3-Day Pamukkale, Ephesus & Cappadocia Tour from Istanbul with Flights

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 AM and transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Denizli, departing between 6:00 and 8:00 AM. Upon arrival at Denizli Airport, you will be met and transferred to Pamukkale, where you will join your professional tour guide to begin a full-day tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis.

At approximately 10:45 AM, your first stop will be Karahayit, where you will see the famous Red Springs, renowned for their healing properties. At around 11:45 AM, you will proceed to Pamukkale to explore the ancient city of Hierapolis. Highlights of this visit include the Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantine Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollo Temple, Plutonium, and the Theatre.

You will enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant. After lunch, you’ll have approximately 60 minutes of free time to explore the natural beauty of the Pamukkale Travertines on your own. You may also choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at your own expense), relaxing in the same thermal waters that Cleopatra is believed to have bathed in.

You will regroup with your guide and have the unique experience of walking barefoot down the famous travertine terraces, feeling the soft limestone underfoot.

After the tour, around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kuşadası, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM for check-in. Once settled, the evening is yours to relax or explore the town at your leisure.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel before 8:30 AM. You will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin a full-day tour of Ephesus, an ancient Greek city that became a major cultural and commercial center in its time. Highlights of your visit include the Temple of Hadrian, the Ephesus Ancient Greek Theatre, and the Trajan Fountain.

Following lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be where she spent her final years. Next, you will pass by the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, though only remnants of the structure remain today.

Then, visit the beautiful Isa Bey Mosque, an exquisite example of Seljuk architecture.

After the tour ends around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to Izmir Airport for your late evening flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul. Upon arrival, a representative holding a sign with your name will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

For an optional early morning activity, you can book a Hot Air Balloon Ride to enjoy breathtaking aerial views of Cappadocia’s valleys. Please note that this activity is available at an additional cost.

After breakfast at your hotel, around 9:30 AM, you will be picked up for a full-day Cappadocia tour. The first stop is Devrent Valley, a surreal landscape filled with unique rock formations. Next, head to Avanos Village, a charming town renowned for its pottery and handicrafts.

The tour continues to the Zelve Open Air Museum, a historic monastic retreat from the 9th to the 13th centuries, where early Christians lived in rock-carved houses and churches. It provides a rugged and authentic glimpse into their lives.

Following this, visit Uchisar Castle, a magnificent natural rock formation offering panoramic views of Cappadocia’s valleys.

After a morning of sightseeing, enjoy a lunch break at a traditional Turkish restaurant, savoring the unique flavors of Cappadocia’s local cuisine.

In the afternoon, the tour concludes with a visit to Kaymakli Underground City, an intricate network of rock-carved tunnels and chambers used as shelters by early Christians.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for your departure flight to Istanbul, scheduled between 7:00 and 10:00 PM. End of Service and Tours.

Important Note: Transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price.