4-Day Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus Tour from Istanbul with Flights

Your day starts early, with pickup from your Istanbul hotel at around 4:00 AM. Your flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir departs between 6:00 and 7:30 AM. Our representative meets you on arrival and transfers you to Cappadocia. You'll meet your guide and fellow travelers there before sightseeing begins.

Start at Devrent Valley, where erosion has shaped volcanic rock into unusual forms. Continue among the mushroom-shaped pinnacles of Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley). In Avanos, you'll learn about the town's pottery tradition.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant, with menus varying by restaurant. Then explore rock-cut churches and former dwellings at Zelve Open Air Museum. Finish with photos from the surrounding area of Uchisar Castle; entry inside isn't included. Expect moderate walking on uneven paths and steps, and bring comfortable shoes, water, sunscreen, and a hat.

At around 4:00 PM, you'll transfer to your Cappadocia cave hotel for check-in. The remaining time is free unless you book an optional activity. You can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense.

For an additional charge, choose a Turkish Night show with dinner, a two-hour ATV tour, a two-hour horseback ride, or a one-hour Whirling Dervish show. The schedule allows only one of these activities.

• Overnight in Cappadocia.
• Included Meal(s): Lunch

After breakfast, you'll meet your guide and fellow travelers at around 9:30 AM before setting out to explore South Cappadocia. Pickup is from your hotel, where your guide will explain the route. An optional balloon ride before breakfast costs extra and depends on weather, availability, and aviation approval.

Begin in Red Valley, exploring rock-cut churches before hiking approximately 5 km through Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Then visit the old houses and churches of Cavusin Village. You'll stop for your included lunch at around noon; menus vary.

After lunch, drive to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), named for its rock-cut pigeon houses. Continue to either Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City. You'll visit one, not both, to explore passages and chambers used as shelter during danger.

Sightseeing finishes at around 4:00 PM, followed by your transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport. Take your late-evening flight to Izmir via Istanbul. At Izmir Airport, a representative holding your name meets you for the transfer to your Kusadasi hotel. Dinner isn't included, so plan for food during your flight connection.

Expect the approximately 5 km hike plus village walking and underground steps. Low ceilings and narrow tunnels can be uncomfortable if you're claustrophobic. Wear shoes with good grip, and bring water, sun protection, and a light layer. Keep your passport and flight essentials in your carry-on.

• Overnight in Kusadasi.
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

Your day starts early, with pickup from your Kusadasi hotel at around 7:30 AM. You'll transfer to the meeting point in Selcuk and meet your fellow travelers there. Departure for Pamukkale is at around 8:30 AM. The drive takes about three hours, with a brief restroom stop of approximately 10 minutes.

Arrival is expected at around 11:45 AM, followed by your included lunch at a local restaurant. Menus vary by restaurant. At around 1:00 PM, begin sightseeing with your licensed guide at Pamukkale's Cotton Cliffs. These white terraces form as mineral-rich water deposits calcium carbonate.

Continue through City of Hierapolis, including its theatre and Roman Baths. Expect moderate walking, uphill sections, and uneven ancient paving, with limited shade. Wear supportive shoes and bring water, a hat, and sunscreen. Shoes must come off on designated travertine paths, where surfaces can be slippery.

After the guided visit, you'll have one hour of free time. If open and operating, you may swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools at your own expense. Bring a swimsuit and towel if interested; admission and swimming aren't guaranteed. Your guide will confirm the meeting point and departure time.

Leave for Kusadasi at around 4:00 PM, with hotel arrival expected at around 7:30 PM. Traffic and the day's schedule can affect your return time. Dinner is at your own expense.

• Overnight in Kusadasi.
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, you'll meet your guide and fellow travelers at around 8:30 AM before setting out to explore Ephesus. Check out before your hotel pickup and bring your luggage for the later airport transfer. Begin along Curetes Street, lined with remains of the ancient city's public buildings.

Visit the Temple of Hadrian, then continue to the Great Theater. Your guide explains how performances and public gatherings shaped life here. At the Trajan Fountain, learn how water reached this former port city.

After your included restaurant lunch, visit the House of the Virgin Mary; lunch menus vary. Christian tradition associates this hillside pilgrimage site with Mary's final years. Continue to the remains of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Finish at Isa Bey Mosque, built in 1375.

Expect substantial walking on uneven marble paving, with steps, limited shade, and possible crowds. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, sunscreen, and a hat. For the mosque, cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes, and bring a headscarf if you're a woman. Tourist entry may pause during prayers, particularly Friday midday worship.

After sightseeing, transfer to Izmir Airport for your flight to Istanbul, scheduled to depart between 7:00 and 10:00 PM. Flying time is approximately one hour and 30 minutes; your ticket confirms the arrival airport and time. Dinner, tonight's accommodation, and transportation from IST or SAW to your Istanbul hotel aren't included. END OF OUR SERVICE AND TOURS

• Overnight in Istanbul.
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch