5-Day Cappadocia and Pamukkale Tour from Istanbul

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

You will take a late afternoon or late evening flight (depending on availability) from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia. Check in to your hotel in Cappadocia and rest of the day is free.

• 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 optional extra, book an early morning hot air balloon ride and experience breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an additional cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally, towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will have around 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm. You will have the rest of the day free to relax.

• 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 tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit Cavusin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm.

After the tour, you will travel overnight to Pamukkale in a non-smoking, fully air-conditioned local bus departing the bus station at approximately 8:30 pm. The total duration of travel will be 10 hours. There will be three breaks on the way to Pamukkale 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 (Cotton Castle) Tour

Upon your arrival at the Pamukkale / Denizli main bus station between 05:30 – 06:00, you will be taken to a 2-star hotel in Pamukkale to freshen up and have breakfast before the start of the full-day Pamukkale tour. There will be no stay in the hotel room. After freshening up and breakfast, you will meet the rest of the group in the hotel lobby to join the tour. Around 09:30 am you will be picked up from the hotel to begin your guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area with a professional licensed tour guide. Around 10:00 am you will visit the first destination of Karahayit to see the Red Spring Waters. After Karahayit we will drive to Pamukkale and begin the visit to the ancient city of Hierapolis around 10:30 am. The highlights of Hierapolis are Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Oil Factory, Frontinious Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater, and Cleopatra Antique Pools. You will also be able to take some photos from the nicest corners of Pamukkale. Around 12:30 pm 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. At 1:30 pm you will meet the guide and will visit the Pamukkale Travertines, also known as Cotton Castle in Turkish, where mineral-rich thermal waters flow down white travertine terraces. You will get a chance to enjoy the beauty of the Cotton Castles and to walk in the middle of the Pamukkale travertines, from top to down without shoes and socks. At 2:30 pm you will be taken for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch at approximately 3:30 pm, you will visit an Onyx Factory for approximately 30 minutes. After the tour, 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.

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

Important notes:

• Please note that your return flight from Denizli / Izmir to Istanbul will arrive at either the Istanbul (IST) Airport or at the Sabiha Gökçen Airport depending on the availability of flights on the ticket purchase date.
• Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, you will have to arrange your own pick-up service from Istanbul airport to your hotel in Istanbul. This transfer is not included as part of your package tour services with us. Our service ends upon your flight arrival at Istanbul Airport.
• If you have a preference to return to a specific airport in Istanbul i.e. Sabiha Gokcen or Istanbul (IST) Airport, you must request your choice of the airport in Istanbul by email prior to your tour booking. Any changes requested once your booking is confirmed will incur an additional cost.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick up from Istanbul hotel and transfer to Istanbul Airport (on the European side of Istanbul only).
• Domestic flight tickets (from 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 itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner).
• Entrance fees are 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.