Social Program
Icebreaker & Welcome Dinner +
We invite all ESEV-25 participants to an Icebreaker and Welcome Dinner. The event will take place on April 28, 2025 at 19:00 (Istanbul Local Time) at the Convention Center (see Conference Program). This will be a wonderful opportunity for all participants to socialize and enhance their involvement.
+ Although participation is free, online registration is necessary.
Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Shows ++
Participants of ESEV-25 will have the opportunity to enjoy a stunning Istanbul evening and a memorable dinner cruise on the Bosphorus starting at 19:00 (Istanbul Local Time) on April 30, 2025 (see Conference Program). A leisurely cruise is planned around the Bosphorus to see Dolmabahce Palace, Bosphorus Bridges, Maiden's Tower, and other iconic landmarks while enjoying fabulous food, entertainment with great Turkish dance shows, and spectacular views. This will be the perfect way to celebrate the closure of ESEV-25!
++ There will be a participation fee that needs to be paid after registering online.


Excursion: Cappadocia, Anatolian Plateau
Immediately after the conference, an excursion to some of the natural features of Türkiye is planned, offering the attendees the chance to explore the wonders of Türkiye and discover new experiences and sensations.
Participants will be able to explore and uncover many mysteries of local geological history. The excursion is fun and educational, so accompanying persons are also welcome to join in. However, trips are not suitable for children younger than 10 years old.
The Excursion Guide is available for download.
Dates: 01–04 May 2025
Leader: Attila Çiner, Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences, ITU, Istanbul, Türkiye
Participation fees: 400 EUR (shared room) / 500 EUR (single room)
Description:
This four-day field trip will take place in Cappadocia, in the middle of the Anatolian Plateau, famous for its volcanism, unique landscape, and unusual rock formations.

The development of the Cappadocian landscape dates back to the Late Miocene (around 10 million years) when volcanoes spread their deposits over an area of 20.000 km2. Volcanism continued for millions of years, depositing thick and colourful tuff layers. The Cappadocian landscape's evolution starts with gently sloping plateaus, eroded in several thousands of years to form mushroom-like structures known locally as Fairy Chimneys. Humans have used these volcanic formations to build cave houses (troglodytes), churches, and underground cities for over 4000 years.
Itinerary:
Day 1 (May 01st): The trip will start at Istanbul Airport on May 01st, following the Bosphorus cruise the night before. We will take the Istanbul-Kayseri flight (Turkish Airlines at 13:00). If you cannot find a place on this flight, please buy another flight and let us know your schedule. Turkish Airlines also has flights to Nevşehir Airport (a 13:30 flight is a good option), which is also close to Cappadocia. Pegasus Airlines also flies to Kayseri from Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side of Istanbul. This should be your last option. Please buy your Turkish Airlines 13:00 flight ticket as soon as possible. You can also buy your return flight (we will leave the hotel on the morning of May 4th).
For information, Cappadocia has two airports (Kayseri & Nevşehir), Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines are two options for the return flight. However, beware that Pegasus Airlines flies only to Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side (not very convenient if you plan to continue your journey towards your country).
We will land at Kayseri Airport around 16.00. A bus will then transfer us to Perissia Hotel at Ürgüp.Day 2 (May 02nd): Breakfast at 08:00 and leave at 9:00. We will visit the Göreme open-air museum with many rock churches decorated with frescoes. Later, we will go to Devrent Valley, known for its lunar-like landscape, where different Fairy Chimney formations can be seen. Lunch will be at Lalinda Göreme Restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, one of Cappadocia's oldest settlements and one of the three UNESCO sites in the park. Finally, we will visit the village of Avanos, the center of pottery-making in Cappadocia. You can try your hand at an old-fashioned potter’s wheel to create your clay masterpiece using ancient Hittite techniques. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 (May 03rd): Optional Hot Air Balloon Tour (price varies, but it will be around 200 euros per person). Enjoy the miraculous wonders of the Cappadocia region from the sky at sunrise. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Breakfast at 08:00 and leave at 9:00. We will first visit the underground city of Kaymaklı Underground City. Archaeologists estimate that there are at least 30 such underground dwelling complexes, first begun by the Hittites around 2,000 B.C.; some are interconnected by tunnels built over the millennia. The underground city you will visit has eight stories carved into the ground beneath the surface. Later, we will go to Soǧanli Valley. On the way back, we will stop at Mustafapașa (old Sinasos), a small town selected as the best tourism village in Turkey and famous for its Ottoman and Greek architecture examples—dinner at the hotel.
Day 4 (May 04st): A free bus transfer will be provided from your hotel to the airport (you can buy any flight convenient for you).
What is included in the rate above
- 3 Nights’ accommodation (Single, Double or Twin) in 5-star hotel
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Meals as specified in the itinerary with one soft drink
- Private airport transfers in Cappadocia
- Transportation in deluxe nonsmoking vehicles with A/C and comfortable seats
- Fluent English-speaking guided tours
- All entrance fees for the museum and other historical sites we will visit
- All the transportation fees (highway fees and parking)
- All the expenses of the guide & driver, such as meals and drinks
- All local taxes.
What is excluded from the rate above
- International and internal flight tickets
- Balloon flight (200 euros per person) over the fairy chimneys at sunrise in Cappadocia
- Tips (not compulsory but customary for guide and driver)
- Personal expenses and other services that are not mentioned above