7-Day Pamukkale, Antalya and Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul

Day 1: Fly to Denizli from Istanbul – Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel on the European side of Istanbul at approximately 4:00 am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Denizli, departing between 6:00 am and 8:00 am. Upon arrival at Denizli Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to Pamukkale, where you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis.

Today’s tour will start around 10:45 am with the first stop at Karahayit, where you can see the famous Red Spring Waters, known for their unique thermal properties. Afterward, the tour will proceed to Pamukkale, where you’ll start exploring the ancient city of Hierapolis. Key sites you’ll visit include the Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Agora, Triton Fountain, Plutonium, and the Theater.

Following this, a lunch break will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch, you will have 1 hour of free time to explore the natural wonders of Pamukkale. During this time, you may also choose to swim in the Cleopatra Antique Pools (optional, at your own expense).

Later, you will meet back with the guide and the group at the designated meeting point to take a walk along the famous Cotton Cliffs (travertines).

After the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kuşadası, arriving at approximately 7:30 pm for check-in. Once settled, you can relax and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

• Overnight in Pamukkale
• Meals included today: Lunch and dinner
• Accommodation: Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel OR Colossae Thermal Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: From Pamukkale to Antalya by Intercity Bus (238 km)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Denizli Main Bus Station, where you will board an intercity day coach to Antalya (approximate duration: 5 hours). Upon arrival at the Antalya Bus Station, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Antalya at your own pace.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Meals included today: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Full Day Tour to Perge, Aspendos, Side and Waterfall

After breakfast, you will be picked up at around 8:00 am to begin your tour. The first stop is Perge, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC and one of the largest ancient cities in the Pamphylia region. From there, you will depart for the Aspendos Ancient Theatre, an exceptionally well-preserved structure built in the 2nd century A.D. With a capacity of 15,000, the theater is still used for festivals and concerts today.

Afterwards, there will be a lunch break at a restaurant by a nearby river before heading to Side (pronounced “Seeday”). Side is one of Turkey’s best-preserved classical ancient cities, known as a port city that once hosted the largest slave market in the region. During Roman times, significant construction occurred here, including the large theater, Roman Baths, and the Temple of Apollo.

You will have 1 hour of free time in Side to explore the city and enjoy the sea. On the return trip to Antalya, there will be a stop at the Manavgat Waterfall. Afterward, you’ll be driven back to Antalya, where you will be transferred to your hotel.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: Free day in Antalya to explore

It is a free day for you to enjoy Antalya’s fabulous beaches and exotic cultures. You may like to explore its narrow cobbled street, explore its impressive museum, and glance at the Hadrian’s Gate and many other historical buildings in the old quarter. Or you may just relax on a charming beach or enjoy a traditional Turkish bath.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Meals included today: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: Fly to Kayseri

After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Antalya. You will be picked up and transferred to Antalya Airport for your morning or afternoon flight to Kayseri via Istanbul, depending on flight availability. Upon arrival at Kayseri Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. After check-in, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your own pace.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Meals included today: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Holiday Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 6: 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
• Meals included today: Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Holiday Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 7: South Cappadocia Tour – Fly back to Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and be picked up around 9:30 am to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your first stop will be the breathtaking Red Valley, where you’ll explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike 5 km through the serene Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi), renowned for its stunning pink-hued rock formations.

Next, you’ll visit Cavusin Village, known for its ancient cave houses and churches once inhabited by Christian clergymen. Around noon, you’ll take a break for lunch at a local restaurant, savoring authentic Turkish flavors.

After lunch, the tour will continue to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), where you’ll witness the valley’s iconic pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. In the afternoon, you’ll explore either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, both remarkable underground cities where early Christians took refuge.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul. Departure times are subject to flight availability, typically between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm, with the flight lasting approximately 1.5 hours. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.

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.

• Meals included today: Breakfast and Lunch
• No accommodation is included on this day

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers as mentioned in the itinerary.
• Domestic flight tickets as per the itinerary.
• English-speaking guide during the tours.
• 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
• 3 nights in Antalya at a boutique hotel, including breakfast.
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast.
• Meals as per the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
• Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the program.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Drop off transportation service from Istanbul New 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.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• 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
• The normal arrival time in Istanbul is between 8:00 – 10:00 pm. If you are planning on reserving your plane back home that same day, we recommend you book a plane ticket from 12:45 am onwards, to avoid missing your flight.
• 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.