Get inspired with our two-day itinerary to plan a memorable experience for your clients’ visit to the “Land of Beautiful Horses”.
Day 1
Suggest your clients to wake up at dawn and see or board one of the hot-air balloons, to view Cappadocia’s magical landscape and its famous fairy chimneys in the light of the rising sun. Begin the exploration with Uçhisar Castle, one of the highest points for a panoramic view of Cappadocia. After exploring the town’s center, your clients’ next stop should be the Valley of Pigeons (Güvercinlik), a deep canyon home to rock churches, tunnels and pigeon nests carved in rocks. It is also a 4-kilometer trail offering spectacular views and ideal for hiking.
From Uçhisar, the road takes you to Göreme, home to one of Türkiye’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Göreme Open-Air Museum. This is one of the region’s highlights, where your clients can see fairy chimneys, churches, and monasteries carved into the rocks and vibrant frescoes and murals. Do not forget to recommend your clients a visit to Karanlık and Tokalı Churches, they are the most famous and well-protected churches of the Göreme Open-Air Museum.
One of Cappadocia’s oldest settlements, Avanos is another must-see. Due to its distinctive red clay, this town has been a center of pottery making since ancient times. Your clients visit a pottery atelier and choose a souvenir for themselves or their loved ones. They can even try to make your own pottery here.
Day 2
Start the day at Ürgüp, only 15 minutes from Nevşehir, it is symbolized by its three fairy chimneys. In Ürgüp, your clients can see Ortahisar Castle that is a giant fairy chimney itself, beyond being a castle. Make sure they visit the local markets offering a variety of interesting items from handwoven fabrics to model fairy chimneys. Gastronomical delights include traditional dishes such as “testi kebab” and “sac kavurma”.
Discover the rest of Cappadocia: visit Red Valley and try trekking or horse-riding here. Cappadocia has a very fertile soil, so recommend your clients a visit to the local boutique wine factories and witness the production of the Cappadocia wines. Mustafapaşa Village, ancient Sinassos is a good place to escape from the crowds and spend time in an original Cappadocian village. Landmarks include Constantin & Eleni Church (Konstantin & Eleni Kilisesi), Hagia Nicholas Monastery (Aziz Nikola Manastırı) and Bebek Museum (Bebek Müzesi).
What your clients should not miss: There are almost 300 underground cities of Cappadocia, with Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu being good options. Following the road from Nevşehir to Aksaray, your clients will come across one of the world’s biggest canyons, the Ihlara Valley with over a hundred rock-carved churches. Cut by the Melendiz Stream, the valley is also one of the best places for a nature hike.
