3-Day Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour from Istanbul

Day 1: Fly to Denizli – Overnight Stay in Pamukkale

Take a late afternoon or evening flight from Istanbul to Denizli, depending on availability. On arrival, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel in Pamukkale. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure.

• Overnight in Pamukkale.
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day.
• Accommodation: Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel OR Colossae Thermal Hotel or similar (Standard quality).

Day 2: Pamukkale Tour – Transfer to Kuşadası – Overnight stay in Kuşadası

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up around 9:30 am for a guided tour of Pamukkale, also known as the “Cotton Castle,” and Hierapolis. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites are known for their striking natural landscapes and ancient ruins.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant at 1:00 pm, giving you a chance to taste some delicious Turkish cuisine.

In the afternoon, you’ll continue your exploration of Pamukkale’s famous travertine terraces, the “Cotton Castles,” and the ancient city of Hierapolis. Around mid-afternoon, you will be given some free time for approximately 60 minutes to explore the natural beauties of Pamukkale. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale antique pools (at your own expense) during this free time.

The tour will conclude around 4:00 pm, and you’ll prepare for your transfer to Kuşadası. You will be transferred to Kuşadası, a popular beach resort town along Turkey’s Aegean coast, and you’ll arrive around 7:30 pm.

Check into your hotel, and enjoy a free evening to explore the local area, dine at a nearby restaurant, or relax at the hotel. You spend the night in Kuşadası, ready for the next day.

• Overnight in Kusadasi
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Efe Boutique Hotel OR Neopol Hotel Deluxe OR Derici Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 3: Ephesus Tour – Fly back to Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 am, you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus. You will visit the ruins of Ephesus, the ancient Greek city that became an important centre of its time. You will see the Temple of Hadrian, Great Theater and Trajan Fountain. After lunch, you will visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last years. You will pass by the Temple of Artemis, of which little remains, although it was once one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Afterwards, you will visit the Isa Bey Mosque. Next, you will be taken to Sirince Village, an old Greek village well known for its quaint beauty and for its wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your late evening return flight between 7:00 – 10:00 pm (flight duration is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes) to Istanbul. 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 Izmir arrives at IST or SAW, subject to availability when tickets are booked. Our service ends on arrival; arrange your own airport-to-hotel transfer, which is not included. Email your preferred arrival airport before booking; changes after confirmation cost extra.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Guests will be picked up from hotels located in the city center of Istanbul and transferred to Istanbul Airport (available only on the European side of Istanbul).
• Domestic flight tickets (from Istanbul to Denizli and Izmir to Istanbul) as specified in the itinerary.
• Accommodation for 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-Star hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Accommodation for 1 night in Kusadasi at a 4-Star hotel, inclusive of breakfast.
• Services of a professional licensed English-speaking guide during the tours.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch).
• All entrance fees are as indicated in the itinerary.
• Local taxes and service charges.

NOT INCLUDED:

• On Day 3: Drop off transportation service from Istanbul Airport (IST) OR Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to Istanbul Hotel upon returning to Istanbul.
• 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:

• The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
• 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.
• For 1 traveler: 1 Single Room Accommodation
• For 2 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room Accommodation
• For 3 travelers: 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• For 4 travelers: 2 Double/Twin Rooms Accommodation
• For 5 travelers: 1 Double/Twin Room and 1 Triple Room Accommodation
• On flights luggage allowance is 15 kg per person for checked in luggage. For carry-on, you can take up to 8 kg per person. One carry-on is allowed per person.