I travelled to Cappadocia solo from Multan, via Istanbul, and spent the first half-day completely confused about how to actually see the place — it is far more spread out than the photos suggest. So here is the exact three-day plan I pieced together, the one I wish I had walked in with.

Before you arrive

Cappadocia is not a walkable city like Istanbul. The sights are scattered across valleys and towns, so you need either the organised day tours or a rented car. As a solo female traveller I went with the tours, which were easy, social and safe. I based myself in a cave hotel in Göreme at around PKR 13,000 a night — central, with a rooftop perfect for watching the morning balloons.

Day 1 — arrival, valleys and a sunset

I landed at Nevşehir, transferred to Göreme in about an hour, and spent the afternoon easing in. I walked to a nearby viewpoint, then watched my first Cappadocian sunset from the hotel rooftop as the rock turned gold. That evening I had testi kebabı — the clay pot cracked open at the table — for around PKR 2,800. Early night, because the next morning was the big one.

Day 2 — the balloon and the Red Tour

I did the sunrise balloon first (about PKR 70,000 — the splurge, and worth it), back at the hotel for breakfast, then joined the Red Tour for roughly PKR 16,000. It covered the Göreme Open-Air Museum with its frescoed rock churches, the panoramic Uçhisar Castle, and a couple of the famous valleys, with lunch included. Having a guide explain the history made it click in a way wandering alone never would have. I was exhausted by evening but completely happy.

Day 3 — the Green Tour and underground city

The Green Tour (also around PKR 16,000) took me further afield to the Derinkuyu underground city — genuinely the highlight of my trip. Descending level after level into a city carved beneath the earth, where thousands once lived and hid, gave me goosebumps. The tour also included the Ihlara Valley walk and a stop in Avanos, the pottery town by the river. I bought a small hand-painted bowl that now sits on my desk in Multan.

What it all cost

• Cave hotel, 3 nights: ~PKR 39,000
• Balloon: ~PKR 70,000
• Red + Green tours: ~PKR 32,000
• Food, 3 days: ~PKR 12,000
• Airport transfers: ~PKR 6,000

That comes to roughly PKR 159,000 for three days on the ground, not counting the international and domestic flights. Drop the balloon and it falls to about PKR 89,000 — still a rich, full trip.

Solo female travel notes

I felt completely safe throughout. The tours are full of other travellers, Göreme is small and friendly, and locals were respectful and helpful. As anywhere I dressed modestly, kept my hotel address handy, and stuck to well-lit areas at night. Halal food was never a concern, and I found a quiet corner for namaz easily.

Final advice

Three days is the sweet spot — enough to balloon, do both tours, and still breathe. Book the balloon for an early morning so weather cancellations do not ruin your plans, pick a cave hotel with a good rooftop, and let the organised tours do the logistics so you can just soak it in. Cappadocia surprised me more than anywhere I have been, and I went home already plotting a return.