Konya, Cappadocia, Gobeklitepe & Nemrut Tour: 7 Days from Istanbul
Overview
Konya, Cappadocia, Gobeklitepe & Nemrut Tour: 7 Days from Istanbul
This 7-day route follows Turkey's heritage from Istanbul into the heart of Anatolia. It begins with the spiritual mood of Konya, moves on to the volcanic valleys of Cappadocia, and then heads deep into the southeast for Sanliurfa, Gobeklitepe, Adiyaman and Mount Nemrut.
You fly to Konya and visit the Mevlana Museum, the Karatay Madrasa and the Alaaddin Mosque. An intercity bus then takes you to Cappadocia, where two guided routes lead through Pasabag, Zelve and Rose Valley. In Sanliurfa the archaeology museum, the Pool of Abraham and Hasimiye Square complete your visit, and on the last day Arsemia and the Cendere Bridge come before the climb to the summit of Nemrut.
Flights, transfers, guides and hotels are arranged in advance, so you can give your full attention to the journey.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Flight to Konya and Konya City Tour
Meals: lunch. Transfers included.
05:00 – Pick-up at your hotel in Istanbul and transfer to the airport. The time can change depending on your flight and where your hotel is.
07:35 – Flight from Istanbul to Konya. The flight time and airport can change with the season, the airline schedule and operational availability.
08:35 – Landing in Konya. Our team welcomes you at the airport and drives you into the city center.
Mevlana Museum: the spiritual center of Konya, built around the tomb of Mevlana Rumi. The tiled dome, the dervish heritage, old manuscripts and ceremonial rooms tie the city to centuries of Sufi tradition.
Selimiye Mosque: right next to the Mevlana complex, it represents the Ottoman chapter of Konya. Its well-proportioned courtyard and graceful interior lead you gently from the shrine back into city life.
Karatay Madrasa: a Seljuk school of theology known for its fine tiles. It shows why Konya was one of the great centers of learning and art in medieval Anatolia.
Meram panoramic area: the green and open part of Konya, with gardens, water channels and wide views of the city. After the grand monuments in the center, it offers a softer, quieter break.
Alaaddin Mosque: set on Konya's historic hill, it keeps the memory of the Seljuk sultans alive. Its position shows how the old capital was arranged around power, faith and public space.
17:00 – End of the tour and transfer to your hotel.
Night in Konya.
Day 2 – Bus from Konya to Cappadocia
Meals: breakfast. Transfers included.
After breakfast you check out and are driven to Konya Bus Station for the intercity bus.
12:00 – The bus leaves for Cappadocia. The ride lasts about 3.5 hours, with one or two short stops.
15:30 – On arrival you are taken to your hotel to check in.
Night in Cappadocia.
Day 3 – North Cappadocia Red Route
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers included.
Optional early-morning add-ons (can be added during booking at the best available price):
- Hot air balloon flight at sunrise, our most booked activity
- Balloon watching tour to the best viewpoints for sunrise photos
09:30 – Pick-up at your hotel and start of the northern route.
Devrent Valley: famous for volcanic rocks that look like animals and figures if you use a little imagination. It is a good first look at Cappadocia, where erosion has turned soft stone into a field of natural sculptures.
Pasabag: home to some of the most spectacular fairy chimneys in the region, including pillars with several caps that are linked to early hermits. Few places explain the geology of Cappadocia so clearly.
Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos lies on the Red River, and its clay has fed local pottery for thousands of years. The workshop visit links the landscape with a craft that is still alive today.
Zelve Open Air Museum: once a cave village and monastery spread over several valleys. Empty homes, churches, tunnels and passages show how people shaped the volcanic rock to suit everyday life.
Goreme panoramic view: from this viewpoint the valleys, cave houses and volcanic shapes fit into one wide picture. It is one of the best spots to grasp how big central Cappadocia really is.
Uchisar Castle exterior view: a natural rock fortress that towers over the region. Seen from outside, it is easy to understand why this high point served both as a village landmark and as a lookout for defence.
17:00 – End of the tour and transfer back to your hotel.
Night in Cappadocia.
Day 4 – South Cappadocia Yellow Route
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers included.
09:30 – Pick-up at your hotel for the southern route.
Rose Valley: its pink and red colours come from volcanic layers rich in minerals. The slopes also hide cave rooms, footpaths and small carved churches.
Underground City: a hidden Cappadocia below ground, with tunnels, storerooms, air shafts and heavy stone doors made to protect people in times of danger.
Pigeon Valley: the cliffs are full of carved dovecotes, once used to collect fertilizer for the vineyards. From the viewpoints you look out toward Uchisar.
Gulludere Valley: softly coloured rocks, cave churches, vineyards and walking trails show a quieter, more detailed side of Cappadocia.
Cavusin Village: an old settlement cut into the rock, with cave homes and churches rising up the cliff. It shows how village life once merged with the stone itself.
17:00 – End of the tour and transfer back to your hotel.
Night in Cappadocia.
Day 5 – Road Trip from Cappadocia to Sanliurfa
Meals: breakfast. Transfers included.
After breakfast and check-out, your driver picks you up at the hotel for the trip to Sanliurfa by private vehicle. This is a transfer with a driver only, without a guide. The scenic drive takes around 7 hours, with planned stops to rest and stretch your legs.
Night in Sanliurfa.
Day 6 – Gobeklitepe, Sanliurfa Museums and Adiyaman
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers included.
Gobeklitepe: one of the most important prehistoric sanctuaries anywhere, older than farming villages as we usually picture them. Its T-shaped pillars and animal carvings change the story of ritual life before the first cities.
Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum: it puts Gobeklitepe and the wider prehistoric region into context, with original finds, early human figures and displays that link the area across thousands of years.
Haleplibahce Mosaic Museum: it shelters fine Roman mosaics found near the old city. The Amazon mosaics and delicate floor scenes reveal a completely different chapter of Sanliurfa's history.
Pool of Abraham: one of the holiest places in Sanliurfa, linked with the Abraham tradition and surrounded by courtyards, mosques and shady walkways.
Hasimiye Square: the old bazaar spirit lives on here, with stone passages, local shops, tea houses and the daily rhythm of the historic center.
After the tour you drive to Adiyaman or Kahta to check in at your hotel. The drive takes about 2 hours.
Night in Adiyaman/Kahta.
Day 7 – Mount Nemrut and Flight to Istanbul
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers included.
After breakfast at the hotel you are collected for the heritage route around Adiyaman.
Karakus Tumulus: a royal burial mound from the Commagene era, marked by columns and animal statues that still stand. It introduces the royal family behind Mount Nemrut.
Arsemia Ancient City: a royal sanctuary and summer capital of the Commagene kings. Its inscriptions, reliefs and hillside location give useful background before you reach the summit of Nemrut.
Cendere Bridge: a Roman bridge made of huge stone blocks, still in excellent condition, spanning the old river gorge. It shows the engineering skill of the region after the Commagene period.
Mount Nemrut: you reach it by a mountain road and a last walk uphill to the terraces at the top. The giant stone heads, the royal tomb sanctuary and the views from this height make the visit feel both archaeological and ceremonial.
At the end of the tour we take you to Adiyaman Airport.
20:30 – Flight from Adiyaman to Istanbul. The flight time and airport can change with the season, the airline schedule and operational availability.
22:40 – Landing in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel.
Our services end when you are dropped off at your hotel in Istanbul.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Domestic flights Istanbul to Konya and Adiyaman to Istanbul, including 15 kg checked baggage and 8 kg cabin baggage per person
- ✓Intercity bus ticket from Konya to Cappadocia
- ✓6 nights hotel accommodation with breakfasts
- ✓Lunches during guided tour days as listed
- ✓Airport, bus station, hotel, and tour transfers mentioned in the itinerary
- ✓English-speaking licensed guides on tour days
- ✓Entrance fees for listed sights and local taxes
- ✕Dinners and unmentioned meals
- ✕Drinks at lunch
- ✕Personal expenses
- ✕Optional day tours and activities
- ✕Cappadocia hot air balloon flight
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Konya, Cappadocia, Gobeklitepe and Mount Nemrut in 7 days: the key facts
This 7-day, 6-night group tour starts and ends in Istanbul and heads into central and southeast Turkey. You fly to Konya for a guided city day, take an intercity bus to Cappadocia for three nights and two valley tours, then drive about 7 hours to Sanliurfa. Day 6 covers Gobeklitepe and the Sanliurfa museums, and Day 7 ends at the summit of Mount Nemrut before an evening flight from Adiyaman back to Istanbul.
It suits travellers who have already seen Istanbul and want prehistoric and ancient sites more than beaches or shopping. Expect early starts and long road legs. The price is from $1,979 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Route | Istanbul - Konya - Cappadocia - Sanliurfa - Adiyaman/Kahta - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour, guided in English, departs daily |
| Start / end | 05:00 pick-up at your Istanbul hotel on Day 1 / drop-off at your Istanbul hotel after the 22:40 landing on Day 7 |
| Included | 6 hotel nights with breakfast (1 Konya, 3 Cappadocia, 1 Sanliurfa, 1 Adiyaman/Kahta), flights Istanbul-Konya and Adiyaman-Istanbul (15 kg + 8 kg), Konya-Cappadocia bus, lunches on tour days, listed entrance fees, transfers |
| Extra | Dinners, drinks at lunch, balloon flight, optional tours, personal expenses, Istanbul hotel nights |
How do the flights and road legs work?
There are two domestic flights. On Day 1 you are picked up at 05:00 for a 07:35 flight to Konya, landing about 08:35. On Day 7 you fly from Adiyaman at 20:30 and land in Istanbul around 22:40. Between them, Day 2 is a 3.5-hour intercity bus from Konya to Cappadocia, Day 5 is a drive of about 7 hours to Sanliurfa, and Day 6 ends with a 2-hour drive to Adiyaman or Kahta. Flight times and airports can change. Note that the booking form shows start times from 08:00, while the itinerary starts at 05:00, so ask us to confirm the Day 1 pick-up in writing.
Do we need our own hotel in Istanbul?
Yes. The six included nights are all outside Istanbul. Day 1 begins with a pick-up at your Istanbul hotel at 05:00, so you need to be in the city the night before, and the tour ends when you are dropped at your Istanbul hotel late on Day 7. We can book these nights for you on request. Our where to stay in Istanbul guide helps you pick an area.
What do we see in Konya and Cappadocia?
Day 1 in Konya covers the Mevlana Museum, the Selimiye Mosque, the Karatay Madrasa, the Meram viewpoint and the Alaaddin Mosque, with lunch, until 17:00. In Cappadocia, Day 3 is the north route from 09:30: Devrent Valley, Pasabag, an Avanos pottery workshop, Zelve, the Goreme viewpoint and Uchisar Castle from outside. Day 4 is the south route: Rose Valley, an underground city, Pigeon Valley, Gulludere and Cavusin. Both days run to 17:00 with lunch. See our Konya and Cappadocia pages.
Is the hot air balloon included?
No. The balloon flight is listed as an exclusion. You can add a sunrise hot air balloon flight (from $111 per person) or a balloon watching tour on the morning of Day 3 when you book. Because you have three nights in Cappadocia, you could ask about a backup on Day 4 or Day 5 if the first morning is cancelled. Flights only go ahead when Turkey's civil aviation office gives permission, and wind is the most common reason for cancellations. Our balloon price guide compares the options.
What happens on the Gobeklitepe and Nemrut days?
Day 5 is a transfer with a driver only, without a guide, with rest stops on the 7-hour drive. Day 6 includes Gobeklitepe, the Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum, the Haleplibahce Mosaic Museum, the Pool of Abraham and Hasimiye Square, with lunch. Day 7 starts after breakfast with Karakus Tumulus, Arsemia, the Cendere Bridge and then Mount Nemrut, where the last part is a walk uphill to the terraces. You then go to Adiyaman Airport for the evening flight. The Day 7 timing on the page suggests a daytime summit visit, not sunset, so ask us if sunset matters to you.
When is the best time of year for this route?
Most travel guides agree the summit road on Mount Nemrut is reliably open from about May to October, and that snow can close it in winter and linger into spring. Sanliurfa is very hot in July and August, often near or above 40°C, and Gobeklitepe has little shade outside the main covered area. Late spring and early autumn are the most comfortable. If you plan to travel between November and April, ask us whether the Nemrut summit is open on your dates before you pay.
How hard are the days?
The walking is easy, but the hours are long. Day 1 starts at 05:00, Day 5 is mostly a drive, and Day 7 ends with a late flight. In Cappadocia and at Zelve there are uneven paths and steps, and the underground city has low, narrow passages. At Nemrut you walk uphill from the car park to the terraces, and it can be cold and windy at the top, so bring a warm layer even in summer. Wear covered shoulders and knees for the mosques in Konya and Sanliurfa; women should carry a headscarf.
Can we change the order or add days?
Yes. The page says the route can be adjusted, days added or hotels changed. An extra Cappadocia night is a common request. For a longer version, compare the 9-day history of Turkey tour with Konya, Nemrut and Gobeklitepe from $2,630 per person, or the 8-day heritage tour with Nemrut, Gobeklitepe, Cappadocia and Ephesus from $2,242 per person. More options are on our Eastern Turkey page and the Mount Nemrut tours from Istanbul page.
How do we book this package?
Use the booking form on this page to pick a start date and the number of guests, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. Tell us where you are staying in Istanbul so we can plan the 05:00 pick-up. We check both flights, the bus and the hotels for your dates and send the full plan in writing, including pick-up times and hotel names, before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the tour begin and finish?
How do we get from one city to the next?
Which hotels do we stay in?
Is a hot air balloon ride part of the price?
What language do the guides speak?
Can I start the tour on any day?
Is it possible to adjust the route or add extra days?
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