3 Days Cappadocia and Pamukkale Tour from Istanbul by Air & Bus

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir, scheduled between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival at either Kayseri or Nevsehir airport, you will be greeted and transferred to Cappadocia, where you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day tour of North Cappadocia.

Your first stop will be Devrent Valley, where you will marvel at the unique fairy chimneys and surreal rock formations. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), renowned for its iconic mushroom-shaped pinnacles. Following this, you’ll drive to the city of Avanos, famous for its centuries-old pottery-making tradition along the banks of the Kizilirmak River.

After enjoying a delicious lunch, the tour continues to the Zelve Open-Air Museum, where you’ll explore ancient cave dwellings and churches that reflect the region’s rich monastic history. Toward the end of your tour, you’ll have approximately 15 minutes of free time to capture panoramic photos of the stunning Uchisar Castle from the outside.

After the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy at your leisure. Overnight in Cappadocia.

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 and checkout from 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 (Güllüdere 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 (Güvercinlik 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 will travel overnight to Pamukkale in 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.

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 begins around 9:30 am with pick-up from the hotel to start your guided Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour, accompanied by a professional, licensed guide. The first stop is Karahayit, where you will see the unique and colorful Red Spring Waters. From there, the tour continues to Pamukkale, where you will visit the ancient city of Hierapolis. Within Hierapolis, you will explore several major historical sites including the Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantine Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, and the Theater.

Around noon, you will enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant where you can sample regional cuisine. After lunch, you will have approximately one hour of free time to explore the area on your own. During this time, you may choose to swim in the historic Pamukkale Antique Pools (please note that entrance fees for the pools are not included in the tour price).

Later in the afternoon, you will regroup to visit the stunning Pamukkale Travertines, famously known as the Cotton Castle. Here, mineral-rich thermal waters flow down brilliant white limestone terraces, forming one of Turkey’s most iconic natural wonders. You will have the chance to walk barefoot along these warm terraces, enjoying the unique landscape and thermal experience.

At the conclusion of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to either Denizli or Izmir Airport for your late evening flight back to Istanbul, with departures scheduled between 7:00 – 10:00 pm. 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.