Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus 6-Day Trip

Itinerary

Day 1: Istanbul – Ankara

Board a comfortable bus at 1 pm and 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 few hours, you’ll get to 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, you will embark 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.

Hot air balloon ride

One of the most incredible experiences available in Cappadocia is a hot air balloon ride. You can book this unique ride when you book this activity. It is truly breathtaking! The tour takes place at dawn and costs €180 per person. Click here to book this activity.

Day 4: Konya - Pamukkale

Fuel up with a delicious breakfast, then leave Cappadocia behind, on the way to Pamukkale, with a stop in the Sultanhan Caravanserai, which dates back to the Seleucid period.

The multi-day trip will continue towards 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.

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, city dedicated to Artemis.

Once you get to this beautiful city, 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 will 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 see how the leather is processed.

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

Day 6: Return

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.

Important information

• The normal arrival time in Istanbul is 4:30 pm. If you are planning on reserving your plane back home that same day, we recommend you book a plane ticket from 7:30 pm onwards, to avoid missing your flight.
• From the 4th March, the fourth day of the itinerary will change, and the tour will not visit Konya.

• Hotels

The hotels included in this multiple day tour are as follows:

• Ankara: Etap Altınel Ankara 5* or Ickale 5* o a similar hotel
• Cappadocia: Dinler Urgup 5* or Avrasya Hotel 5* or a similar hotel
• Pamukkale: Colossae Hotel 5* or Richmond Hotel 5* or a similar hotel
• İzmir: Blanca 4* or Palm City 4* or a similar hotel

Hotel pick-up

Your guide will collect you from the following areas in the centre of Istanbul: Ortaköy, Beşiktaş, Gayrettepe, Mecidiyeköy, Şişli, Feriköy, Osmanbey, Harbiye, Taksim, Beyoglu, Galata, Karaköy, Şehzadebasi, Laleli, Aksaray, Beyazit, Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Eminönü, Findikzade, Fatih, Topkapi, Merter, Eyup, Samatya and Zeytinburnu.

If your hotel or apartment is not located in the previously mentioned areas, the pick-up includes a supplement.