Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus 6-Day Trip

Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus 6-Day Trip

Day 1: Istanbul – Ankara

We'll pick you up from your hotel at the indicated time and Board a comfortable bus ready to set off to Ankara, the capital of Turkey, located 450 kilometres away from Istanbul. One of the highlights of the journey is when the bus crosses the enormous Bosphorus Bridge.

After a five-hour journey, we'll arrive at your hotel. Enjoy an exquisite dinner at the hotel before you go to your room.

Day 2: Ankara, Saratli and Cappadocia

Once you've enjoyed a delicious Turkish breakfast, we'll set off on a tour of the capital city. The guided tour includes admiring Ankara’s most important landmarks, including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. It accommodates numerous collections of Anatolian archaeology, such as items from the following periods: Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Urartu, Phrygia, among others. Then, you’ll visit Anιkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (first President of the Republic of Turkey).

Afterwards, leave the capital behind and head to Cappadocia. On the way, you’ll stop at Saratli, a surprising Underground City founded by the Christian communities to protect themselves from the Muslim Arab attacks. While you visit the well-preserved city, you’ll wander around the old stables, rooms and public wards.

You will arrive in Cappadocia in the late afternoon. After savouring a traditional regional dinner, you’ll marvel at the Dervishes spin around and around during a Whirling Dervishes Show. The Sufi whirling is a unique way of spiritual meditation and prayer.

Day 3: Cappadocia

Enjoy a healthy breakfast and set off to explore the stunning landscape of Cappadocia, one of the most famous regions of Turkey, packed with astonishing rock formations, fairy chimneys and moon-like scenery.

On this guided tour, you will visit Göreme, an area full of houses and churches chiselled into the sandstone rocks and paintings from the tenth and eleventh century. Then, visit Uçhisar, a troglodyte village with stunning cave houses. Followed by the Monks Valley, home to the most striking fairy chimneys and the Derbent Valley.

Once you have marvelled at the unique landscape of Cappadocia, you will return to your hotel.

Day 4: Pamukkale

Fuel up with a delicious breakfast, then leave Cappadocia behind and arrive at Pamukkale. On the way, we'll stop in the Sultanhan Caravanserai, which dates back to the Seleucid period.

In Pamukkale, where you’ll have time to discover the “Cotton Castle” at your own leisure. Pamukkale is unique in the world with cascades of stalactites and natural pools. At the moment you are not allowed to swim, but you can admire its landscapes and take some photos.

After a busy day, you’ll head back to your hotel where you will enjoy a filling dinner and spend the night.

Day 5:  Ephesus and İzmir

Hop on the bus in the morning and set off to Ephesus, the city dedicated to Artemis.

Once you get to this beautiful city, about four hours away, you'll visit the Odeon, the Hadrian Temple, the House of Love, the Library of Celsus, the Agora, the Theatre and the Marble Street. You'll also visit the House of the Virgin Mary, the last place where the Virgin Mary lived.

On your way to İzmir, you’ll stop at a leather factory to visit its shop.

Upon arrival in İzmir, the country's third largest city, we'll head to the hotel in which we'll eat and spend the night.

Day 6: İzmir

After breakfast, you will have all day to explore Izmir at your own pace. You decide when your guide drives you to İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

If there is a typical image of Cappadocia, it's the hundreds of balloons that cross its sky. You can book this incredible experience when you book the tour, it is wonderful! The flight takes place at dawn and you can book it by clicking here.

Accommodation

The tour includes 5 nights of accommodation in the following hotels:

• Ankara: Anadolu Downtown 5*, Point 5* or a similar hotel
• Cappadocia: Dinler Urgup 5*, Avrasya Hotel 4*, Perissia 5* or a similar hotel
• Pamukkale: Colossae Hotel 5*, Richmond Hotel 5* or a similar hotel
• İzmir: Blanca 4*, Kaya Prestige Hotel 4* or a similar hotel

The price indicated is per person staying in a double or triple room (folding bed). A supplement will be added for reservations for one person.

Important to note

• The order of the visits and excursions varies depending on the day of arrival or other factors, but all of them are preserved.
• As a general rule, check-in time at the hotels begins at 2 pm. Check-out time is at 12 pm.
• Please contact us for New Year supplements for departures on December 30 and 31.
• The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar) are closed during religious holidays (May 23, 24, 25 and 26, July 31, August 1, 2 and 3 and October 29) and on Sundays.
• During the celebration of fairs, religious and national holidays, tours and excursions may be subject to change.
• The whirling dervish show will be available only until the end February 2023.

Pickup

The tour includes pickup from the following areas in central Istanbul: Bayrampaşa, Beşiktaş, Beyoğlu, Eminönü, Eyüp, Fatih, Kağıthane, Şişli and Zeytinburnu. If you are staying outside these areas, you will have to go to the meeting point located at The Marmara Taksim Hotel 5*.