5-Day Pamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia Tour with Flights

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Fly from Istanbul to Denizli – Pamukkale Tour – Transfer to Kusadasi
5 stops
1
Istanbul
Your experience begins with an early morning pickup from your centrally located hotel or Airbnb in Istanbul (between 3:40 AM and 4:15 AM, depending on location). You’ll be transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Denizli. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by your guide and begin a full-day guided tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Admission ticket free
2
Hierapolis & Pamukkale
Explore the ruins of this Greco-Roman spa city, famous for its sacred thermal waters. Highlights include the Necropolis, Roman Baths, Temple of Apollo, Plutonium, and the beautifully preserved Roman Theater.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
3
Cleopatra Pools
After exploring Hierapolis, enjoy about 1 hour of free time. You may choose to swim in the Cleopatra Antique Pools, known for their warm mineral-rich waters and submerged marble columns. Note: Entry to the pool is optional and not included in the tour price (approx. $10 USD), payable at the entrance.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
4
Pamukkale
Walk barefoot along the dazzling white calcium terraces, formed by natural thermal springs over millennia. Also known as the “Cotton Castle,” this unique natural wonder offers incredible photo opportunities and relaxing scenery.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
5
Kusadasi
After the tour (around 4:00 PM), you will be transferred by vehicle to Kuşadası, arriving at your hotel around 7:30 PM for check-in and rest. Overnight in Kuşadası
Admission ticket free
Day 2
Ephesus Tour – Flight to Cappadocia via Istanbul
6 stops
6
Kuşadası
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and be picked up around 8:30 AM for a full-day guided tour of Ephesus, one of the most well-preserved ancient cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage candidate.
Admission ticket free
7
Ancient City of Ephesus
Explore the stunning ruins of Ephesus, where your expert guide will take you through the Curetes Street, lined with beautifully preserved marble columns and shops from the Roman period. Major highlights include: • Library of Celsus – one of the most iconic structures of the ancient world • Great Theater – with seating for 25,000 and remarkable acoustics • Temple of Hadrian and Trajan Fountain – showcasing Roman architectural elegance
2 hours • Admission ticket included
8
Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)
Visit this sacred pilgrimage site believed to be the final residence of the Virgin Mary. Located in the hills above Ephesus, it offers a peaceful atmosphere and spiritual significance for visitors of all faiths.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
9
The Temple of Artemis
Stop by the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Although only a few columns remain today, your guide will bring to life the temple’s former grandeur and historical importance.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
10
Isa Bey Mosque
End the historical portion of the tour with a visit to the Isa Bey Mosque, an elegant example of 14th-century Seljuk architecture, built with reused elements from earlier Roman buildings.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
11
Izmir
After completing your guided tour of Ephesus around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to Izmir Airport for your flight to Cappadocia via Istanbul. Flight schedules vary depending on availability, with most connections departing between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM, and arriving at either Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport later in the evening. Upon arrival in Cappadocia, our representative will meet you at the airport exit, holding a sign with the lead traveler’s name for easy identification. You will then board a shared shuttle transfer to your hotel. Hotel check-in will take place late in the evening, giving you time to rest and get ready for the next day’s adventure in this extraordinary region.
Admission ticket free
Day 3
North Cappadocia Tour – Fairy Chimneys, Valleys & Local Culture
7 stops
12
Urgup
After breakfast, around 9:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin a full-day tour exploring the northern highlights of Cappadocia, famous for its surreal landscape, fairy chimneys, and ancient cave settlements.
Admission ticket free
13
Devrent Valley
Explore a dreamlike valley filled with naturally formed rock shapes that resemble animals and figures. This valley sparks creativity and makes for fantastic photo opportunities.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
14
Pasabag
See Cappadocia’s iconic mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys, where hermits once lived in isolation. Learn about their spiritual lives and unique dwellings carved into volcanic rock.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
15
Avanos
Visit the riverside town of Avanos, located along the Kızılırmak (Red River), and watch a live pottery demonstration using techniques that date back to the Hittite era.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
16
Zelve Open Air Museum
Discover a former cave village with homes, churches, and tunnels carved into soft tuff stone. This site offers insight into the lifestyle of Cappadocia’s early Christian communities.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
17
Uchisar Castle
Stop at the base of Cappadocia’s highest point for panoramic views of the valleys and surrounding rock formations. The interior of the castle is not included in this visit.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
18
Urgup
After the tour ends at around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore on your own. Overnight in Cappadocia
Admission ticket free
Day 4
South Cappadocia Tour – Valleys, Villages & Underground Cities
7 stops
19
Urgup
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up around 9:30 AM to begin your full-day guided tour of South Cappadocia, featuring a blend of dramatic landscapes, traditional village life, and early Christian heritage carved into the region’s volcanic rock formations.
Admission ticket free
20
Red Valley
Begin the day at Red Valley, one of the most scenic areas in Cappadocia, known for its stunning red-hued rock formations that glow especially during sunrise and sunset. It’s also home to hidden cave chapels carved into the soft tuff stone.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
21
Rose Valley
Begin the day at Red Valley, one of the most scenic areas in Cappadocia, known for its stunning red-hued rock formations that glow especially during sunrise and sunset. It’s also home to hidden cave chapels carved into the soft tuff stone.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
22
Cavusin Village
Visit this historic village, known for its ancient cave houses and hillside churches, once home to early Christian communities.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
23
Pigeon Valley
Admire the panoramic views of pigeon houses carved into the cliffs, used by locals for fertilizer collection.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
24
Kaymakli Underground City
Explore one of Cappadocia’s remarkable underground cities — Kaymakli or Ozkonak — where early Christians sought refuge from persecution. These multi-level subterranean complexes feature tunnels, stables, kitchens, and communal living spaces carved deep into volcanic rock.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
25
Urgup
After the tour ends at around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, explore on your own. Overnight in Cappadocia
Admission ticket free
Day 5
Green Cappadocia Adventure & Ihlara Valley Hike – Flight Back to Istanbul
8 stops
26
Urgup
After breakfast, you will check out from your hotel, and around 9:30 AM, you will be picked up to begin the full-day Green Tour of Cappadocia, featuring breathtaking landscapes, deep valleys, ancient monasteries, and underground cities.
Admission ticket free
27
Esentepe
Begin your day with a photo stop at a panoramic viewpoint overlooking Göreme Valley, commonly referred to as the Esentepe area. While not marked as a single location on maps, this ridge offers sweeping views of Cappadocia’s unique rock formations and fairy chimneys.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
28
Derinkuyu YeraltI Sehri
Descend into the largest excavated underground city in Cappadocia, located in the town of Derinkuyu. Once used by early Christians during times of persecution, this vast complex includes tunnels, stables, kitchens, and communal living spaces carved into volcanic rock.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
29
Ihlara Valley
Enjoy a peaceful 4 km hike along the Ihlara Valley, known for its serene beauty, rock-cut chapels, and a gentle stream running through lush greenery.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
30
Belisirma
Pause for a lunch break in the riverside village of Belisirma, where you’ll enjoy fresh, local Turkish dishes in a tranquil natural setting. Note: Vegetarian meals available on request. Vegan and gluten-free options not available.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
31
Selime Monastery
Visit the majestic Selime Monastery, a 13th-century rock-hewn religious complex with cathedrals, chapels, and ancient monks’ quarters carved into the cliffs.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
32
Yaprakhisar Koyu
Conclude your tour at Yaprakhisar Viewpoint, known for its dramatic scenery and volcanic formations. This cinematic location was famously featured in the movie Star Wars.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
33
Kayseri
At the end of the tour (around 3:30 PM), you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your return flight to Istanbul. Flights typically depart between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM, with a duration of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Note: Transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price.
Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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