the museum, the guide will take you through the most significant sites, including rock churches like St. Basil, St. Barbara, St. Catherine, the Apple Church, the Snake Church, and the Buckle Church, each with its ancient frescoes.
• For those not visiting the museum, there will be free time to enjoy the panoramic view of Göreme.
• Leaving Göreme, we will head to Alp Hotel Cappadocia 4*, stopping at several amazing locations along the way.
• One such stop is Love Valley, known for its intriguing rock formations.
• Next, we will visit Devrent Valley, also known as the Valley of Imagination, filled with whimsical rock shapes. Let your imagination run wild as you see figures of animals and more in the rocks.
• On the way to the hotel, we will pass through Avanos, famous for its pottery workshops.
• We will visit a pottery workshop in Avanos, where you can learn about this craft and try making something yourself.
• In the evening, we will arrive at the hotel, where a hearty dinner awaits you. Dinner at the hotel is included in the tour price.
• Alp Hotel Cappadocia 4* is a beautiful and comfortable hotel, perfect for relaxation. Accommodation is available in single, double, and triple rooms.
• Please note that single room accommodation requires an additional fee. This rule applies to solo travelers. We cannot place solo travelers in shared rooms with other guests. Therefore, solo travelers will be accommodated in single rooms, with an additional charge.
• For those who wish to extend this amazing day, we offer an optional Cappadocian Night dance show for an additional fee. Enjoy national dances, local wine, and delicious snacks during the show.
• Day 2
• The second day starts with an exciting early morning activity: a hot air balloon ride. The transfer will take you to the launch site.
• Experience the sunrise while floating in the sky in a hot air balloon. The flight lasts about an hour and is filled with unforgettable emotions and views.
• Or, you can stay on the viewing platform to watch and photograph the balloons from the ground as they rise into the sky.
• After the balloon ride, you will return to your hotel for breakfast, which is included in the tour price.
• After breakfast, the tour continues with more amazing sites.
• You will visit the viewing platform overlooking Uçhisar Castle, a massive rock formation with numerous entrances and a citadel at the top. Enjoy the panoramic view and take photos during your free time.
• The next stop is Pigeon Valley, a 4 km long valley known for its pigeon houses carved into the rocks. Capture these moments with your camera during a short stop.
• We will also visit an onyx workshop, where you'll learn about this semi-precious stone and have the chance to purchase onyx products as souvenirs.
• No visit to Cappadocia is complete without a stop at a caravanserai.
• Caravanserais were built for merchants and travelers to rest and recover before continuing their journey. We will visit the Tepesi Delik Caravanserai to see what these "inns" looked like.
• It's time for a break and lunch in one of Konya's local restaurants.
• The transfer will take you back to your hotel around 19:30 - 20:30 in the evening.

What's Included

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Insurance
• Guide services
• Overnight stay at Alp Hotel Cappadocia 4*. This cozy and beautiful hotel was built using local Cappadocian stones, perfectly capturing the region's mystical atmosphere. The hotel has a large garden and an outdoor pool. www.alphotelcappadocia.com
• Entrance ticket to the underground city of Saratlı
• Dinner at the hotel
• Breakfast at the hotel

What's Not Included

• Personal expenses (photos, souvenirs, etc.)
• Lunches (optional, 13€ each)
• Single room supplement (25€)
• Optional Cappadocian Night (40€)
• Optional entrance ticket to Göreme Open-Air Museum (25$)
• Optional round-trip transfer to the balloon viewing platform (30€) for balloon viewing and photos
• Optional hot air balloon ride

Important Information about the Hot Air Balloon Ride!

• The approximate price for a hot air balloon ride ranges from 200€ to 250€. The exact price will be announced by the guide on the first day of the tour.
• This price is based on the current year's rates. Please note that prices for hot air balloon rides may exceed these estimates, and our agency is not responsible for such changes.
• During the two-day Cappadocia tour, we are fully responsible for the safety and well-being of our tourists!
• Therefore, we and other tour organizers in Cappadocia do not accept tourists who book a hot air balloon ride through anyone other than our guide.
• In such cases, your two-day Cappadocia tour will be canceled without reimbursement, and the agency will not provide return transfers!

What to Bring

• Camera, water
• Comfortable shoes, sunglasses
• Warm clothes
• Money for personal expenses
• Passport

Distances

• Distance from Kızılot to Cappadocia: 6 hours 10 minutes, 462 km
• Distance from Kızılagaç to Cappadocia: 6 hours 10 minutes, 461 km
• Distance from Titreyengöl to Cappadocia: 6 hours 10 minutes, 476 km
• Distance from Sorgun to Cappadocia: 6 hours 10 minutes, 474 km
• Distance from Side to Cappadocia: 6 hours 10 minutes, 477 km
• Distance from Kumköy to Cappadocia: 6 hours 15 minutes, 481 km
• Distance from Evrenseki to Cappadocia: 6 hours 15 minutes, 485 km
• Distance from Çolaklı to Cappadocia: 6 hours 15 minutes, 486 km
• Distance from Gündoğdu to Cappadocia: 6 hours 15 minutes, 490 km

Additional Information

Early Booking Discounts

• Book in advance!
• Book at least 7 days before the tour and receive a 4% discount
• Book at least 30 days before the tour and receive a 5% discount

Additional Information

• The guide reserves the right to change the tour itinerary without altering the overall program.
• Tour start and end times are approximate and may vary due to circumstances.
• Children traveling for free will not have separate seats on the bus. They will share seats with adults (sitting on laps). If you want your child to have a separate seat, please book it as a paid child seat during your reservation.

About the Sights

Cappadocia

• Cappadocia, the valley of beautiful horses, stone mushrooms, and fairy chimneys, is located in the heart of Turkey. This fascinating region attracts tourists with its unique lunar landscapes, rich history, and unanswered mysteries.
• Cappadocia is one of Turkey's main attractions, formed over 60 million years ago. Tectonic plate collisions and volcanic eruptions covered the land with thick layers of volcanic tuff. Over time, wind and rain eroded the soft tuff, creating the iconic rock formations known as "fairy chimneys". The changing landscape reminds us that nature is the best artist, creating masterpieces through natural forces.
• Cappadocia is sometimes called the cradle of Christianity. In the 1st century AD, the rock shelters provided refuge for early Christians fleeing persecution.
• During the tour, you'll visit multi-level underground cities, rock fortresses, monk homes, and churches. You'll walk through valleys with otherworldly scenery like the Rose, Red, Love, and Pigeon Valleys. Enjoy a fantastic view of the sunrise with hundreds of hot air balloons rising into the sky, or take a flight yourself.

Avanos

• Avanos, the city of potters, is located on the banks of the Kızılırmak River, also known as the Red River. The river is named for the abundant clay deposits along its banks. Avanos residents have been engaged in pottery and carpet weaving for centuries.
• Main attractions include pottery and carpet workshops, where you can participate in a master class; the ceramic museum; and the Avanos Craft Monument. Nearby, you'll find the Paşabağ Valley, famous for its rock church of St. Simeon, and the Devrent (Imagination) Valley.

Underground Cities

• The underground cities are Cappadocia's biggest mystery. Over 200 such shelters have been discovered, but only 30 have been studied. There is no consensus on who built them or when; some say the ancient Hittites, others attribute them to early Christians, while others suggest advanced unknown civilizations. Their purpose, however, was clearly protective.
• Each city could accommodate 50 families and extend many levels underground. They had ventilation systems, wells, sanitary facilities, rest areas, wine cellars, storerooms, stables, schools, and churches. People could live underground for up to three months without needing to surface.
• The most famous and largest cities are Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Özkonak, and Saratlı. You will visit Saratlı, discovered by archaeologists by chance in 1991. Excavations have been ongoing for 30 years, with seven levels cleared and the first three open to tourists.

Göreme Museum

• The Göreme Museum is a national park and open-air museum complex, part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Covering 9,600 hectares, it includes about 10 rock-cut monasteries dating from the 9th to 12th centuries AD, open for visitors. It is believed there were around 400 churches in ancient times, with ancient frescoes and paintings depicting saints and significant events in Christian history.
• You'll visit the Apple, Snake, Dark, St. Barbara, St. Catherine churches, St. Basil's chapel, the Buckle Church (the largest), and the Sandal Church.
• Learn about the lives of prominent Cappadocians like Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus from your guide. These saints lived in Cappadocia in the 4th century, encouraging the creation of monasteries and churches.
• Common frescoes in Cappadocian churches include:
• Prayer
• Journey to Bethlehem
• Nativity
• Adoration of the Magi
• Flight to Egypt
• Baptism
• Resurrection of Lazarus
• Transfiguration
• Entry into Jerusalem
• Last Supper
• Betrayal and Crucifixion

Hot Air Balloons in Cappadocia

• Hot air balloons are a true symbol of Cappadocia. With the first rays of the sun, up to 200 colorful balloons rise into the sky, carrying 2 to 35 passengers each. The hour-long flight offers breathtaking views of the region's stunning landscapes.
• Flights are available year-round, weather permitting. The Turkish Civil Aviation Authority grants flight permits, and pilots must be trained and certified. The best time to fly is from April to October.
• Another mesmerizing sight is the balloon parade, which you can enjoy from any viewing platform and take stunning photos.

Konya

• Konya, with a population of over 2 million, is Turkey's largest city by area. Founded during Byzantine times as "Iconium", it became the capital of the Seljuk Empire in the 13th century and was renamed Konya. Today, it is a major industrial center.

Average Daytime Temperatures in Cappadocia

• January: +4°C
• February: +5°C
• March: +10°C
• April: +15°C
• May: +20°C
• June: +24°C
• July: +28°C
• August: +28°C
• September: +24°C
• October: +18°C
• November: +11°C
• December: +6°C