5-day Cappadocia ATV riding with balloon and ancient sites

Ride ATVs across Cappadocia's otherworldly valleys, then watch them from the air

A 5-day tour combining ATV riding through Cappadocia's rock formations with a sunrise hot air balloon flight, guided visits to Pamukkale's thermal pools, the ancient cities of Ephesus and Priene, and the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open-Air Museum. Includes hotel pickup, domestic flights between Istanbul and Cappadocia, lunch on guided days, and accommodation at your choice of hotel category.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Tour to Pamukkale and Kusadasi

• Transfer from hotel to airport
• Flight from Istanbul to Denizli
• Meet tour guide at Denizli airport
• Visit Pamukkale Natural Park
• Explore Hierapolis Ancient City
• Free time to swim at thermal pools
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit traditional handcraft workshop
• Visit ancient city of Laodicea
• Transfer to hotel in Kusadasi

Day 2: Tour to Didyma, Miletus and Priene

• Breakfast at hotel
• Pick up for full-day tour
• Visit Didyma Apollo Temple
• Visit ancient city of Miletus
• Lunch at local seafood restaurant
• Visit Doganbey old village
• Visit Priene Ancient City
• Return to hotel in Kusadasi

Day 3: Tour to Ephesus and Virgin Mary House

• Breakfast at hotel
• Pick up for full-day tour
• Visit Ephesus Ancient City
• Visit Ephesus Experience Museum
• Stop at Terrace Houses viewpoint
• Lunch at traditional Turkish restaurant
• Visit House of the Virgin Mary
• Visit Temple of Artemis
• Transfer to Izmir airport
• Flight to Cappadocia
• Transfer to hotel in Cappadocia

Day 4: Hot Air Balloon and Optional Adventures

• Hot air balloon ride at sunrise
• Celebrate with champagne
• Transfer back to hotel
• Free time or optional activities

Day 5: Cappadocia Highlights and Return

• Pick up from hotel
• Visit Göreme National Park
• Tour Göreme Open-Air Museum
• Visit Tokalı Church
• Panoramic stop at Ortahisar Castle
• Visit carpet weaving cooperative
• Lunch in Avanos with Testi Kebab
• Stop for panoramic view of Uchisar Castle
• Visit Devrent Valley
• Transfer to Cappadocia airport
• Flight to Istanbul
• Transfer to hotel in Istanbul

The experience

The tour starts with a transfer from Istanbul to Denizli, then a guided day exploring Pamukkale Natural Park. You'll swim in the white travertine thermal pools and walk through the Roman ruins of Hierapolis, with lunch included. The next day takes you to the Temple of Apollo at Didyma, the ancient city of Priene, and the abandoned Greek village of Doganbey, now an open-air museum of Turkish and Greek architecture. Day three is a full-day guided tour of Ephesus, where you'll see the Celsus Library, the Grand Theater, and the House of the Virgin Mary on the Aladag Mountains, plus a stop at a traditional handcraft workshop: lunch is included again.

On day four you fly to Cappadocia and experience the signature moment: a hot air balloon ride at sunrise, ascending to 700–1,000 meters above the fairy chimneys and rock valleys, with the pilot descending as low as one meter for photos. The flight lasts about an hour, followed by champagne and a return to your hotel. The afternoon is free, though you can add optional activities like camel riding or horseback riding for an extra cost. The final day is a semi-private guided tour (maximum 10 people per group) through Cappadocia's must-see attractions: the Göreme Open-Air Museum with its Byzantine cave churches, Ortahisar Castle, Uchisar Castle, Devrent Valley with its animal-shaped rock formations, and a stop in Avanos for lunch and a pottery workshop visit. You'll then fly back to Istanbul in the evening, with a driver waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

Hotel pickup is included from your accommodation in Istanbul, Kusadasi, or Cappadocia depending on the day. A live English-speaking guide leads the semi-private tours. Domestic flights between Istanbul and Cappadocia are included, as are three lunches during the guided portions. You'll choose your hotel category when booking, and accommodation is included throughout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your accommodation.
• domestic flights between Istanbul, Denizli, and Cappadocia.
• three lunches during guided tour days.
• accommodation at your chosen hotel category.
• a live English-speaking guide on all semi-private tours.
• entry to Pamukkale Natural Park, Hierapolis, Didyma, Priene, Ephesus, Göreme Open-Air Museum, and other listed sites.
• the hot air balloon ride at sunrise with champagne.
• and transfers between airports and hotels.

Options for this experience

4 options

Silver package without balloon rideGuide in English · 08:30Accommodation: Stay in a Standard Room at Misty Cave Hotel. Hot air balloon ride: not included. Domestic flights: round-trip flights from Istanbul, OR the option to continue your journey by flying Istanbul → Cappadocia → Izmir, Bodrum or Antalya. Guided tour(s): semi-private group tours with a maximum of 10 guests. Guided tour language: English. Pickup is included.

Silver package with balloon rideGuide in English · 08:30Accommodation: Stay in a Standard Room at Misty Cave Hotel. Hot air balloon ride: included, with a refund for the balloon ride if it is cancelled due to weather. Domestic flights: round-trip flights from Istanbul, OR the option to continue your journey by flying Istanbul → Cappadocia → Izmir, Bodrum or Antalya. Guided tour(s): semi-private group tours with a maximum of 10 guests. Guided tour language: English. Pickup is included.

Gold package with balloon rideGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30Accommodation: Stay in a Superior Cave Room at Zeydem Suites Hotel. Hot air balloon ride: included, with a refund for the balloon ride if it is cancelled due to weather. Domestic flights: round-trip flights from Istanbul, OR the option to continue your journey by flying Istanbul → Cappadocia → Izmir, Bodrum or Antalya. Guided tour(s): semi-private group tours with a maximum of 10 guests. Guided tour languages: English and Spanish, with each language group having its own dedicated guide and vehicle. Pickup is included.

Diamond package with balloon rideGuide in English or Spanish · 08:30Accommodation: Stay in a Superior Cave Room at Yunak Evleri Hotel. Hot air balloon ride: included, with a refund for the balloon ride if it is cancelled due to weather. Domestic flights: round-trip flights from Istanbul, OR the option to continue your journey by flying Istanbul → Cappadocia → Izmir, Bodrum or Antalya. Guided tour(s): semi-private group tours with a maximum of 10 guests. Guided tour languages: English and Spanish, with each language group having its own dedicated guide and vehicle. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Child (under 6)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Turkey Experiences

Is this one for you?The ATV riding happens on day four afternoon as an optional add-on (not included in the base package price), so if quad biking is your main goal, confirm with the operator that it's available on your chosen booking option. The tour's pace is moderate (guided walks through ancient sites and valleys, with free time built in), but the early morning balloon ride and the full days of sightseeing mean you'll need stamina for five consecutive days of activity.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 6).

What is the Göreme Open-Air Museum like?

Göreme Open-Air Museum is a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized as one of the earliest Christian monasteries, carved into rock with fresco-covered churches and rock-hewn living spaces dating back to the 9th century. Your guide will take you through the complex, including the Tokalı Church, which is considered one of the most beautiful cave churches in Cappadocia for its outstanding frescoes.

How high does the hot air balloon go, and what will I see?

The balloon ascends to approximately 700–1,000 meters above Cappadocia's landscape. At that height you'll have a panoramic view of the fairy chimneys and rock formations. The pilot may also descend as low as one meter above the rock formations for close-up photo opportunities. The flight itself lasts around 60 minutes and takes place at sunrise.

What's included in the lunch stops during the tour?

Lunch is included on three days: at Pamukkale (at a local restaurant), at Priene (seafood restaurant), and at Ephesus (traditional Turkish restaurant where you'll try Testi Kebab, a regional specialty, with vegetarian options available). On the final day in Cappadocia, lunch is served in Avanos with another opportunity to experience local cuisine.

What are the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia?

Fairy Chimneys are distinctive rock formations unique to Cappadocia, shaped by erosion into tall, cone-like structures. They're scattered throughout the valleys you'll see on the ATV ride and from the hot air balloon, and they're visible during the final day's guided tour of Devrent Valley and other scenic areas.

How does the tour handle flights between Istanbul and Cappadocia?

Domestic flights are included in the package. Your driver picks you up from your Istanbul hotel and transfers you to the airport for your flight to Denizli on day one. On day four, you fly from Denizli to Cappadocia. On day five, you fly from Cappadocia back to Istanbul in the evening (departure between 8:00 PM and 9:30 PM, arriving between 9:30 PM and 10:45 PM), with a driver meeting you at Istanbul Airport for transfer to your hotel.