Cappadocia

Airport shuttle to Goreme(45 minutes)

Most hotels arrange shuttles. Nevsehir airport is closer (30 min) but has fewer flights. Kayseri has more options (60 min). Book through your hotel for TRY 100-200

Cave hotel check-in(1 hour)

Sleeping in a carved-rock cave is a must-do. Sultan Cave Suites is famous for its Instagram terrace. Koza Cave Hotel and Mithra Cave Hotel are excellent mid-range options. From TRY 1,500/night

Walk through Goreme town(1 hour)

Small, walkable town. Browse the pottery shops, carpet stores, and pick up snacks. The sunset viewpoint above town (signed trail from the main road) has panoramic fairy chimney views — free

Dinner at Topdeck Cave Restaurant(1 hour)

Try testi kebab (pottery kebab) — lamb or chicken slow-cooked in a sealed clay pot, dramatically cracked open at your table. TRY 250-350. A Cappadocia-specific dish you won't find anywhere else

Hot air balloon ride at sunrise(3 hours)

Hotel pickup 4:30-5AM. Light breakfast, then a 60-minute flight over the valleys. EUR 180-280 standard, EUR 300+ for smaller baskets. Book 2-3 weeks ahead with reputable operators: Royal Balloon, Butterfly Balloons, or Voyager. Wear warm layers (cold at altitude even in summer) and flat shoes

Post-balloon breakfast at hotel(1 hour)

Most cave hotels serve breakfast on the terrace — enjoy it while watching the late balloons still in the air. Turkish breakfast spreads are elaborate

Goreme Open-Air Museum(2 hours)

UNESCO World Heritage site with rock-cut Byzantine churches from the 10th-12th centuries. Entry TRY 450. Dark Church (Karanlik Kilise) with preserved frescoes is extra TRY 150 but absolutely worth it. 1.5 km from town centre. Open 8AM-7PM (summer)

Lunch at Dibek(1 hour)

Traditional Cappadocian restaurant in Goreme. The testi kebab and mantı (Turkish ravioli with yoghurt) are the orders. TRY 200-350. Outdoor terrace overlooking the valley

Pasabag (Monks Valley)(45 minutes)

Striking multi-headed fairy chimneys with a hermit monk's chapel carved inside. Free entry, open access. 5 km from Goreme on the Avanos road

Avanos pottery workshop(1 hour)

Avanos has been making pottery from Kizilirmak River clay for millennia. Visit Chez Galip or another workshop — watch a potter at work and try the wheel yourself. Small purchases from TRY 50-200

Zelve Open-Air Museum(1 hour)

TRY 130. An abandoned rock-cut village (inhabited until 1952) with churches, homes, and a mosque carved into the same cliff. Less crowded than Goreme Open-Air Museum. Allow time to explore the tunnels

Lunch at a local restaurant in Avanos(1 hour)

Avanos has excellent local restaurants away from Goreme's tourist pricing. Try a pide (Turkish flatbread) — the kasseri cheese and sucuk (spiced sausage) version at Bizim Ev is excellent. TRY 80-150

Uchisar Castle at sunset(1 hour)

Cappadocia's highest point — a natural rock citadel riddled with tunnels. Entry TRY 100. Climb to the top for 360-degree panoramic sunset views over the entire region

Love Valley hike(2.5 hours)

5 km loop through towering phallic-shaped fairy chimneys. Free, no ticket. Start from the signed trailhead 2 km north of Goreme. Best light in early morning. Wear sturdy shoes — trail is uneven and sandy

Mid-morning tea break at a valley kiosk(30 minutes)

Small kiosks at valley trail junctions sell fresh-squeezed orange juice and tea. TRY 20-40. The views while sipping tea are the real reward

Rose Valley and Red Valley hike(2 hours)

Connect from Love Valley to Rose Valley (Gulludere) for pink-tinged rock formations. The trail passes rock-cut churches with faded frescoes. End at the Rose Valley viewpoint for photos. Total distance about 5 km

Lunch at Koy Evi(1 hour)

Small home-cooking restaurant in Goreme. The guvec (meat and vegetable casserole) and vine-leaf dolma are authentic Cappadocian comfort food. TRY 150-250

Afternoon rest at cave hotel(2 hours)

After a morning of hiking, enjoy the unique atmosphere of your cave room. Many hotels have terraces perfect for reading or watching the late-afternoon light paint the fairy chimneys

Derinkuyu Underground City(1.5 hours)

The deepest underground city, 85m below ground with 8 accessible levels. Once housed 20,000 people. Entry TRY 200. Claustrophobic passages in places. Fascinating engineering. 30 km south of Goreme

Ihlara Valley hike(2 hours)

A 14 km canyon carved by the Melendiz River with rock-cut churches along the walls. Most tours do a 3.5 km section (stairs down to the valley floor, walk to Belisirma village). The valley is lush and green — a dramatic contrast to the dry fairy chimney landscape. Entry TRY 60

Lunch at Belisirma riverside restaurants(1 hour)

Simple restaurants on platforms over the river at the midpoint of the Ihlara Valley. Fresh trout, gozleme (stuffed flatbread), and ayran. TRY 100-200. The setting is magical

Selime Monastery(45 minutes)

The largest rock-cut monastery in Cappadocia, carved into a volcanic cone at the end of the Ihlara Valley. Free (or included in valley ticket). The cathedral-sized church interior is impressive

Sleep in and cave hotel breakfast(2 hours)

Take your time with the Turkish breakfast spread. Watch the balloons from your terrace if you're up early enough. This is your backup balloon day if the first was cancelled for weather

ATV tour through Sword Valley and Pigeon Valley(2 hours)

ATV rentals from TRY 500/day, guided tours from TRY 600. Ride through valleys inaccessible on foot. Sword Valley and Pigeon Valley are the most popular ATV routes. Dusty — wear a bandana

Lunch at Seten Restaurant (Goreme)(1 hour)

Fine dining in a cave setting. Turkish fusion cuisine — the lamb tandir and aubergine dishes are standouts. TRY 300-500 per person. Book ahead for the terrace

Evening Sema (Whirling Dervish) ceremony(1 hour)

Sufi spiritual practice performed in a historic caravanserai near Goreme. TRY 200-300. The 700-year-old ceremony is mesmerizing and deeply moving. Saruhan Caravanserai is the most atmospheric venue. Check schedules locally

Early morning sunrise viewpoint(45 minutes)

Walk to the Goreme sunset/sunrise viewpoint above town. If balloons are flying, you'll see them launch against the dawn sky from the ground — a different but equally beautiful perspective. Free

Last shopping in Goreme(1 hour)

Cappadocian pottery, onyx chess sets, hand-woven kilim rugs, and dried apricots (Cappadocia is famous for them). The shops on the main street are small and personal — many artisans sell their own work

Airport transfer(45 minutes)

Hotel shuttle to Nevsehir or Kayseri airport. TRY 100-200. Allow 2 hours before domestic flights. The flight back to Istanbul is just 1.5 hours

Airport shuttle to Goreme(45 minutes)

Most hotels arrange transfers. Nevsehir closer (30 min), Kayseri more flights (60 min)

Cave hotel check-in(1 hour)

Sultan Cave Suites for Instagram terrace. Koza or Mithra for mid-range. From TRY 1,500/night

Goreme town walk and sunset viewpoint(1.5 hours)

Signed trail above town with panoramic fairy chimney views. Free

Dinner at Topdeck Cave Restaurant(1 hour)

Testi kebab — sealed clay pot cracked at your table. TRY 250-350

Hot air balloon ride(3 hours)

Pickup 4:30-5AM. EUR 180-280 standard. Royal Balloon, Butterfly, or Voyager. Warm layers, flat shoes

Terrace breakfast at hotel(1 hour)

Watch remaining balloons while eating Turkish breakfast

Goreme Open-Air Museum(2 hours)

TRY 450. Dark Church extra TRY 150. Byzantine churches from 10th-12th century. 1.5 km from town

Lunch at Dibek(1 hour)

Testi kebab and manti. TRY 200-350. Valley views

Pasabag (Monks Valley)(45 minutes)

Multi-headed fairy chimneys. Free. Hermit monk's chapel inside one chimney

Avanos pottery workshop(1 hour)

Pottery from river clay for millennia. Try the wheel yourself. Purchases from TRY 50-200

Zelve Open-Air Museum(1 hour)

TRY 130. Abandoned rock-cut village inhabited until 1952. Tunnels to explore

Lunch in Avanos(1 hour)

Pide at Bizim Ev. Kasseri cheese and sucuk version. TRY 80-150

Uchisar Castle sunset(1 hour)

TRY 100. Highest point in Cappadocia. 360-degree sunset views

Love Valley hike(2.5 hours)

5 km loop. Towering fairy chimneys. Free. Early morning light best. Sturdy shoes required

Rose Valley and Red Valley hike(2 hours)

Pink-tinged rocks, hidden churches with faded frescoes. 5 km connecting from Love Valley

Valley kiosk tea break(30 minutes)

Fresh juice and tea at trail junction kiosks. TRY 20-40

Lunch at Koy Evi(1 hour)

Home-cooking. Guvec casserole and vine-leaf dolma. TRY 150-250

Derinkuyu Underground City(1.5 hours)

85m deep, 8 levels. Once housed 20,000 people. TRY 200. Some tight passages

Ihlara Valley hike(2 hours)

Canyon with rock-cut churches. 3.5 km section via stairs. Entry TRY 60

Lunch at Belisirma riverside(1 hour)

Platforms over the river. Fresh trout, gozleme. TRY 100-200

Selime Monastery(45 minutes)

Largest rock-cut monastery. Cathedral-sized interior carved into volcanic cone

Sleep in and late breakfast(2.5 hours)

This is your backup balloon day if the first was weather-cancelled. Otherwise, enjoy a slow morning

Carpet and kilim shopping in Goreme(1.5 hours)

Turkish carpet shops offer tea and long conversations. No pressure to buy — the education in weaving traditions is free. If buying, expect to pay TRY 500-5,000+ depending on size and quality

Pigeon Valley walk(1.5 hours)

Easy 4 km trail between Goreme and Uchisar with pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. Free. Pigeons were raised for their droppings (fertilizer). Beautiful at any time of day

Dinner at Seten Restaurant(1.5 hours)

Fine dining in a cave. Turkish fusion — lamb tandir, aubergine dishes. TRY 300-500. Book the terrace

ATV tour through Sword and Pigeon Valleys(2 hours)

ATV from TRY 500/day, guided tours from TRY 600. Access valleys unreachable on foot. Dusty — wear a bandana

Lunch at Old Greek House (Mustafapasa)(1.5 hours)

30 minutes from Goreme. A restored Greek stone house serving traditional dishes in a courtyard. The village of Mustafapasa itself is charming — old Greek architecture largely untouched by tourism. TRY 150-300

Sema (Whirling Dervish) ceremony(1 hour)

Sufi ceremony at Saruhan Caravanserai. TRY 200-300. 700-year-old practice, deeply moving

Kaymakli Underground City(1.5 hours)

TRY 200. The widest underground city (vs Derinkuyu which is deepest). 4 levels open to visitors. Less claustrophobic passages. 20 km from Goreme

Drive to Soganli Valley(1 hour)

50 km from Goreme. Rent a car (TRY 800/day) or arrange a taxi. Remote, rarely visited by tourists

Soganli Valley exploration(2.5 hours)

Entry TRY 30. A hidden valley with dozens of rock-cut churches, pigeon houses, and cone-shaped formations. Almost no tourists. The villagers make rag dolls (local craft, TRY 30-100). The churches have remarkable Byzantine frescoes in near-silence

Lunch at a village home or cafe(1 hour)

Simple home-cooked food in Soganli village. Gozleme, fresh yoghurt, local cheese. TRY 50-100. An authentic Anatolian village experience

Second balloon ride or sunrise at Lover's Hill viewpoint(3 hours)

Balloon: same logistics as day 2. Or hike to Lover's Hill (10 minutes from town) for spectacular photos of 100+ balloons rising over the valleys. Bring a tripod. Free

Turkish bath (hammam) in Goreme(1.5 hours)

Elis Hammam or Goreme Hammam offer traditional scrub and foam massage in a cave setting. From TRY 600. A unique Cappadocian twist on the Turkish bath

Afternoon cooking class(3 hours)

Learn to make manti (Turkish ravioli), gozleme, and testi kebab at a local cooking school. From TRY 800. Includes lunch. The manti-making is surprisingly therapeutic

Drive or bus to Kayseri(1 hour)

Rental car or local minibus (dolmus) from Goreme. The road passes through agricultural flatlands with Erciyes mountain (3,917m) as backdrop

Kayseri Grand Bazaar(1.5 hours)

Covered bazaar dating to the 15th century. Less touristy than Istanbul's. Famous for pastirma (cured beef) and sucuk (sausage). Buy vacuum-packed to take home

Lunch at a Kayseri mantici(1 hour)

Kayseri claims to be the birthplace of manti. The local version has tiny dumplings (the smaller the better) in yoghurt sauce. Yeni Manti Evi is a local favourite. TRY 100-200

Hunat Hatun Complex(45 minutes)

13th-century Seljuk complex with mosque, madrasa, and hammam. Free. Beautiful stone carving. Much less visited than Cappadocia's sites

Drive to Erciyes Mountain(1.5 hours)

Turkey's second-highest volcano (3,917m). In winter: ski resort with day passes from TRY 300. In summer: cable car to 3,000m for hiking with panoramic views. Cable car TRY 100

Mountain exploration or skiing(2.5 hours)

Summer: hike above the treeline. Winter: excellent powder skiing on uncrowded slopes. The mountain views over the Cappadocian plain are spectacular

Wine tasting at Turasan or Kocabag Winery(1.5 hours)

Cappadocia has produced wine since Hittite times. Turasan winery near Urgup offers tastings from TRY 100. Kocabag in Avanos is another excellent option. Try Emir (white) and Oküzgözü (red) — indigenous grape varieties

Dinner in Urgup(1.5 hours)

Ziggy Café in Urgup — modern Turkish in a cave setting. TRY 200-400. Or Millocal for Anatolian fine dining. Urgup is quieter and more refined than Goreme

Devrent (Imagination) Valley(1 hour)

Free, open access. Rock formations shaped like camels, dolphins, seals, and Napoleon's hat. No churches or homes carved here — just pure geological wonder. 5 km north of Goreme

Cavusin old village(1 hour)

An abandoned cliff village above the modern town. Free. The Church of St. John the Baptist (5th century) has some of the oldest frescoes in Cappadocia. Scramble up the paths for views

Lunch in Cavusin(45 minutes)

In Cafe — a simple cafe with valley views. Gozleme and ayran. TRY 60-100

Bayramhacili hot spring(2 hours)

Natural thermal spring 30 km from Goreme. TRY 40 entry. Not luxurious but the warm mineral water is soothing after days of hiking. Bring a towel

Farewell dinner at Pumpkin Goreme(1 hour)

Popular restaurant near the bus station. The pumpkin dessert (kabak tatlisi) that gives it its name is a Cappadocian specialty. TRY 150-300

Morning at leisure or sunrise hike(2 hours)

Last chance for balloon photos from the ground. Or sleep in — you've earned it

Horseback riding through the valleys(2 hours)

Cappadocia means 'Land of Beautiful Horses' in ancient Hittite. Dalton Brothers Ranch offers rides through Red and Rose Valleys. From TRY 600 for 2 hours. No experience needed

Last shopping in Goreme(1 hour)

Pottery, onyx chess sets, hand-woven kilims, and dried apricots (Cappadocia is famous for them)

Farewell sunset at the terrace(1.5 hours)

Watch the light change on the fairy chimneys one last time from your cave hotel terrace. Turkish tea and baklava. The golden hour in Cappadocia is unlike anywhere else on earth

Sunrise viewpoint one last time(30 minutes)

If balloons are flying, it never gets old. Free

Cave hotel breakfast(1 hour)

Last Turkish breakfast spread on the terrace. Stock up on dried apricots from the hotel shop

Airport transfer(45 minutes)

Hotel shuttle to Nevsehir or Kayseri airport. TRY 100-200. Allow 2 hours before domestic flights. Istanbul is just 1.5 hours by air

Airport shuttle to Goreme(45 minutes)

Most hotels arrange transfers. Nevsehir 30 min, Kayseri 60 min

Cave hotel check-in(1 hour)

Sultan Cave Suites for Instagram. From TRY 1,500/night

Goreme town walk and sunset viewpoint(1.5 hours)

Panoramic fairy chimney views. Free

Dinner at Topdeck Cave Restaurant(1 hour)

Testi kebab in cracked clay pot. TRY 250-350

Hot air balloon ride(3 hours)

Pickup 4:30-5AM. EUR 180-280. Royal Balloon or Voyager

Goreme Open-Air Museum(2 hours)

TRY 450. Dark Church extra TRY 150. 10th-12th century churches

Lunch at Dibek(1 hour)

Testi kebab and manti. TRY 200-350

Pasabag (Monks Valley)(45 minutes)

Multi-headed fairy chimneys. Free

Avanos pottery workshop(1 hour)

Try the wheel yourself. Purchases from TRY 50-200

Zelve Open-Air Museum(1 hour)

TRY 130. Abandoned village inhabited until 1952

Lunch in Avanos(1 hour)

Pide at Bizim Ev. TRY 80-150

Uchisar Castle sunset(1 hour)

TRY 100. Highest point. 360-degree views

Love Valley hike(2.5 hours)

5 km loop. Towering fairy chimneys. Free

Rose Valley and Red Valley hike(2 hours)

Pink-tinged rocks, hidden churches. 5 km

Valley kiosk tea break(30 minutes)

Fresh juice and tea. TRY 20-40

Lunch at Koy Evi(1 hour)

Guvec casserole and dolma. TRY 150-250

Derinkuyu Underground City(1.5 hours)

85m deep, 8 levels. TRY 200

Ihlara Valley hike(2 hours)

Canyon with rock-cut churches. TRY 60

Lunch at Belisirma riverside(1 hour)

Platforms over river. Fresh trout. TRY 100-200

Selime Monastery(45 minutes)

Largest rock-cut monastery. Cathedral-sized interior

Sleep in and late breakfast(2.5 hours)

Backup balloon day if first was cancelled

Carpet and kilim shopping(1.5 hours)

Tea and conversation. TRY 500-5,000+

Pigeon Valley walk(1.5 hours)

Easy 4 km. Pigeon houses in cliffs. Free

Dinner at Seten Restaurant(1.5 hours)

Fine dining in a cave. TRY 300-500

ATV tour through valleys(2 hours)

From TRY 500/day. Access valleys unreachable on foot

Lunch at Old Greek House (Mustafapasa)(1.5 hours)

Restored Greek house. TRY 150-300. Charming village

Sema (Whirling Dervish) ceremony(1 hour)

Saruhan Caravanserai. TRY 200-300. Deeply moving

Kaymakli Underground City(1.5 hours)

TRY 200. Widest underground city. 4 levels open

Drive to Soganli Valley(1 hour)

50 km. Remote, rarely visited

Soganli Valley exploration(2.5 hours)

TRY 30. Dozens of rock-cut churches. Byzantine frescoes in silence

Lunch at a village home(1 hour)

Gozleme, yoghurt, local cheese. TRY 50-100

Second balloon ride or Lover's Hill viewpoint(3 hours)

Lover's Hill is 10 minutes from town. Free. Spectacular photos

Turkish hammam in Goreme(1.5 hours)

Cave setting. From TRY 600

Afternoon cooking class(3 hours)

Manti, gozleme, testi kebab. From TRY 800 including lunch

Kayseri Grand Bazaar(1.5 hours)

15th-century. Famous for pastirma and sucuk

Lunch at a Kayseri mantici(1 hour)

Kayseri-style manti with tiny dumplings. TRY 100-200

Hunat Hatun Complex(45 minutes)

13th-century Seljuk mosque, madrasa, hammam. Free

Drive to Erciyes Mountain(1.5 hours)

3,917m. Winter: ski. Summer: cable car TRY 100

Wine tasting at Turasan or Kocabag(1.5 hours)

From TRY 100. Try Emir and Oküzgözü indigenous grapes

Dinner in Urgup(1.5 hours)

Ziggy Café. Modern Turkish in cave. TRY 200-400

Devrent Valley(1 hour)

Free. Formations shaped like camels, dolphins, seals

Cavusin old village(1 hour)

Abandoned cliff village. Free. Oldest frescoes in Cappadocia

Lunch in Cavusin(45 minutes)

Gozleme and ayran. TRY 60-100

Bayramhacili hot spring(2 hours)

TRY 40. Natural thermal water

Dinner at Pumpkin Goreme(1 hour)

Kabak tatlisi (pumpkin dessert). TRY 150-300

Drive to Tuz Gölü(2 hours)

150 km northwest of Goreme. The drive through the flat Anatolian steppe is a completely different landscape from Cappadocia's valleys. Rental car essential (TRY 800/day)

Walk on the salt flats(1.5 hours)

Free. The lake is extremely shallow (max 2m) and in summer large sections dry out completely, leaving a crystalline white salt crust. Walk out onto the salt — the mirror reflections are extraordinary. The water turns pink from salt-loving algae. Bring sunglasses — the reflection is blinding

Lunch at a roadside restaurant(1 hour)

The small towns around the lake serve simple Anatolian food — grilled meat, fresh bread, and tea. TRY 60-100. About as far from tourist restaurants as you can get

Kızılırmak Bird Sanctuary stop(45 minutes)

On the way back, the wetlands near the Kızılırmak river delta attract flamingos and pelicans. Free viewing from the roadside

Drive to Mustafapasa(30 minutes)

20 km south of Goreme. The drive passes through Urgup

Walk through Mustafapasa(2.5 hours)

Free. The village has the best-preserved Greek architecture in Cappadocia. Ornately carved stone facades, Greek inscriptions above doorways, and a beautiful church (Agios Vasilios) with original frescoes. The village was Greek until the 1923 population exchange. A contemplative, slightly melancholy atmosphere

Visit Monastery Valley behind the village(1.5 hours)

A short walk from the village leads to hidden rock-cut churches and monasteries in a quiet valley. No entrance fee. You'll likely have them to yourself. The frescoes in some are remarkably well-preserved

Lunch at Old Greek House revisit(1.5 hours)

The restored Greek house restaurant serves homestyle food in a courtyard. TRY 150-300. One of the most atmospheric meals in Cappadocia

Sleep in and extended terrace breakfast(2.5 hours)

Watch any balloons still flying while eating simit, cheese, eggs, and honey on the terrace

Walk through Goreme's residential streets(1.5 hours)

Beyond the tourist shops, Goreme is a real village. The back streets have ancient pigeon houses, family gardens, and cave homes still in use. The local tea house near the mosque is welcoming

Lunch at a local lokal(1 hour)

Simple Turkish home cooking at one of the no-name restaurants near the bus station. Point at what looks good. TRY 60-100

Afternoon reading on the terrace(3 hours)

The fairy chimney landscape changes with the light — watching it for hours reveals patterns and details invisible on a quick visit

Sunset at the hotel terrace(1 hour)

Watch the light change one more time. Turkish tea and baklava

Pre-dawn at Lover's Hill for balloon photos(2 hours)

The most photogenic moment in Cappadocia — 100+ balloons rising over the fairy chimneys as the sun comes up. Bring a tripod. Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise. Free

Drive to lesser-known viewpoints(3 hours)

Hire a car or join a photography tour. The viewpoints along the Urgup-Goreme road, the panorama above Çavuşin, and the Ortahisar Castle approach all offer unique compositions. The Pigeon Valley viewpoint near Uchisar is particularly good in mid-morning light

Golden hour at Rose Valley(2 hours)

The rose-coloured rocks glow pink and orange in the last hour of sunlight. Walk into the valley for compositions with fairy chimneys, churches, and vineyards

Morning horseback ride(2.5 hours)

Dalton Brothers Ranch or Cappadocia Horse Riding. From TRY 600 for 2 hours. Ride through Red, Rose, and Sword Valleys. No experience needed — the horses know the trails. The landscape from horseback has a rhythm and perspective that walking and driving can't match

Free afternoon(3 hours)

Last chance for shopping — pottery, onyx chess sets, hand-woven kilims, and dried apricots. Goreme's shops are less pushy than Istanbul's bazaar

Farewell dinner at Seki Restaurant(1.5 hours)

Cave restaurant near the Open-Air Museum. Lamb tandir, fresh bread from the stone oven. TRY 200-400. The setting in a natural cave is atmospheric

Drive to Ortahisar(15 minutes)

The castle rock (TRY 20) offers views rivalling Uchisar without the crowds. The town is quieter and more authentically Turkish than Goreme

Walk through Ortahisar old town(1 hour)

Stone houses, small mosques, and a local market. The wine warehouses carved into the rock are fascinating — Cappadocia's cool underground caves are natural wine cellars

Hike Pancarlık Valley(2 hours)

Start from Ortahisar. A hidden valley with a rock-cut church (Pancarlık Church) that has some of the best-preserved frescoes in the region. Free. Almost no tourists. The church guardian may offer you tea

Lunch at Ortahisar's village restaurant(1 hour)

Simple Turkish food. The manti here is hand-made by the owner's mother. TRY 60-120

Morning at leisure or sunrise viewpoint(2 hours)

Last chance for balloon photos from the ground. Or sleep in — you've earned it

Return to your favourite valley for one last walk(2 hours)

Rose Valley, Love Valley, or Pigeon Valley. The valleys in Cappadocia reward repeat visits — you notice things the second time that you missed on the first

Farewell sunset at Uchisar Castle or Red Valley viewpoint(1.5 hours)

Watch the fairy chimneys turn gold, orange, and purple one final time

Final sunrise viewpoint(30 minutes)

If balloons are flying, it never gets old. Free

Cave hotel breakfast(1 hour)

Last Turkish breakfast spread. Stock up on dried apricots

Last shopping in Goreme(1 hour)

Pottery, onyx, kilims, dried apricots — Cappadocia's specialties

Farewell dinner at Topdeck or Seten(1.5 hours)

One last testi kebab cracked at your table. Turkish tea on the terrace. The golden hour light on the fairy chimneys from your cave hotel terrace — this is what you'll remember

Sunrise viewpoint one last time(30 minutes)

If balloons are flying, it never gets old

Airport transfer(45 minutes)

Hotel shuttle to Nevsehir or Kayseri. TRY 100-200. Allow 2 hours