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3-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul (Group)Red, South & Green

Istanbul ✈ Cappadocia (2 nights) ✈ Istanbul · flights included

From €459 pp

€918 for 2 travellers

Flights, hotel & guided days included

Reserve with a 40% deposit by card: €367.20 for 2

Cancellation charges from 25% · Free date change up to 21 days before · Full schedule

  • 3 days · 2 nightsRed, South & Green

  • 2 flights includedIstanbul ⇄ Cappadocia

  • Cave hotel2 nights · breakfast

  • Shared groupEnglish-speaking guide

Next available: Wed 4 Nov · WhatsApp reply in ~1 h

Overview

Fly from Istanbul for a 3-day group tour covering Cappadocia’s Red, South and Green routes. Visit Devrent, Paşabağ, Avanos, Zelve, Çavuşin, Özkonak, Ihlara Valley, Kaymaklı and Selime, with domestic flights and hotel nights included.

Highlights

  • Walk among the capped chimneys at Paşabağ
  • Visit Avanos and Zelve Open-Air Museum
  • Explore Çavuşin and Özkonak Underground City
  • Stop at Ortahisar Castle
  • Walk through Ihlara Valley and visit Selime

Itinerary

3 days · Istanbul ✈ Cappadocia (2 nights) ✈ Istanbul

  1. Day 1Morning flight from Istanbul, Red Tour on landingDevrent (Imagination) Valley · Paşabağ (Monks Valley) · Avanos pottery workshop
    Your driver collects you from your Istanbul hotel in the early hours (the exact time comes with your booking confirmation) for the morning flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir. The shared Red Tour meets the flight at arrivals and heads straight into the valleys north of Göreme, so travel in walking shoes. Through the day you see the rock shapes of Devrent, the capped chimneys of Paşabağ, a potter at work in Avanos and the abandoned cave village of Zelve. Two craft workshops are part of the route. You check in at your cave hotel when the tour finishes in the late afternoon.

    1. Istanbul hotel pickup

      A driver takes you from the hotel lobby to the airport for the early domestic flight. Pack a small day bag to keep with you on the tour.

    2. Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir flight

      Economy seat with checked bag as per the fare, roughly an hour and a half in the air. Landing at Kayseri on a clear day, look for the volcanic cone of Mount Erciyes south of the city.

    3. Devrent (Imagination) Valley

      Time here: about 30 min

      No churches or caves here, only pinkish tuff worn into forms that people read as a camel, a seal or a praying figure. A short, level photo stop.

    4. Paşabağ (Monks Valley)

      Time here: about 45 min

      Chimneys with two and three caps stand close together; one of them holds a chapel and hermit cell linked to St Simeon. Your ticket here also covers Zelve.

    5. Avanos pottery workshop

      Time here: 30–45 min

      A potter shapes red Kızılırmak river clay on a foot-driven kick wheel, a craft with roots in the Hittite period. Pieces are for sale, with no obligation to buy.

    6. Buffet lunch in Avanos

      Open buffet at a local restaurant with hot dishes, salads and desserts. Drinks are paid separately.

    7. Carpet Weaving Education Center (about 30–45 min)

      Weavers demonstrate the Turkish double knot and show how silk is reeled from cocoons and dyed with plants, over a glass of tea. Carpets are on sale; no obligation to buy.

    8. Zelve Open-Air Museum

      Time here: about 1 hr

      Three valleys of cave houses, chapels and a small rock-cut mosque, lived in until the 1950s, when erosion pushed families to nearby Aktepe.

      Tip: Paths are uneven and partly stepped.

    9. Check-in at your cave hotel

      Drop-off at your Cappadocia hotel after the tour; the evening is yours.

    Shared air-conditioned minibus with a licensed guide

    Meals: LunchOvernight: Cappadocia — Celestial Cave Hotel or similar

  2. Day 2South Tour: Çavuşin, Özkonak and OrtahisarOld Çavuşin village and Red Valley viewpoint · Özkonak Underground City · Onyx workshop (about 30–45 min)
    The shared South Tour collects you between 09:30 and 10:20, depending on the part of Cappadocia you are staying in; the exact time is sent the evening before. Expect about 3 km of walking in total, most of it on the climb through old Çavuşin. Below ground you explore Özkonak, a quieter underground city north of Avanos, and later the route turns to viewpoints over Ortahisar castle and Pigeon Valley. Onyx and leather workshops are on the way. The day lasts about 8 hours and ends back at your hotel.

    1. Old Çavuşin village and Red Valley viewpoint

      Time here: 30–45 min walk

      From the modern village you climb to the abandoned cliff settlement and the Church of St John the Baptist, one of the early churches of the region, then look out over Red Valley.

      Tip: Some steps are steep and rough.

    2. Özkonak Underground City

      Time here: about 45 min

      Found in 1972 when a farmer wondered where his irrigation water was draining, it has ten levels, four of them open. Look for the narrow holes between floors used for calling out, and the openings above the tunnels once used against intruders.

    3. Buffet lunch

      An open buffet at a restaurant on the route; soft drinks and tea cost extra.

    4. Onyx workshop (about 30–45 min)

      Craftsmen cut and polish the translucent stone into bowls, lamps and jewelry before you see the showroom, with no obligation to buy.

    5. Ortahisar castle and Pigeon Valley viewpoints

      Time here: about 30 min

      Ortahisar rock castle rises over a village whose caves still store citrus and potatoes; Pigeon Valley shows dovecotes carved to collect droppings for the vineyards. Traffic may change which viewpoint comes first.

    6. Leather workshop (about 30–45 min)

      A short presentation of Turkish leather jackets and bags. Browse only if you like; no obligation to buy.

    7. Back to your hotel

      Drop-off in the late afternoon for your second night in Cappadocia.

    Shared air-conditioned minibus with a licensed guide

    Meals: Breakfast, lunchOvernight: Cappadocia — Celestial Cave Hotel or similar

  3. Day 3Green Tour, Ihlara Valley and evening flight to IstanbulGöreme panorama at Esentepe · Kaymaklı Underground City · Ihlara Valley walk
    Check out before the morning pickup (09:30–10:20, time confirmed the day before); your guide explains how luggage travels on this last day. The shared Green Tour is the longest of the three, about 9 hours with roughly 2¾ hours on the road toward Aksaray and the volcano Hasan Dağı. You go down into Kaymaklı Underground City, walk the Ihlara canyon to a riverside lunch at Belisırma and climb into Selime Monastery. After onyx and leather workshop stops you are driven to the airport for the evening flight; the package ends on arrival in Istanbul.

    1. Göreme panorama at Esentepe

      Time here: about 15 min

      A hilltop look over Göreme town and its valleys before the drive south.

    2. Kaymaklı Underground City

      Time here: about 45 min

      Four levels are open to visitors: stables, a chapel, wine presses and round stone doors that were rolled across passages from inside.

      Tip: Low, narrow tunnels; not suitable if you are claustrophobic.

    3. Ihlara Valley walk

      Time here: about 2 hr

      Nearly 400 steps lead down into the canyon cut by the Melendiz stream; the path then follows the water past cliff churches with painted interiors toward Belisırma, about 3.5–4 km.

    4. Riverside lunch in Belisırma

      Lunch at a restaurant beside the Melendiz, the natural break at the end of the walk. Drinks are extra.

    5. Selime Monastery

      Time here: about 45 min

      Often described as Cappadocia's largest rock-cut monastery, with a church the size of a cathedral, a kitchen with a soot-blackened chimney and stables. Entry is included at no extra fee.

    6. Onyx workshop (about 30–45 min)

      See raw onyx sliced and polished until light passes through it. The shop is open to browse, with no obligation to buy.

    7. Leather workshop (about 30–45 min)

      Jackets and bags made from soft Turkish leather are shown before a sales room. There is no obligation to buy.

    8. Transfer to Cappadocia airport

      Group departure transfers are planned for flights leaving around 20:00.

    9. Evening flight to Istanbul

      Economy flight back to Istanbul, where the package ends at the airport. A private ride to your hotel can be booked on our airport transfers page.

    Shared air-conditioned minibus, airport transfer and domestic flight

    Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Download the day-by-day PDF

Flights and hotel

Flights

  • Istanbul → Cappadocia · day 1
  • Cappadocia → Istanbul · day 3

Economy class, checked bag as per the ticket fare. Have your own flights? Remove them when you book — the price updates.

Hotel

  • 2 nights in Cappadocia: Celestial Cave Hotel or similar, double room with breakfast

Pickup and route

Route of 3-Day Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul (Group) — Red, South & Green1Istanbul Old City2Cappadocia3Ihlara Valley
Route map is schematic — exact pickup and meeting points are in your confirmation.

What's included

Included

  • Licensed English-speaking guide
  • Air-conditioned sightseeing transport, Istanbul hotel pickup to the airport, and Cappadocia airport arrival and departure transfers
  • Entrance tickets: Paşabağ and Zelve (one ticket), Özkonak Underground City, Ihlara Valley and Selime, Kaymaklı Underground City
  • Lunch on days 1–3 in Cappadocia
  • 2 nights in Cappadocia: Celestial Cave Hotel or similar, double room with breakfast
  • Flight Istanbul → Cappadocia on day 1 (economy class; checked bag as per the ticket fare)
  • Flight Cappadocia → Istanbul on day 3 (economy class; checked bag as per the ticket fare)

Not included

  • Tips (optional)
  • Personal purchases
  • Drinks with meals
  • Dinner

Optional extras

  • Hotel nights (2 nights)
  • Domestic flights

Good to know

Workshop stops: a carpet weaving centre, a leather workshop, an onyx workshop and a pottery workshop. Part of the programme, no obligation to buy.

Where you'll stay

Cappadocia

Celestial Cave hotel or similar

Before you go

  • Domestic flights are economy class. Your baggage allowance follows the ticket fare, and we confirm it with your tickets.
  • Travel with the passport you booked with: airlines check the name on the ticket against it.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes: the valleys and rock-cut sites have uneven ground and steps, and the underground city has low, narrow passages.
  • Bring a hat and sunscreen in summer and a warm layer in spring, autumn and winter: mornings in Cappadocia are cool, and the underground city stays cool all year.
  • Vegetarian, vegan or other dietary needs at lunch: tell us when you book and we let the restaurant know.
  • Mobility needs or travelling with small children? Tell us before you book, and we tell you honestly which parts of the day suit you.
  • We send your final programme, hotel names and pickup times before departure, and you can reach us on WhatsApp during the trip.

Payment and cancellation

Today
€367.20 deposit by card (3-D Secure), for 2 travellers.
On arrival
€504.90 in cash, in euros, with the 5% cash saving on the total already taken off.
  • 91 days or more: The 25% administrative fee is charged. 61–90 days: 55% of the total is charged (30% + the 25% administrative fee). 31–60 days: 65% of the total is charged (40% + the 25% administrative fee). 16–30 days: 95% of the total is charged (70% + the 25% administrative fee). 15 days or less or no-show: 100% of the total is charged. Charges are percentages of the total booking value and include the 25% administrative fee retained on every cancellation; non-refundable flight, hotel or entrance tickets already bought are added, up to 100% of the total. Your deposit is applied to the charge: if the charge is higher than your deposit, you pay us the difference; anything we hold above the charge is refunded within 14 days.
  • If a hotel in your package is booked on a non-refundable rate, we tell you before you pay and that night's cost is retained on cancellation.
  • Request cancellation in writing, by email or WhatsApp; the cancellation date is the day we receive your message. Refunds go back the way you paid, within 14 days: card payments to the same card. Shore excursions are paid on the day, so nothing is collected in advance.
  • If unavoidable extraordinary circumstances at the destination make the trip impossible, you receive a full refund, less any mandatory taxes and genuinely non-refundable third-party payments, itemised for you.
  • Date changes are free when requested at least 72 hours before a day tour, 24 hours before a shore excursion, or 21 days before a package or a day trip by plane, subject to availability. For these, a date change 14–20 days before departure costs €50 per booking; under 14 days it depends on availability, and any airline or hotel change fees are charged at cost. Name changes (passing your booking to someone else at least 7 days before departure) are free except for any airline name-change fee, charged at cost.
  • If TurkeyVia cancels, including because the minimum group size is not met, you can choose a full refund or an alternative.

If we can’t book your flights or hotel for your dates, that counts as our cancellation: a full refund to your card within 14 days, or another date if you prefer.

Full cancellation policy

Your contract is with İlke Seyahat Turizm Ticaret Gıda Orman Ürünleri Gemi Acenteliği İthalat İhracat Sanayi Limited Şirketi, Turgut Ozal Bulvari 67/1, Kusadasi, Aydin 09400, Turkey — the company behind TurkeyVia. Terms

Frequently asked questions

What time does the 3-day Cappadocia group tour leave Istanbul?

A driver collects you from your Istanbul hotel lobby in the early morning for the first flight to Cappadocia. The exact pickup time is sent with your booking confirmation and depends on the flight.

Can I join the 3-day Red, South & Green tour with my own flights?

Yes. Remove the domestic flights when booking and arrange flights that land at Kayseri around 08:00 and leave around 20:00, so you can meet the group at the airport. If you also need a ride in Istanbul, see our private airport transfers.

Which of the three Cappadocia days is the hardest?

The Green Tour on day 3. It lasts about 9 hours, includes a canyon walk of about 3.5–4 km plus nearly 400 steps, and goes through low tunnels in Kaymaklı Underground City. The Red and South days involve about 2.5–3 km of easier walking.

Which workshops are included on this three-day group tour?

Day 1 has the Avanos pottery workshop and the Carpet Weaving Education Center; days 2 and 3 have onyx and leather workshops. Each takes about 30–45 minutes, and there is no obligation to buy anything.

Where does the 3-day Cappadocia package end?

At Istanbul airport after the evening flight on day 3. Hotel transfers in Istanbul on arrival are not included, but you can book a private one on our airport transfers page.

Is a hot-air balloon flight part of this Cappadocia package?

No. Balloon flights are not part of the tour and TurkeyVia does not sell them.

  • Your guided days are run by our own local team
  • On WhatsApp within about 1 hour, 09:00–18:00 Turkey time
  • Download the day-by-day PDF
  • Sold by İlke Seyahat Turizm Ticaret Gıda Orman Ürünleri Gemi Acenteliği İthalat İhracat Sanayi Limited Şirketi

Next available: Wed 4 Nov · WhatsApp reply in ~1 h

Planning guide

Page updated

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Questions before you book? Message us on WhatsApp.

Tell us your dates, your ship or the tour you like. We reply on WhatsApp within about 1 hour, 09:00–18:00 Turkey time, and in the evening whenever we can.

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