5 Days Pamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia Tour from Ankara

Day 1: Fly to Izmir from Ankara — Free Day in Kusadasi

Today you will fly from Ankara to Izmir via Istanbul on a morning or afternoon flight depending on flight availability. You will have to arrive at the Ankara airport on your own and at your own expense at least 2 hours before the check-in time for your flight from Ankara to Izmir. We will provide you with your airline tickets for your flight from Ankara to Izmir via Istanbul. Upon your arrival at the Izmir airport, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi for check-in. The rest of the day will be free in Kusadasi.

Day 2: Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour

After breakfast around 8:00 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 minutes stop for a restroom break. Upon arrival around 11:45, the group will be first taken to have lunch and after lunch, at around 13:00 you will begin your guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area with a profession 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 basilica, 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 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.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3: Ephesus Tour — Fly to Kayseri or Nevsehir from Izmir

After breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. You will first visit the Temple of Artemis which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Next, you will visit the world-famous ancient Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well-preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a break for lunch. After lunch, you will visit the House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. Afterwards, you will visit the Isabey Mosque. Next, you will be taken to the Sirince Village; which is an old Greek village and is well-know for its quaint beauty and wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops. After the tour,  you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir through Istanbul. Upon your arrival at the Kayseri or Nevsehir airport, a representative will be present holding your name sign to pick you up and transfer you to your hotel.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4: North Cappadocia Tour

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 Monk’s Valley to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the beautiful open-air museum of Goreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Finally towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will be able to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5: South Cappadocia Tour

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 Güllüdere (Rose) Valley. Next you will visit Çavusin village which is famous for its houses and churches of the Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli underground city where early Christians lived. This will be the end of your full-day tour at approximately 4:00 pm. End of services.

After the end of the tour, you can select one of the two options below, if needed. 

Option 1: At the end of the tour at approximately 4:00 pm you can be dropped off at the Nevsehir bus station from where you can board the intercity day coach to your next destination, as needed. You will need to book your own bus tickets as this is not a part of our services.
Option 2: At the end of the tour at approximately 6:00 pm you can be dropped off at the Nevsehir or Kayseri airport. You will need to make your own flight ticket arrangements if needed as this is not part of our services.

• Included meals: Breakfast and Lunch

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers mentioned in the itinerary
• Domestic flight tickets from Ankara to Izmir and from Izmir to Kayseri only
• 2 night in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
• 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast
• Professional licensed 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:

• End of the Tour in Cappadocia on Day 5, bus and/or flight tickets are not included
• Hot Air Balloon Ride
• Any optional tours
• Tips to staff, items of a personal nature
• Drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast)
• Travel insurance

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.
• The hot air balloon ride operates in optimum weather conditions. The decision for the flight to take off on any given day is decided by the local government at the last minute depending on weather conditions to ensure passenger safety. If your paid and scheduled hot air balloon ride gets cancelled by the tour company at the last minute for weather conditions, we will provide you with a refund of USD 249.00 for the hot air balloon ride if you have it booked with us.

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.