5-Day Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour from Istanbul By Plane

Day 1: Flight to Kayseri/Nevsehir – Full Day North Cappadocia Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and transferred to the airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir, departing between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to Cappadocia, where your full-day North Cappadocia tour will begin.

Your tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys and rock formations. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), home to stunning mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After exploring these natural wonders, you will head to Avanos, a town renowned for its traditional pottery making.

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, where you will explore ancient rock-cut churches and caves, providing a glimpse into the monastic history of the region. Towards the end of the day, you will stop at Uchisar Castle for panoramic photos. While entry into the castle itself is not permitted, the surrounding area offers beautiful views of the landscape.

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

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

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

Day 2: Full Day South Cappadocia Tour

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of Cappadocia’s valleys. Please note that this activity is available at an extra cost.

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 your full-day tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at approximately 4:00 pm. The rest of the day is free for personal exploration or relaxation.

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

Day 3: Flight from Kayseri or Nevsehir to Izmir via Istanbul

After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Cappadocia. Depending on flight availability in the morning or afternoon, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your flight to Izmir through Istanbul. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: Full Day Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour

After breakfast 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 first meet. You will then begin the Pamukkale tour with a drive from Selcuk starting at 8:30 am to Pamukkale which will be around 3 hours. En route to Pamukkale after 1.5 hours, there will be a 10-minute stop for a restroom break. Upon arrival around 11:45 am, the group will be first taken to have lunch and after lunch, at around 1:00 pm you will begin your guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area with a professional licensed tour guide. In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts. Also, you will visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its theatre and Roman Baths. At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore the area on your own. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale antique pools (at your own expense) during this free time. The tour guide will inform you about the exact meeting point and time.

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

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

Day 5: Full Day Ephesus Tour – Flight to Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and be picked up around 8:30 am to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus, the ancient Greek city that became a significant center of its time. You’ll visit key highlights, including the Temple of Hadrian, the Great Theater, and the Trajan Fountain.

After lunch, you’ll visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her final years. You will also pass by the remnants of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though only a few traces remain today.

Next, you’ll visit the beautiful Isa Bey Mosque, a stunning example of Seljuk architecture.

After the tour ends around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Izmir Airport for your late evening flight to Istanbul, departing between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm (flight duration 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

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

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 Kayseri to Izmir and Izmir to Istanbul) as per the itinerary.
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast.
• 2 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast.
• English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch).
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Drop off transportation service from Istanbul 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.
• 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. as Please note that you must bring your own towel, swimsuit etc. if you need to use the pools.
• Vegetarian lunch option is available upon request.
• 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 12:30 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.
• We offer hotel pick-up services for drop-off at the airport from locations on the European side of Istanbul, specifically in the districts of Taksim, Şişli, Sultanahmet, Eminönü, Fatih, Beşiktaş, Karaköy, and Bakırköy. Pick-ups are scheduled around 3:50 a.m., but this can vary based on flight schedules. If you’re situated on the Anatolian side or outside of these districts, you’ll need to arrange your own airport transportation.

WHEN TO BOOK?

• Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities.
• You can book up to 2 days before (Istanbul local time) if there are still places available. If less than 2 days before start of your requested tour date, please contact us by email or phone as it would be a last-minute booking that will need to be checked for availability before your tour reservation is confirmed.