4 Days Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour from Istanbul

Day 1: “Flight to Cappadocia, Cappadocia Red Tour”

At 5:15 am, we will pick you up from your Istanbul hotel and transfer you to the Istanbul airport, where you will receive your flight tickets. Upon arrival at the Cappadocia airport, our representative will be waiting for you with a sign bearing your name. The Red Tour begins with a visit to Devrent Valley, also known as “Imagination Valley”, where you will witness a surreal-looking landscape. The next stop is Pashabagi, also known as the Monks Valley, where Christian hermits chose to locate hermit cells and churches in three-headed pinnacles symbolic of the Holy Trinity. You can witness the stages in the formation of fairy chimneys at this spot. We will proceed to Avanos, the pottery center of Cappadocia, situated on the banks of the Red River. You will have lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the Goreme Open Air Museum. This museum houses the world’s most important Byzantine cave churches and frescoes from the Iconoclastic period through to the end of Seljuk rule. At the end of the day, you will visit Uchisar Castle, the highest point of the Goreme region, and then we will transfer you to your hotel, the Cave Suite Hotel, for an overnight stay.

Day 2 “Cappadocia Blue Tour, Overnight Bus to Pamukkale”

(Optional: Pre-sunrise hot-air balloon flight. Hotel pickup: around 06:30 during winter and 04:30 during summer. Dropoff: 8.00/30) The Blue Tour begins with a pickup from your hotel at 9:45 am, followed by a hike along the Red and Rose Valley, the most breathtakingly beautiful valleys in the region. You will conclude your hike at the Cavusin Cave Village, where you can marvel at the rock castle and troglodyte dwellings where people lived until the 20th century. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will take you to the Underground City of Kaymakli, one of the largest and deepest settlements in Cappadocia. Here, you will discover stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, churches, and wineries. The next stop is Pigeon Valley, where you will see a spectacular view of dovecotes, old abandoned cave homes, and old Greek houses of Uchisar and Ortshisar Castle, the biggest mass of fairy chimneys in Cappadocia. After the tour, you will travel overnight to Pamukkale in a non-smoking, fully air-conditioned local bus departing the bus station approximately at 9:00 pm. The total duration of travel will be 10 hours, with three breaks on the way to Pamukkale for your personal needs.

Day 3 “Pamukkale Tour, Kusadasi”

Upon your arrival at the Pamukkale / Denizli main bus station between 05:30 – 06:00, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel to freshen up. You will have time to have breakfast and a short rest. You will be picked up from your hotel at 09:30am and continue on to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pamukkale in our air-conditioned vehicle with your professional tour guide. Upon arrival in Pamukkale which translates to ‘’Cotton Castle’’ in Turkish, discover the dazzling terraces of carbonate minerals left by flowing water and bathe in the natural pools of hot spring water. After lunch at a local restaurant, next visit is to the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis which includes an amphitheatre, great city walls, bath houses and necropolis and where you can find out about the history and culture of this unique location. Due to its neighbouring divine white terraces of travertines and historical values of the ancient city ruins, Hierapolis was added to UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list in 1988. At a near location to Hierapolis ruins, there is the ancient pool called ‘’Cleopatra’s Pool’’ where you can have a swim at an additional charge. We will drop you to your hotel in Kusadasi for dinner and for your overnight stay in Kusadasi.

Day 4 “Ephesus Tour, Flight to Istanbul”

Your tour starts with a pick-up from your hotel at around 9:30am, however the exact time will be confirmed by the operating staff one day prior. After about one hour’s drive in our air conditioned comfort vehicle, you will get to Ephesus ancient city to explore its magnificent monuments, ancient sculptures and temples. You will be amazed by the beauty and majesty of this ancient world. Walking through the remaining ruins of Ephesus you will feel like you are travelling back in time. Visit the ancient amphitheatre, the library of Celsus, the temple of Artemis, the gate of Augustus, the Temple of Hadrian, the baths, and the city’s brothel. In particular, you won’t want to miss out on the Library of Celsus, the most impressive of the structures in Ephesus. The theater held 25,000 citizens, who gathered to watch theatrical performance and gladiator clashes. Today, from the site you enjoy impressive views across the main street that is lined with marble fountains, temples, and baths. After lunch, continue with a short drive to the House of the Virgin Mary on Mt. Koressos. Experience the holy spirit of the residence and chapel where Virgin Mary is said to have spent her last days. Last stop of the tour will be in Sirince village which is famous for its picturesque views and fruit wines. Taste and shop for the local wine variety of this cozy and magical place. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your late evening return flight around 6:00 – 8:00 pm (1-hour flight duration) to Istanbul. END OF OUR SERVICE.