4-Day Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour from Istanbul by Plane & Bus

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 AM and transferred to the airport for your flight to Izmir, departing between 6:00 and 8:00 AM. Upon arrival in Izmir, you will be transferred to Selçuk, where you will meet your guide to begin a full-day Ephesus Tour.

Your first stop will be the ancient city of Ephesus, where you will explore its fascinating ruins. Highlights include the Temple of Hadrian, the impressive Great Theater, and the beautiful Trajan Fountain.

After lunch, the tour continues to the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her final years. Next, you will visit the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the stunning Isa Bey Mosque, a remarkable example of Seljuk architecture.

After the tour ends at around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore the area at your leisure.

After breakfast at around 7:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kusadasi and transferred to the meeting point in Selçuk, where the full group will gather. From there, the journey to Pamukkale begins at approximately 8:30 AM, with a drive of about 3 hours. A brief 10-minute stop will be made halfway through for a restroom break.

Upon arrival in Pamukkale around 11:45 AM, the group will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, at approximately 1:00 PM, your guided tour will begin with a professional licensed guide. During the tour, you will explore the stunning Cotton Cliffs (Pamukkale Travertines), a natural wonder formed by deposits of calcareous salts, and the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis, which include key highlights such as the Theatre and Roman Baths.

At the end of the guided tour, you will have 1 hour of free time to explore the area at your own pace. If you wish, you can opt to swim in the famous Pamukkale Antique Pools, which is optional and at your own expense. Your guide will provide details about the meeting point and time.

After the tour ends around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to the bus station for your overnight bus to Cappadocia. The bus departs at 9:00 PM, allowing you free time to relax and have dinner near the bus station before departure. The overnight bus ride to Cappadocia takes approximately 10 hours, with three stops along the way for personal needs.

Upon arriving at the Goreme bus station in the morning, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. After enjoying breakfast, you can relax in the hotel lobby until your pick-up at 9:30 AM, when your North Cappadocia tour begins.

The tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, renowned for its unique fairy chimneys shaped like animals. Next, you’ll explore Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), famous for its impressive mushroom-shaped rock formations.

Following this, the tour continues to Avanos, a charming town known for its ancient pottery traditions. After enjoying lunch in Avanos, you’ll visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, an extraordinary site featuring carved caves and ancient churches that provide a glimpse into the early monastic life of the region.

Later in the day, you’ll stop for about 15 minutes to take panoramic photos of the stunning Uchisar Castle. While the castle interior is not open for visitors, the exterior offers breathtaking views over Cappadocia’s surreal landscape.

After the tour ends around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or explore the area at your leisure.

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 a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show. Please note that all activities are available at an additional cost, and due to time constraints, you can participate in only one.

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

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

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

After lunch, the tour continues to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), famous for its pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. In the afternoon, you’ll explore either the Kaymakli Underground City or the Ozkonak Underground City, both remarkable for their extensive tunnels and rooms where early Christians sought refuge.

At the end of the tour, around 3:30 PM, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul. Departure times depend on flight availability, typically between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.

Please Note: Transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price.