8-Day Istanbul, Konya, Cappadocia and Pamukkale Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul, Airport Transfer and Free Day

Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport(IST) or Sabiha Gökcen Airport(SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international line of the Airport, holding a sign with your name written on it. After which, you will be transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to spend at leisure. Alternatively, you can join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Istanbul Byzantine and Ottoman Relics Tour – Fly from Istanbul to Konya

After breakfast, check out of your hotel room. Around 8:30 AM, we will pick you up from your hotel to begin a full-day tour of this magnificent city. The tour includes an official English-speaking guide, entrance tickets, lunch at a central city restaurant, and visits to the most resplendent monuments passed down from the Ottoman, Byzantine, and Roman empires: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque), the Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square), Topkapi Palace, and the historic Grand Bazaar, which houses more than 4,000 stores.

After the tour, you’ll return to the hotel to pick up your luggage and then be transferred to Istanbul Airport for your flight to Konya, which takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Konya.

• Overnight in Konya
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel Balikcilar OR Hilton Garden Inn Konya OR Novotel Konya or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Konya Tour – From Konya to Cappadocia by Intercity Bus (235 km)

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel around 9:30 a.m. Visiting first the Tomb of Rumi in the glittering Mevlana Museum, an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims and indeed all lovers of Rumi. Next door, we visit the Ottoman-era Sultan Selim mosque before having lunch in a traditional Turkish restaurant. We drive along Mevlana Caddesi, Konya’s main avenue, to reach the age-old Alaettin Hill (a prehistoric tumulus) to visit the 1000-year-old Alaaddin Mosque, where Rumi often prayed. In its courtyard are the tombs of many of the Seljuk Turkish sultans who ruled during Rumi’s lifetime, and who consulted him for spiritual guidance. Walking down the north side of Alaettin Hill we pass the remains of the Seljuk sultan’s palace, then cross the street for a view of the elaborate portal of the medieval Great Karatay Medrese theological college, after which we walk to the Mosque and Tomb of Sems-i Tabrizi, Rumi’s closest companion, spiritual mentor, and inspiration for many of his poetic works.

At the end of the tour, you’ll be transferred to the Konya bus station, where you will board an intercity coach to Cappadocia (duration: 3.5 hours). Upon your arrival at the Goreme bus station in Cappadocia, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

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

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 Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally, towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will have around 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm. You will have the rest of the day free to relax, explore the city on your own, or take part in any optional activities that are offered.

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

Day 5: South Cappadocia Tour – Overnight Bus from Cappadocia to Pamukkale

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please be aware that this activity comes 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 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 Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Next, you will visit Cavusin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. This will be the end of your full-day tour.

After the tour, you will travel overnight to Pamukkale on a non-smoking, fully air-conditioned local bus, departing the bus station at approximately 8:30 PM. The total travel time will be 10 hours, with three breaks 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 6: Arrival in Pamukkale and Leisure Time

Upon your arrival at the Pamukkale/Denizli main bus station between 05:30 – 06:00, you will be transferred to your hotel in Pamukkale for check-in, where you can rest and enjoy a free day at your leisure.

• Overnight in Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Dinner
• Accommodation: Colossae Thermal Hotel OR Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 7: Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) Tour – Flight Back to Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up around 10:30 am to visit your first destination, Karahayit, known for its Red Spring Waters. Following Karahayit, we will drive to Pamukkale and begin our visit to the ancient city of Hierapolis. Key highlights of Hierapolis include the Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Oil Factory, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater. You’ll also have the opportunity to take photos from some of the most picturesque spots in Pamukkale.

Around 12:30 pm, you will have approximately 60 minutes of free time to explore the natural beauty of Pamukkale. During this time, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at your own expense). At 1:30 pm, you will meet your guide to visit the Pamukkale Travertines, also known as Cotton Castles, where mineral-rich thermal waters flow down the stunning white terraces. You’ll have the chance to walk barefoot across the terraces and fully appreciate this natural wonder.

At 2:30 pm, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, around 3:30 pm, we will visit an Onyx Factory for about 30 minutes.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Denizli or Izmir airport for a late evening flight back to Istanbul, with a scheduled departure time between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, you will be welcomed by a company representative and transferred to your hotel.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel Oldcity OR Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 8: Departure from Istanbul – End of Tour Service

After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel in Istanbul (hotel check-out is before 12:00 noon) and will then be transferred to the Istanbul International Airport according to your flight details. This will be the end of our tour and services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers mentioned in this itinerary, including arrivals and departures.
• Domestic flight tickets (from Istanbul to Konya and Denizli to Istanbul) as specified in the itinerary.
• Intercity bus tickets from Konya to Cappadocia and from Cappadocia to Denizli.
• Accommodation for 2 nights in Istanbul at a special class or 4-star hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Accommodation for 1 night in Konya at a 4-Star hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Accommodation for 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Accommodation for 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-Star hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Services of a professional licensed English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner).
• All entrance fees are as indicated in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• 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.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• There are no restrooms on intercity buses in Turkey.
• 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
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed.
• 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.