7-Day Pamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul
From: $1,205.00
Explore Turkey’s rich history and stunning landscapes on this 7-day tour from Istanbul. Wander through the ancient ruins of Ephesus, marvel at the surreal white travertines of Pamukkale, and discover the fairy-tale landscapes of Cappadocia with its unique rock formations and cave dwellings. This journey offers a perfect blend of cultural immersion and natural wonders. Book now for an unforgettable adventure!
Obtain your tour price in USD by selecting tour dates and specifics below:
Day 1: Fly from Istanbul to Denizli and stay overnight in Pamukkale
You will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Istanbul Airport for an afternoon or evening flight (depending on availability) to Denizli. Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel in Pamukkale. After checking in, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore the local area at your own pace.
- Overnight in Pamukkale
- Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
- Accommodation: Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel OR Colossae Thermal Hotel or similar (Standard quality)
Day 2: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour – Transfer to Kusadasi
- 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 3: Ephesus Tour
After breakfast at your hotel around 8:30 am, you will be picked up and meet your guide and group to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus, one of the most significant ancient cities of the Greek and Roman eras.
You’ll start by exploring the impressive Ephesus Ancient City Ruins, known for their well-preserved architecture and rich history. Key highlights include the Temple of Hadrian, the majestic Great Theater, and the Trajan Fountain. After immersing yourself in the ancient world, you’ll break for lunch at a local restaurant.
The afternoon continues with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be the place where the Virgin Mary spent her final years. Afterward, you will pass by the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though little remains of its former grandeur.
Next, visit the Isa Bey Mosque, a beautiful example of Seljuk architecture.
After the tour ends around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kuşadası. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax and enjoy your surroundings.
- 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 4: Fly from Izmir to Kayseri or Nevşehir with Transfer to Cappadocia
You will be transferred to Izmir Airport for a morning or afternoon flight (subject to availability) to Kayseri or Nevşehir via Istanbul. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by our representative, who will transfer you to your hotel in Cappadocia. After check-in, the remainder of the day is free for you to relax at your hotel and enjoy the unique surroundings.
- Overnight in Cappadocia
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast
- Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Zula Cave Housel or similar (Standard quality)
Day 5: North Cappadocia Tour
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 your full-day North Cappadocia tour. Your first stop will be at the Devrent Valley to marvel at the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (also known as Monks Valley), famous for its mushroom-shaped rock formations.
Following this, the tour continues to the charming city of Avanos, renowned for its pottery-making traditions. After lunch, you will explore the Zelve Open Air Museum, where you can experience a series of ancient caves and churches that highlight the region’s monastic history.
Finally, before returning to your hotel, you will have a chance to stop at Uchisar Castle to take panoramic photos of the surrounding landscape. Please note that entry into the castle itself is not permitted.
The tour will end around 4:00 pm, and you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore, or participate in additional activities.
For extra activities, you can choose a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through the valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show. All of these activities are available at an additional cost.
- 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 6: South Cappadocia Tour
After breakfast, around 9:30 am, embark on your full-day guided tour of South Cappadocia. Your first stop will be the stunning Red Valley, where you can enjoy a 5 km hike through the picturesque Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). This valley is famous for its striking rock formations and historical churches carved into the cliffs.
Next, you will visit Cavusin Village, known for its ancient houses and churches, which were once home to Christian clergymen. Following this, take a break for lunch around noon at a local restaurant.
Afterward, head to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), renowned for its pigeon houses carved into the cliffs, which were once used by locals to collect pigeon droppings for fertilizer.
In the afternoon, explore either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, fascinating subterranean settlements where early Christians sought refuge from persecution.
The tour will end at around 4:00 pm, and you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore at your leisure.
Optionally, in the evening, you can attend a traditional Turkish Night show with dinner. This event offers an immersive experience of Turkish culture, featuring live music, folk dances, and a delicious meal. Please note, this activity is available at an additional cost.
- 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 7: Green Cappadocia Tour – Flight back to Istanbul
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.
At the end of the tour, around 3:30 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul. Departure times are subject to flight availability, typically between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm, with the flight lasting approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. 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 your hotel in Istanbul city center and transfer to Istanbul Airport (European side of Istanbul only).
- Domestic flight tickets: Istanbul to Denizli, Izmir to Kayseri, and Kayseri to Istanbul.
- 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
- 2 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
- 3 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast.
- English-speaking guide during the tours.
- Meals as per itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch).
- Entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Local taxes and service charges.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Drop off transportation service from Istanbul Airport (IST) OR Sabiha Gökçen Airport SAW 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 dinner.
- 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.
- Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
- 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.
- On the last day at the end of the tour, the usual arrival time in Istanbul is between 8:00 and 10:30 PM. If you plan to reserve your international flight home for the same day, we recommend booking a ticket for 2:00 AM or later to avoid missing your flight.
1 review for 7-Day Pamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul
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Patrice T. –
It was a well-rounded tour, which overall was just as promised. Although we still see some room for improvement, we were nevertheless quite satisfied.
We took the tour for Pamukkale, Ephesus, and Cappadocia starting from our Istanbul hotel pick-up. The drivers all arrived on time. The local guides were all friendly and informative. We especially enjoyed our time in Cappadocia, it was such a unique city. Pamukkale hotel was something else though, they only gave you very little bottled water in your room and charged you like 80 lira when you requested for more during dinner. There was no convenience stores near our hotel so we didn’t have much option. We were also a bit sad that most of the white pools in Pamukkale had already dried off 🙁
Some minor input, coordination between One Nation and the local guides could be improved. On our first morning in Cappadocia, were picked up 25 minutes late. Then I was informed I would be picked up around the same time for the next day. However, I was suddenly picked up in the middle of my breakfast the next day. It was quite inconvenient since I was really enjoying my breakfast spread in my Cappadocia hotel (which was a really exceptional Turkish breakfast!).
There were also some mandatory shopping stops, but we weren’t really pressured to buy anything (although some of the shop employees kept following us the entire time lol). I was actually brought to the exact same shops twice in Cappadocia, but our guide was very nice and he let us wander around the surrounding area on our own instead (and pointed out the way to a nearby popular photo spot in Pigeon Valley).
Overall, I recommend this tour agency for anyone who’s planning to travel to Turkey. Our agent, Mr. Can Berber was also very effective, always responding to our WhatsApp almost immediately the entire time. He also waited for us at the Istanbul Airport and drove us back to our Istanbul hotel at the end of our tour.