Biblical Cappadocia Tours / 3 Day Orthodox Monasteries of Cappadocia Tour

TOUR DETAILS:
Biblical Cappadocia Tour Itinerary:

DAY 1: Northern Cappadocia:
Arrival in Kayseri or Cappadocia airport and greeted by your expert local tour guide and private transportation. After a brief introduction of Cappadocia, you will journey back into Christian times with your visits to must see sites of Cappadocia including Zelve Open Air Museum; an important settlement and one of the best example of early monasteries of Christians established in the early 4th C.AD. Zelve is home to one of the oldest Early Byzantine churches known as ‘ Grape church’ adorned with bunches of grapes in the main abse signifying the ‘blood of Jesus and Sacred drink Wine’ in Christianity. The monastery is also home to many rock-hewn settlements, living quarters, churches, chapels and pigoen holes. Other important churches include Cross church and Fish church which both has the red ochre techniques depicted in Maltese Crosses, Floral and Geometric patterns adorning the interior walls. After our visit, drive to Monks Valley where densely shaped ‘Fairy Chimneys’ are taking place, peculiar to Cappadocia in the world. However, more important thing peculiar to this valley is the Chapel of St. Simon carved into soft tufa rock and ‘the very first monk cells granted the establishment of monastic settlements in Cappadocia dating back to early 4th C.AD. Taste some of the delicious local recipies at our selected eating area in Avanos town and experience the very first Throwing pottery technique known as Kick Wheel invented by Hittites in 2026 BC. The local villagers of Cappadocia earn their living by making some precious hand-made items out of red clay gifted by the Red River, the longest of Turkey. After lunch, we visit one of the most important Christian settlements of Cappadocia, registered as UNESCO site since 1985 and is considered to be the Pilgrimage Site’ for Christian communities; Goreme Open Air Museum. Our visit includes Apple Church, Dark Church, Buckle Church, St. Onuphrious church, St. Barbara Chapel and St. Basil Chapel. Each chapel and church has a story from the New & Old Testament dating back different eras. Most of the reportoire of frescoes and seccos have been vividly done and protected up today. Enjoy some of the mesmerising views of Cappadocian landscape at our panaromic stops and have time for your photographing. C/into your selected cave hotel in Cappadocia ( L-D) .

DAY 2: Southern Cappadocia
Meet with your expert tour guide and private transportation at your hotel in the morning and drive to outskirts of Cappadocia to explore some off the beaten paths of Cappadocian Christian history. Our first stop of the day is Mustafapasa - former Sinasos - village homed to Orthodox Christians and Muslim Turks till 1920’s. This visit gives us the opportunity to observe both art and religion of two different cultures. We will visit a 13th C.AD Theological school of Seljukian period and a mosque dating back to 14th C.AD. Since Mustafapasa has been home to Orthodox communities for a long time, we will also visit some of the noteworthy churches dating back to Eraly & Late Byzantine period. The visits include St. Basil Chapel, St. Nicholas Church & Monastery and Eleni & Constantine Church which 3 of them has a different story to tell. After we drive to southwards of Cappadocia, enjoy a scenic drive through vineyards, villages and agricultural living populations. We will stop by Sahineefendi village to visit Forty Martyries Church opened after a painstaking restoration process and it is dating back to 13th C.AD. The uniqueness of the church is the depiction of Forty Martyries who were punished by the king of Roman Empire and thrown into frozen lake for converting to Christians. The church is also home to many vivid and distinctive seccos of Biblical stories. Drive to Soganlı Valley afterwards, once occupied by Christian world as a central Monastery till the end of 15th C AD- the area is densely dotted with pigeon holes, churches and monasteries. Tahtalı Church & Domed Church, without any doubt, are the most interesting churches of this site. Serpent Church takes the breath away with the depiction of old-aged Jesus Christ in white hair. After 1 hour hike, have lunch at a family run restaurant in the center of the old Soganlı village.

After lunch, we will drive to Derinkuyu underground city, one of the unique aspects of Cappadocia region, carved below the earth to create safe subterrenean cities to shelter against Arab invasions during 7th C.AD. Underground cities of Cappadocia are the rare samples of engineering like Pyramids or Stonehenges of the world history, as the cities have been carved into in with several living quarters, wineries and storages, connecting with multi levels. Some of the tiny tunnels and low rooms are the evidence of bitter conditions of Christian living at these times to protect their communities in. In addition to living quarters, it is also possible to see underground churches and monasteries have been genuisly carved which are the significant reasons of practice of religion in these times. After our visits, drive bck to your Hotel. ( B-L-D).

Day 3:
Transfer to Kayseri airport to board on your early morning onward flight. Farewell to Cappadocia. (B).

The Cost of this tour includes:
2 days of expert guiding in English (Expert on Christian History & Iconography), 2 days of private transportation, entrance fees to sites, admissions and parking fees, additional ‘Dark Church’ entrance fee, lunches at selected restaurants, complimentary bottled water on Tours, vat taxes, 24/7 assistance of our Cappadocia Office, HB stay at a seleceted cave Hotel on double basis, round private airport transfers, Meals as indicated Breakfast- B, Lunch-L, Dinner-D).

The Cost of this tour excludes:
Items of personal nature, gratuities to guide and driver, domestic or international flights, any Hotel expenses, visa fees or Travel insurance, any item not specifically mentioned on the inclusives, activities described as optional.

Tour Prices:
2 Members
With 4* City Hotel: 816 USD per person ( For 2 members).
With Boutique Cave Hotel: 890 USD per person ( For 2 members).

4 Members
With 4* City Hotel: 552 USD per person ( For 4 members).
With Boutique Cave Hotel: 624 USD per person ( For 4 members).