2 DAYS CAPPADOCIA FROM ISTANBUL BY BUS

Overview

Travel to Cappadocia, Turkey's famed lunar-like landscape, on a two-day excursion from Istanbul. Explore the following UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Devrent imagination valley (a lunar landscape), Pasabaglari (Fairy chimneys), Avanos (pottery demonstration using Hittite technique), Pigeon valley, Uchisar rock-castle, Esentepe (panoramic view of Goreme valley), Goreme open air museum (rock cut churches, frescos, monastery), and Kaymakli underground city.

Tour Plan

Day 1

In the evening you will have a transfer from our High Hill Travel Istanbul Office to the local bus terminal where you will take a 10-12 hours overnight intercity bus to Cappadocia. When you arrive to Goreme, you will be greeted by a High Hill Travel representative and transfered to our Cappadocia Office where you will start to the full day North Cappadocia tour.We will drive to the Uchisar Rock Fortress viewpoint and learn about the massive honeycombed towers that rise above Cappadocia like a crown. We leave Uchisar and drive to the scenic village of Urgup, a town consisting entirely of stone houses set in the hillside and lining the narrow winding streets.

Next we move to North to an intriguing collection of rock formations that seem to have been carved by an eccentric artist rather than by nature itself. Devrent Valley consists of many fairy chimneys that have eroded to form the shapes of animals, a whale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Also known as “imagination valley” let your mind wander and marvel in the strange and amazing shapes created by wind and rain. Avanos, a small riverside hamlet situated on the Kizilirmak or Red River is our next destination. This area has been the home of rich artisan communities with pottery production that goes back centuries. Like most of Cappadocia, visiting Avanos is like stepping back in time. The town sits on dozens of underground complexes and has a long history with the Kizilirmak River. Alexander the Great crossed this river to fight the Persians and the Romans built the picturesque city of Vanessa here. With an amazing collection of galleries and artists you will learn about the tradition of pottery and you might even be able to try your hand at creating a piece yourself!

Our final highlight of the day is a visit to the famous Goreme Open Air Museum. This site is an absolute ‘must see’ when visiting Cappadocia. The exceptionally well preserved churches here originate from before and after the iconoclastic period, rich with wonderful vibrant frescoes and carvings of the life of Christ and his disciples. This is the last stop of our tour today and we will transfer you to your hotel around 18:00 p.m. You have the rest of the evening to explore or simply relax for your overnight stay in Goreme.

Day 2

We will pick you up from your hotel with your luggage after breakfast and start our full day tour of South Cappadocia. Pigeon Valley, Kaymaklı ancient multi-level underground city which is 5 floors and extending to a depth of approximately 40 m. Then head off to the Red Valley, this beautiful valley gets its name from the rose-colored rock. Here we will hike for 2 hours to see the beauty of the valley with several rock-cut underground dwellings and churches from the Byzantine period.

At the end of the tour we will transfer you to our local office where you will have some free time to explore by yourself. In the evening we will transfer you to the local bus terminal for your 10-12 hours intercity bus back to Istanbul. When you arrive to Istanbul bus terminal, you can use the shuttle service to return to Sultanahmet area.

Additional information

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking

• Not wheelchair accessible

• Near public transportation

• Most travelers can participate

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  Not wheelchair accessible
  Near public transportation
  Most travelers can participate
  This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelersConfirmation will be received at time of booking
  Not wheelchair accessible
  Near public transportation
  Most travelers can participate
  This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelersConfirmation will be received at time of booking
  Not wheelchair accessible
  Near public transportation
  Most travelers can participate
  This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelersConfirmation will be received at time of booking
  Not wheelchair accessible
  Near public transportation
  Most travelers can participate
  This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelersThis tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Included

• 1 Overnight accommodation

• Lunch x2

• National Park fees

• Local guide

• Air-conditioned vehicle

• Entry/Admission - Goreme Open-Air Museum

• Entry/Admission - Uchisar Castle

• Entry/Admission - Kaymakli Underground City

Excluded

• Drinks

• Gratuities