5-Day Highlights of Turkey: Pamukkale, Pergamon, Ancient Cities & Cappadocia Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Denizli, departing between 6:00 and 8:00 am. Upon arrival at Denizli Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to Pamukkale. In Pamukkale, you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Pamukkale and Hierapolis.

Around 10:30 am, your first stop will be Karahayit to see the famous Red Spring Waters, known for their healing properties. Afterward, you’ll head to Pamukkale and begin exploring the ancient city of Hierapolis around 11:30 am. Highlights of Hierapolis include the Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Temple of Apollo, Plutonium, and the Theater.

At 12:30 pm, you will be taken for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, around 1:30 pm, you will have approximately 60 minutes of free time to explore the natural beauty of Pamukkale on your own. You may also choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (at your own expense), enjoying a relaxing dip in the same thermal waters that Cleopatra is believed to have bathed in. At 2:30 pm, you will regroup with your guide and have the unique opportunity to walk barefoot down the famous Pamukkale Travertines (White Cliffs), feeling the soft limestone underfoot.

After the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kuşadası, arriving at approximately 7:30 pm for check-in. Once settled, you can relax and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

• Overnight in Kuşadası
• Included Meal(s): Lunch

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kusadasi for a scenic drive to the ancient city of Pergamon. Known as a significant cultural hub of the ancient world, Pergamon promises a fascinating journey through history.

Your tour begins at the Acropolis of Pergamon, situated on the city’s highest point. Here, you’ll first visit the famous Library of Pergamon, one of the greatest libraries of antiquity. Next, you will explore the Temple of Athena, dedicated to the goddess of wisdom and war, and the Temple of Trajan, an impressive monument honoring the Roman Emperor Trajan, blending Roman and Greek architectural elements beautifully.

Following this, you’ll admire the Altar of Zeus, a monumental structure adorned with intricate friezes depicting mythological scenes. Afterward, you’ll take a break to enjoy a traditional Turkish lunch at a local restaurant, where you can relax and savor local flavors before resuming the tour.

The afternoon continues with a visit to the Gymnasium, an ancient training ground for athletes, and the Lower Agora, the bustling marketplace of ancient Pergamon. One of the highlights is the Hellenistic Theater, built on a steep hillside, offering breathtaking views and an impressive example of ancient theater architecture. Your last stop will be the Temple of Dionysus, dedicated to the god of wine and festivity, showcasing the religious and cultural richness of ancient Pergamon.

After the tour ends, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel in Kusadasi, where you can unwind or explore Kusadasi at your leisure, with options to enjoy the local nightlife or scenic walks along the waterfront.

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

After breakfast, check out from the hotel, and you will be picked up at around 8:30 AM to begin your full-day tour of three significant ancient cities: Priene, Miletus, and Didyma.

Your first stop will be Priene, once one of the most spectacular cities of Ionia, known for its well-planned streets and the remains of the Temple of Athena. Next, you will visit Miletus, home to a magnificent theater and a Byzantine fortress on the acropolis, offering incredible views of the surrounding landscape.

The final stop of the day will be Didyma, where you will explore the largest Ionic Temple in the world, the Temple of Apollo. Here, you will also see the enormous cracked head of Medusa, which once adorned the temple’s frieze.

After the tour ends, you will be transferred to Izmir Airport for your late evening flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir via Istanbul. Upon arrival, a representative holding a sign with your name will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

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

For an additional option, you can book an early morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy breathtaking aerial views of the valleys. Please note that this activity comes at an extra cost.

After breakfast around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin the full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour starts with a visit to Devrent Valley, famous for its unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles.

Afterward, you will drive to the town of Avanos, known for its pottery and ceramics, where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, the tour continues with a visit to the Zelve Open Air Museum. This museum offers an insightful look into the region’s monastic history, featuring carved caves and ancient churches.

Finally, before returning to your hotel, you will have about 15 minutes to take panoramic pictures of Uchisar Castle from the outside, as entry into the castle is not included in this tour.

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 the city at your own pace, or participate in optional activities.

For additional activities, you can choose a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through Cappadocia’s valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show, where you can witness the mesmerizing Sufi tradition. Alternatively, you may opt for a Turkish Night show with dinner, which includes traditional Turkish music, folk dances, and a delicious meal. All these activities are available at an extra cost.

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

After breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and be picked up around 9:30 am to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your first stop will be the breathtaking Red Valley, where you’ll explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike 5 km through the serene Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi), renowned for its stunning pink-hued rock formations.

Next, you’ll visit Cavusin Village, known for its ancient cave houses and churches once inhabited by Christian clergymen. Around noon, you’ll take a break for lunch at a local restaurant, savoring authentic Turkish flavors.

After lunch, the tour will continue to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), where you’ll witness the valley’s iconic pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. In the afternoon, you’ll explore either the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, both remarkable underground cities where early Christians took refuge.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your evening flight back to Istanbul. Your return flight arrives in Istanbul late in the evening; the issued ticket confirms the exact schedule, with the flight lasting approximately 1.5 hours. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.

Please note that transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price.