3-Day Cappadocia and Pamukkale Tour from Istanbul by Plane

Day 1: North Cappadocia Tour

You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:00 am and will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir airport, you will be picked up and transferred to Cappadocia. In Cappadocia, you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day tour of North Cappadocia. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next, you will visit the Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley) to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The museum features a series of carved caves and ancient churches, providing a glimpse into the region’s monastic history. Finally towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will be able to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in.

You may optionally attend a traditional Turkish Night show with dinner.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel OR Holiday Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: South Cappadocia Tour

As an additional option, book an early morning hot air balloon ride for aerial views of the valleys; this activity comes at an extra cost.

Your South Cappadocia tour begins After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am, when you will be picked up and met by your tour guide for a briefing on the day’s activities. Visit Red Valley to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through Rose Valley (Gulludere Vadisi). Continue to Cavusin Village, known for its houses and churches of Christian Clergymen, then take a lunch break around noon. After lunch, drive to Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik Vadisi). In the afternoon, visit Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City, where early Christians lived, before the full-day tour ends.

The South Cappadocia tour concludes with a transfer to Kayseri airport for your late evening flight to Denizli through Istanbul, arriving in Denizli early morning at around 2:00 am. On arrival, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to Pamukkale for hotel check-in.

• Overnight in Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel OR Colossae Thermal Hotel OR Pam Thermal Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour

After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to begin a guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area with a professional licensed tour guide.

Around 10:00, visit Karahayit, the first destination, to see the Red Spring Waters. After Karahayit, drive to Pamukkale and begin your visit to the ancient city of Hierapolis around 10:30. Highlights include Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Oil Factory, Frontinious Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater, and Antique Pool. You will also be able to take photos from the nicest corners of Pamukkale. Around 12:30 you will have approximately 60 minutes of free time to explore Pamukkale’s natural beauties. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale antique pools (at your own expense) during this free time. At 1:30 pm you will meet the guide and get a chance to walk in the middle of the Pamukkale travertines from top to down without shoes and socks. At 2:30 pm you will be taken for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch at approximately 3:30 pm, visit an Onyx Factory for approximately 30 minutes. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, transfer to Denizli or Izmir airport for a late evening flight back to Istanbul (between 7:00 – 10:00 pm). This is the end of our service and tours.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day.

Important notes: Your return flight from Denizli/Izmir arrives at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), subject to availability when tickets are booked. Our service ends on arrival; the airport-to-hotel transfer is not included, so please arrange your own. To request a specific arrival airport, email us before booking; changes after confirmation cost extra.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick up from Istanbul hotel and transfer to Istanbul Airport (on the European side of Istanbul only)
• Domestic flight tickets as per the itinerary
• 2 nights hotel with breakfast
• 3 lunches
• English-speaking guide during the tours
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Transport by air-conditioned Vehicles
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• Drop off transportation service from Istanbul New Airport OR Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Istanbul Hotel upon returning to Istanbul
• Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
• Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
• Services not mentioned in the program.
• Drinks with meals.
• Travel insurance (recommended).

IMPORTANT INFO:

• This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request.
• You can swim in the Antique pool in Pamukkale. However, please note that there is an extra charge that you will have to pay directly at your own expense before entry to the pools. This entrance fee to the pools is not covered as part of your tour. Please note that you must bring your own towel, swimsuit etc. if you need to use the pools.
•  The normal arrival time in Istanbul is between 8:00 – 10:00 pm. If you are planning on reserving your plane back home that same day, we recommend you book a plane ticket from 12:30 am onwards, to avoid missing your flight.

WHEN TO BOOK?

• Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities.
• You can book up to 2 days before (Istanbul local time) if there are still places available. If less than 2 days before start of your requested tour date, please contact us by email or phone as it would be a last-minute booking that will need to be checked for availability before your tour reservation is confirmed.