5 Days Cappadocia, Ephesus, and Pamukkale Tour from Istanbul

Meal: Lunch

04:00 – Our team will pick you up from your hotel in Istanbul and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia.

06:35 – Flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir. (Flight time may vary depending on availability and tour date.)

07:50 – Upon arrival, you will be welcomed at the airport and transferred to the Cappadocia tour region.

Today’s adventure will take you through the most iconic and breathtaking landscapes of North Cappadocia, filled with fairy chimneys, cave settlements, and panoramic viewpoints.

1. Devrent Valley – Also known as Imagination Valley, this area is famous for its whimsical rock formations resembling animals and mystical shapes formed by nature.
2. Pasabag (Monks Valley) – Home to some of Cappadocia’s most stunning and towering fairy chimneys, where ancient monks once lived in solitude.
3. Goreme Panoramic Viewpoint – Get a sweeping view over Göreme’s unique landscape filled with cave dwellings, volcanic rocks, and hidden churches.
4. Avanos Pottery Workshop – Visit a local pottery workshop in the town of Avanos, where artisans craft ceramics using techniques passed down since the Hittite period.
5. Zelve Open Air Museum – Explore this historical ghost village composed of cave houses, tunnels, and chapels, once inhabited by both Muslims and Christians until the 1950s.
6. Uchisar Castle (Outside View) – Marvel at the natural rock fortress rising above Cappadocia’s valleys, offering an iconic silhouette visible from all around the region.

17:00 – At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia.

Overnight stay in Cappadocia

Meal: Breakfast and Lunch

09:00 – After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up and join the group for a full-day guided tour of South Cappadocia—an area filled with spiritual valleys, scenic viewpoints, and underground secrets.

1. Rose Valley – One of the most visually striking valleys in Cappadocia, Rose Valley is known for its soft pink-hued rocks and scenic hiking paths that glow at sunset. The valley is also home to hidden churches carved into the cliffs.
2. Underground City – Venture into a mysterious multi-level underground city, once used by early Christians to hide from invaders. You’ll explore tunnels, living quarters, and communal spaces built entirely beneath the surface.
3. Pigeon Valley – Named after the pigeon houses carved into the cliffs, this peaceful valley offers panoramic views and a look into how locals once relied on pigeons for communication and fertilizer.
4. Gulludere (Gül Valley) – A hidden gem for nature lovers, Gulludere Valley features unique rock formations, scattered cave churches, and quiet walking paths filled with Cappadocia’s natural charm.
5. Cavusin Village – An abandoned Greek village with stone houses and churches, Cavusin is one of the oldest settlements in the region. Its dramatic cliffside setting is a photographer’s dream.

At midday, you’ll enjoy a delicious Turkish lunch at a local restaurant, offering fresh regional dishes in a cozy setting.

17:00 – At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia.

Overnight stay in Cappadocia

Meal: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport in Cappadocia for your flight to Izmir.

Generally there is no direct flight to Izmir from Cappadocia.
If there is a direct flight on your travel date, we will book it for you.
If there is no direct flight, you will fly to Izmir through Istanbul.

Upon arrival at Izmir Airport, our team will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Kuşadası. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this lovely Aegean coastal town at your own pace.

Overnight stay in Kuşadası

Meal: Breakfast and Lunch

08:30 – After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up and transferred to Selçuk to begin your guided full-day Ephesus tour.

1. House of the Virgin Mary – Located on Mount Bülbül, this peaceful shrine is believed to be where the Virgin Mary spent her final years. It is a sacred pilgrimage site for both Christians and Muslims, surrounded by pine trees and prayer walls.
2. Ephesus Ancient City – One of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world. You’ll walk on ancient marble streets and visit:
   • Library of Celsus – An architectural marvel once housing over 12,000 scrolls.
   • Great Theater – A massive arena that could seat 25,000 people, still used for performances today.
   • Odeon – A smaller covered theater for music and council meetings.
   • Agora – The bustling heart of commerce in Roman times.
   • Domitian Temple – A shrine to Emperor Domitian, one of the earliest examples of imperial cult in Ephesus.
   • Hadrian’s Gate – A beautifully preserved monumental entrance from the 2nd century.
   • Fountain of Trajan – Dedicated to Emperor Trajan, adorned with Roman statues.
   • Skolastika Baths – A Roman bath complex used for socializing and cleansing.
   • Kuretler Street – The main road connecting major monuments, lined with statues and columns.
   • Roman Latrines – Shared public toilets showcasing the engineering of the time.
   • Bouleuterion (Council House) – Where the city council held meetings and made civic decisions.
3. Temple of Artemis – Once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only a few columns remain today, but its historic value is immeasurable.

16:00 – The Ephesus tour ends and you will be transferred back to your hotel in Kuşadası or Selçuk.

Overnight stay in Kuşadası

Meal: Breakfast and Lunch

08:00 – You will be picked up from your hotel in Kuşadası or Selçuk and transferred to Pamukkale. The journey takes approximately 3 hours.

Upon arrival, your guided tour of Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis begins. This region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its surreal white travertine terraces and well-preserved Roman ruins.

1. Pamukkale Travertines – Walk barefoot on the dazzling white calcium terraces created by thermal spring waters. The mineral-rich waters have been used for healing for thousands of years.
2. Hierapolis Ancient City – Founded as a healing center in the 2nd century BC, the city flourished during Roman times. Explore a range of impressive ruins including:
   • Frontinus Street – The grand colonnaded avenue once lined with shops and baths.
   • Necropolis – One of the largest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia with over 1,200 tombs and sarcophagi.
   • Roman Theater – A well-preserved theater with a capacity of over 12,000, still showcasing its detailed stage and seating.
   • Temple of Apollo – The sacred heart of Hierapolis built over an active seismic fault.
   • Plutonium – A mystical cave believed by the ancients to be an entrance to the underworld due to its toxic gas emissions.
   • Roman Baths & Basilica Bath – Large bathing complexes used for relaxation and purification.
   • Agora – The city’s commercial center where traders and locals once gathered.
3. Antique (Cleopatra) Pool – Optional: You may choose to swim among ancient marble columns in warm thermal waters (entry fee not included).

After the tour, enjoy a local lunch at a traditional Turkish restaurant.

16:00 – Pamukkale tour ends. You will be transferred to Denizli Airport for your return flight to Istanbul.

19:30 – Flight to Istanbul (Please note: Flight time may vary depending on availability.)

20:45 – Arrival at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

Our staff will welcome you at the airport and escort you to your hotel.

Comfortable transfer to your hotel in Istanbul.

Your 5 Days Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale Tour Package ends here. Thank you for choosing us!