9 Days Private Central Anatolia Tour

Take the morning, noon or evening flight to Cappadocia: Several Direct flights from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir everyday. Arrival and meeting at the airport just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name and transfer to hotel and overnight Cappadocia.

Meals : Dinner
Hotels : Utopia Cave Hotel – Mustafa Resort Cappadocia

Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:30am. In the morning, first meeting with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent valley; a journey in the past with its troglodyte houses, visit to Pasabag “fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies” near Zelve . Lunch in Avanos, 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. Overnight Cappadocia.

Meals : Breakfast,Lunch, Dinner
Hotels :  Utopia Cave Hotel – Mustafa Resort Cappadocia or similar

Meeting at the hotel reception at 09:30am
Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Drive to Sahinefendi ( Sobesos )- where we see Byzantine Period Mosaic Art & Archaeological excavation site. Villages in the valleys, surrounded by the “table top” mountains, are spectacular. Continue with Keslik Monastery near Cemil, that hides it’s frescoes behind a very thin smoke layer. Visit to Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture. Continue with 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.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Utopia Cave Hotel – Mustafa Resort Cappadocia or similar

Today we will take you to a different Alpine landscape. 1h30 hour drive will take us to a beautiful mountain range near Cappadocia called Aladaglar Mountains which is very rich with flora and fauna and a real gem for trekkers in the middle of the country and real semi nomadic tribes are alive on the mountains depending season. We’ll have a chance to visit Cimbar Canyon and take a little hike in and depending on season and time of day we might be able to see wild Ibex, Caucasian Snowcock, Wall Creeper, Golden Eagle, Lammergeyer, Griffon Vulture and many other animals and birds. Afternoon we will spend around Emli Valley and Kaziklar gorge. Hikes for different levels can be arranged by your guide. (from easy to moderate and difficult level options). You might have option of visiting a local semi-nomadic camp in spring and autumn, in summer shepherd camps are available in different locations. Drive back to Cappadocia in late afternoon.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Utopia Cave Hotel – Mustafa Resort Cappadocia or similar

You will start your journey to Kayseri. Kayseri has a large area with its walls and castle. We will visit the Kayseri Tower (Inner Tower, Jeweller’s Bazaar, Tower Mosque) built in the time of Roman Emperor III. Gordianus (238-244 AD), Clock Tower in the Republic Square, Mahberi Honat Hatun Islamic Complex, Rotating Cupola and Historical Kayseri High School (War of Independence Museum). After visiting this museum highlighted with its historical background and various famous graduates, you will go to Güpgüpoğlu Mansion (Ethnography Museum). After visiting the mansion, you will go to Old Kayseri District to have a coffee break. Our last stop in Kayseri will be Ağırnas where Sinan the Architect was born. You will visit the house which Sinan the Architect was born, underground city, Agias Prokopis Church. You will go back to Cappadocia after your visit. You will stay in Cappadocia for the night.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Utopia Cave Hotel – Mustafa Resort Cappadocia or similar

Drive to Hattusas, capital of the Hittite empire in the 2nd millennium BC. The ancient city is on the outskirts of present-day Bogazkale, just over 125 miles east of Ankara. The Hittites were the first true empire in the Anatolian area, and is mentioned in texts from other empires outside the area and in The Bible. Lunch and visit the temples and the castles. The two rows meet on the north wall where the most important images in the shrine of Yazilikaya are to be found: The God of Tempests Teshub and the Goddess of the Sun Hepatu. The largest relief in the main gallery however is the one representing King Tudhaliyas IV, thus giving as a date in the second half of the 13th century B.C. Transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia and overnight.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Utopia Cave Hotel – Mustafa Resort Cappadocia or similar

DAY 7 – Salt Lake