Istanbul to Cappadocia: 2-Day Tour with Fairy Chimneys

Walk through Cappadocia's volcanic landscape and sleep inside a cave hotel

A 2-day tour from Istanbul to Cappadocia with round-trip flights, two full days of guided sightseeing, overnight accommodation in a cave hotel, and meals included. Day one covers Devrent Valley, Zelve Underground City, Avanos pottery village, and Fairy Chimneys. Day two includes a 4km walk through Red and Rose Valley, Cavusin Village, Mazi Underground City, and Pigeon Valley. A hot air balloon ride at sunrise is available as an optional add-on, subject to weather conditions and refundable if cancelled.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Cappadocia and Full-Day Tour

• Visit Devrent Valley
• Explore Pasabagi
• Tour Zelve Underground City
• Visit Avanos Pottery Center
• Lunch at local restaurant
• See Fairy Chimneys at Monks Valley
• Transfer to cave hotel

Day 2: Cappadocia Tour and Return Flight

• Optional early morning balloon ride
• Walk Red & Rose Valley
• Visit Cavusin Village and Rock Castle
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Explore Mazi Underground City
• Visit Pigeon Valley viewpoint
• Transfer to airport for flight

The experience

Devrent Valley opens the tour with one of Cappadocia's most surreal rock formations, followed by a walk through the tunnels and chambers of Zelve Underground City, where you'll see storage rooms and ventilation shafts carved into the volcanic stone. The route then moves to Avanos, the pottery center, where you can watch potters work traditional kick wheels on the banks of the Red River. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before the afternoon transfer to your cave hotel, with a stop at Fairy Chimneys: the three-headed pinnacles where Christian hermits built hermit cells and churches centuries ago.

Day two starts with a pickup around 9:30 am for a leisurely 4km walk along Red and Rose Valley, away from the main tourist sites. The walk ends in Cavusin Village, where rock castles and troglodyte dwellings from the 20th century still stand. After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll explore Mazi Underground City, a quieter settlement with its own network of ancient passageways and chambers. The tour closes at Pigeon Valley, famous for small pigeon dwellings carved into the rockfaces, with time for photographs before your return flight to Istanbul.

The optional hot air balloon ride departs early in the morning, usually 30 minutes to an hour before sunrise depending on your hotel location. Weather determines whether the flight goes ahead. If it's cancelled or delayed and you're leaving the next morning, you'll receive a full refund. Balloon tickets can be transferred to alternative dates within one year, and the ride carries a 100% refund guarantee if weather forces cancellation on your scheduled day. Children under 6 are not permitted on the balloon.

What’s included

• Round-trip economy flights from Istanbul to Cappadocia.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Istanbul.
• two full days of guided group tours by air-conditioned minivan.
• overnight accommodation in a cave hotel with breakfast.
• lunch on both days at local restaurants.
• all entrance fees and taxes.
• professional licensed guides in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and additional languages.
• airport transfers in Cappadocia.
• 24/7 emergency telephone support.
• and an excursion folder with detailed trip information. The hot air balloon ride is optional and available as a separate booking.

Options for this experience

3 options

Excluding Hot-Air BalloonGuide in English, Spanish or Turkish · No fixed timeStandard cave room with a small group of up to 14 people, including breakfast and lunch. The package covers 1 breakfast and 2 lunches; drinks are extra during lunch. Transport is by Mercedes Sprinter or a similar air-conditioned minivan. The balloon ride is not included. Pickup is included.

Including Hot-Air BalloonGuide in English, Spanish or Turkish · No fixed timeStandard accommodation in a cave room at a cave hotel. Children under 6 are not permitted on balloon tours for safety reasons. Pickup is included.

Switch to private serviceGuide in 6 languages · No fixed timeDeluxe room with 2 private tours. Full-day tours with a private guide. Upgraded class includes an upgraded room, a private guide and private transfers. Duration is 8 hours: the daily Red and Green Tour, with 1 breakfast and 2 lunches and a private vehicle. Balloon extra: the balloon fee of €250 per person is collected before the flight in Cappadocia. 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 day

AgesAdult (8 to 95 years) · Child (6 to 7 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese and Turkish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Travel Inn Turkey

Is this one for you?Book this if you're traveling from Istanbul and want everything coordinated in one package, or add the optional balloon ride to see the fairy chimneys from above at sunrise. Just note that weather can affect the flight and it requires an early start.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 7 years); Infant (under 2).

What's included in the 2-day tour from Istanbul to Cappadocia?

Round-trip flights to Cappadocia, hotel pickup and drop-off in Istanbul, two full days of guided group tours by air-conditioned minivan, overnight accommodation in a cave hotel with breakfast, all meals during the tours, airport transfers in Cappadocia, professional licensed guides, and all fees and taxes are included. The hot air balloon ride is optional and booked separately.

How does the hot air balloon ride work, and what happens if the weather is bad?

The optional balloon ride departs early morning, usually before sunrise, with pickup from your hotel 30 minutes to an hour before flight time. Weather determines whether the flight operates. If cancelled or delayed and you're leaving the next day, you receive a full refund. Tickets can be moved to another date within one year, and the ride includes a 100% refund guarantee for weather-related cancellations on your scheduled day.

What will I see and do on day one in Cappadocia?

Day one includes visits to Devrent Valley, also called Imagination Valley, with its unusual rock formations; Zelve Underground City, where you walk through ancient tunnels and chambers; Avanos pottery village on the Red River, where you watch potters work traditional wheels; and Fairy Chimneys, the three-headed pinnacles where hermits built churches. Lunch is at a local restaurant, and the day ends with transfer to your cave hotel.

What's the Red and Rose Valley walk like on day two?

A leisurely 4km walk along Red and Rose Valley starts around 9:30 am after hotel pickup. The valley is known for volcanic rock formations and sits away from mainstream tourist sites, offering quieter views of the region. The walk ends in Cavusin Village, where you'll see rock castles and old troglodyte dwellings where people lived until the 20th century.

Are there any restrictions for the hot air balloon ride?

Children under 6 years old are not permitted on the balloon. Warm clothes are recommended for the early morning flight. The ride depends entirely on weather conditions, and your safety is the operator's priority.