3-Day Private Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul with Flights
This private 3-day, 2-night tour takes you from your Istanbul hotel to Cappadocia and back. Return flights, two nights in a cave or stone hotel, two guided days with your own guide and driver, all entrance fees, 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches are included. Day 3 is free to explore on your own before your evening flight to Istanbul. A sunrise balloon flight can be added.
5.0 on Tripadvisor · 145 reviews of our private tours
Your route
Tap a stop or open a day in the itinerary to see where you are.
- Private vehicle
- Domestic flight
- 1Overnight stop
- Day visit
Why travelers choose this itinerary
Cappadocia is the trip most Istanbul visitors want to add, and the hardest to arrange alone: an early flight, an airport an hour from the valleys, a hotel and a guide for each day. This tour bundles all of it, from your Istanbul hotel door and back again.
Two guided days cover the classic sights of north and central Cappadocia, and two nights give you two sunrises for the famous balloon flight if the weather cancels the first. On the third day there is no schedule: sleep in, walk a valley or go back to a place you liked before your flight home.
Highlights
- Return flights and every transfer from your Istanbul hotel
- Two nights in a cave or stone hotel
- Devrent Valley and the fairy chimneys of Paşabağ
- The frescoed rock churches of the Göreme Open Air Museum
- A 2 km walk from Çavuşin village into Red Valley
- Özkonak Underground City and Pigeon Valley
- A free day in Cappadocia before you fly back
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1Fly to Cappadocia: Devrent, Paşabağ, Avanos and Göreme
Your driver collects you from your Istanbul hotel between 3:30 and 6 a.m., depending on the flight, for the short hop to Kayseri. Your guide meets you on arrival and the touring starts right away. See the rock shapes of Devrent Valley and the multi-capped fairy chimneys of Paşabağ, then watch potters at work in Avanos and try the wheel yourself. Tour the Göreme Open Air Museum and end at a carpet gallery.
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Day 2Red Valley, Özkonak and Pigeon Valley
If you booked the balloon flight, you are picked up before dawn to float over the valleys at sunrise. After breakfast, walk about 2 km from the cliff village of Çavuşin into Red Valley, among rock churches and orchards. Go underground at Özkonak, where four of the eight levels are open to visitors and up to 5,000 people once sheltered. Look over the carved dovecotes of Pigeon Valley and finish at a leather workshop.
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Day 3Free Day, Fly to Istanbul
A day with no schedule. Sleep in, walk one of the valley trails from your hotel, revisit a favorite viewpoint or explore the old streets of Ürgüp. In the afternoon, your driver takes you to Kayseri airport for the flight back to Istanbul, where a driver meets you and takes you to your hotel.
What's included
- 2 nights in a cave or stone hotel in Cappadocia, with breakfast
- Return economy flights Istanbul to Kayseri
- Private transfers between your Istanbul hotel and the airport, both ways
- Private transfers between Kayseri airport and your Cappadocia hotel, both ways
- Private vehicle with driver on the guided days
- Licensed professional private guide on Days 1 and 2
- All entrance fees and museum tickets
- Lunch on Days 1 and 2
Not included
- International flights
- Hotel nights in Istanbul
- Hot air balloon flight
- Dinners and drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
Optional extras
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels for both nights
- Hot air balloon flight at sunrise (Day 2, with Day 3 as a backup)
- Hotel nights in Istanbul before or after the tour
Hotels (or similar)
- Cappadocia: Melekler Evi Cave Hotel or Ürgüp Konak Hotel, or similar
Price per person (USD)
The price depends on how many people travel together, because your guide and vehicle are private. Children 0 to 1 travel free; children 2 to 6 pay the child price and count toward group size.
| Travelers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $1,720 | $1,005 | $955 | $910 | $860 | $810 |
| Child 2–6 | – | $620 | $620 | $620 | $620 | $610 |
Prices valid as of October 15, 2026. Bookings close 10 days before the start date: book today and the earliest start date is October 25, 2026.
| Travelers | Adult | Child 2–6 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,720 | – |
| 2 | $1,005 | $620 |
| 3 | $955 | $620 |
| 4 | $910 | $620 |
| 5 | $860 | $620 |
| 6+ | $810 | $610 |
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels: +$115 per adult for the whole tour.
- Guide in English is included. Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese or Japanese: +$170 for the whole group, shared between the travelers (Chinese and Japanese on request).
Good to know
- Pickup on Day 1 is very early, between 3:30 and 6 a.m., depending on the flight time.
- Domestic flights have a lower baggage allowance than international tickets. Leave larger bags at your Istanbul hotel.
- The carpet, pottery and leather workshops are demonstrations; there is no obligation to buy.
- Özkonak has narrow tunnels and steep steps. Tell your guide if you prefer to skip it.
- Bookings close 10 days before the start date. Reserve with a 30% deposit; cancellation is free up to 30 days before travel.
Your guide
Your guide will be one of our licensed team: classmates from Adnan Menderes University with 14 to 15 years of guiding each, plus trusted licensed colleagues in every region.
KübraEnglish, Spanish
Selçuk YılmazEnglish
Can AteşEnglish, French
Bahar ÖzdemirEnglish, Spanish, Arabic
Ege ErtaşEnglish
Osman DemirEnglish
From past trips on this route
Guests on this route
Photos our guests shared after their private tours.
What travelers say
Rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor from 145 reviews of our private tours. Excerpts quoted as written.
“Our minivan was very comfortable, the drivers were punctual and very helpful”
ElenaDit · August 2026 · Tripadvisor
“He was always on the phone when we have question.”
탁동 홍 · September 2026 · Tripadvisor
FAQ
How do I get from Istanbul to Cappadocia on this tour?
By air. Your driver picks you up at your Istanbul hotel and takes you to the airport for a flight of about 1 hour 20 minutes to Kayseri. A driver meets you in Cappadocia, and on Day 3 the same happens in reverse, ending at your Istanbul hotel.
Is the hot air balloon ride included?
No, it is an optional extra. Balloons fly at sunrise and depend on the weather. We book it for the morning of Day 2, so if the flight is canceled, Day 3 morning is available as a backup. Tell us when you book and we will arrange it.
What do we do on the free day?
Whatever you like. Many travelers walk one of the valley trails near Göreme or Ürgüp, visit a winery or café, or simply enjoy the cave hotel. Your driver collects you in the afternoon for the flight back to Istanbul.
Is this tour private?
Yes. Only your party travels, with a private guide, vehicle and driver on the dates you choose. Prices are per person and decrease as your party grows, and children 0 to 1 travel free.
Can I stay longer in Cappadocia?
Yes. We can add extra nights in Cappadocia, or extend the trip with Ephesus and Pamukkale on one of our longer itineraries. Ask us when you book and we will adjust the return flight.
How much does this tour cost per person?
For two travelers the price is $1,005 per person in US dollars. It falls to $810 per person for a party of six or more, and a solo traveler pays $1,720 because the guide and vehicle are reserved for one party. These are 2026 prices and cover everything listed under What's included.
What do children pay, and can we upgrade to 5-star hotels?
Children up to 1 year old travel free. Children aged 2 to 6 pay $620 to $610 depending on group size and count toward the group size. Upgrading every night of the tour to 5-star hotels costs $115 per adult.
How do payment and cancellation work?
You reserve with a 30% deposit by card in US dollars, processed securely by Stripe; for two travelers on this tour that is about $600. The balance is charged automatically 30 days before travel. Cancel up to 30 days before your start date and you get a full refund, including the deposit.