5-Day Istanbul, Cappadocia and Pamukkale Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul, Airport Transfer and Free Day

Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) at your scheduled time, you will be met by our representative at the international arrivals exit, holding a sign with our agency code for identification. Following a brief meet-and-greet, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. You may choose to rest after your journey or explore the city independently.

The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city at your leisure. Alternatively, you can opt to join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show at an additional cost. This experience offers a memorable evening on the Bosphorus, complete with entertainment and a delicious dinner.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Istanbul Old City Tour and Late Evening Flight to Cappadocia

After breakfast and checking out from the hotel, you will be picked up around 8:30 am to begin a full-day guided tour of Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman treasures.

The tour will start with a visit to the grand Hagia Sophia, a majestic structure that began as a cathedral, later served as a mosque, and is now a museum, showcasing centuries of history from both Christian and Islamic cultures.

Next, visit the iconic Blue Mosque, famous for its striking blue tiles and six towering minarets. This impressive building remains an active place of worship and a hallmark of Ottoman architecture.

From there, you’ll explore the Hippodrome, which was once the center of Byzantine public life and the venue for chariot races and other social events. Here, you’ll see important monuments, including the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and German Fountain.

After visiting these key historical sites, you’ll enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant, where you can sample traditional Turkish cuisine and take a moment to relax.

Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the stunning Topkapi Palace, the lavish residence of Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. You’ll explore the palace’s vast courtyards, jewel-filled treasuries, and, optionally, the Harem, the private quarters of the sultan’s family.

The final stop of the day will be at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. With over 4,000 shops, the bazaar offers a wide range of goods, from spices and carpets to jewelry and ceramics, providing an exciting experience for both shoppers and culture enthusiasts.

At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel around 4:30 pm to collect your luggage before being transferred directly to Istanbul’s domestic airport for your late evening flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival in Kayseri, our representative will meet you and arrange your transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Romantic Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Cappadocia Tour – Overnight Bus to Pamukkale (650.9 km)

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel around 9:30 am to start your full-day tour of Cappadocia’s enchanting landscape and historical sites.

The morning part of the tour includes:

• Göreme Open-Air Museum: Explore the cave churches adorned with ancient Byzantine art and frescoes.
• Pigeon Valley: Offers a panoramic view of the region, known for its unique pigeon houses carved into the volcanic tuff.
• Uçhisar Visit – Photo Stop (15 minutes): A brief stop at Uçhisar to capture some memorable photos of the stunning landscapes.
• Lunch: Savor a meal at a local restaurant, experiencing the traditional flavors of Cappadocian cuisine.

In the afternoon, the exploration continues:

• Fairy Chimneys in Pasabag: Witness these natural wonders, famous for their unique geological formations.
• Kaymakli Underground City: Tour this ancient, multi-level underground city, rich in history and culture.
• Devrent Valley: Known as Imagination Valley, famous for its surreal lunar landscape and animal-shaped rock formations.

After the tour, you will travel overnight to Pamukkale in a non-smoking, fully air-conditioned local bus departing the bus station at approximately 8:30 PM. The total duration of travel will be 10 hours. There will be three breaks on the way to Pamukkale for your personal needs.

• Overnight Bus to Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day

Day 4: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour – Fly back to Istanbul

Upon your arrival at the Pamukkale/Denizli main bus station between 05:30 – 06:00 am, you will be transferred to a 2-star hotel in Pamukkale to freshen up and enjoy breakfast before starting your full-day tour. Please note that there will be no stay in the hotel room; it is simply a place to refresh and have a meal. After breakfast, you will meet the rest of the group in the hotel lobby to join the tour.

Today’s tour will start around 9:30 am, when you will be picked up from your hotel to begin your guided Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour with a professional, licensed guide. The first stop will be Karahayit, where you’ll see the striking Red Spring Waters. Afterward, the tour will proceed to Pamukkale, where you’ll explore the ancient city of Hierapolis. Key highlights include the Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, and the Theater.

Close to noon, you will take a break for lunch at a local restaurant to enjoy some local cuisine. After lunch, you will be given some free time for approximately 60 minutes to explore the natural beauties of Pamukkale. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at your own expense) during this free time.

Next, you will meet with your guide to visit the famous Pamukkale Travertines, also known as Cotton Castle in Turkish. Here, mineral-rich thermal waters flow down stunning white terraces, creating one of Turkey’s most iconic natural landscapes. You’ll have the unique experience of walking barefoot along the terraces, from top to bottom.

At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to the Denizli/Izmir airport for an evening flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: Departure from Istanbul – End of Tour Service

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel in Istanbul (hotel check-out is before 11:00 AM) and will then be transferred to the Istanbul International Airport according to your flight details. This will be the end of our tour and services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Arrival, departure airport transfers and ground transportation
• Domestic flight tickets as per the itinerary
• Overnight intercity coach ticket (Cappadocia to Pamukkale)
• 2 nights in Istanbul at Special-Class or 4 Star including breakfast
• 1 night in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast
• English-speaking guide during the tours
• Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch)
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• International Flight Tickets.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Drinks with meals.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• Buses do not have bathroom facilities.
• Please advise your arrival details at the time of booking.
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed.
• On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.

WHEN TO BOOK?

• Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities.
• You can book up to 2 days before (Istanbul local time) if there are still places available. If less than 2 days before start of your requested tour date, please contact us by email or phone as it would be a last-minute booking that will need to be checked for availability before your tour reservation is confirmed.