From: $1,240.00
Experience Turkey’s rich history and natural wonders on this 6-day tour from Istanbul. Visit Pamukkale’s famous white travertine terraces and the ancient city of Hierapolis. In Ephesus, walk through remarkably preserved Roman ruins, including the Library of Celsus. Then, explore North, South, Green, and Blue Cappadocia. An optional hot air balloon ride is available at an extra cost. Book now for an unforgettable adventure!
You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul at approximately 4:00 AM and transferred to the domestic airport for your flight from Istanbul to Denizli, scheduled between 6:00 – 8:00 AM. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to Pamukkale to join your full-day guided tour.
Starting around 10:45 AM, visit the Red Spring Waters at Karahayit. Then, drive to Pamukkale (meaning “Cotton Castle”) and explore the ancient city of Hierapolis from around 11:30 AM. Highlights include Necropolis of Hierapolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Temple of Apollo, Plutonium, and Pamukkale Theatre.
At 12:30 PM, take a break to savor lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, enjoy an hour of free time to discover the natural beauty of Pamukkale’s travertines (Cotton Castle), also referred to as the Cotton Cliffs. Optionally, you can swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at your own expense). At 2:00 PM, rejoin the guide and walk through the Pamukkale Travertines from top to bottom, without shoes and socks.
After the tour ends around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kuşadası around 7:30 PM for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel around 8:30 am. You’ll be picked up for an enriching full-day tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient cities and once a major Greek port and cultural center.
Your tour begins with a walk along the Curetes Street, the main avenue of Ephesus, leading you to some of its most remarkable sites. One of the first stops is the Temple of Hadrian, a beautifully preserved structure with intricate reliefs depicting the city’s founding myths. Continuing on, you’ll reach the impressive Great Theater, which could seat up to 25,000 people and is still known for its acoustics. Here, your guide will share stories about the theater’s role in hosting gatherings, dramas, and even gladiatorial contests.
Next, you’ll see the Trajan Fountain, where you can admire its detailed carvings and learn about its significance in the city’s water supply system.
After lunch at a local restaurant, the tour continues to the House of the Virgin Mary, a sacred site nestled on a hillside. This modest stone house is believed to be the place where Mary, mother of Jesus, spent her final years. It remains a pilgrimage site and a place for quiet reflection.
The journey then takes you to the Temple of Artemis. Although only a few columns remain, this once-grand temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and a powerful symbol of the city’s importance in ancient times.
Your final stop will be the Isa Bey Mosque, a stunning example of Seljuk architecture from the 14th century, with beautiful courtyards and intricate tile work that reflect the blend of cultures in the region.
After the tour, at approximately 4:00 pm, you will be driven to Izmir Airport for your late evening flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a representative holding a sign with your name and transferred to your hotel.
For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an extra cost.
After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles.
Afterward, you will drive to the town of Avanos, known for its pottery and ceramics, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Zelve Open Air Museum. This museum offers an insightful look into the region’s monastic history, featuring carved caves and ancient churches.
Finally, before returning to your hotel, you will have about 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of Uchisar Castle from the outside, as entry to the interior of the castle is not permitted.
After the tour ends at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore the city at your own pace, or participate in optional activities.
For additional activities, you can choose a Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through Cappadocia’s valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show, where you can witness the enchanting Sufi tradition. All these activities are available at an extra cost.
After breakfast, around 9:30 am, embark on your full-day guided tour of South Cappadocia. Visit the Red Valley and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley(Gulludere Vadisi). Next, explore Cavusin Village, known for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. Break for lunch around noon, and then drive to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon, visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians lived. The tour ends around 4:00 pm, and you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia.
After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day Green Tour of Cappadocia. The day starts with a visit to Esentepe, offering a stunning panoramic view of Göreme. This spot is ideal for capturing the enchanting landscape of the Göreme Valley. From there, the tour takes you to the Derinkuyu Underground City, a remarkably well-preserved subterranean complex dating back to the Hittites and later utilized by early Christians. This ancient city, with its intricate design including stables, kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms, provides a unique glimpse into historical survival strategies. Next on the itinerary is the Ihlara Valley, where you embark on a scenic 4 km hike. This beautiful valley, dotted with small churches from the early Christian period, is a peaceful haven with a meandering stream and the gentle sounds of nature. After the hike, you will enjoy a delightful lunch in Belisirma Village, situated charmingly by the river. The adventure continues with a visit to the 13th-century Selime Monastery. The tour’s final stop is at Yaprakhisar, known for its breathtaking panoramic views and as a filming location for the famous “Star Wars” movie. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel at approximately 4:00 pm.
After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to embark on the Blue Tour of Cappadocia. The first destination is the Kaymakli Underground City, one of Cappadocia’s most intriguing underground settlements. Initially carved out as eight floors, now four floors are open for exploration. This city could historically shelter about 5000 people in times of war.
Your journey continues to Soganli Valley, an open-air museum in a wild natural setting. This valley, near a typical Cappadocian village, is renowned for its distinctive style of rock-cut churches and frescoes, spanning from the 9th to 13th centuries.
The tour also includes a visit to Şahinefendi (Sobesos), a recently discovered archaeological site with mosaic houses. You’ll then proceed to the Keslik Monastery near Cemil, which houses frescoes visible only under torchlight. The tour concludes with a visit to Mustafapasha (Sinassos), an old Greek town known for its spectacular old Greek houses and architecture.
At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your late evening return flight between 7:00 – 10:00 pm (flight duration is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes) to Istanbul. Upon your arrival in Istanbul, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.
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