5 Day Tour of Magical Cappadocia and the South East of Turkey

Fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia, and upon arrival, you will be met at the airport just outside the arrival’s gate and transfer to Cappadocia. 



Tour the Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most fascinating underground settlements in Cappadocia then drive to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos ) which is newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses and Archaeological excavation site.

Villages in the valleys are surrounded by the “tabletop” mountains which are spectacular.

Continue to the Keslik Monastery close to Cemil, that hides its frescoes behind a thin smoke layer which you can only see by torchlight.

Visit Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; outstanding examples of late Greek settlements and architecture.

Visit Saruhan Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travellers would rest and recover from their day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of information, commerce and people across a network of trade routes of North Africa, Asia, and South-Eastern Europe on the legendary Silk Road and the Spice Road.

Continue with the panorama of the Red Valley, with its fabulous volcanic rock formations and is in the heart of Cappadocia but still away from the tourist crowd.

Early in the morning, you have the option to take a once in a lifetime hot air balloon to have some magnificent views of Cappadocia (extra charge).

Meet at the hotel reception after breakfast, then have your first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia with some rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley, walk-in Pasabag near Zelve and wonder at the “fairy chimneys” where the sound of the wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”.

Lunch in Avanos which has been the centre of terra cotta work of art since around 3000 BC and you will get a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop.

In the afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum and see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings (10th to 13th century).

Continue to Uchisar Rock-Castle to have a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia.

Depart from your hotel in Cappadocia in the morning and 

drive to Karatay Caravanserai and visit the caravanserai.

On the way to Kahta (Nemrut) stop at Kahramanmaras for lunch and a taste of its famous ice cream.

Arrive at the hotel in Kahta city and the rest of the 
evening at your leisure.

Hike to the summit of Mount Nemrut (one of the most popular UNESCO world cultural heritage sites) and watch the sunset, be in awe of the colossal heads and the statues of ancient deities, as you take a step into mythology. This magnificent landmark sits at an elevation of 8000 ft.

The mountain top complex is made up of two flat areas that are strewn with statues and are separated by a false peak of crushed rock. Antiochus constructed the entire complex around 2000 years ago as a dedication to his divine ancestry.

Also, you should take time to visit the old castle, Arsemeia, cross over the still functioning Cendere Bridge (Septimius Severus bridge) dating back to the 3rd century and Tumulus Tomb of Karakus.

Then drive back to your hotel for breakfast before driving to Urfa on the way visit Ataturk dam, a modern-day wonder. You will also see Gobekli Tepe which is a hilltop sanctuary that is erected on the highest point of a mountain ridge around 15 km northeast of the town of Sanlıurfa.

After breakfast, check-out from your hotel and drive to Sanliurfa which has been occupied since the Babylonians were followed by the Hurrites, Hittites, Assyrians and Greeks.

Today we will visit Urfa Archaeological Museum that exhibits a vast collection, founded from Harran and Gobekli Tepe Area. We will also see the holy sites at the Ainzelha, which is a lake that has millions of domesticated fish.

We will also visit the cave where the prophet Abraham was born then, walk through the local, covered bazaar of Sanliurfa.

Drive to Gaziantep where we will visit the Gaziantep Zeugma Museum with a collection of magnificent mosaics t from the ancient site of Zeugma (Belkis). This museum has also become one of the most extensive mosaic museums in the world.

Transfer to Gaziantep airport and take an evening flight back to Istanbul.