5-Day Pamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia Tour from Ankara by Flight
Overview
Walk Curetes Street in Ephesus, see the white terraces of Pamukkale, and hike among Cappadocia’s rock formations on one five-day route. You’ll start in Ankara, flying to Izmir via Istanbul before your transfer to Kusadasi. Free time there gives you a pause before exploring with your guide and fellow travelers. At Hierapolis, the theatre and Roman Baths bring another ancient city into focus. Ephesus adds the Temple of Hadrian and Great Theater, with visits to the House of the Virgin Mary and Isa Bey Mosque.
In Cappadocia, the scenery shifts to mushroom-shaped pinnacles at Pasabag Valley and carved churches at Zelve Open Air Museum. A five-kilometer hike through Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi) gives you time to appreciate the pink-hued rock, while a visit to either Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City takes you below ground. Bring comfortable walking shoes and sun protection. Four nights are included: two in Kusadasi and two in a Cappadocia cave hotel, with breakfast and lunch on sightseeing days. Domestic flights connect the route, ending in Istanbul; your onward hotel transfer isn’t included. Regular group sightseeing includes shopping stops. For another perspective, you can add a Cappadocia hot air balloon ride at extra cost.
Highlights
- Walk Curetes Street to the Temple of Hadrian
- Explore Hierapolis, including its theatre and Roman Baths
- See Pamukkale’s white terraces formed by mineral deposits
- Visit the House of the Virgin Mary
- See mushroom-shaped pinnacles at Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley)
- Explore carved caves and churches at Zelve Open Air Museum
- Photograph Uchisar Castle from an outside viewpoint
- Hike five kilometers through Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi)
- Descend into Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City
- Stay two nights in a Cappadocia cave hotel
Itinerary
Day 1Fly to Izmir from Ankara - Free Day in Kusadasi
You'll arrive at Izmir Airport on your flight from Ankara via Istanbul. We'll pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Kusadasi for check-in.
We'll provide your airline tickets, with a morning or afternoon flight depending on availability. Before departure, you'll need to reach Ankara airport independently and at your own expense. Arrive at least two hours before your flight's check-in time.
After check-in, the rest of your day is free, with no scheduled sightseeing. You can decide how much walking you'd like to do; pack comfortable shoes if you plan to explore. No meals are included today, so you can choose a local restaurant for dinner at your own expense.
You'll stay overnight in Kusadasi at Efe Boutique Hotel, Derici Hotel, Palm Hotel, or a similar property.
- Overnight in Kusadasi.
- Included Meal(s): None
Day 2Pamukkale and Hierapolis ancient city Tour
Your day starts early, with pickup from your Kusadasi hotel at around 7:30 AM. You'll head to the meeting point in Selcuk, where your fellow travelers gather for departure at 8:30 AM. The drive to Pamukkale takes approximately three hours, with a 10-minute restroom break after 1.5 hours.
You'll arrive in Pamukkale at around 11:45 AM and stop for lunch, included along with today's breakfast. At around 1:00 PM, you'll begin sightseeing with your professional licensed guide. See Pamukkale's Cotton Cliffs, formed by deposits of calcium-rich minerals.
You'll also explore City of Hierapolis, including its basilica, theatre, and Roman Baths. Expect walking through the ancient ruins, so wear comfortable shoes and bring sun protection. After the guided visit, you'll have free time to explore independently.
During your free time, you can choose an optional swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools at your own expense. Bring a swimsuit and towel if you'd like to swim. Your guide will confirm the exact meeting point and time.
At around 4:00 PM, you'll leave for your hotel in Kusadasi, arriving at approximately 7:30 PM. You'll stay overnight at Efe Boutique Hotel, Neopol Hotel Deluxe, Derici Hotel, or a similar property.
- Overnight in Kusadasi.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3Ephesus Tour - Fly to Kayseri or Nevsehir from Izmir
After breakfast, you'll check out of your Kusadasi hotel at around 8:30 AM, ready for pickup. You'll begin your full-day Ephesus tour with your guide and fellow travelers. Wear comfortable shoes for walking through the ruins, and bring sun protection.
Your walk starts along Curetes Street, continuing to the Temple of Hadrian and its carved reliefs. At the Great Theater, your guide will explain how the space hosted performances and public gatherings. Next, you'll visit the Trajan Fountain and learn about the city's water supply.
You'll stop for your included lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the House of the Virgin Mary. This stone house is a pilgrimage site traditionally associated with Mary's final years. Then you'll see the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Your final sightseeing stop is Isa Bey Mosque, with its courtyard and historic stonework. Bring clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for the mosque visit. After the tour, at around 4:00 PM, you'll be driven to Izmir Airport for your late-evening flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul.
On arrival, a representative holding a sign with your name will greet you for your hotel transfer. You'll stay overnight in Cappadocia at Heaven Cave House, Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel, or a similar cave hotel.
- Overnight in Cappadocia.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4North Cappadocia Tour
After breakfast, we'll pick you up from your Cappadocia hotel at around 9:30 AM for your full-day North Cappadocia tour. You'll explore with your guide and fellow travelers. If you'd like an earlier start, you can book an optional early-morning hot air balloon ride over the valleys at extra cost. Wear comfortable shoes for exploring the sites on foot, and bring sun protection.
Your first stop is Devrent Valley, where you'll see fairy chimneys. Next, visit Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see its mushroom-shaped pinnacles. We'll then drive to Avanos, known for pottery and ceramics, for your included lunch.
After lunch, explore Zelve Open Air Museum, with carved caves and ancient churches that reflect the region's monastic past. Your final stop gives you about 15 minutes for exterior photos of Uchisar Castle. This is an outside-only stop; entry to the castle's interior isn't permitted.
The tour ends at around 4:00 PM, followed by your transfer back to the hotel. The rest of your day is free to explore independently or choose an optional activity. Options include a Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through Cappadocia's valleys, or a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show. Each activity costs extra.
You'll stay overnight in Cappadocia at Heaven Cave House, Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel, or a similar standard-quality cave hotel.
- Overnight in Cappadocia.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5South Cappadocia Tour - Fly from Kayseri to Istanbul
After breakfast, you'll check out of your Cappadocia hotel, with pickup at around 9:30 AM. You'll set out with your guide and fellow travelers for a full-day South Cappadocia tour. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water for the valley hike.
Your first stop is Red Valley, where you'll explore rock-cut churches. You'll then hike 5 km through Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi), passing pink-hued rock formations. Next, you'll visit Cavusin Village to see its ancient cave houses and churches.
Around noon, you'll stop for an included Turkish lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, you'll visit Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi), with pigeon houses carved into the cliffs. In the afternoon, you'll explore either Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, learning about their use as places of refuge.
The tour ends at around 3:30 PM, followed by your transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport. Your evening flight to Istanbul arrives late in the evening, subject to availability. The flight takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Our services end with your return flight to Istanbul. Transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your Istanbul hotel isn't included. No accommodation is included tonight.
- Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Featured Hotels
Hand-picked hotels for your stay — view our featured options for each city.
Featured Hotels
Cappadocia
Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel
Cave Hotel
Heaven Cave House
Cave Hotel
Holiday Cave Hotel
Cave Hotel
Romantic Cave Hotel
Cave Hotel
Zula Cave House
Cave Hotel
Kusadasi
Derici Hotel
4 Star
Efe Boutique Hotel
Boutique
Ilayda Avantgarde Hotel
4 Star
Marina Hotel
4 Star
Neopol Hotel Deluxe
4 Star
Hotels are subject to availability; alternatives of an equal standard may be provided.
What's included
- 4 nights of accommodation with breakfast: 2 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel and 2 nights in Cappadocia at a cave hotel.
- Domestic flights: Ankara to Izmir via Istanbul, Izmir to Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul, and Kayseri or Nevsehir to Istanbul, subject to flight availability.
- Arrival transfer from Izmir Airport to your Kusadasi hotel; transfer to Izmir Airport after the Ephesus tour; and Cappadocia airport arrival and departure transfers as described in the itinerary.
- Hotel pick-up, tour transportation and hotel drop-off for the guided group tours, with airport drop-off instead after the Day 3 and Day 5 tours.
- Group tours of Pamukkale and Hierapolis, Ephesus, North Cappadocia and South Cappadocia, with a professional English-speaking guide during the tours.
- Entrance fees to the sights mentioned in the itinerary, excluding separately charged optional activities; Uchisar Castle is viewed from outside only.
- 4 breakfasts and 4 lunches on Days 2–5, with a vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
- Local taxes and service charges.
What's not included
- Transportation to Ankara Airport on Day 1, which you must arrange at your own expense.
- Transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to your Istanbul hotel after the final flight.
- Optional Cappadocia hot air balloon ride.
- Optional swimming in the Pamukkale Antique Pools.
- Optional tours and activities, including the Turkish Night show with dinner, ATV tour, horseback riding tour and Whirling Dervish show.
- Tips to staff.
- Personal expenses.
- Drinks with meals, except drinks served with breakfast.
- Travel insurance.
- Meals on Day 1 and accommodation on Day 5.
Good to know
Day 1: Airline tickets are provided for Ankara–Izmir via Istanbul, with a morning or afternoon departure depending on availability. Make your own way to Ankara Airport at your own expense, arriving at least 2 hours before your flight's check-in time.
Pickup at Izmir Airport and transfer to your Kusadasi hotel are included; the rest of the day is free.
- This is a regular group tour with shopping stops and an English-speaking guide during sightseeing tours. A private tour can be requested at an additional cost. The itinerary order may change, but all described visits will take place.
Day 2 is a long excursion: pickup in Kusadasi is around 7:30 AM, followed by departure from Selcuk at 8:30 AM and an approximately 3-hour drive to Pamukkale, with a 10-minute restroom stop after about 1.5 hours. Return to Kusadasi is around 7:30 PM.
Swimming in the Pamukkale Antique Pools is optional and at your own expense; follow your guide's meeting time and location.
On Day 3, check out after breakfast for pickup around 8:30 AM and the Ephesus tour, including the House of the Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis and Isa Bey Mosque. Transfer to Izmir Airport is around 4:00 PM for a late-evening flight via Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir.
On arrival, look for a representative holding a sign with your name for your hotel transfer. Wear comfortable walking shoes and carry sun protection; dress modestly for religious-site visits.
Day 4 pickup is around 9:30 AM for North Cappadocia, including Devrent Valley, Pasabag Valley, Avanos and Zelve Open Air Museum. The Uchisar Castle stop allows about 15 minutes for exterior panoramic photos only; interior entry is not included in this tour.
The tour finishes around 4:00 PM, followed by a transfer back to your hotel.
- Optional Cappadocia activities cost extra: an early-morning hot air balloon ride, a Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback ride or a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show.
On Day 5, check out after breakfast for pickup around 9:30 AM. South Cappadocia includes a 5 km hike through Rose Valley and a visit to either Kaymakli or Ozkonak Underground City. Wear sturdy walking shoes, bring water and sun protection, and carry a layer for cooler conditions.
Airport transfer is around 3:30 PM for an evening flight from Kayseri or Nevsehir to Istanbul, arriving late in the evening, subject to the confirmed flight schedule; flight duration is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. No accommodation is included that night, and onward transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to an Istanbul hotel is not included.
- No meals are included on Day 1. Breakfast and lunch are included on Days 2–5. Vegetarian lunch is available on request. Drinks with meals are excluded, except drinks served with breakfast.
- The package includes two nights in Kusadasi and two nights in a Cappadocia cave hotel, the specified domestic flights, itinerary transfers other than the explicitly excluded airport journeys, entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary, local taxes and service charges.
- Travel insurance, staff tips, personal expenses and optional tours are not included in the tour price.
- Book early, especially around public holidays and festivities. Bookings can be made up to 2 days before departure, using Istanbul local time, if places remain. For requests less than 2 days before departure, contact the operator by email or phone; availability must be checked before confirmation.
Editor diagnostics: The daily accommodation listings describe standard-quality hotels, while the inclusions promise a 4-star hotel in Kusadasi; reconcile the category before publication. The Day 3 and Day 5 descriptions allow Kayseri or Nevsehir, but the flight inclusions list Kayseri only, and the Day 5 heading also names Kayseri; confirm the covered airport alternatives.
Day 1 requires arrival 2 hours before flight check-in time rather than departure time; clarify this timing without silently substituting a different requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the tour start and finish, and which flights are included?
The tour starts in Ankara with a morning or afternoon flight to Izmir via Istanbul, depending on availability. You must reach Ankara Airport independently, at your own expense, at least 2 hours before your flight's check-in time. Included flights connect Ankara to Izmir, Izmir to Cappadocia via Istanbul, and Cappadocia to Istanbul. The itinerary allows Kayseri or Nevsehir for Cappadocia flights, subject to availability. The tour ends in Istanbul on Day 5.
Which airport transfers are included?
Transfers include Izmir Airport to your Kusadasi hotel on Day 1, transport to Izmir Airport after the Ephesus tour on Day 3, and Cappadocia airport arrival and departure transfers. Your arrival representative in Cappadocia will hold a sign with your name. The final transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to an Istanbul hotel is not included.
What accommodation is included?
Four nights are included: two nights in Kusadasi and two nights at a Cappadocia cave hotel, with breakfast. The inclusions describe the Kusadasi accommodation as a 4-star hotel, while the daily itinerary labels its listed hotel options as standard quality. Cappadocia options include Heaven Cave House, Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar. No accommodation is included on Day 5.
Which meals and drinks are included?
Breakfast and lunch are included on Days 2–5, totaling four breakfasts and four lunches. No meals are included on Day 1. A vegetarian lunch option is available upon request. Drinks with meals are excluded, except those served with breakfast.
Is this a guided group tour, and are entrance fees included?
This is a regular group tour with an English-speaking guide during the four sightseeing days. It includes shopping stops, entrance fees for the visits described in the itinerary, and local taxes and service charges. Optional activities cost extra. Uchisar Castle is viewed from outside only, with approximately 15 minutes for panoramic photos. The itinerary order may change, but all described visits will take place.
What should I expect on the Pamukkale and Hierapolis day?
Pickup from your Kusadasi hotel is around 7:30 am, followed by departure from the group meeting point in Selcuk at 8:30 am. The drive takes approximately three hours, with a short restroom stop. After lunch, you will explore Pamukkale's white terraces and Hierapolis, including its basilica, theatre and Roman Baths. Free time follows, with an optional swim in the Antique Pools at your own expense. Arrival back in Kusadasi is approximately 7:30 pm.
What does the Ephesus tour include before the flight to Cappadocia?
After breakfast and checkout, pickup is around 8:30 am. Visits include Curetes Street, the Temple of Hadrian, Great Theater, Trajan Fountain, House of the Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis and Isa Bey Mosque, with lunch at a local restaurant. Around 4:00 pm, you will leave for Izmir Airport for a late-evening flight to Kayseri or Nevsehir via Istanbul, followed by your hotel transfer.
What will I see in Cappadocia, and how much hiking is involved?
The North Cappadocia tour visits Devrent Valley, Pasabag Valley, Avanos and Zelve Open Air Museum, followed by an outside photo stop at Uchisar Castle. The South Cappadocia tour includes Red Valley, a 5-kilometer hike through Rose Valley, Cavusin Village, Pigeon Valley and either Kaymakli or Ozkonak Underground City. Both days begin with hotel pickup around 9:30 am. On Day 5, you check out before sightseeing and transfer to the airport afterward.
Which optional activities are available at extra cost?
You can add an early-morning Cappadocia hot air balloon ride on Day 4. Other paid options include a Turkish Night show with dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour and a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show. Swimming in the Pamukkale Antique Pools is also optional and separately charged.
How far in advance should I book?
Book as early as possible, especially around public holidays and festivities. Bookings can be made up to 2 days before departure, based on Istanbul local time, if places remain available. For requests less than 2 days before the start date, contact the agency by email or phone; availability must be checked before the reservation is confirmed.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
If you need to cancel or change your travel dates, you must notify All Istanbul Tours at least 5 days before the tour starts. For a cancellation or date-change request received at least 5 days before the tour starts, the cost of all non-refundable flight and bus tickets will be deducted from the paid balance. For a cancellation or date-change request received less than 5 days before the tour starts, the full amount paid is non-refundable. If a traveler does not appear for the booked service, the reservation is treated as a no-show and the full amount paid is non-refundable.
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