Istanbul Trip Overview
A Private-guided tour of Cappadocia, Gobekli Tepe, and Sanliurfa is the best way to discover the history and culture of south-eastern Turkey. With this tour, you will have a unique travel experience. After being amazed by Cappadocia with its unique geography and rich history, the next stop will be Urfa, where you will have a chance to visit the world’s first temple, which is older than Stonehenge. Southeast Turkey is a melting pot of cultures, with influences from resident and neighboring Arab and Kurdish populations, which both bring with them a wealth of history and tradition. You will meet people from all these rich cultures and the many ways they express and celebrate their identities. Urfa is a mystical city where you can feel the culture of the Middle East.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 days
Starts: Istanbul, Turkey
Trip Category: Outdoor Activities >> 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours
Explore Istanbul Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey
A Private-guided tour of Cappadocia, Gobekli Tepe, and Sanliurfa is the best way to discover the history and culture of south-eastern Turkey. With this tour, you will have a unique travel experience. After being amazed by Cappadocia with its unique geography and rich history, the next stop will be Urfa, where you will have a chance to visit the world’s first temple, which is older than Stonehenge. Southeast Turkey is a melting pot of cultures, with influences from resident and neighboring Arab and Kurdish populations, which both bring with them a wealth of history and tradition. You will meet people from all these rich cultures and the many ways they express and celebrate their identities. Urfa is a mystical city where you can feel the culture of the Middle East.
Itinerary
Day 1: Early Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia and Spend Day In Cappadocia
Stop At: Cappadocia, Cappadocia
You driver will pick you up from the reception of your hotel and will take you the Istanbul airport. Upon your arrival to Cappadocia, our representative will welcome you with a sign with your name and then you will be transferred to the tour office in Cappadocia.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Uchisar Castle, Uchisar Turkey
Our first stop is the fantastic viewpoint of Uchisar Castle. You will listen to the rich history of Cappadocia and its unique rock formations. It is also a great opportunity to take stunning pictures.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Goreme Open-Air Museum, Merkez, Muze Cd., Goreme 50180 Turkey
After the panoramic viewpoint, visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site. Your guide will explain the meanings of frescoes covering the walls of thousand-year-old cave churches.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Avanos, Avanos, Cappadocia
Next visit Avanos, one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia. You will have a rich lunch at the local restaurant. Then, visit the pottery workshop, one of the most important handicrafts of Cappadocia. We will also take a short walk along the banks of the Turkey’s longest river, the Red River.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Fairy Chimneys, Goreme Turkey
Here explore Pasabag, commonly known as Monks Valley. You will have a chance to see the famous mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys as well as St. Simeon’s monk cell carved into the rock.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Devrent Valley, Devrent Mevkii No:1 Urgup Yolu, 50500 Turkey
The next stop after Pasabag is Devrent Valley. It is well known as imagination valley where you can see animal-shaped rock formations.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Cappadocia, Cappadocia
We will make a short visit to a cooperative where world-famous Turkish carpets are produced and learn the intricacies of these thousands of years of art.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Cappadocia, Cappadocia
At the end of the tour, your guide will take you to your hotel.
Duration: 15 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Cappadocia hotel.
Day 2: Private, South Cappadocia Day Tour
Stop At: Goreme Panorama, Uchisar Yolu uzeri 1.km, Goreme 50180 Turkey
After you are picked up from your hotel, you’ll get a chance to watch the iconic town of Goreme from a panoramic hill.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Red Valley, Nevsehir Ortahisar, Nevsehir 50650 Turkey
Start the hike in the beautiful Red (Rose) Valley which will take approximately 4 km and slightly more than one hour. We will see fairy chimneys, local farms, pigeon houses, and cave chapels. Your guide will give information about the history and the unique formations of Cappadocia during the hike. At the end of the hike, we will have a quick stop at Cavusin Old Greek Village.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Love Valley, Goreme 50180 Turkey
After hiking in Red Valley, we will drive to Love Valley to take amazing pictures of pillar-shaped rock formations of Cappadocia.
Duration: 25 minutes
Stop At: Goreme, Goreme, Cappadocia
In the historic town of Goreme, have a rich lunch at the local restaurant.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Turkey
After lunch visit carved Kaymakli Underground City which was used by early Christians as a shelter to hide from their enemies.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Pigeon Valley, Uchisar KasabasI Nevşehir Kapadokya, Goreme 50240 Turkey
After a visit to the underground city, next is The Pigeon Valley, the oldest and most popular valley in Cappadocia. Your guide will give you information about pigeon houses and their importance to Cappadocia.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Uchisar, Uchisar, Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a volcanic region and is home to many semi-precious stones. Make a short visit to a workshop where these stones are processed.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Cappadocia hotel.
Day 3: Private Transfer to Sanliurfa
Stop At: Kahramanmaras, Kahramanmaras, Kahramanmaras Province
After breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Sanliurfa. Stop at Kahramanmaras for lunch and a taste of its famous ice cream.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa Province
After lunch, we will keep driving. Upon arrival to Sanliurfa, check-in at the hotel and have a rest.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Sanliurfa hotel.
Day 4: Gobekli Tepe, Harran and Urfa City Tour
Stop At: Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa Province
After breakfast, start exploring Sanliurfa (Urfa). Urfa has been occupied since the Babylonians followed by the Hurries, Hittites, Assyrians, Greeks. We will visit Urfa Archaeological Museum and Halepli Bahce Mosaic Museum. These museums exhibit a huge collection, founded from Harran and Gobeklitepe Area. We will also visit the holy sites at the Ainzelha, a lake with millions of domesticated fish. While in Urfa we will visit the cave where the prophet Abraham was born. Then, walk through the local covered bazaar of Sanliurfa and through the town to discover the many hidden treasures. After, have a delicious rich local lunch.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Harran, Harran, Sanliurfa Province
After lunch, visit nearby Harran and see the incredible beehive houses. Harran – according to the Bible – was the site where prophet Abraham spent a few years with his family before moving on to Israel, the Promised Land. There are exceptional photo opportunities in this area.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gobekli Tepe, Dağeteği Mahallesi, Sanliurfa 63290 Turkey
In the afternoon visit Gobekli Tepe, which is believed the first temple of the World. It was built roughly twelve thousand years ago, circa 10,000 BC.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa, Sanliurfa Province
After visiting the city, drive to the airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul. Upon your arrival in Istanbul, we will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
