4-Day Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour (Starts from Istanbul and Ends in Izmir)

Day 1: Fly to Kayseri/Nevsehir from Istanbul – North Cappadocia Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir, departing between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to Cappadocia, where your full-day North Cappadocia tour will begin.

Your tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys and rock formations. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), home to stunning mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After exploring these natural wonders, you will head to Avanos, a town renowned for its traditional pottery making.

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, where you will explore ancient rock-cut churches and caves, providing a glimpse into the monastic history of the region. Towards the end of the day, you will stop at Uchisar Castle for panoramic photos. While entry into the castle itself is not permitted, the surrounding area offers beautiful views of the landscape.

After the tour, at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace.

For extra activities, you can choose one from the following options: a traditional Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through the valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show. Please note that all activities are available at an additional cost, and you can join only one due to time constraints.

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

Day 2: South Cappadocia Tour – Overnight local bus travel from Cappadocia to Pamukkale (650 km).

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

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am, you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day South Cappadocia Tour. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s itinerary before starting with a visit to the Red Valley, where you will explore its famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the scenic Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi).

Next, you will visit Cavusin Village, known for its ancient houses and churches of Christian clergymen. After exploring this historical village, you will take a break for lunch around noon.

After lunch, the tour will continue with a visit to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), famous for its pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. In the afternoon, you will visit either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians sought refuge during periods of persecution.

After the tour, you’ll take an overnight bus to Pamukkale on a non-smoking, air-conditioned coach. The bus will leave the station at approximately 8:30 pm, and the ride will take about 10 hours. There will be three scheduled stops along the way for your personal needs.

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

Day 3: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour

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 4:00 pm, you will drive to Kusadasi, which will take approximately 3.5 hours. Upon arrival, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Kusadasi.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: Ephesus Tour – Trip ends in Kusadasi

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and be picked up around 8:30 am to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus, the ancient Greek city that became a significant center of its time. You’ll visit key highlights, including the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theater, and the Trajan Fountain.

After lunch, you’ll visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her final years. You will also pass by the remnants of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though only a few traces remain today.

Next, you’ll visit the beautiful Isa Bey Mosque, a stunning example of Seljuk architecture. Tour will end at approximately 4:00 pm.

There are two available options at the end of the Ephesus tour.

Option 1: You can end your tour in Kusadasi. This will be the end of our service.
Option 2: You can choose to be transferred to Izmir Airport to take a domestic or International flight or be transferred to the Kusadasi or Izmir main bus station to take a bus to another destination e.g. Bodrum, Marmaris, Antalya, Fethiye and Istanbul. The cost of the domestic flight ticket or bus ticket for your onward journey is not included. If you want we can arrange a domestic flight or bus ticket for you at an extra cost for your chosen next destination within Turkey. This will be the end of our tour service.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers mentioned in the itinerary
• Domestic flight ticket from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir only
• Overnight intercity coach ticket (Cappadocia to Pamukkale)
• 1 night in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast
• 1 night in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
• English-speaking guide during the tours
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: (B) breakfast, (L) lunch
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• End of the Tour in Ephesus on Day 4, bus and/or flight tickets are not included.
• 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.
• Overnight buses do not have bathroom facilities.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• On Day 4 the tour finishes at approximately 4:00 pm. You have the option to be dropped off directly to the Izmir airport, Izmir bus station or in Kusadasi / Selcuk area. This will be the end of our tour service.
• You can swim in the Antique pool in Pamukkale. However, please note that there is an extra charge that you will have to pay directly at your own expense before entry to the pools. This entrance fee to the pools is not covered as part of your tour. Please note that you must bring your own towel, swimsuit etc. if you need to use the pools.
• 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.