Cappadocia

Day 1 – Istanbul (or Izmir) to Cappadocia (L) Take the morning flight to Cappadocia: Direct morning flights from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevşehir every day; Direct flights from Izmir to Kayseri on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Arrival and meeting at the airport just outside the arrival gate with a sign bearing your name and transfer to Cappadocia. Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Drive to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos )- Sobessos is newly discovered (01 May 2002) mosaic houses & Archaeological excavation site. Villages in the valleys, surrounded by the “tabletop” mountains, are spectacular. Continue with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides its frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer which we can only see by torchlight. Lunch break. Visit Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old Greek houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture. Visit Saruhan Caravanserai, a roadside inn where travellers could rest and recover from the day’s journey. Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information and people across a network of trade routes of Asia, North Africa 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, is in the heart of Cappadocia but away from the tourist crowd. Overnight Cappadocia

Cappadocia to Istanbul (or other destinations) (B.L) Hot Air ballooning with the sunrise (extra),  Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:30 am After breakfast, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; walking in Pasabag near Zelve; “fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies”. Lunch in Avanos, the centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. and a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. 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. Transfer to airport to take the evening flight to Istanbul or other destinations and leave Cappadocia.