3-Day Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour from Istanbul

Day 1: Fly from Istanbul to Izmir – Ephesus Tour

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 – 8:00 am. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Selçuk to meet your guide and begin your full-day Ephesus tour.

You’ll explore the ruins of Ephesus, including key sites like the Temple of Hadrian, the impressive Great Theater, and the Trajan Fountain. After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her final years. You’ll also pass by the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and visit the beautiful Isa Bey Mosque, a masterpiece of Seljuk architecture.

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

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Lunch
• Accommodation: Derici Hotel OR Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel OR Efe Boutique Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Pamukkale and Hierapolis ancient city Tour

After breakfast at around 7:30 am, you will be picked up from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk, where the full group will gather. Your Pamukkale tour will begin with an 8:30 am departure from Selcuk, and the drive to Pamukkale will take approximately 3 hours. Along the way, there will be a 10-minute stop for a restroom break after 1.5 hours.

Upon arriving in Pamukkale at around 11:45 am, you will first enjoy lunch. After lunch, at approximately 1:00 pm, your guided tour of Pamukkale and the Hierapolis area will commence, led by a professional licensed tour guide. In Pamukkale, you will witness the breathtaking Cotton Cliffs, a natural wonder formed by calcareous salt deposits.

You will also explore the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis, including its basilica, theatre, and Roman Baths. At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore on your own. As an optional activity, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at your own expense) during this free time. Your tour guide will provide details about the exact meeting point and time.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kusadasi, arriving at approximately 7:30 pm.

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

Day 3: Kusadasi – Hotel check-out and End of Service

After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel from Kusadasi at around 11:00 am. After check out, we can drop you off at the Kusadasi / Izmir bus station, Kusadasi port or Izmir airport. You can let us know if you need to be dropped off after check out.

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

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers as mentioned in this itinerary.
• One-way flight from Istanbul to Izmir airport.
• 2 nights in Kuşadası at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
• English speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch).
• Visits and entrances fees as indicated in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Flight ticket from Izmir to Istanbul.
• 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:

• 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
• 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.