This 9-day guided tour visits Istanbul (3 nights), Cappadocia (3 nights) and Pamukkale (2 nights). Prices start from $1,630 USD per person, based on two travelers sharing. Operated by One Nation Travel, a TÜRSAB-licensed (No. A-6073) local tour operator founded in Istanbul in 2008.
Overview
Ottoman domes, fairy chimneys and white terraces: the 9-Day Istanbul, Cappadocia and Pamukkale Tour runs 9 days and 8 nights, beginning and ending in Istanbul. Three domestic flights link the cities, with road transfers at each end; one may connect through Istanbul. In Cappadocia you stay at a cave hotel.
Guided days cover Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, a Bosphorus cruise, the fairy chimney valleys, an underground city, then Hierapolis and the travertines of Pamukkale. A sunrise hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia is optional and arranged separately, subject to suitable weather and official approval. Antique Pool and Topkapi Harem entry costs extra.
One Nation Travel is a licensed local tour operator in Istanbul, TÜRSAB A-6073, operating since 2008, and coordinates the trip for you. International flights are not included and are not offered as a paid add-on. You must arrange and purchase these flights independently. Most touring days start around 8:30 am, one includes an easy walk of about 5 km, so the pace suits active travelers.
Highlights
- Stand under the dome of Hagia Sophia, shaped by centuries as both cathedral and mosque
- Trace the blue Iznik tiles inside the Blue Mosque and its six-minaret skyline
- Browse the covered lanes of the Grand Bazaar, from ceramics and textiles to spices
- Cruise the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia, passing waterfront palaces, bridges, and Ottoman-era mansions
- Walk among Cappadocia's fairy chimneys, where volcanic tuff has been shaped into tall stone forms
- Choose an optional, paid locally hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia, subject to weather and approval
- Follow Hierapolis's Roman streets before walking barefoot along Pamukkale's white travertine terraces
Route: Istanbul (3 nights) → Cappadocia (3 nights) → Pamukkale (2 nights) → Istanbul
Day-by-Day Itinerary
You begin with time to arrive and settle into Istanbul before guided sightseeing introduces the city’s Byzantine and Ottoman core, followed by a morning on the Bosphorus and a domestic flight to Cappadocia. The pace is structured but not rushed: full sightseeing days generally leave your evenings open, while hotel breakfasts, planned transfers, and guided touring keep the practical details straightforward. In Cappadocia, two full days give you time for rock-cut settlements, valley walks, viewpoints, and an underground city, with the option to arrange a sunrise balloon flight separately if weather and official approval allow.
You then continue by domestic flight and road transfer to Pamukkale, where the schedule slows slightly after Cappadocia’s active touring. There is time to use the thermal facilities at your hotel and explore the white terraces and ancient ruins on a guided day before an unhurried final morning. A return flight brings you back to Istanbul for your last overnight stay, followed by an airport transfer timed around your departure flight. This is a multi-city trip with several travel days, balanced by free evenings and a clear progression from Istanbul’s urban monuments to Cappadocia’s volcanic terrain and Pamukkale’s thermal springs.
Arrive in Istanbul at any time. Whether you land at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport, our representative will meet you outside the international arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
The rest of the day is free. You may rest after your flight, walk toward the waterfront for a first look at the Bosphorus, or make your own way into the Old City for an easy first orientation. Keep plans simple if you arrive late or are adjusting to the time difference.
Before leaving, your representative will confirm the following morning’s pickup time. Your hotel is well placed for the days ahead, so there is no need to rush into sightseeing on arrival. Overnight in Istanbul.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Istanbul: Antea Hotel Oldcity, Muyan Suites, or Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel. Begin in Istanbul‘s historic peninsula at Hagia Sophia, built in the sixth century and used at different times as a cathedral, mosque, and museum. Continue to the nearby Blue Mosque, known for its six minarets and interior tilework.
Walk through the Hippodrome, the former gathering place of Byzantine Constantinople. Your guide will point out the Obelisk of Theodosius, Serpent Column, and German Fountain. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before the afternoon visits begin.
Continue to Topkapi Palace, the Ottoman sultans’ main residence for centuries, with time in its courtyards and collections. The separately ticketed Harem section may be arranged on site. Finish at the Grand Bazaar, where you can browse its covered lanes before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Istanbul.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Istanbul: Antea Hotel Oldcity, Muyan Suites, or Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel. Start at Spice Bazaar near Eminonu, where stalls sell tea, dried fruit, nuts, sweets, and spices. From Eminonu Pier, board a shared boat for a morning cruise on the Bosphorus, the waterway between Europe and Asia.
From the deck, you will pass Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, waterfront wooden houses known as yalis, and the fortifications along the narrowest part of the strait. The cruise ends around midday, after which you return to your hotel to collect your luggage.
You will then be transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Kayseri Airport or Nevsehir Airport. On arrival, a local representative will meet you for the drive to your hotel in Cappadocia. The evening is free for dinner and a relaxed first look around your hotel area. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Cappadocia: Heaven Cave House, Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel, or Zula Cave House.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel. If you wish, an optional hot air balloon flight may be arranged separately for sunrise before the tour. It requires suitable weather and official approval. Begin at Devrent Valley, where weathered rock shapes are often compared to animals, then continue to Pasabag Valley, also called Monks Valley.
See the tall, capped fairy chimneys at Pasabag before continuing to Avanos, a pottery town beside the Kizilirmak River. Lunch is served at a local restaurant, and you can watch how the town’s red clay is worked on traditional wheels. This is a useful stop for understanding why pottery remains part of daily trade here.
In the afternoon, visit Zelve Open Air Museum, a former cave settlement used until the twentieth century. End with a panoramic stop at Uchisar Castle; this visit is for the viewpoint rather than interior access. Return to your hotel around late afternoon. Evening activities such as ATV riding, horseback riding, a Whirling Dervish ceremony, or a Turkish night may be arranged locally. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Cappadocia: Heaven Cave House, Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel, or Zula Cave House.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 8:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel. If you did not take the optional balloon flight the previous morning, it may be arranged separately at sunrise today, subject to suitable weather and official approval. Your guide will explain the route before you leave for southern Cappadocia.
Start in Red Valley, where paths pass rock-cut chapels and layered tuff formations. Continue on foot through Rose Valley, also known as Gulludere, on an easy walk of about 5 kilometers. The route leads toward Cavusin Village, where older cave homes and a hillside church show how people once lived within the rock. Lunch is served at a local restaurant around midday.
After lunch, stop at Pigeon Valley, named for the dovecotes carved into its cliff faces. The final visit is to Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, depending on operations that day. You will see passages, storage areas, ventilation shafts, and stone doors used to close sections of the settlement. Return to your hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Cappadocia: Heaven Cave House, Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel, or Zula Cave House.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Cappadocia. We will collect you approximately two and a half hours before your domestic departure and transfer you to Kayseri Airport or Nevsehir Airport. Your onward flight is scheduled to Denizli or Izmir, with routing based on the flight schedule for your travel date.
Depending on the available routing, your flight may connect through Istanbul. Keep essential items with you during the journey, as this is a travel day rather than a sightseeing day. On arrival, a representative will meet you at Denizli Cardak Airport or Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport for the road transfer onward.
Continue to Pamukkale and check in at your thermal hotel. The remaining time is free. You can rest after the flights, use the hotel’s thermal facilities, or take an independent walk toward the white terraces if you arrive with time to spare. Dinner is at your own arrangement this evening. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Pamukkale: Pam Thermal Hotel, Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel, Colossae Thermal Hotel, or Tripolis Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel. Begin at Karahayit, where iron-rich thermal water has colored the surrounding rock in shades of rust red. Continue to Hierapolis, the ancient spa city above Pamukkale, where your guide will explain how thermal water shaped both the town and its long history.
Walk through the Necropolis, then see the Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Frontinus Street, and the Roman Theatre. The theatre‘s carved stage building is especially worth a close look. Lunch is served at a local restaurant, followed by free time in the area.
During your break, you may choose to swim in the Antique Pool, where fallen Roman columns lie beneath the thermal water. Entrance is not included. Finish at the Travertines, the white calcium terraces that give Pamukkale its name. You can walk barefoot on the designated sections before returning to the hotel in the afternoon. Dinner is served at the hotel. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Pamukkale: Pam Thermal Hotel, Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel, Colossae Thermal Hotel, or Tripolis Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, check out of your room by noon and leave your luggage at reception. The morning in Pamukkale is free. You can use the thermal facilities at your hotel, browse the village, or return independently to the Travertines for another walk before your flight day begins.
In the afternoon, we will transfer you to Denizli Cardak Airport or Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, according to your flight routing. Your domestic flight returns you to Istanbul. Keep your travel documents accessible, particularly if your route involves a connection before reaching the city.
On arrival at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport, our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for the final night. The evening is free, which makes this a good time for a simple dinner near your hotel or a final walk if you still have energy. Overnight in Istanbul.
Accommodation in the Hotels Below (or Similar, Depending on Availability at the Time of Booking):
In Istanbul: Antea Hotel Oldcity, Muyan Suites, or Deluxe Golden Horn Hotel.
The quoted price for this tour includes accommodations in the hotels mentioned above or similar quality hotels.
If you prefer a higher quality hotel, we offer two options:
- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel at an additional cost, which will be added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if it is expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Please let us know your preferred option when making the tour request so we can adjust the price accordingly. If no change in hotels is needed and you wish to proceed with the hotels included in our package tour at the quoted price, you may book the tour directly online.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel in Istanbul. Your departure transfer is arranged in line with your flight schedule. Please have your passport, airline details, and any items stored in the hotel safe ready before you leave, especially if you have an early departure.
We will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Allow enough time for the drive, airline check-in, baggage procedures, security screening, and passport control. The appropriate airport depends on the departure information provided for your international flight.
Your tour services end on arrival at the airport. If you have free time before pickup, the hotel can usually hold your luggage after check-out while you take a short walk nearby or have a final meal. Safe travels home.
Inclusions:
- 3 nights in Istanbul at a Special Class or 4-star hotel, including breakfast
- 3 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel, including breakfast
- 2 nights in Pamukkale at a 4-star thermal hotel, including breakfast
- Domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir, Cappadocia to Denizli or Izmir, and Denizli or Izmir to Istanbul
- All airport and hotel transfers listed in the itinerary
- Professional licensed English-speaking guide during guided tours
- Entrance fees for the sites listed in the itinerary.
- Lunches on full-day guided sightseeing days
- Dinner at the hotel in Pamukkale
- Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle during tours and transfers
- Local taxes and service charges
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Visa or e-visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Drinks with meals
- Cappadocia, or Pamukkale hot air balloon flight
- Optional activities
- Pamukkale Antique Pool entrance fee
- Topkapi Palace Harem section
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal spending
Important Notes
When you send an enquiry, please include your preferred travel dates, number of travelers, room setup, preferred hotel class, and whether your dates can shift by a day or two.
Before domestic flight tickets can be issued, we need each traveler’s full name exactly as printed in the passport, date of birth, passport number, and nationality. The name on the ticket is checked against the passport at the gate.
Please send your hotel name and address for pickup, or your arrival flight number and landing time if you are arriving in Istanbul.
Tour 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.
Room Allocation
- 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.
Flights & Transfers
- 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.
- The normal arrival time in Istanbul is between 8:00 – 10:00 pm. If you are planning on reserving your plane back home that same day, we recommend you book a plane ticket from 1:00 am onwards, to avoid missing your flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stay & Schedule
You’ll spend 3 nights in Istanbul, 3 nights in Cappadocia, and 2 nights in Pamukkale. This routing gives you full sightseeing days in each main destination without needing to change hotels every day.”
Expect full sightseeing days with hotel pickup generally around 8:30 or 9:30 AM and returns in the late afternoon. Most visits involve walking on paved streets, museum grounds, uneven stone paths, and slopes. The South Cappadocia day includes an easy walk of about 5 km through Rose Valley, so supportive walking shoes are important.
You can arrive at either Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport. A representative meets you outside the international arrivals hall with a sign showing your name and takes you to your hotel. Before leaving, the representative confirms the next morning's pickup time with you.
Flights & Weather
The itinerary includes domestic flights from Istanbul to Cappadocia, from Cappadocia to Denizli or Izmir, and from Denizli or Izmir back to Istanbul. Your Cappadocia to Pamukkale routing may connect through Istanbul, depending on the flight schedule for your date. Check the baggage allowance shown on your issued flight ticket before packing, as airline limits can vary by route.
Spring and fall are usually the easiest times for walking in Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Pamukkale, with milder daytime conditions than mid-summer. Summer can be hot in Pamukkale, while Cappadocia mornings and evenings can still be cool. Bring layers, comfortable closed-toe shoes, sun protection, and a light waterproof layer for changeable weather.
Travel Style
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.
Yes. You join the scheduled sightseeing visits, transfers, and domestic-flight arrangements as part of the tour program. You will also have free time on arrival day, in Cappadocia after touring, and in Pamukkale, so you can explore independently between planned services.
You have free time in each destination, and hotel Wi-Fi is commonly available, though speed and coverage can vary. For reliable mobile data while moving between cities, arrange an eSIM or local SIM after arrival. Download flight details, hotel information, and maps for offline use before domestic travel days.
Featured Hotels
Hotel options associated with this itinerary; the selected tour page and written confirmation control the included hotel and category.
View Featured Hotels (10)- Option 1: We can upgrade your hotel for an additional cost, which is added to the total price of the standard package tour.
- Option 2: You may request to arrange your own accommodation. We will prepare a revised written quote; each non-hotel service remains included only if expressly listed in the revised confirmation, and availability or price may change.
Hotels are subject to availability; alternatives of an equal standard may be provided.
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