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

3 Days

Departure from

Istanbul
Transportation

Airplane
Tour type

Group
Group Size

15 - 25
Language

English
Best season

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct & Nov

Itinerary Overview

Experience the ultimate 3-Day Turkey Tour, combining ancient history with surreal landscapes. Fly from Istanbul to explore the white terraces of Pamukkale and the ruins of Hierapolis. Visit the Temple of Hadrian and the Great Theater in Ephesus, then see the House of the Virgin Mary. Enjoy seamless travel with domestic flights included as you journey to Cappadocia. Stay in an authentic cave hotel and discover the fairy chimneys of Devrent Valley, Zelve Valley, and Uchisar Castle. Venture into Kaymakli Underground City on this comprehensive adventure. This 3-Day Turkey Tour offers professional guides, airport transfers, and comfort. Add an optional hot air balloon ride for breathtaking views. Reserve your spot today!

Highlights:

Hierapolis: Ancient Roman ruins
Pamukkale: Thermal travertine pools
Ephesus: Historic Greek city
House of the Virgin Mary: Sacred pilgrimage site
Temple of Artemis: Ancient world wonder
Devrent Valley: Unique rock formations
Zelve Valley: Historic open-air museum
Uchisar Castle: Panoramic viewpoints
Kaymakli Underground City: Subterranean tunnel network
Avanos: Pottery and handicrafts

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day
1

Fly to Denizli – Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour

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.
Day
2

Ephesus Tour – Fly to Kayseri/Nevsehir from Izmir via Istanbul

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.
Day
3

Cappadocia Tour – Fly back to Istanbul

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.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel and transfer to Istanbul Airport (available only for hotels on the European side).
Domestic flight tickets: Istanbul to Denizli, Izmir to Kayseri, and Kayseri to Istanbul.
1 night in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel, including breakfast.
1 night in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast.
English-speaking guide during the tours.
Meals as per the itinerary, including breakfast (B) and lunch (L).
Entrance fees to attractions mentioned in the itinerary.
Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

Drop-off transportation service from Istanbul New Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul upon return.
International airfare and airport taxes.
Visa to enter Turkey.
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
Optional tours mentioned in the program (available at an additional cost).
Services not explicitly mentioned in the program.
Drinks with meals.
Travel insurance (recommended).

Important notes

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.
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
You can swim in the Antique pool in Pamukkale. However, please note that there is an extra charge that you will have to pay directly at your own expense before entry to the pools. This entrance fee to the pools is not covered as part of your tour. Please note that you must bring your own towel, swimsuit etc. if you need to use the pools.
The normal arrival time in Istanbul at the end of your tour is between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM. If you plan to book your international return flight on the same day, we recommend choosing a flight that departs no earlier than 1:30 AM the following morning to avoid missing it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will I receive confirmation after making a reservation?

Once your online reservation is received and the specified 30% deposit is charged to your credit card, your domestic flight tickets will be confirmed. You will receive an email confirmation, including all the details, within 2-3 days.

Is airport transfer included in the tour price?

Yes, airport transfers are included in the tour price. This covers pick-up from your hotel in Istanbul and transfer to the airport, as well as all airport-hotel transfers throughout the tour. However, please note that when you return to Istanbul at the end of the tour, the service will conclude at either Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Transfer to your hotel or chosen address from the airport will not be provided, so you will need to arrange this on your own.

Can I customize the tour itinerary?

Yes, the tour can be customized to fit your preferences. Please contact us in advance if you have specific requests or changes you’d like to make to the itinerary. Some changes may be subject to an additional fee.

What is the luggage allowance for domestic flights during the tour?

On domestic flights in Turkey, the luggage allowance is 15 kg (33 lbs) per person for checked baggage. For carry-on luggage, you are allowed one piece weighing up to 8 kg (17.6 lbs) per person. If your total luggage weight per person is within these limits, you should be fine.

Please note that any excess luggage weight over 15 kg for checked baggage will incur additional charges by the airlines. These extra charges are not included in the tour price and are your responsibility to pay directly to the airline at the time of check-in. We recommend packing accordingly to avoid any unexpected fees.

Your luggage is your own responsibility throughout the tour. Please ensure that you handle any issues related to overweight or excess baggage directly with the airlines.

What is the cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, notify One Nation Travel at least 5 days before the tour starts. For requests received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from your paid balance. For requests received less than 5 days before the tour starts, and for no-shows, the full amount paid is non-refundable.

Will I travel with the same group and guide throughout the tour?

Our multi-day Turkey packages are regular group/shared tour arrangements, not fully escorted tours with one tour leader and the same guests from arrival to departure. Sightseeing tours are shared and usually operate with about 15-20 guests, but group size and participants may change by city or day as travelers join or leave different scheduled tours. Licensed English-speaking guides lead scheduled sightseeing visits only. Guides do not travel with guests on domestic flights, intercity buses, airport transfers, hotel transfers, or free-time periods unless this is specifically stated in the itinerary. For flights, buses, and transfers, guests are met by our driver or local representative at airports, bus terminals, or hotels and assisted with the planned transfer. One Nation Travel coordinates the full itinerary, hotels, domestic tickets, transfers, local guides, and support throughout the trip.