Soğanlı Valley

Culture & history tours

Embark on an extraordinary hot-air balloon adventure over the enchanting landscapes of Cappadocia, where you'll explore one of the incredible valleys below. Depending on the weather conditions on the day, fly over the breathtaking Cat Valley, Soganlı Valley, or Ihlara Valley. Start with pickup from your hotel early in the morning prior to the sunrise. Travel to the takeoff site and watch as the giant balloons are inflated by the expert teams. Prepare to be spellbound as you ascend into the sky, gently gliding above the iconic fairy chimneys, ancient cave dwellings, and striking rock formations that make Cappadocia a world-renowned destination. With each valley boasting its own distinctive charm and natural wonders, enjoy an awe-inspiring bird's-eye view of the region's breathtaking beauty. Snap photos as the rising sun illuminates the landscape, and capture a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Landing back safely on the ground, receive your flight certificate, and be returned to your hotel in Cappadocia.

The adventure starts with an early flight to Cappadocia, from Istanbul, booked by us. Once you land and claim your bags, you'll meet our team at the exit gate of the airport. Then, the team will take you to your hotel to drop your bags, (you won't be able to check in) and start your Cappadocia tour around 09:30 a.m. The tour will include a visit to Göreme panoramic viewpoint, Göreme open air museum, a local workshop, Devrent (imagination) valley and some optional stops, depending on the timing and general availability. At the end of the day, return to the hotel for an unforgettable night sleeping in a cave room Day 2 starts with a sunrise balloon ride at Soğanlı Valley. Afterwards, return to the hotel for breakfast and check out. Depending on the time of your flight (which will be in the evening) we'll provide an ATV tour either during the sunset or day. Once the ATV tour is over, we'll take you back to the hotel lobby, and pick you up again for the airport transfer. Take the flight we booked for you, back to Istanbul. Our services will end with said flight, back to Istanbul.

The experience will starts when we pick you up from one of the airports in Cappadocia ((NAV or ASR airports) 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 churches. 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. 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. 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 landing, you'll celebrate it with a champagne toast, as tradition dictates. After that, we will take you to the hotel and you'll have some to yourself, until we pick you up once again, for the ATV (Quadbike) tour at sunset. 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.

The tour begins with a visit to Ortahisar with good photo opportunities of Ortahisar Rock Castle.  Venture to Mustafapasa which was an old Greek Village once called Sinasos. Here you will find and marvel at old Greek churches in this town. Next head to Taskinpasa Medresesi, an Ottoman theological school. Drive through Sahinefendi and visit the Roman ruins of Sobesos which was recently excavated and that has beautiful mosaic floors. Explore Keslik Monastery, churches from 8th and 12th centuries, refectory and other complexes, used by monks.  Admire the Soganli Valley, walk 2 km in the valley and visit famous cave churches. Short break in Soganli Village and take some time for yourself for lunch at a local restaurant. Then continue to Derinkuyu Underground City which is the deepest underground city in Cappadocia. 

Discover Cappadocia on a 3-day, 2-night trip accompanied by an expert guide. Visit the ethereal Devrent Imagination Valley, the Byzantine tombs, the Derinkuyu Underground City, and enjoy local cuisine and comfortable accommodation. Day 1, blue tour with lunch: Book an early morning flight to Cappadocia (Kayseri Airport) and arrive by 8:00 AM at the latest. The local partner will organize the shuttle transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia accordingly. Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM. The first stop is Devrent Imagination Valley, where you'll walk through the ethereal lunar landscape and admire the dramatic rock formations. You'll also visit the Pasabaglari, fairy chimneys, and you'll see a pottery demonstration using the Hittite technique at Avanos. Tuck into a traditional lunch at a local restaurant and then head up to Uchisar Rock Castle, the highest point in the region and the best place to watch the sunset. Catch amazing panoramic views of the Goreme Valley from Esentepe, and visit the Goreme Open Air Museum. Day 2, green tour with breakfast and lunch: Before your 9:15 AM pickup from the hotel, you have the option to book an early morning hot air balloon ride. Otherwise, your first stop will be Kaymakli Underground City and then it's on to Soganli Valley where you'll take a relaxing walk along Byzantine rock tombs. Continue on to Sobesos, a Roman bath from the 5th century, then Taskinpasa Medresesi, an Ottoman theological school, and Mustafapasa where you'll see Ottoman and Greek architecture. Day 3, red tour with breakfast and lunch: Get picked up from the hotel at 9:15 AM, and then head to the Derinkuyu Underground City, the largest in the region, Narli Gol a volcanic creator lake, and Ihlara Canyon. Enjoy Lunch in Belisirma Village, Selime, a surreal ancient monastic site with great panoramic views of the Ihlara Valley. At the end of the trip, you'll transfer to Kayseri Airport and fly back to Istanbul or another part of Turkey to continue your travels.

Make the most of your time in Cappadocia with a convenient 2, 3, 4, or 5-day travel pass. Enjoy access to hot air balloon rides, winemaking experiences, off-road jeep safaris, and much more. Fully included in the card price: • Ancient winemaking experience at Mazen Winery • ATV tour through the Magical Valley • Birth of Cappadocia video projection visual show• Traditional Ürgüp cuisine experience at Tık Tık Women Co-op Eatery• Turkish night with dinner, folk, and belly dance show• Whirling dervishes sema ceremony• Wonders of Cappadocia red tour• Gondola ride on the Red River• Zipline adventure over the Red River• Jet boat ride on the Red River• Ihlara Valley Canyon tour• Jeep off-road safari • Monster ride safari• WhatsApp traveler support Discounted with your card:• Hot air balloon ride• Private transfer to/from Kayseri• Private transfer to/from Nevsehir• Sunrise photoshoot with hot air balloons • Private Goreme Open Air and panorama tour• Private Ihlara Valley and Underground City tour• Private Goreme Open Air and Underground City tour• Private Soganlı Valley tour with Rock-Cut Churches • Retro and classic car ride at sunrise• Sultan’s Turkish bath experience at Ürgüp Hammam

Our flights are taking pace over the "Soğanlı Valley”, one of the newly discovered attractions for balloon flights. Soğanlı is a serene valley with courtyard monasteries and cave churches from the 10th and 11th centuries. Due to its new discovery, very few balloons get the chance to fly in this uniquely beautiful valley. As you fly over this valley, you can imagine the daily pursuits of the people who lived here in the past and admire these unique formations. It is a living history with its monasteries, caves and dovecotes built in the rocks. Your biggest advantages are that you can fly way more comfortably in 18-person baskets instead of 28-person baskets in terms of capacity and that you will accompany the first flights of this extraordinary valley, which has just been allowed for flights. The valley is forty kilometers southeast of Nevşehir, about 1-hour drive from Göreme. The valley rivals the Göreme Open Air Museum and Ihlara Valley in terms of historic importance and natural beauty but receives far fewer visitors. After the balloon ride, we'll take you back to your hotel and pick you up once again for the Cappadocia tour. During this tour you'll have the opportunity to learn about this region's unique geography, history, arts and crafts, culture and peoples.

We Will pick you up from the Hotel at 9: 30 for the Cappadocia Tour Our first stop will be the fairy of Pigeon Valley where we will learn about how nature has created Cappadocia. Then we will drive to the oldest and most well preserved underground city of Cappadocia Mazi(Mazeus- City of Zeus). This is the only underground city from the Neolithic Age ruins (6000 BC) inside. You will see Hittite designs on the walls of this underground city, which has 7 levels. After the visit to the underground city we will have a chance to see local Cappadocians living inside caves and farming in the heart of Anatolia, Then we will drive to Soganli Valley (old name sogandos) where we will drive on the Silk Road.We have our lunch in Soğanlı valley and then we visit 2 churches there. Then we start the red tour. First of all, we visit the Mosaiks Place (Sobesos Ancient City) After Sobesos We Will Visit Love Valley and take beautiful pictures.We complete the tour with a visit to the Avanos for pottery making. Giving you a Best Experience in Cappadocia END OF SERVICE

• Day one: Book an early morning flight to Cappadocia (either to Kayseri Airport or Nevsehir Airport) in such a way to land at the airport before or around 8:00 AM at the latest. The local partner will organize the shuttle transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia accordingly. Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel at around 9:30 AM-10:00 AM. Visit the Devrent Imagination Valley and take a walk through this lunar landscape where different rock formations can be seen. Then see the fairy chimneys at Pasabaglari. In Avanos, watch a pottery demonstration with the Hittite technique. Take a break for lunch and then head to the Uchisar Rock Castle, which is the highest point in the region and a great spot to see the sunset. Continue to Esentepe for panoramic views of the Goreme Valley and the Goreme Open Air Museum of rock-cut churches, frescoes, and a monastery. After the tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel for your overnight stay in Cappadocia. • Day two: On the second day, you can choose to take an early morning hot air balloon flight over the incredible landscape and see the fairy chimneys from above. After, be collected at your hotel and head to the Kaymakli Underground City. See how people lived in this multi-level city complete with stables, kitchens, storage chambers, and winemaking rooms. Visit the Soganli Valley for a relaxing 3-kilometer walk through the valley of Byzantine period rock tombs. Then explore Sobesos, which has a Roman Bath from the fifth century and mosaics and graves from the Byzantine Empire Period. Discover Taskinpasa Medresesi, an Ottoman theological school, and Mustafapasa with Ottoman and Greek architecture. After the tour, be transferred to Kayseri Airport to fly back to Istanbul or another part of Turkey.

In the morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel. Your first stop will be the Keslik monastery which is located in the middle of a quite bizarre landscape. In the middle of the monastery is the church of St. Micheal with mural paintings from the 13-14 centuries. After the stop at the Keslik monastery, you'll be transferred to Soganlı Valley where you'll find the earliest traces of Christian communities. In the heart of the valley, you will be amazed by the beauty of the churches which are called Domed Church, the Church of Deer, the Church with the Serpent, and Tahtalı Church. Afterward, you'll enjoy the village cuisine of Cappadocia. Then, see the ancient Roman city of Sobesos on the way back to the hotel.