CAPPADOCIA THREE DAYS FROM SIDE

• Exploring Cappadocia is a unique chance to witness the breathtaking beauty and mysteries of one of Turkey's most enigmatic regions. You'll be captivated by the stunning lunar landscapes formed by volcanic tuff and basalt, and you'll get to visit underground cities and monasteries where early Christians sought refuge from persecution. At the Göreme Museum, you'll dive deep into the rich history and cultural heritage of Cappadocia. A hot air balloon ride over these mesmerizing landscapes is bound to be one of the highlights of your trip. Embark on this exciting journey and discover the wonders 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 Itinerary

Day 1

• Pick-up from hotels in various regions between 03:00 - 04:00 (The exact pick-up time will be added to your electronic ticket upon booking confirmation.)
• Breakfast stop
• Visit to the "Mevlana Museum" in the city of Konya
• Lunch in Konya
• Visit to the underground city of Saratlı
• Arrival in Cappadocia
• Hotel check-in
• Dinner
• Optional visit to the Dervish ceremony "Sema" or enjoy a city panorama at sunset.

Day 2

• Hot air balloon ride or balloon parade (optional)
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Visit to the Fantasy Valley and Monks Valley
• Visit to the rock city of Çavuşin and the Church of St. John
• Visit to a pottery workshop in Avanos
• Lunch break
• Visit to Love Valley
• Visit to the open-air museum of Göreme
• Visit to Uçhisar
• Stop at a leather goods store
• Dinner at the hotel
• Optional visit to the Turkish Night show in Cappadocia.

Day 3

• Hot air balloon ride or balloon parade (optional)
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Stops at the Three Beauties (Üçgüzeller) and Ortahisar fortress
• Visit to the Anatolian Stone Center
• Pigeon Valley stop for a panoramic view
• Departure from Cappadocia
• Stop at the Caravanserai
• Lunch with traditional dishes in Konya
• Return to hotels between 18:30 - 19:30

Tour Details

• The tour starts at 03:00 - 04:00 AM. We will pick you up at the security gate of your hotel and head towards Cappadocia. The average distance from the resorts of the Antalya coast, such as Antalya, Alanya, Belek, Kemer, and Side, to Cappadocia is 500 km. The journey will be enlivened by interesting stories from the guide, scenic views from the bus window, and colorful places you will pass by.
• Day 1.
• The first day of our 3-day Cappadocia tour begins with a breakfast stop at a café.
• After breakfast, the bus will take you to the city of Konya. Here you will visit the "Mevlana Museum". The guide's story about the life and work of the great Persian poet, along with the exhibits and the museum complex itself, which is located in the former dervish lodges, will be of great interest. These premises were built in the 14th-15th centuries, and their exterior and interior have been preserved in their original form to this day.
• In Konya, you will have a lunch break at a restaurant.
• After a hearty lunch, your excursion will continue. You will visit the unique place - the underground city of Saratlı. Three of its seven levels are accessible to tourists. The guide will explain when and why people built such shelters and show the most interesting places.
• The next stop will be Cappadocia itself. Here you will first check into the hotel and have dinner.
• If you wish, you can also attend the Dervish ceremony "Sema" and watch their ritual dance or go to the observation deck and enjoy the city's panorama at sunset.
• Day 2.
• The second day of the 3-day Cappadocia tour starts with the most exciting part – a hot air balloon ride. Early in the morning, a transfer will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the launch site.
• The flight lasts 1 hour. You will float in the sky in a large basket, admire the picturesque landscapes of Cappadocia, and watch the sunrise.
• After the flight, you will return to the hotel for breakfast, which is included in the cost, and then continue your excursion.
• On this day, you will visit the amazing valleys: Fantasy and Monks, as well as the rock city of Çavuşin and the Church of St. John.
• The beautiful valleys are close to the pottery town of Avanos. We will visit one of the pottery workshops so that you can see the manufacturing process and, if you wish, buy wonderful souvenirs.
• In Avanos, you will have a lunch break, after which you will visit Love Valley and the Uçhisar fortress, which is near Göreme - the largest open-air historical and archaeological museum complex in Turkey. Here, the guide will provide interesting facts about this place and give you free time to explore and take beautiful photos.
• On the way to the hotel, you will stop at a leather goods store, where you can buy high-quality and beautiful items.
• At the hotel, a delicious dinner awaits you. After dinner, you can either rest after a busy day or, if you have the energy, visit the Turkish Night show in Cappadocia.
• Day 3.
• Your third day can start with a spectacular view – a balloon parade at dawn. You can have a fantastic photo session against this backdrop.
• Then you will return to the hotel for breakfast, after which the excursion will continue with visits to several fortresses in Göreme: the Three Beauties (Üçgüzeller) and Ortahisar.
• Visit the Anatolian Stone Center and make a stop at Pigeon Valley to take photos and enjoy the panoramic view.
• After that, you will leave Cappadocia.
• One more place you will visit is the Caravanserai – formerly a resting place for traders and travelers, now for tourists wanting to rest a bit before heading back to their hotels. Here, you can also have lunch.
• The transfer will bring you back to your hotel around 18:30-19:30 in the evening.

Included in the Price

• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Air-conditioned bus
• Insurance
• Guide services
• Dinner on the first day at the hotel
• Dinner on the second day at the hotel
• Breakfast on the second day at the hotel
• Breakfast on the third day at the hotel
• Accommodation on the first night at a hotel in Cappadocia (Taşkın Hotel)
• Accommodation on the second night at a hotel in Cappadocia (Taşkın Hotel)
• Taşkın Hotel photos and reviews

Not Included in the Price

• Personal expenses (photos, souvenirs, etc.)
• Any drinks during the excursion
• Entrance tickets to museums
• Cappadocia Night Show (30$, optional)
• Attendance at the Dervish ritual dance "Sema"
• Visit to the observation deck during the balloon parade at dawn
• Lunches (10$ each)
• Hot air balloon ride (optional)
• Single room supplement (25€ per night)

Important Information About the Hot Air Balloon Flight!

• The approximate price of the hot air balloon flight ranges from 200€ to 250€. The exact price will be given by the guide on the first day of the tour.
• This price is based on the current year's rates. Note that balloon prices may exceed the quoted prices. In such cases, our agency does not assume responsibility.
• During the 2-day Cappadocia tour, we are fully responsible for the safety and security of our tourists!
• Therefore, we and other organizers of the Cappadocia tour do not accept tourists who book a balloon flight elsewhere other than through our guide.
• In case such a situation arises during the 2-day Cappadocia tour, your tour will be canceled without reimbursement, and the agency will no longer be responsible for providing return transfers!

What to Bring

• Camera, water
• Comfortable shoes, sunglasses
• Warm clothing
• Money for personal expenses
• Passport
• Order a lunch box (packed meal) the day before the excursion at the reception

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

Watch the Tour Video

Additional Information

Early Booking Discounts

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

Additional Information

• The guide reserves the right to change the order of the tour without changing the overall program.
• Children traveling for free do not have separate seats on the bus. Children share seats with adults (sit on laps). If you want your child to have a separate seat on the bus, book it as a paying child during the tour reservation.

About the Attractions

CAPADOCCIA

• Cappadocia – the valley of beautiful horses, stone mushrooms, and fairy chimneys. This remarkable region in the heart of Turkey attracts tourists with its unique lunar landscapes, rich history, and enigmatic mysteries.
• Cappadocia is one of Turkey's most significant landmarks, formed over 60 million years ago. The collisions and fractures of tectonic plates, followed by volcanic eruptions, covered the entire surface with a thick layer of volcanic tuff. Over time, wind and rain sculpted these rocks into peculiar stone pillars, mountains, valleys, and canyons. These natural formations are often called "mushroom rocks," and the locals refer to them as "fairy chimneys." The "stem" of the mushroom is tuff, while the "cap" is basalt, which erodes slower, constantly reshaping the Cappadocian landscape, proving that nature is the best artist.
• Cappadocia is sometimes called the cradle of Christianity because, in the 1st century AD, early Christians found shelter and protection in its rock-hewn caves.
• During the tour, you will explore multi-level underground cities, rock fortresses, monks' homes, and churches. You'll stroll through valleys with otherworldly landscapes: Rose, Red, Love, and Pigeon. And at dawn, you can enjoy the fantastic sight of hundreds of hot air balloons rising into the sky, or even experience the flight yourself.

Mevlana Museum

• Jalal ad-Din Rumi, the spiritual leader of the dervishes and a Persian Sufi poet, lived in the 11th century in Konya, then the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate. His followers called him "Mevlana," meaning "our master" in Arabic. Rumi's poetry remains widely popular today.
• After Mevlana's death, his son Sultan Veled founded the Mevlevi Sufi order.
• The Mevlana Museum complex is located in the former dervish lodges. Many buildings were constructed in the 14th-15th centuries, and their exterior and interior have remained almost unchanged.
• The city's iconic structure is the conical dome of the mausoleum, covered with emerald tiles. Inside, the walls are luxuriously decorated with ornaments and inscriptions, and at the center, beneath the dome, is the sarcophagus of Mevlana and his elder son. The tombs are draped with expensive brocade, embroidered with Quranic quotes in gold thread, and dervish turbans are placed at the head. Also buried here are Mevlana's father, wife, children, and notable figures of the order and sheikhs.
• Other rooms house exhibits about the lives and customs of the dervishes, cells of the order members. The courtyard features fountains from the 15th-16th centuries and dervishes' graves.

City of Avanos

• Avanos, the city of potters, lies on the banks of the longest river in Turkey, the Kızılırmak, or Red River. It got its name from the abundant clay deposits along its banks. The residents of Avanos have long been engaged in pottery and carpet weaving.
• The city's main attractions are its pottery and carpet weaving workshops, where anyone can participate in a master class; the ceramic museum; and the monument to the crafts of Avanos. Near the city is the Paşabağ Valley, known for its rock church of St. Simeon, and the Dervent (Fantasy) Valley.

Underground Cities

• Underground cities are Cappadocia's greatest mystery. There are over 200 such hidden shelters known today, of which only 30 have been explored. There is no consensus on who and when exactly built them; some say they were created by ancient Hittites, others attribute them to the early Christian period, and some even speak of unknown advanced civilizations. The only agreed-upon fact is their defensive purpose.
• Each city was designed for 50 families and extends several stories underground. Everything was meticulously planned: ventilation systems, wells, sanitation facilities, rest rooms, wine cellars, storerooms, barns, stables, rooms for other livestock, schools, churches. People could live in these shelters for up to 3 months without needing to go outside.
• The largest and most famous settlements are Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Özkonak, and Saratlı. You will visit Saratlı, accidentally discovered by archaeologists in 1991. Archaeological work has been ongoing here for 30 years. Currently, seven floors have been cleared, and the first three levels are open to tourists.

Göreme Museum

• Göreme Museum is a national park and an open-air museum complex listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Covering 9600 hectares, it includes around 10 rock-cut monasteries dating from the 9th to 12th centuries, open to visitors. It is believed that in ancient times there were about 400 churches. The walls of these churches are adorned with ancient frescoes depicting holy figures or significant events in Christian history.
• During the tour, you will visit the Apple, Snake, Dark Churches, the Church of St. Barbara and St. Catherine, the Chapel of St. Basil, the Church with a buckle (considered the largest), and the Church with sandals.
• From the guide's stories, you will learn interesting and educational information about the lives of great Cappadocians: Basil the Great (of Caesarea), Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus (theologian). These saints lived in Cappadocia in the 4th century and encouraged the creation of monastic complexes and churches here.
• The most common frescoes you can see on the walls of Cappadocia's churches include:
• Prayer
• The journey to Bethlehem
• Nativity
• Adoration of the Magi
• The 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 rightfully recognized as a symbol of Cappadocia. At the first light of dawn, up to 200 colorful dirigibles rise into the sky, each carrying between 2 and 35 passengers. For about an hour, you'll float in the air, rising and falling to better view all the sights and admire the surreal beauty.
• Flights operate year-round, weather permitting, without strong winds or precipitation. Permission is granted by the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority, and the pilot must undergo training and hold a relevant certificate. The best time is considered to be from April to October.
• Another captivating sight is the balloon parade, which you can enjoy from any observation deck and take stunning photos.

Dervish Ritual Dance "Sema"

• Dervishes achieve unity with God through their ecstatic dance, spinning on one spot around their axis. The dance, called "sema," is performed in a hall called "semâhane" and consists of three parts. The first part symbolizes seeing God, the second – knowing God, and the third – unity with God. Dervishes feel themselves to be between heaven and earth, neither in the world of the living nor the dead.
• Dervishes begin their dance with their arms crossed on their chest – the posture of the deceased. Then they unfold, raising the right hand upwards and lowering the left hand downwards, symbolizing that the dervish takes divine grace from the heavens and channels it through himself.
• Each item of their clothing symbolizes something. The white color represents death, the shroud – the clothing of the deceased. The black cloak, which they shed after three spins, symbolizes burial. The soul thus ascends and frees itself from its grave. The felt hat symbolizes the tombstone.

Konya

• Konya, with a population of over 2 million, is the largest city by area in Turkey. Konya was founded in Byzantine times and was known as "Iconium" – "the city where icons are made." In the 13th century, it became the capital of the Seljuk Empire. The Seljuks renamed it Konya. Today, it is a major industrial center.

Average Daytime Temperature in Cappadocia

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