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Avanos, Turkey Archaeology

Our most recommended Avanos Archaeology

From Istanbul: Cappadocia 3=Day Trip with Balloon Flight

1. From Istanbul: Cappadocia 3=Day Trip with Balloon Flight

The experience will start with and very early pick up from your hotel in İstanbul. Take your flight to Cappadocia and start enjoying every second of it. On the first day, we will pick you up from your hotel in İstanbul and take you to the airport. Once you fly and reach to Cappadocia, we will greet you at the airport and start your Cappadocia tour. Our Cappadocia tour will start with Göreme panorama, where we'll have the opportunity to explain how Cappadocia come into existence as we know it. Then we will drive to Göreme open air museum, to explore this grand religious complex and it's famous cave churces. We will continue our tour with a visit to Devrent valley, to let our imagination run wild and trying to figure out which rock looks like what. Then we will pay a visit to town of Avanos for lunch. Your lunch will be at a local restaurant, serving local dishes. A visit to a pottery workshop is necessary while in Avanos, so we'll get into one, and let our hands get dirty with clay. Our last visiting point will be at Uçhisar Castle region at Pigeon valley, where we will have the perfect photo opportunuties. With the end of the tour, we will take you to your hotel, to relax and get ready for tomorrow. After getting a good nights sleep, you'll need to get up quite early for a hot air balloon flight at sunrise, at Soğanlı Valley. Your pick up vehicle should arrive pre-dawn and all you have to do is getting into the car and let us take you to your balloon basket. After flying for 1-hour and celebrating your landing, you'll celebrate it with a champagne, as tradition dictates. After that, we will take you to the hotel and you'll have brief time window to have your breakfast before your car arrives for the second part of your tour. Now we're going south, mainly Kaymaklı underground city, and Ihlara valley. Our first stop should be a nice viewpoint at Red Valley, to get ourselves ready for a day full of adventure! Then we will hit the road once again, to see Kaymaklı underground city, it literally is a city, but underground; with it's living areas, stables, kitchens, places of worship, cellars and even cemeteries. After spending enough time at the Underground City, we will drive approximately 1 hour to Ihlara valley. Once we reach there we will descent into the valley trough stairs and start admiring this unique place. This visit will include at least a 3,5 km hike, so better be prepared. Once we get what we want from this lovely canyon. We will stop by the little stream of Belisrıma which goes trough the canyon, for a lunch. Our last point of visit will be Selime monastery, the biggest religious building in entire Cappadocia. With the end of the tour, we will take you back to your hotel. On the third day, following your breakfast, we will once again come for you; to take you to the airport for your flight back to İstanbul. Once you land in İstanbul, our colleagues will greet your at the airport and drive you back to your hotel.

From Istanbul: 2-Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flights

2. From Istanbul: 2-Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flights

Get an insider’s view of Cappadocia’s most iconic spots on a trip from Istanbul. Walk in the land of fairy chimneys. Hear commentary from your guide along the way about fascinating sites like Goreme Open Air Museum, Avanos Village, Uchisar, Avanos, Underground Cities, Ortahisar, and Pasabag. Day 1: Flight to Kayseri and Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia Catch your domestic flight to Kayseri. Start with a visit to the Goreme Open Air Museum, a cave city in the Goreme Valley. See rock-cut churches, kitchens, and wineries left by Anatolian Christians. Gaze at Byzantine frescos at this UNESCO World Heritage Site and learn about its history. Next, make your way to Devrent Valley, famous for its animal-shaped rocks. See a rock pillar that looks like the Virgin Mary, holding Jesus Christ. Continue to Pasabagi Valley or Monks Valley to enjoy the wonderful landscape. Make your way to Avanos Village, the region known for its pottery, silk, wool, and carpet weaving, wine cultivation, and agriculture. See the natural as well as human-made masterpieces of this charming old town. Savor a typical Turkish lunch. Experience pottery-making with local experts. After treating yourself to a hearty lunch, continue to Goreme Panorama, for views of fairy chimneys, which are tall rock formations with caps on top. Make the most of your time in Cappadocia by visiting Uchisar. Get to the top of the rock castle in the center of the town, the highest point of the region, a perfect vantage point for a panoramic view of the stunning Cappadocian landscape. After sightseeing, be driven to your hotel. Spend the night in Cappadocia in a special-class cave hotel. Day 2: Underground Cities Of Cappadocia and Flight to Istanbul Start your day with breakfast at the hotel. After check-out, embark on a full-day tour. Visit Rose and Red Valley, an incredibly unique area of Cappadocia with sharp ridges, tinted in pink, especially during sunset. Go off the beaten path to visit Cavusin. See its famous rock churches. Next, enjoy a tour of Pigeon Valley, named after the countless man-made dovecotes or pigeon houses carved into the soft volcanic tuff. Walk through a picturesque maze of rock formations. Then, go down to the world of underground cities. Once a refuge for 15000 Christians, these settlements were of enormous value to the development of Christianity. Witness the ancient bedrooms, church, meeting hall, and food storage rooms in this 8-story city connected by 30 kilometers of corridors and passageways. Continue the tour with Ortahisar, famous for its friendly inhabitants, picturesque stone houses, narrow streets, and lovely churches. See the famous castle-like rock formation standing dominantly over the town. After the tour, be driven to Kayseri Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, be greeted by your driver and return to your hotel.

Full-Day Cappadocia Red Plus Tour

3. Full-Day Cappadocia Red Plus Tour

See the top sights of Cappadocia on this guided day tour. Visit Monks Valley, marvel at the fairy chimneys, and see Goreme Valley. You will be picked up from your hotel by a professional tour guide after your breakfast. Your first encounter with Cappadocia will be in Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley).  In this valley, different rock formations can be seen as animals which is why this valley can also be called Imagination Valley. Use your imagination to describe all these rocks. Then, head to Monks Valley or also known as Paşabağları.  There is a bit of a difference between these two meanings in English and Turkısh. Monks used to live here and hide from the religious pressures of the Roman government or local people.  During the Roman period, most of the people were pagans and not Christian. That's why all the history of these places comes from this point.  In Turkish, Paşa means men who have lots of money and land. Bağ means land or area that can be purchased. In the following years, all these rich men bought some part of the land for their own economic power. Afterward, the local people were known as Paşabağları. Avanos town will be your third point of interest. In the art center, you will see how to make pottery and ceramic in the Cappadocia region. The history of pottery making and ceramic dates back to the Hittite emperors (B.C. 4000).  Avanos is the only town that is famous for pottery and ceramic made using red and white clay only. In the art center, you will be shown a pottery-making demonstration and will also be able to try it yourself. Then, head to an open buffet lunch in a local, clean restaurant as a tour break.  After a short photography break at the Esentepe viewpoint, see the stunning Gōreme Valley and fairy chimneys. The largest and tallest fairy chimney known as Uchisar Castle will be your next point of interest located in Uchisar. It is also a natural structure, not made by human hands.  In case of dangerous situations, you will not be allowed to climb the castle.  The most important place for Christianity, Zelve Open Air Museum will be waiting for your visit after Uchisar Castle. This will be completely similar to today's university model. You will see dormitories (for men and women), churches (9 to 10), chapels, dining rooms, mutual places, and classrooms.  You will see wall paintings or frescoes on most of the walls of the churches in this museum. These paintings depict some scenes from the Bible or some other important point in the life of Jesus Christ. People used to live here as students and teachers together. In addition, teachers gave Christian courses to their students from the Bible. Then after their graduation, they would go to some other part of Turkey in order to spread and teach Christianity to the people.  Finally, you will visit the deepest and largest underground city in Cappadocia. Consisting of seven floors, you will see all parts of the underground city open to the public and learn how people survived under limited opportunities.  Mainly, you will see stalls, dining rooms, food storage rooms, churches, kitchens, and other similar places you would normally find in a living area. Your professional art historian guide will gladly explain all the details and the history of the places you will visit during your tour schedule. 

Cappadocia: Highlights Tour with Lunch and Entry Tickets

4. Cappadocia: Highlights Tour with Lunch and Entry Tickets

Your tour of Cappadocia's highlights begins with a pickup from your hotel. Head to the Devrent Valley and see why it is also known as Imagination Valley. See countless different types of Fairy Chimney formations, which formed almost 30 million years ago. Head to the Göreme Open Air Museum, one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia and a UNESCO site. See the cave town's dwellings built into the sides of rock formations. Now a ghost town due to unsafe erosion, this place once housed Christians and Muslims in harmony with each other. Have the opportunity to stop by a local shop to discover the real Anatolia. See how people survived and created beautiful art in this region dating back to the Hittite period. Sit down for lunch in a local restaurant and rest up for the second half of the tour.   Then stop in Pasabag, where we will see the most interesting fairy chimneys, resembling those seen in the Hobbit and Smurfs.

From Istanbul: 2-Day All-Inclusive Cappadocia Guided Trip

5. From Istanbul: 2-Day All-Inclusive Cappadocia Guided Trip

Get an insider’s view of Cappadocia’s most iconic spots on an all-inclusive trip from Istanbul. Float above volcanic spires and honeycombed hills on a hot air balloon. Be accompanied by a guide to Goreme Open Air Museum, Avanos, Pasabag, Uchisar, and Kaymakli Underground City, and more. Day 1 Depart from your hotel in an air-conditioned minivan and make your way to Istanbul airport. Catch your domestic flight to Cappadocia. Upon your arrival to Cappadocia, meet your guide and begin your tour of North Cappadocia. Walk in the land of fairy chimneys. Visit Goreme Open Air Museum, Red River, Devrent Valley, and Pasabag. Make your way to Avanos Village for a traditional lunch and pottery demonstration. Get to the top of the Uchisar Castle, the highest point of the region, a perfect vantage point for a panoramic view of the stunning Cappadocian landscape. After sightseeing, be driven to your hotel. Spend the night in Cappadocia. Day 2 You can opt to join a balloon flight in the morning. Your day tour will be organized according to the balloon flight hours. After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Go off the beaten path to visit Cavusin. See its famous rock churches. Head to Goreme Panorama for views of fairy chimneys. Hike in the Red Valley. Visit Old Greek Love Valley, Kaymakli Underground City, and Pigeon Valley. Walk through a picturesque maze of rock formations. Witness an onyx demonstration by local experts. Savor a typical Turkish lunch. Conclude the day tour by 5 PM. Then, be driven to Kayseri Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your driver and taken to your hotel.

From Istanbul: Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flight & Lunch

6. From Istanbul: Day Trip to Cappadocia with Flight & Lunch

Explore the most important landmarks of Cappadocia along with its fascinating rock formations on a full-day guided tour from Istanbul. See the Goreme Open Air Museum, Devrent Valley, fairy chimneys from Goreme Panorama, and more with an authentic Turkish lunch at a restaurant. Get picked up from your hotel in Istanbul and arrive at the airport for a 1.5-hour flight to Kayseri. Meet your local driver and enjoy the ride to Cappadocia, where you will join other group participants and begin your tour. Explore the Goreme Open Air Museum and study the many rock-cut churches from as far back as the 10th century. Next, visit Devrent Valley, famous for its quirky animal-shaped rocks, and feel like you're in another world. Head to Pasabag, also known as Monks Valley, and see the chapel dedicated to St. Simeon along with a hermit's shelter. Admire some of the most striking fairy chimneys with a unique mushroom shapes. Stop for a typical Turkish lunch in Avanos. Then learn to make pottery with local experts. Take in the best views of the fairy chimneys from Goreme Panorama before marveling at more magnificent landscapes from Uchisar Rock Castle. Drive back to Kayseri for your return flight to Istanbul where your driver will greet you and take you back to your hotel.

From Istanbul: 2-Day Trip to Cappadocia w/Balloon+Cave Hotel

7. From Istanbul: 2-Day Trip to Cappadocia w/Balloon+Cave Hotel

Day 1:The adventure starts with pickup from your hotel in Istanbul. Travel to the airport where you'll take an early flight to Cappadocia. Stop by the hotel to drop-off your luggage before starting the Red Tour at 10:00 AM. The first stop is Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley due to the countless Fairy Chimney formations, some dating back 30 million years. Next, head to the Göreme Open Air Museum, one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia and a UNESCO site. See the cave town's dwellings built into the rocks and learn about the site where Christians and Muslims in harmony. Stop by a local shop to admire artistic techniques dating back to the Hittite period. Finally, set down for a buffet lunch in a local restaurant. The second half of the tour includes a visit to Pasabag, where you'll admire Fairy Chimneys that resemble those seen in the Hobbit and Smurfs. At the end of the day, return to the hotel for an unforgettable night sleeping in a cave. Day 2: Start with a sunrise balloon ride at Soğanlı Valley. Afterwards, return to the hotel for breakfast and check out. The driver will then pick you up for a stop at Göreme Panorama. Next, drive to Kaymaklı Underground City to learn how early Christians protected themselves from centuries of persecutions and invasions. Hike through Turkey's largest canyon, which features over 2,670 different plants that thrive in the valley's microclimate. Afterward, drive 1.5 hours to Ihlara Canyon for a 3.8-km hike along the river. After working up an appetite, enjoy lunch in Belisırma. Next, visit Selime Monastery, the biggest religious building in Cappadocia with a cathedral-size church. Before returning you to your hotel, your guide will stop at Pigeon Valley, the best photo spot in all of Cappadocia. The day ends with transport to the airport in Cappadocia. Once in Istanbul, a driver will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel.

From Istanbul: 7-Night Tour of Turkey with Flights & Hotel

8. From Istanbul: 7-Night Tour of Turkey with Flights & Hotel

Fully immerse yourself in Turkish culture with a 7-night tour through Istanbul, Ephesus, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, and Cappadocia. Don’t worry about booking transfers, guides, breakfasts, hotels, or domestic flights as all of this will be taken care of for you.  Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul Arrive at the Istanbul Airport (IST) or SAW Airport where the tour representative will meet you with a name sign and take you to the hotel for your overnight stay in Istanbul. Day 2: Full-Day Istanbul Tour with Breakfast After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of Istanbul. Visit the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place. Visit the Grand Bazaar and spend the night in Istanbul.  Day 3: Istanbul, Izmir & Kusadasi with Meals Start your day with a flight to Izmir and head to Ephesus. Visit the Artemis Temple before continuing to Ephesus, one of the twelve cities of Ionia. After Ephesus, lunch will be served in a local handicrafts center garden. Go to the House of the Virgin Mary before overnighting in Kusadasi. Day 4: Kusadasi with Meals Drive to Pamukkale to discover the Travertine terraces and the hot springs in Hierapolis. Visit the ancient city of Hierapolis at Pamukkale and stay overnight in Pamukkale. Day 5: Pamukkale to Cappadocia with Breakfast  Drive to Cappadocia to visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, a world-famous mystic, and Sultanhani Caravanseria, a roadside inn where travelers can rest and recover from the day’s journey. Stay overnight in Cappadocia in a cave hotel. Day 6: Cappadocia Tour Cave Hotel with Breakfast Start at the Three Sisters Fairy Chimneys in Urgup. Descend into the Kaymakli Underground City, one of the largest and deepest in Cappadocia. Visit the Goreme Open Air Museum and continue to the Uchisar Rock Castle for a panoramic view of Cappadocia. Spend the night in Cappadocia. Day 7: Full-Day Cappadocia Tour with Breakfast Experience the lunar landscape of Cappadocia in the Devrent Valley. Have lunch in Avanos, the center of terracotta art since 3000 BC, and enjoy a demonstration in a traditional pottery workshop. In the afternoon, fly from Kayseri to Istanbul and overnight in Istanbul. Day 8: Istanbul with Breakfast After breakfast, check out from the hotel and enjoy a private transfer to the airport.

Cappadocia: Small-Group Guided Tour

9. Cappadocia: Small-Group Guided Tour

This full-day small-group guided tour of Cappadocia covers some of the most famous attractions of the region including the Göreme Open Air Museum, Cavusin, Avanos, Pasabag, and the Underground City. The tour includes pick up from your hotel and transportation in an air-conditioned van. You will be accompanied by a driver and a local guide who will provide insight into the history, culture and significance of the sites visited. The tour offers a great opportunity to experience the unique landscapes and monuments of Cappadocia, with a focus on the historic cave churches and underground settlements. Cappadocia (Pass By) Lying in south central Turkey, the moonscaped region of Cappadocia, southeast of Ankara, is most famous for unique geological features called fairy chimneys. The large, cone-like formations were created over time by erosion of the relatively soft volcanic ash around them. Past cultures have dug into them to create dwellings, castles (like Uchisar) and even entire underground cities like Kaymakli and Derinkuyu, used as hiding places by early Christians. Nearby Kayseri is the gateway to the area. Goreme Open-Air Museum The Goreme Open-Air Museum resembles a vast monastic complex composed of scores of refectory monasteries placed side-by-side, each with its own fantastic church. It is obviously the first sight to be visited by any traveler in Cappadocia, standing as it does in the very center of the region with easy access from all directions. Pasabag Pasabag in Cappadocia is located on the road to Zelve, coming from Goreme or Avanos. Highly remarkable earth pillars can be seen here, in the middle of a vineyard, hence the name of the place which means: the Pacha's vineyard. Pacha means "General", the military rank, in Turkish and it is a very common nick name. This site is also called Monks Valley. The name was derived from some cones carved in tuff stones which stand apart. Currently, there is a vineyard and a number of tuff cones standing right next to the road. Pigeon Valley is a popular tourist destination located in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. The valley is known for its beautiful scenery, rock-cut dovecotes, and hiking trails. Some of the highlights of Pigeon Valley include: Rock-cut dovecotes: The valley is known for its rock-cut dovecotes, which were carved out of the soft volcanic rock by ancient people. These dovecotes were used to raise pigeons for food, and they are a unique feature of the valley. Visitors can see the dovecotes and learn about the traditional way of life in Cappadocia. Uchisar Castle Uchisar is situated at the highest point in Cappadocia, on the Nevsehir-Goreme road, just 5 km from Goreme. The top of the Uchisar Castle, provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area with Mount Erciyes in the distance.

Cappadocia Small Group Day Tour - Goreme Open Air Museum

10. Cappadocia Small Group Day Tour - Goreme Open Air Museum

Immerse yourself in the history and beauty of Cappadocia while discovering the city’s famous rock formations and breathtaking views. Start the day by taking in the beautiful panorama at Uchisar Castle while learning about the rich history of Cappadocia and its unique rock formations. Next, head to the Goreme Open Air Museum and explore thousand-year-old fresco-covered cave church walls with your guide. Watch a pottery demonstration using a kick wheel. Show off your own talent or just observe. Try traditional Turkish food during lunch in Avanos. Then see the Halys River, the longest river in Turkey. Stop off in Pasabag, also known as Monks Valley, and see the chapel dedicated to St. Simeon along with unique mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. Make a final stop in Devrent Valley and take fantastic pictures with the animal-shaped rock formations.

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What people are saying about Avanos, Turkey

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 16 reviews

Wir fanden die Führung in der kleinen Reise Gruppe ideal für einen gelassenen Ausflug durch Kappadokien. Dadurch dass man unsere Reiseführerin Elif persönlich jeder Zeit ansprechen konnte, hatte Mann die Möglichkeit, flexible Entscheidungen zu treffen. Sie ist sehr nett und aufgeschlossen und Mann kann Sie jeder Zeit ansprechen und Fragen stellen. Die Reise ist sehr empfehlenswert für alle, die entspannt alle Sehenswürdigkeiten mit einer guten Führung genießen wollen!

Our tour was wonderful! Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. She showed us all the beauty Cappadocia. She took the time to explain and describe every important fact about this magic place. Everything was organized and coordinated. We definitely recommend this tour to everyone who wants to visit the beautiful Cappadocia.

Very well organized tour that started with the taxi pick up and driving us to the airport. There are a lot of amazing places to see, and plenty of historical facts get to know about Cappadocia. A big thanks to our guide, Shukram - she was very knowledgeable and we really enjoyed the tour.

Excellent trip. Everything worked out as planned. The locations were out of the world. The hotel stay was outstanding and exceeded our expectations

Atilla was great! Not as rushed as the green tour. So many cool things on this one! Lunch was nothing special though.