Ancient empires and fairy chimneys in one smooth trip. This private, multi-day Central Anatolia experience strings together Ankara, Cappadocia, and Konya with a personal English-speaking guide and comfortable door-to-airport transfers. You’re not piecing things together yourself—your driver meets you at the airport exit gate, and the day-to-day logistics are handled.

I especially like two parts. First, the Hittite stop at Hattusha and the shrine area at Yazılıkaya is explained in plain language, including the figures associated with Teshub and Hepatu and the relief linked to King Tudhaliyas IV. Second, Cappadocia is handled with real variety: Devrent Valley’s rock shapes, Pasabag’s fairy chimneys, Avanos pottery work, and the Goreme Open Air Museum’s rock-cut churches.

One thing to consider: this is a packed route with long stretches in the car, plus a hike and some time underground (Kaymakli has multiple levels). And since accommodations aren’t included, you’ll need to sort your hotel(s) separately for Ankara/Cappadocia/Konya.

Key things you’ll notice on this tour

• Private English guide at every major site, including the Hittite and Seljuk context that helps everything make sense.
• Air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter transfers from airport to hotel and back, with pickups handled for you.
• Cappadocia with depth, not just one viewpoint: Devrent Valley, Pasabag fairy chimneys, Avanos pottery, and Goreme Open Air Museum.
• Kaymakli Underground City on five floors, plus a scenic day with Nar Crater Lake and a Melendiz canyon walk.
• Konya centered on Mevlana, including the museum/tomb and Karatayhan Medreses.
• Lunches included on tour (5 total), so you avoid the daily hunt for food during sightseeing.

How the private Mercedes Sprinter keeps your day sane

The biggest practical win here is how much energy you save with private transport. You travel in an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter, and the tour is built around airport pickup and drop-off, not meeting points that eat your morning.

That matters in this region. Distances between Ankara, the Hittite site near Bogazkale, Cappadocia, and Konya aren’t tiny. Without a private vehicle, you’d be juggling schedules, taxis, and timing. With this setup, you can sit back, watch the scenery change, and focus on the sites once you arrive.

You also get a personal English-speaking guide for the walking parts. That’s not a small detail—standing in front of an ancient ruin is fun, but it’s much better when someone can point out what you’re actually looking at: why a relief is important, how a museum collection is organized, and what the church murals or shrine spaces were meant to communicate.

If you like a structured plan but still want things to feel personal, this is the sweet spot.

Day 1 in Ankara: Atatürk first, then old Ankara’s museum

Your day begins with arrival in Ankara and a meet-and-greet at the airport exit gate. From there, the tour drives straight into the city’s key layers.

You’ll start at the Mausoleum of Atatürk. It’s a logical first stop because it frames modern Turkey before you step into the older capital area. Next comes Old Ankara, including the Ankara Castle area and the Old Anatolian Civilizations Museum—specifically highlighted for its strong Hittite collection.

This mix is great for first-day orientation. You get a fast historical “map” in your head: who built the modern republic, what earlier civilizations left behind, and how Ankara sits at a crossroads in Anatolian history.

Practical note: you’ll likely want to bring a light layer. Museums and outdoor castle areas can feel different temperature-wise, and you’ll be transitioning between vehicle comfort and open-air viewing.

Day 2 at Hattusha: Yazılıkaya details you’ll actually remember

The trip to Hattusha takes you to the former capital of the Hittite Empire, located near modern-day Boğazkale. You’re not just visiting a big field of stones—this stop is explained as a full political and religious center.

Once there, you’ll explore the temples and castle areas connected to the shrine complex. A key highlight is Yazılıkaya, where the most important images in the shrine space are found. Your guide focuses on the figures associated with Teshub (the God of Tempests) and Hepatu (the Goddess of the Sun). You also see the large relief linked to King Tudhaliyas IV, which helps anchor the site in time—useful if you like understanding dates without getting lost in them.

I love this kind of guided archaeology stop because it turns “cool ruins” into “I get what this was and why it mattered.” Even if you’re not a history nerd, you can still follow the story: empires rose, rulers commissioned monuments, and religion and politics were tied together in stone.

Consideration: this is a walking day around major ruins. Wear shoes you trust, and don’t count on shade everywhere.

Day 3 in Cappadocia: Devrent, Pasabag, Avanos, and Goreme

Cappadocia is where the tour truly earns its name. The day starts with the lunar feel of Devrent Valley—rock formations that look almost staged. Instead of one quick photo stop, you’re given time to move through the forms and understand how the terrain was shaped.

Then comes Pasabag, famous for fairy chimneys. The day’s description leans into the way wind moves through the formations—one of those natural “soundtrack” effects that makes the area feel alive. If you’ve ever seen Cappadocia images online, Pasabag is the place that turns those images into something real.

Next is Avanos, the pottery center. You’ll see traditional terra cotta work and get a demonstration in a pottery workshop. This is a nice change from outdoor ruins because you’re working with hands, clay, and craft traditions that have lasted far longer than a typical tourist trend.

After lunch, you head to Goreme Open Air Museum, one of the most important concentrations of rock-cut churches in the region. The focus is on Byzantine art and frescoes from the 10th to the 13th centuries—meaning this isn’t just a pretty viewpoint. It’s a visual history lesson carved into rock.

Tip for getting more out of this day: take a minute in Goreme to slow down. Stand back and look at the church facades and cliff walls before you move deeper. It helps the scale click.

Day 4 in the Kaymakli underground world and Melendiz canyon hike

If Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys are the headline, Day 4 is the plot twist.

You visit Kaymakli Underground City, a UNESCO-listed site. You’ll explore five floors of the underground complex. Underground cities can feel repetitive on paper, but with a guide you get the logic: where people moved, how spaces were organized, and what the layout suggests about daily survival and defense.

After that, the day shifts to open-air nature and countryside. You’ll drive through the scenic Anatolian plain, passing farms, fields, and small villages. Then there’s a photo break at Nar Crater Lake.

Later comes the hike: about 3.8 km along the Melendiz stream through the canyon area. The plan includes lunch by the river, followed by driving to the end of the canyon for another photo opportunity.

This day is a real workout + payoff combo. You get the contrast between engineered underground space and a living, water-shaped valley. It’s also a good day to slow your pace and let your body catch up after Cappadocia walking from the previous day.

Consideration: if you’re sensitive to steps, uneven underground surfaces, or walking on canyon paths, plan accordingly. Bring comfortable shoes and water.

Day 5 in Konya: Sultanhan caravanserai and Mevlana’s world

On Day 5, you check out and drive to Konya, the capital of the Seljuk Empire. This is where the tour broadens beyond Cappadocia’s “fairy tale” appeal and goes deeper into Anatolia’s spiritual and political legacy.

En route, you stop at Sultanhan, described as the biggest caravanserai of Anatolia. Caravanserais are a great way to understand how cities functioned before modern highways—places built for trade, travel, and safety.

In Konya, you stay close to the Mevlana Museum area, so you’re not wasting time commuting through traffic. After lunch, you’ll visit the museum and tomb of Mevlana, and also the Medreses of Karatayhan.

Rumi’s influence is still felt today, and this stop is one of those times where context matters. Instead of seeing architecture as decoration, you start to see it as education and devotion—spaces designed to shape minds and community life.

Then you’ll have time to walk around and enjoy the city’s atmosphere at a slower pace than the “ruins circuit” days.

Small practical note: Konya is a city day, not just a sightseeing drive. If you like taking breaks, this is your day.

Day 6: Konya airport transfer and a clean finish

Your last day is simple and stress-free. You’ll be transferred to Konya airport in time for your flight back to Istanbul.

This is a smart end to the trip because it avoids the usual “one last city + chaotic departure” problem. After days of moving between historical sites, you get a straightforward send-off.

One last tip: keep your light layer handy for the airport. You’ll go from outdoor walking days into indoor air-conditioning, which can feel sharp.

Price and value: what $784.62 really buys you

At $784.62 per person for about 6 days, this is not a budget tour—but it’s also not paying extra for wasted time.

Here’s where the value comes from:

• Private airport transfers (return, handled for you).
• A private English-speaking guide throughout the sites.
• Air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter for ground transfers.
• Lunches included (5 total) during the tour days.
• Admissions included for the stops listed as ticket-included on each tour day.

What you should factor in:

• Accommodations aren’t included. You’re responsible for choosing and paying for hotels in the regions visited.
• Dinners and drinks aren’t included, so you’ll still budget daily evening meals.
• Personal expenses and tips are on you.

If you’re traveling as a couple or small group and you care about comfort, clarity, and time saved, this price can feel reasonable. If you’re trying to minimize costs and you’re comfortable building your own route between Ankara, Boğazkale, Cappadocia, and Konya, you might find cheaper options. But the tradeoff is usually more planning stress and less guided interpretation on site.

For me, the best “payoff” is that you’re not just checking boxes—you’re learning enough to remember what you saw.

Who should book this private Central Anatolia plan

This tour is a strong fit if you:

• Want a private experience with your own guide rather than joining a group van.
• Like history and spiritual heritage, not just scenic photos.
• Prefer comfort on longer driving days in air-conditioned transport.
• Are okay with some walking, including an about 3.8 km hike, and time at an underground site.

It may feel less ideal if you:

• Want a slow trip with lots of downtime every day.
• Have difficulty with uneven ground (ruins and underground cities can be physically demanding).
• Need everything fully packaged, since hotels and dinners are not included.

Should you book it?

If you want the classic Central Anatolia combo—Ankara museums, Hittite Hattusha, Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys and rock churches, Kaymakli underground, and Konya with Mevlana—this is a well-structured way to do it. You’ll get guided context that turns sites into stories, plus the comfort of private transfers so you can actually enjoy the ride.

I’d book it if you’re the type who likes knowing what you’re seeing while still having time to pause for photos and rest.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the tour?

It runs for 6 days approximately.

What cities and major sites are included?

You’ll visit Ankara (including Atatürk Mausoleum and Old Ankara sites), Hattusha (Hittite Empire site), Cappadocia (Devrent Valley, Pasabag fairy chimneys, Avanos, and Goreme Open Air Museum, plus Kaymakli Underground City and a canyon hike), and Konya (Mevlana Museum and tomb, Karatayhan Medreses, plus a stop at Sultanhan).

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, and only your group participates.

Is airport pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Return private airport transfers are included, with pickup at arrival and transfer to the airport again at the end.

What transportation is used during the tour?

A private, air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter is used for the tours and transfers.

Are lunches included?

Yes. Lunches are included (5 lunches).

Are admission tickets included?

Admission tickets are included for the listed attractions on the tour days.

Are accommodations included in the price?

No. Accommodations are not included.

What’s not included (besides lodging)?

Personal expenses, drinks at lunches, dinners, and gratuities for the guide and driver are not included.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.

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