4 Days in Cappadocia, Turkey

Getting There:

Took a domestic flight from Istanbul over and then got on the hotel’s shuttle service (about 10 euros) to the hotel.

Day One (Half Day):

I decided to explore nearby areas and have an early night as I had to wake up really early the next day.

Note: Your accommodations would definitely have their own contacts for activities, so if you’re not one for planning ahead, don’t worry, you’ll definitely still be able to book some activities. There are a couple of standard tours (red, green, blue) that you can book. It is chilly in the early mornings, so do bring a jacket.

I booked myself the hot air balloon flight and my day started at 4 a.m., where the shuttle came to pick us up from our accommodations.

Once everyone had been picked up, we headed to our takeoff area where the magic happens. While the sky is still dark, you’ll see your captain hard at work, inflating your balloon. You’re then asked to hop in one by one and before you know it, up you go! This is where the race begins, between your balloon and the other 150+ to see who manages to get up the fastest and highest. And in a blink of an eye, you’re back on land popping some sparkling (non-alcoholic champagne), getting your certificate and heading back to your accommodation all before 9 a.m.

Well, I decided to squeeze in a cute nap before heading out for brunch and a hike to the next town (Uchisar). Starting my hike strong at Pigeon Valley trailhead east, I found a way and hiked my way all the way to Uchisar Castle. I spent around two to three hours exploring this town before taking a long stroll back to Goreme.

I decided to book a two-hour sunset camel riding activity. But if camel riding isn’t your cup of tea, they do have horseback riding/ATV too.

I woke up bright and early again and headed to the Highest viewpoint in Goreme (TRY10) to watch the balloons go up. There were quite a lot of people there so I suggest going early to find yourself a good spot. They were like fireflies blinking in the dark from afar.

I went back to my hotel to get ready for my Green tour where they brought me to Pigeon Valley, Selime Monastery Museum, Ihlara Valley and Derinkuyu Underground City.

Last morning here, I decided to catch the balloons going up from the comfort of my hotel’s balcony.

Spent my day exploring the Goreme Open Air Museum (TRY300), Galerie Ikman, and the streets of Goreme. Before catching my overnight bus to the next city - Antalya.