Skip to main content

12 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour with Free Days

12 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour with Free Days

5.0(2)
Operates Daily – No Minimum Participants
12 Days
Starts and ends in IstanbulRoute map
Small Group
3 guide languages

What you'll experience

This 12-day Turkey package gives extra breathing room around Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Ephesus. Instead of filling every day with transfers, it includes free days in Istanbul and Kusadasi/Selcuk while still covering the essential guided routes.

Beylerbeyi Palace and Camlica Hill bring the Asian shore into the Istanbul days, after Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia on the Old City tour. Cappadocia opens with an unscheduled day before the Red and Yellow routes through Pasabag and Pigeon Valley, the Pamukkale tour adds the necropolis of Hierapolis, and Ephesus reaches the Library of Celsus and the Great Amphitheatre.

In your price

Already covered for you

  • Domestic flightswith 15 kg luggage
  • 10 hotel nights
  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Overnight bus ticket
  • Entrance feeson the itinerary
  • Airport and hotel transfers
Taxes and service fees includedTÜRSAB licence 6250 · Since 2009

You just enjoy the trip, we take care of the rest.

See all inclusions and exclusions

Day by day

12-Day Turkey Itinerary: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus

Make this trip your ownAdd days, swap cities or change hotels. Our AI planner prices it instantly.Plan with AI

Day 1:Arrival in Istanbul

  • Istanbul
  • Transfers included

After you arrive at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport, please exit to the passenger meeting area. Our local team will welcome you outside the airport terminal with a name sign and transfer you comfortably to your...

Read full day planHide day plan

After you arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), please exit to the passenger meeting area. Our local team will welcome you outside the airport terminal with a name sign and transfer you comfortably to your Istanbul hotel for check-in and rest.

Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 2:Free Day in Istanbul

  • Breakfast
  • Istanbul
  • Free time

Free day in Istanbul for rest, shopping, museums, or optional evening activities.

Free time ideas: a Bosphorus ferry ride, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, or the streets of Galata and Karakoy.

Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast

Free day in Istanbul for rest, shopping, museums, or optional evening activities.

Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 3:Istanbul Old City Tour

  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Istanbul
  • Transfers included

It was the ceremonial and sporting heart of Byzantine Constantinople.

  • Hippodrome
  • Blue Mosque
  • Hagia Sophia
  • Topkapi Palace
  • Grand Bazaar
Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch

08:30 - You will be picked up from the hotel for a day tour.

  • Hippodrome: It was the ceremonial and sporting heart of Byzantine Constantinople. Its obelisks and open square still show how imperial Istanbul was organized before the Ottoman era.
  • Blue Mosque: One of Istanbul s most elegant Ottoman landmarks, famous for its six minarets, balanced courtyards, and blue Iznik tiles inside the prayer hall.
  • Hagia Sophia: It brings Byzantine engineering, imperial ceremony, Ottoman mosque architecture, and modern Istanbul history together in one extraordinary monument.
  • Topkapi Palace: It was the administrative and private center of the Ottoman sultans for centuries, with courtyards, treasury sections, palace kitchens, and ceremonial spaces revealing court life.
  • Grand Bazaar: One of the world s oldest covered market complexes, where jewelry, textiles, carpets, ceramics, and small workshops keep Istanbul s trading culture alive.

17:00 - The tour ends and we will transfer you back to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 4:Bosphorus Cruise & Two Continents

  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Istanbul
  • Transfers included

A colorful Ottoman market filled with spices, sweets, teas, dried fruits, and local delicacies.

  • Spice Bazaar
  • Bosphorus Cruise
  • Bosphorus Bridge
  • Camlica Hill
  • Beylerbeyi Palace
Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch

08:30 - You will be picked up from the hotel for a day tour.

  • Spice Bazaar: A colorful Ottoman market filled with spices, sweets, teas, dried fruits, and local delicacies. It gives the day a lively start before the Bosphorus section.
  • Bosphorus Cruise: It shows Istanbul from the water, passing palaces, wooden mansions, bridges, and neighborhoods spread between Europe and Asia.
  • Bosphorus Bridge: It links the two continents and gives the route its symbolic crossing point between Europe and Asia.
  • Camlica Hill: It offers one of the broadest panoramic views over Istanbul, with the strait, old city, modern districts, and bridges visible from above.
  • Beylerbeyi Palace: An elegant Ottoman waterfront palace on the Asian shore, built for imperial summer stays and visiting dignitaries.

17:00 - The tour ends and we will transfer you back to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 5:Fly to Cappadocia & Free Day

  • Breakfast
  • Cappadocia
  • Transfers included
  • Free time

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out from your rooms. Transfer to the airport for your selected Istanbul-Cappadocia flight.

Free time ideas: a sunset viewpoint above Goreme, Uchisar castle, or a Turkish night show (optional).

Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out from your rooms.

12:00 - Transfer to the airport for your selected Istanbul-Cappadocia flight. (Pick-up time may change according to flight time, airport, and hotel location.)

15:10 - Fly to Cappadocia from Istanbul. (Flight time may change.)

16:30 - Arrival transfer to your Cappadocia hotel and free time.

Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 6:Cappadocia Red Route

  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Cappadocia
  • Transfers included

Devrent is known for imaginative volcanic rock shapes resembling animals and figures, a light but memorable introduction to Cappadocia s erosion-shaped landscape.

  • Devrent Valley
  • Pasabag
  • Avanos
  • Zelve Open Air Museum
  • Uchisar panoramic view

Early Morning · Optional Add-ons

Hot Air Balloon Flight

#1 Rated Cappadocia Experience with Iconic Sunrise Views

Most booked activity

Balloon Watching Tour

The Best Cappadocia Viewpoints for Unforgettable Sunrise Photos

Best viewpoints guaranteed

Both options can be added at best available prices during booking.

Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch

09:30 - You will be picked up from your hotel and the Cappadocia Red Route will begin.

  • Devrent Valley: Devrent is known for imaginative volcanic rock shapes resembling animals and figures, a light but memorable introduction to Cappadocia s erosion-shaped landscape.
  • Pasabag: It has some of the region s most dramatic fairy chimneys, including multi-capped formations linked with early hermit life.
  • Avanos: It sits beside the Red River, whose clay has supported pottery for thousands of years. The stop connects the landscape with a living craft tradition.
  • Zelve Open Air Museum: Zelve was once a cave village and monastic settlement spread through several valleys, with abandoned homes, churches, passages, and tunnels.
  • Uchisar panoramic view: The Uchisar viewpoint gives a strong panorama over valleys, cave houses, and the castle rock that rises above central Cappadocia.

17:00 - The tour ends and we will transfer you back to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Cappadocia.

Day 7:Cappadocia Yellow Route & Overnight Bus to Pamukkale

  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Transfers included

It is known for warm-colored rock walls, hidden cave rooms, and mineral tones that change with the daylight.

  • Red Valley
  • Gulludere Valley
  • Cavusin
  • Pigeon Valley
  • Underground City
Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch

09:30 - After breakfast at the hotel and check-out from your hotel, transfer to the tour area.

  • Red Valley: It is known for warm-colored rock walls, hidden cave rooms, and mineral tones that change with the daylight.
  • Gulludere Valley: Gulludere combines soft pink rock formations with cave churches, vineyards, and walking paths between old dwellings.
  • Cavusin: An old rock-cut village where cave houses and churches climb the cliff face, showing how daily life once blended into stone.
  • Pigeon Valley: It is lined with dovecotes carved into the rocks, once used to collect fertilizer for vineyards, with wide views toward Uchisar.
  • Underground City: The underground city reveals tunnels, storage rooms, ventilation shafts, and defensive stone doors built for protection during unstable periods.

17:00 - The tour ends and you will be transferred to the bus station for an overnight intercity bus to Pamukkale.

20:00 - Overnight intercity bus to Pamukkale, around 10 hours with rest stops. (Bus time may change.)

Overnight bus journey to Pamukkale.

Day 8:Pamukkale Tour & Transfer to Kusadasi/Selcuk

  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Transfers included

Bright white mineral terraces formed by warm calcium-rich water flowing down the hillside.

  • Pamukkale Travertines
  • Hierapolis
  • Necropolis
  • Cleopatra Pool area
Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch

06:30 - Early arrival in Denizli and transfer to a freshen-up room before the Pamukkale tour. (Arrival time may change.)

09:30 - You will be picked up from your refreshing room for the Pamukkale day tour after getting some rest, having breakfast, and using the shower.

  • Pamukkale Travertines: Bright white mineral terraces formed by warm calcium-rich water flowing down the hillside.
  • Hierapolis: It was a Roman spa city built above the thermal springs, with theater, streets, gates, baths, and sacred areas tied to healing water.
  • Necropolis: One of the largest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia, with tombs and sarcophagi spread along the old roads.
  • Cleopatra Pool area: It contains warm thermal water and fallen ancient columns. Swimming is optional and paid locally.

16:30 - Transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi/Selcuk.

Overnight stay in Kusadasi/Selcuk.

Day 9:Free Day in Kusadasi/Selcuk

  • Breakfast
  • Free time

Free day on the Aegean coast.

Free time ideas: Ladies Beach, the old town bazaar and the marina, or a short ride to Sirince village.

Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast

Free day on the Aegean coast.

Overnight stay in Kusadasi/Selcuk.

Day 10:Ephesus Tour & Fly to Istanbul

  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Istanbul
  • Transfers included

Ephesus is one of the best-preserved classical cities in the eastern Mediterranean, with marble streets, agora areas, fountains, temples, and Roman urban planning still easy to read.

  • Ephesus Ancient City
  • Library of Celsus
  • Great Amphitheatre
  • House of Virgin Mary
  • Temple of Artemis
Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch

08:30 - You will be picked up for the tour and transferred to the tour area.

  • Ephesus Ancient City: Ephesus is one of the best-preserved classical cities in the eastern Mediterranean, with marble streets, agora areas, fountains, temples, and Roman urban planning still easy to read.
  • Library of Celsus: The signature facade of Ephesus, built as both a library and a monumental tomb, showing the city s taste for public grandeur.
  • Great Amphitheatre: It could hold thousands of spectators and was used for performances, civic gatherings, and public announcements.
  • House of Virgin Mary: A peaceful hillside sanctuary above Ephesus, visited for its spiritual tradition and quiet setting.
  • Temple of Artemis: It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; only traces remain, but the stop completes Ephesus sacred geography.

16:00 - The tour ends and you will be transferred to Izmir Airport.

19:30 - Flight to Istanbul. (Flight time and airport may change according to season, airline schedule, and operational availability.)

20:50 - Arrival and transfer to your Istanbul hotel.

Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 11:Free Day in Istanbul

  • Breakfast
  • Istanbul
  • Free time

Free day in Istanbul for personal plans or optional activities.

Free time ideas: Istiklal Avenue and Taksim, a Turkish bath (hamam), or the sunset from Galata Tower.

Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast

Free day in Istanbul for personal plans or optional activities.

Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Day 12:Departure from Istanbul

  • Breakfast
  • Transfers included

Transfer to Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport according to your international flight details.

Read full day planHide day plan

Meal: Breakfast

Transfer to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) according to your international flight details.

Tour Services

What's Included

Clear scope of services for the 12 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour with Free Days

Includes

Services covered in your tour package

  • Domestic flights Istanbul to Cappadocia and Izmir to Istanbul with 15 kg checked baggage and 8 kg cabin baggage per person
  • Overnight intercity bus from Cappadocia to Pamukkale
  • Hotel accommodation: Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Kusadasi/Selcuk as listed, plus Pamukkale freshen-up room
  • Breakfasts and lunches during guided tour days
  • Airport, bus station, hotel, and tour transfers in the itinerary
  • Guided Istanbul, Bosphorus, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Ephesus tours
  • Entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
  • Professional licensed tour guide during the day tours
  • Local taxes and service charges

Excludes

Services not covered by the package price

  • Dinners and unmentioned meals
  • Drinks at lunch
  • Personal expenses
  • Cappadocia hot air balloon flight or balloon watching tour
  • Optional swimming in Cleopatra Antique Pool

Where you'll stay

Hotels on this tour

10 hotel nights: Istanbul 6 · Cappadocia 2 · Kusadasi 2. Choose the hotel class that suits your comfort and budget; you can change it when you book.

  • Istanbul · 6 nights

    Emine Sultan Hotel, Sultan Hamit Hotel+ 4 more

  • Cappadocia · 2 nights

    Heaven Cave Hotel, Tafana Cave & Stone Lodge Hotel+ 5 more

  • Kusadasi · 2 nights

    Urkmez Hotel, Akman City Hotel+ 2 more

Per person in a double room. Hotels are confirmed after booking, subject to availability.

Highlights

Why this 12-day Turkey tour is a comfortable choice

  • More room to breathe: Free days in Istanbul and Kusadasi/Selcuk help balance the long-distance route.
  • Core highlights still included: Istanbul Old City, Bosphorus, Cappadocia Red and Yellow routes, Pamukkale, and Ephesus are all covered.
  • Softer arrival rhythm: The itinerary gives Istanbul time before the domestic flight section, so the trip does not feel rushed from the first day.
  • Useful freshen-up stop: The Pamukkale arrival includes a freshen-up room before the tour, making the overnight bus section easier to handle.
  • Flexible travel style: The Cappadocia-Pamukkale section can work by intercity bus for group packages or private vehicle for private options.
  • Related itinerary: For a route with Troy included, compare the 12 Days Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia Tour.

Compare other Turkey tour packages

Each card shows how that tour differs from this one: route, nights and price. Open a card for its full itinerary, or compare every detail side by side below.

Blue Mosque view through a historic archway in Istanbul
2 days shorter

10 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Ephesus Tour

10 days · 9 hotel nights

Istanbul → Cappadocia → Ephesus → Pamukkale → Ephesus → Istanbul

Compared with this tour

  • 2 nights less in Istanbul
  • 1 more night in Kusadasi
  • 1 more domestic flight
4.9 ★ · 13 reviews€1,254€207 less than this tour
Ground crews prepare a colorful hot air balloon for launch near the stone houses of a traditional Cappadocian village, Turkey, in the calm before the morning flights.
Same length, other route

12 Days Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, and Cappadocia Tour

12 days · 11 hotel nights

Istanbul → Troy → Ephesus → Pamukkale → Ephesus → Cappadocia → Istanbul

Compared with this tour

  • Adds Troy
  • 2 nights less in Istanbul
  • 2 more nights in Kusadasi
4.7 ★ · 24 reviews€1,526€65 more than this tour
Compare these 4 tours side by sideHide the comparison
Compare other Turkey tour packages
CompareThis tour12 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour with Free Days2 days shorter10 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Ephesus Tour2 days longer14 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour with Free DaysSame length, other route12 Days Istanbul, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, and Cappadocia Tour
Length12 days · 10 hotel nights · 1 overnight bus10 days · 9 hotel nights14 days · 12 hotel nights · 1 overnight bus12 days · 11 hotel nights
RouteIstanbul → Cappadocia → Pamukkale → Ephesus → IstanbulIstanbul → Cappadocia → Ephesus → Pamukkale → Ephesus → IstanbulIstanbul → Cappadocia → Pamukkale → Ephesus → IstanbulIstanbul → Troy → Ephesus → Pamukkale → Ephesus → Cappadocia → Istanbul
Nights inIstanbul 4 · Cappadocia 2 · Kusadasi 2 · Istanbul 2Istanbul 3 · Cappadocia 2 · Kusadasi 3 · Istanbul 1Istanbul 4 · Cappadocia 2 · Pamukkale 1 · Kusadasi 2 · Istanbul 3Istanbul 3 · Kusadasi 4 · Cappadocia 3 · Istanbul 1
Getting around2 domestic flights3 domestic flights2 domestic flights2 domestic flights
Guide languagesEnglish, Spanish, ItalianEnglish, Spanish, ItalianEnglish, Spanish, ItalianEnglish
RatingNew tour4.9 ★ · 13 reviewsNew tour4.7 ★ · 24 reviews
Price from€1,461€1,254€1,555€1,526

Good to know

Before you book

  • Pick-up times for tours and airports may change, and tour ending times may also change. Exact timings will be shared after you purchase the tour.
  • If you choose the private option, the Cappadocia to Pamukkale section will be operated by private vehicle with a driver. If you choose the group option, you will travel by intercity bus.
  • Domestic flight times, airports, and routes may change according to season, airline schedule, and operational availability.
  • Domestic flights include 15 kg checked baggage and 8 kg cabin baggage per person; extra luggage can usually be added during online check-in according to airline rules and fees.
  • Intercity buses are not sleeper buses. They have reclining seats, but no flat-bed sleeping compartments.
  • At Pamukkale, entering the Cleopatra Antique Pool area is not a separate extra; only optional swimming is paid locally.
  • Cappadocia hot air balloon experiences can be added during booking from optional add-ons at our current best rates.
Available Languages:EnglishSpanishItalianTour Types:GroupPrivatePrices may vary depending on the selected language and tour type.

FAQ

Questions about this 12-day tour

Where does this tour start and end?

It starts and ends in Istanbul.

How do we travel between the cities?

By our transfers and tour vehicles, 1 overnight bus and 2 domestic flights (Istanbul → Cappadocia, Izmir → Istanbul). The route map above shows every leg.

Where do we stay overnight?

10 hotel nights: 4 in Istanbul, 2 in Cappadocia, 2 in Kusadasi and 2 in Istanbul. Plus 1 night on the overnight bus. Under Hotels on this tour you can see the hotels of each class.

Is the hot air balloon flight included?

No, the hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia is optional and not included in the price. You can add it when you book.

In which languages is the tour guided?

Guides are available in English, Spanish and Italian. Prices may vary depending on the selected language.

Does this tour depart every day?

Yes, it departs daily and there is no minimum number of participants.

Can I change the itinerary or add days?

Yes. Our AI trip planner starts from this route: add days, swap cities or change hotels and see the new price at once. For anything else, send us a request.

Guest Feedback

12 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour with Free Days reviews

5.02 reviews

Pace is finally right. We've done 3 group tours and this is the only one where we actually came home rested. Istanbul portion took its time with Hagia Sophia and the Bosphorus cruise spread over real days not rushed mornings. Cappadocia balloon at sunrise was unforgettable. Pamukkale freshen up room after the overnight bus was a thoughtful detail. Ephesus the Library of Celsus had us standing speechless. Selim guided the Cappadocia leg superbly.

G

Greta O.

12 days with built in free days is exactly what we wanted. The standard 6 or 7 day Turkey loops always burn us out so we picked this one specifically for the breathing room. Two free days in Istanbul let us revisit Galata at our own pace and find a hidden hammam. Free day in Kusadasi we took a local boat trip. Cappadocia and Pamukkale and Ephesus all the iconic sites covered. Cave hotel night in Goreme was the most atmospheric stay of our lives.

A

Augusto N.

Explore more

More Turkey tours

From
€1,461per person