5-Day Cappadocia and Pamukkale Tour from Istanbul

Day 1: Fly to Kayseri/Nevsehir from Istanbul with overnight in Cappadocia

You will be picked up from your hotel in the city center and take a late afternoon or late evening flight (depending on availability) from Istanbul to either Kayseri or Nevşehir. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: North Cappadocia Tour

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 around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles.

Afterward, you will drive to the town of Avanos, known for its pottery and ceramics, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Zelve Open Air Museum. This museum offers an insightful look into the region’s monastic history, featuring carved caves and ancient churches.

Finally, before returning to your hotel, you will have about 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of Uchisar Castle from the outside, as entry to the interior of the castle is not permitted.

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

For additional activities, you can choose a Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through Cappadocia’s valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show, where you can witness the enchanting Sufi tradition. All these activities are available at an extra cost.

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

Day 3: South Cappadocia Tour – Overnight local bus journey to Pamukkale (Approx. 9-10 hours)

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 4: 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.

After the tour, at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Pamukkale for check-in.

• Overnight in Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Accommodation: Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel OR Colossae Thermal Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: Free day in Pamukkale to explore – Fly from Denizli to Istanbul

After breakfast, please ensure that you check out of the hotel by 11:00 AM. However, you’re welcome to enjoy the lobby and swimming pool until your scheduled pick-up time. Today, you have the freedom to explore Pamukkale at your own pace. There are morning and evening flights available from Pamukkale to Istanbul, with departures after 18:00. When making your online reservation, kindly specify your preferred flight time. Depending on your flight schedule, we will arrange for a hotel pick-up and transfer to the airport for your journey back to Istanbul.

Please note that transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price

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

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel and transfer to Istanbul Airport (available for hotels on the European side of Istanbul only).
• Domestic flight tickets (Istanbul to Kayseri and Denizli to Istanbul) as per the itinerary.
• Overnight intercity coach ticket from Cappadocia to Pamukkale.
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast.
• 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
• Professional, licensed English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals as per the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
• Entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Drop off transportation service from Istanbul (IST) Airport OR Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Istanbul Hotel upon returning to Istanbul.
• 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.
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• Buses do not have bathroom facilities.
• 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.