7-Day Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Antalya Tour from Istanbul

Day 1: Fly to Kayseri/Nevsehir from Istanbul – 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 Holiday Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: South Cappadocia Tour – Overnight Bus to Pamukkale

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 the tour, you’ll take an overnight bus to Pamukkale on a non-smoking, air-conditioned coach. The bus will leave the station at approximately 8:30 pm, and the ride will take about 10 hours. There will be three scheduled stops along the way for your personal needs.

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

Day 3: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour

Upon your arrival at the Pamukkale/Denizli main bus station between 05:30 – 06:00 am, you will be transferred to a 2-star hotel in Pamukkale to freshen up and enjoy breakfast before starting your full-day tour. Please note that there will be no stay in the hotel room; it is simply a place to refresh and have a meal. After breakfast, you will meet the rest of the group in the hotel lobby to join the tour.

Today’s tour will start around 9:30 am, when you will be picked up from your hotel to begin your guided Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour with a professional, licensed guide. The first stop will be Karahayit, where you’ll see the striking Red Spring Waters. Afterward, the tour will proceed to Pamukkale, where you’ll explore the ancient city of Hierapolis. Key highlights include the Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, and the Theater.

Close to noon, you will take a break for lunch at a local restaurant to enjoy some local cuisine.

After lunch, 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.

Next, you will meet with your guide to visit the famous Pamukkale Travertines, also known as Cotton Castle in Turkish. Here, mineral-rich thermal waters flow down stunning white terraces, creating one of Turkey’s most iconic natural landscapes. You’ll have the unique experience of walking barefoot along the terraces, from top to bottom.

After the tour ends at approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Pamukkale for check-in. This evening, dinner at the hotel is included.

• Overnight in Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
• Accommodation: Colossae Thermal Hotel OR Pam Thermal Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 4: Bus to Antalya

After breakfast in the morning, you will be transferred to Denizli main bus station, where you will board an intercity day coach to Antalya (duration: approximately 5 hours). Upon arrival in Antalya, our local representative will meet you at the bus station and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the beautiful coastal city at your own pace.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel OR Aspen Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: Full Day Tour to Perge, Aspendos, Side and Waterfall

After breakfast, you will be picked up at around 8:00 am to begin your tour. The first stop is Perge, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC and one of the largest ancient cities in the Pamphylia region. From there, you will depart for the Aspendos Ancient Theatre, an exceptionally well-preserved structure built in the 2nd century A.D. With a capacity of 15,000, the theater is still used for festivals and concerts today.

Afterwards, there will be a lunch break at a restaurant by a nearby river before heading to Side (pronounced “Seeday”). Side is one of Turkey’s best-preserved classical ancient cities, known as a port city that once hosted the largest slave market in the region. During Roman times, significant construction occurred here, including the large theater, Roman Baths, and the Temple of Apollo.

You will have 1 hour of free time in Side to explore the city and enjoy the sea. On the return trip to Antalya, there will be a stop at the Manavgat Waterfall. Afterward, you’ll be driven back to Antalya, where you will be transferred to your hotel.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel OR Aspen Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 6: Free day in Antalya to explore

Today is at leisure and overnight in Antalya.

• Overnight in Antalya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: 1207 Boutique Hotel OR Kosa Boutique Hotel OR Alp Pasa Boutique Hotel OR Aspen Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 7:  Fly back to Istanbul — End of Services

After breakfast check out of the hotel in Antalya. You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Antalya airport to take your flight to Istanbul. 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
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel and transfer to Istanbul Airport (available for hotels on the European side only).
• Domestic flight tickets as per the itinerary.
• Overnight intercity coach ticket from Cappadocia to Pamukkale.
• Intercity day coach ticket from Pamukkale to Antalya.
• 1 night in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast.
• 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
• 3 nights in Antalya at a boutique hotel, including breakfast.
• English-speaking guide during the tours.
• All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• Drop off transportation service from Istanbul New Airport OR Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Istanbul Hotel upon returning to Istanbul.
• International Flight Tickets.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 360.00 for the hot air balloon ride if you have it booked with us.