REVIEW · SIDE
Cappadocia 2 Day Excursion including fee
Book on Viator →Operated by Side Tours Antalya · Bookable on Viator
Two days in Cappadocia starts at dawn. This trip stitches together Konya (with Mevlana Museum), Göreme’s open-air sights, and a sunrise moment in Cappadocia, with hotel pickup and a full guide in English to keep it moving. It’s built for value too: you’re not just seeing one site—you’re seeing how the area works, from fairy-chimney valleys to underground history.
I like two parts in particular. First, you get dinner and breakfast included in a 3- or 4-star hotel, so the overnight is taken care of. Second, the sunrise hot air balloon flight is offered as an optional upgrade when weather permits, which lets you choose your budget and your risk tolerance.
One thing to watch: this is a long, early schedule with a couple of costs that are not bundled. Underground city entry is extra, the balloon is extra, Turkish night isn’t included, and (on group trips like this) logistics can vary depending on the final mix of travelers and room types.
In This Review
- Key points worth knowing
- Price and Logistics: What $108.38 really covers
- The 5:00am start from Side: Comfortable or just long?
- Day 1: Konya, Taurus Mountain breakfast, and the Mevlana stop
- Day 1 in Göreme: Open-air museum time you can actually use
- Day 2: Sunrise Cappadocia, balloon upgrade, and valley viewpoints
- Underground City and extra fees: decide ahead of time
- Wine tasting and handmade crafts: where the tour becomes more human
- Hotel, meals, and group size: the comfort trade-offs
- The optional balloon decision: when it’s worth the money
- Who this tour fits best (and who should look elsewhere)
- Should you book this Cappadocia 2-day excursion?
- FAQ
- What is the price per person?
- How long is the excursion?
- What time is pickup?
- Where does pickup happen?
- Is there a hotel included?
- What meals are included?
- Do I get a tour guide?
- Is the hot air balloon included?
- Are entrance fees included for the underground city and museum stops?
- What language is the tour in?
- Does the tour require good weather?
Key points worth knowing

- 5:00am pickup from Alanya, Side, and Belek areas means you’re traveling early, not after coffee.
- Overnight hotel stays (3 or 4-star) with dinner and breakfast included.
- Konya + Mevlana Museum gives you more than just Cappadocia.
- Göreme open-air stops plus valley time for fairy-chimney photo ops.
- Optional sunrise balloon upgrade, weather permitting.
- Underground city entry is extra, so plan for add-on tickets.
Price and Logistics: What $108.38 really covers

At $108.38 per person for a roughly 2-day outing, this is priced like a “guided, organized, and largely included” package. You’re paying for a guide, round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off from the Side/Alanya/Belek zones, travel insurance, and the core meals—breakfast and dinner—plus an overnight hotel.
What’s not included is important because it affects your final total. The hot air balloon is an optional add-on (and depends on weather). If you want the underground city, entrance fees are extra. Turkish night is also not included, and you’ll have any private spending on top of the tour price.
This structure is common in Turkey: a base tour covers the big anchors and transport, while a couple of “premium” experiences and certain museum entrances remain optional. If you keep your expectations realistic about add-ons, the value can feel very solid.
A few more Side tours and experiences worth a look
The 5:00am start from Side: Comfortable or just long?

The tour start time is 5:00am, with pickup from hotels across Alanya, Side, and Belek. That early departure is the trade-off for fitting two days of major sights into a single trip.
From a planning standpoint, this matters more than it sounds. Your body will feel it on Day 1 (especially if you’re not used to early starts). It also increases the odds that the day will feel “scheduled,” not slow and wander-y.
One more practical note: group size is capped at 40 travelers, which is good—big enough to keep costs down, not so big that you’re lost in a crowd. Still, if you’re sensitive to seating, timing, or room assignments, group logistics can affect comfort. A good workaround is to travel with patience, and keep your phone charged just in case you need to check details at the pickup stage.
Day 1: Konya, Taurus Mountain breakfast, and the Mevlana stop

Day 1 starts with pickup, then heads toward Konya. Before the museum portion, there’s a break for breakfast in the Taurus Mountain area. This is one of the nicer touches: instead of rolling straight into the first “big stop,” you get a chance to reset before the walking and touring begins.
The Konya highlight is a visit to the Mevlana Museum. If you’re not already familiar with the Mevlana tradition, this stop gives you cultural context beyond Cappadocia. Konya is one of those Turkish cities where the story matters as much as the setting, and a guided visit helps you see why this place is a cornerstone for many people.
After that, the itinerary includes Urgip (as listed) before dinner at your hotel. Dinner is included, so you don’t have to hunt for food after a long travel day.
Then, later in the day, you move into Göreme for the Göreme Open Air Museum. The visit is listed at about 1 hour with admission ticket covered under the tour’s included elements. For many people, this is your first real taste of the region’s “fairy chimney” rock formations—so even a short visit can spark the desire to come back and slow down.
Day 1 in Göreme: Open-air museum time you can actually use

The Göreme Open Air Museum is one of those places where being rushed is the biggest enemy. Here, you get about an hour on Day 1. That’s not enough for deep wandering in every direction, but it can work well if your goal is: get oriented, see the key rock churches, and get the general layout.
I like the way this tour uses that short timing. It puts you in Göreme early enough to understand what you’ll be chasing on Day 2: valleys, viewpoints, and that surreal feeling you get when you look at the shapes carved into the rocks.
Because admission for this part is shown as free/included, you avoid the common “ticket anxiety” that can slow down a group. You can just walk, look up, and start planning your photo angles for later.
Day 2: Sunrise Cappadocia, balloon upgrade, and valley viewpoints

Day 2 is the “wow” day. After breakfast, you travel toward Göreme again for additional Cappadocia time. The schedule lists a chance to purchase an amazing balloon ride over Cappadocia if weather allows, and it also explicitly includes the chance to watch the sunrise over historic Cappadocia.
This is where the optional upgrade becomes more than a marketing idea. A sunrise balloon depends on conditions, but it also depends on timing and location—both of which a guided program typically handles better than trying to DIY it from Side.
If you don’t want the balloon, don’t worry: the plan still builds around early-morning viewing and viewpoints. The highlights mention incredible views and photo ops at Cappadocia’s fairy chimney valleys, and you’ll get at least one 1-hour valley visit in Göreme as well.
Practical mindset: if you’re serious about photos, sunrise can be unforgettable. If clouds roll in, you’ll still have the day’s structure and included museum/craft stops to keep momentum.
Underground City and extra fees: decide ahead of time

The itinerary includes a visit to an underground city. Key detail: entrance fees are extra. That means you should decide early whether you want that add-on based on your interests and your budget.
Why it’s worth thinking about: underground cities are not just “a room underground.” They’re a whole system—passageways, storage spaces, and defensive architecture. If you love archaeology and unusual history, it can be a standout. If you’re more into scenery and viewpoints, you may feel it’s less urgent.
Either way, knowing it costs extra helps you avoid last-minute sticker shock. On a schedule like this, you’ll also want to be realistic about walking and stairs.
Wine tasting and handmade crafts: where the tour becomes more human

After the historic stops, the tour adds two more “life in Cappadocia” experiences.
First, you’ll visit a vineyard to sample homemade wines. This isn’t the same as a supermarket tasting. The value here is that you’re seeing how the region’s agriculture connects to everyday life, not just to tourist brochures.
Second, you’ll get a chance to watch handmade ceramics and carpets being produced. These craft demonstrations can be hit-or-miss depending on how strongly the guide pushes purchases. But even when shopping pressure exists, watching the process helps you understand why some items cost what they do—and what “handmade” actually means in practice.
If you don’t want to buy anything, you can still treat these stops like cultural breaks: look, learn, and then keep moving.
Hotel, meals, and group size: the comfort trade-offs

You’ll have overnight accommodation at a 3- or 4-star hotel, with dinner and breakfast included. This is a real benefit. Two-day Cappadocia packages often leave travelers scrambling for one meal or another, especially after a late arrival. Here, your meals for the overnight are covered.
Group size max is 40 travelers, and pickup is offered from hotels in Alanya, Side, and Belek areas. That all points to an organized, bus-based day structure.
The one drawback to be aware of is that group logistics can change depending on final headcounts and bus assignments. If you’re picky about seat comfort or hate uncertainty, arrive early at pickup, keep your confirmation accessible, and communicate immediately if something seems wrong. Being early gives your guide a better chance to fix it fast.
The optional balloon decision: when it’s worth the money
The sunrise hot air balloon flight is offered as an optional upgrade. The tour notes it’s weather dependent, which is the big rule here.
So how do you decide? I’d use this simple framework:
- If you want the defining Cappadocia image, and you’re okay with the possibility of weather changes, the balloon can be worth budgeting for.
- If you prefer to keep things predictable and you’d rather spend money on craft, wine, or extra time on your own, skip it and focus on the scheduled sunrise viewing and valley photography.
Either way, remember that even without the balloon, this itinerary still targets the classic Cappadocia “shape” of the region: fairy chimneys, valleys, and a sunrise moment. You’re not buying the entire experience only for one ticket.
Who this tour fits best (and who should look elsewhere)
This tour is a strong match if you want:
- Guided, efficient sightseeing over two days
- Hotel + dinner + breakfast handled for you
- A mix of Konya + Cappadocia rather than only one area
- English-language guidance and a group size that stays under 40
It may not fit you as well if:
- You dislike early starts and long travel days (the 5:00am pickup tells you what you’re signing up for)
- You want an ultra-flexible itinerary with lots of free time to wander
- You’re extremely sensitive to group logistics like bus comfort and room assignment details
A smart approach is to treat this as a “structured highlights trip,” not a slow, self-paced Cappadocia holiday.
Should you book this Cappadocia 2-day excursion?
If you’re looking for a practical two-day plan with pickup from Side, overnight hotel comfort, included breakfast and dinner, and multiple Cappadocia anchors, I think this is worth considering—especially at this price point.
I’d book it if:
- You want a guided overview that hits Konya, Göreme, valleys, and an underground stop
- You’re fine with add-ons for the balloon and underground city entry
- You appreciate sunrise viewing timing and don’t mind early mornings
I’d hesitate if:
- You hate schedule pressure and want lots of unstructured time
- You’re on a tight budget and want everything fully included (because the underground city and balloon are extra)
- You know you’re very particular about transport comfort and room details on group days
Bottom line: for many people, the combination of transport, hotel, meals, and major sights is the real value. Just plan your budget for the two likely extras—balloon and underground city entry—and you’ll be happier when the schedule moves fast.
FAQ
What is the price per person?
The tour costs $108.38 per person.
How long is the excursion?
It’s listed as approximately 2 days.
What time is pickup?
The start time is 5:00am.
Where does pickup happen?
Pick-up is offered from all hotels in the Alanya, Side, and Belek areas.
Is there a hotel included?
Yes. You get overnight accommodation in a 3- or 4-star hotel.
What meals are included?
Dinner and breakfast are included.
Do I get a tour guide?
Yes, a tour guide is included.
Is the hot air balloon included?
No. The balloon is an optional upgrade, and it depends on weather.
Are entrance fees included for the underground city and museum stops?
The itinerary shows Göreme Open Air Museum and valley time with admission ticket marked as free/included. The underground city entrance fees are listed as extra.
What language is the tour in?
The tour is offered in English, and mobile tickets are provided.
Does the tour require good weather?
Yes. The experience requires good weather, and if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.





























