Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus Tour – 10 Days with Flights
Overview
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus Tour – 10 Days with Flights
This 10-day Turkey tour joins four of the country's best-known regions in one straightforward loop. In Istanbul you see Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks; in Cappadocia, fairy chimneys and underground cities; at Pamukkale, the white travertine terraces; and at Ephesus, the paved Roman streets. Domestic flights, hotels, transfers and the guided days are all arranged for you.
Istanbul opens with a guided morning at Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome that ends with free time in the Grand Bazaar, and a Bosphorus cruise follows the next afternoon. In Cappadocia the route runs from Devrent Valley and a pottery workshop in Avanos to Rose Valley and Pigeon Valley.
After that you fly west for a free afternoon in Kusadasi, then spend a day at Pamukkale and Hierapolis and another at Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary. The last evening back in Istanbul is left unplanned so you can say goodbye to the city your own way.
We handle the logistics so you can simply enjoy the journey.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul
Overnight: Istanbul. Transfers included.
Once you land, our airport team meets you based on your flight details, either at Istanbul Airport (IST) or at Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).
A driver then takes you to your Istanbul hotel to check in.
Night in Istanbul.
Day 2 – Istanbul Old City Half-Day Tour
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Istanbul. Transfers included. Free time.
Today's stops: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and Grand Bazaar (free time).
08:30 – Pick-up at your hotel and a drive to Sultanahmet, the historic peninsula of Istanbul.
Hagia Sophia: Emperor Justinian I had it built in 537 AD. For close to a thousand years it was the largest cathedral on earth, and under the Ottomans it became an imperial mosque. Its 31-metre central dome was an engineering record that Europe did not beat for centuries.
Blue Mosque: Finished in 1616 for Sultan Ahmed I, it is the only imperial Ottoman mosque in Istanbul with six minarets. More than 20,000 hand-painted Iznik tiles cover the interior and give the walls the blue glow behind its popular name.
Hippodrome: This was the civic and sporting centre of Byzantine Constantinople, with room for up to 100,000 people at chariot races and state ceremonies. Three ancient monuments still line its central axis: the Egyptian Obelisk of Thutmose III, the Serpent Column from Delphi and the Column of Constantine.
Grand Bazaar (Free Time): Founded in the 1450s, soon after the Ottomans took Constantinople, it ranks among the oldest covered markets in the world that have never stopped trading. With 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops, it is a living slice of the city's commercial past, best explored at your own speed.
12:45 – The morning tour finishes at the Grand Bazaar, and you are driven back to your hotel.
Night in Istanbul.
Day 3 – Bosphorus Cruise Afternoon
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Istanbul. Transfers included.
Today's highlights: Bosphorus Cruise and Panoramic Experience.
13:30 – Pick-up at your hotel, a short drive to the pier, and boarding for the cruise.
Bosphorus Cruise: The strait splits Istanbul between two continents, and for 2,500 years it was the reason empires fought over the city. Along its 31 kilometres you pass Ottoman palaces on the shore, fortresses that Mehmet II built before the conquest of 1453, and the suspension bridges that join Europe and Asia.
Panoramic Experience: From the top deck you can see how the seven hills of Istanbul shape its skyline. The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Galata Tower all line up in one view, something you simply cannot get from the streets.
16:00 – The cruise ends and you are taken back to your hotel.
Night in Istanbul.
Day 4 – Morning Flight to Cappadocia and Red Tour
Meals: lunch. Overnight: Cappadocia. Transfers included.
Today's stops: Devrent Valley (Pink Valley), Pasabag Open Air Museum, Avanos Pottery Workshop, Goreme Panoramic View, Zelve Open Air Museum and Uchisar Castle (exterior view).
04:30 – Pick-up at your hotel and transfer to the airport. The pick-up time and airport may change.
07:00 – Flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. The flight time may change.
08:25 – Landing at Cappadocia Airport. The arrival airport and time may change depending on availability.
You are driven to the first sightseeing area, where your guide joins you.
Devrent Valley (Pink Valley): This stop is different from the rest of the Red Tour: there is no ticket office, no carved rooms and no historic buildings. It is an open-air gallery of worn volcanic ash shapes, each one unlike the next.
Pasabag Open Air Museum: The three-headed fairy chimney is the most photographed rock here, and your guide brings you to the known spot where all three caps fit into one frame. Finding that angle alone takes more trial and error than most people expect.
Avanos Pottery Workshop: A skilled potter in Avanos can centre the clay and raise a pot in less than two minutes, and watching it shows how much physical skill the craft needs. Most visitors who try the wheel soon gain fresh respect for every handmade piece they own.
Goreme Panoramic View: On summer days this viewpoint is busiest between ten and noon, when several groups turn up at once. Tours that stop here early in the morning or in mid-afternoon give their guests a much calmer, more personal visit.
Zelve Open Air Museum: Comfortable shoes are a real necessity here. The carved floors rise and dip without warning, the paths between cave rooms have uneven steps, and the passages between valleys get narrow in places. Zelve is best taken slowly and carefully.
Uchisar Castle (exterior view): On misty mornings the castle rock rises out of the valley haze, which helps explain why early European travellers called Cappadocia otherworldly. Because the rock is so tall, its top breaks clear of the mist before the valley does, like an island floating above cloud.
17:00 – The Cappadocia North Tour ends and you are taken to your hotel.
Night in Cappadocia.
Day 5 – Cappadocia South Tour: Valleys and Underground City
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Overnight: Cappadocia. Transfers included.
Today's stops: Red Valley, Rose Valley (Gulludere Valley), Cavusin Village, Pigeon Valley and Underground City.
Optional early-morning add-ons: a Hot Air Balloon Flight, the top-rated Cappadocia experience and our most booked activity, with sunrise views over the valleys; or a Balloon Watching Tour that takes you to the best sunrise photo viewpoints. Either can be added at the best available price while booking.
10:00 – Pick-up at your hotel and a drive to the first stop.
Red Valley: Few corners of Cappadocia feel as truly remote. On a calm morning all you hear is the wind and gravel under your boots. The red colour comes from iron in the volcanic tuff, which oxidises in direct sun and changes tone as clouds drift over.
Rose Valley (Gulludere Valley): On some mornings mist settles in the valley floor overnight and hangs on the lower cliffs until mid-morning, softening the canyon in a pale haze. Early walkers on misty days describe the rocks slowly appearing out of a grey background as something almost unreal.
Cavusin Village: Cappadocia's rock-cut villages reached their peak population in Byzantine times, and judging by the amount of carving still visible, Cavusin was one of the most developed. Researchers think the cliff settlement held several hundred people at its height, in rooms stacked on several levels inside the rock.
Pigeon Valley: The valley looks different depending on the direction you walk, because the light hits the carved cliffs at new angles and different stretches of canyon come into view first. Guides who know it well often suggest walking east to west in the afternoon so the best-lit cliffs stay in front of you.
Underground City: The huge rolling stone doors were made with a central hole for a locking bar and ran in a groove cut into the floor, closing flat against the wall with no gap to prise open. Attackers outside had no real way to move them, which gave the people within time to withdraw deeper into the tunnels.
17:00 – The Cappadocia South Tour ends and you return to your hotel.
Night in Cappadocia.
Day 6 – Flight to Izmir and Free Afternoon in Kusadasi
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Kusadasi/Selcuk. Transfers included. Free time.
We collect you from your Cappadocia hotel and take you to the airport. The pick-up time and the airport may change.
You fly from Cappadocia to Izmir. If there is no direct flight, we book a connection through Istanbul. The flight time may change.
On landing at Izmir Airport, our team meets you and drives you to your hotel in Kusadasi/Selcuk. The arrival airport and time may change depending on availability.
The rest of the day is free to discover Kusadasi at your own pace. Ideas: Ladies Beach, the old town bazaar and the marina, or a short ride to Sirince village.
Night in Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Day 7 – Pamukkale and Hierapolis Full-Day Tour
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers included.
Today's stops: Pamukkale, White Calcium Terraces, Hierapolis Ancient City and Cleopatra Antique Thermal Pool.
08:00 – Pick-up at your hotel in Kusadasi/Selcuk and the drive to Pamukkale.
Pamukkale: In Turkish the name means Cotton Castle, and it suits the place well. Warm water full of calcium has run down this slope for thousands of years, leaving bright white travertine that looks like a frozen waterfall. It ranks among the most photographed natural sights in Turkey.
White Calcium Terraces: What surprises most people is that the water is warm, not cold. Thermal springs keep the pools at a steady temperature, so stepping in feels closer to a spa than a mountain stream. Each pool is ringed by white calcium deposits that took thousands of years to form.
Hierapolis Ancient City: Founded more than two thousand years ago above the thermal springs, Hierapolis was known across the ancient Mediterranean for its healing waters. Rich Romans retired here, traders ran their networks through the city and pilgrims came from far provinces in search of a cure. The scale of the remains reflects that wealth: a theatre, temples, baths and kilometres of paved streets.
Cleopatra Antique Thermal Pool: The mineral water sits at 36 degrees Celsius, pleasant in any season. Marble column drums and building fragments from a Roman structure felled by an earthquake lie across the bottom. Whether Cleopatra ever swam here is legend, but the pool really is ancient and really is relaxing. You can visit the pool area without an extra entry fee; swimming is optional and paid on site.
16:00 – The Pamukkale and Hierapolis tour ends and you return to your hotel in Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Night in Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Day 8 – Ephesus Full-Day Tour
Meals: breakfast and lunch. Transfers included.
Today's stops: Ephesus Ancient City, House of Virgin Mary and Temple of Artemis.
08:30 – Pick-up at your hotel in Kusadasi/Selcuk and a transfer to the Ephesus entrance.
Ephesus Ancient City: Hardly any ancient city keeps its street grid as intact as Ephesus. You can follow whole blocks, pick out the residential quarters and read the town plan laid out two thousand years ago. The marble main street even carries grooves worn by cart wheels in its busiest centuries, the kind of detail that makes history feel real.
House of Virgin Mary: Archaeologists have dated the foundation stones to the first century, which gives physical support to the tradition that Mary spent her last years here. Those old stones link you to the very beginning of Christianity in Anatolia, and for anyone interested in early Christian history the site carries a weight that later rebuilding cannot take away.
Temple of Artemis: Some visitors expect grand ruins and are surprised to find a single rebuilt column in an open field. Once a guide explains what the field really is, the outline of a building that shaped a whole age of ancient architecture, that first reaction changes. A well-told story can make an empty space as powerful as a full one.
17:00 – The full-day Ephesus tour ends and you return to your hotel in Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Night in Kusadasi/Selcuk.
Day 9 – Flight Back to Istanbul and Free Evening
Meals: breakfast. Overnight: Istanbul. Transfers included.
We pick you up from your hotel in Kusadasi/Selcuk and drive you to the airport. The pick-up time and the airport may change.
You fly from Izmir to Istanbul (the flight time may change) and land at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport. The arrival airport and time may change depending on availability.
Our team meets you after landing and takes you to your Istanbul hotel.
The evening is yours: go back to a district you liked, or rest before the last day.
Night in Istanbul.
Day 10 – Departure from Istanbul
Meals: breakfast. Transfers are included.
We collect you from your hotel in Istanbul at a time set by your international flight details.
The driver takes you to either Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) or Istanbul Airport (IST) for the flight home.
Your tour finishes here.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓9 nights accommodation: 4 nights in Istanbul, 2 in Cappadocia, and 3 in Kusadasi
- ✓8 breakfasts and 4 lunches as mentioned in the itinerary
- ✓Domestic flight tickets with 15 kg check-in + 8 kg cabin baggage per person
- ✓Airport, hotel, and tour transfers on scheduled days
- ✓Guided touring in Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Ephesus
- ✓Entrance fees listed in the itinerary
- ✓All local transportation and service charges
- ✕Personal expenses
- ✕Drinks at lunches
- ✕Dinners
- ✕Swimming at Cleopatra Antique Pool in Pamukkale
- ✕Optional activities
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Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus in 10 days: the key facts
This 10-day, 9-night group tour is a loop from Istanbul with three domestic flights. You spend three nights in Istanbul at the start with an old city tour and a Bosphorus cruise, two nights in Cappadocia with a north and a south valley tour, and three nights in Kusadasi/Selcuk with a free afternoon, a Pamukkale day and an Ephesus day. You then fly back to Istanbul for a free evening and a fourth Istanbul night before departure.
It suits travellers who want the four classic regions at a steady pace, without a beach leg or long bus rides, and who like sleeping in the same hotel for several nights. The price is from $1,410 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 10 days / 9 nights |
| Route | Istanbul - Cappadocia - Kusadasi/Selcuk (Pamukkale and Ephesus) - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour |
| Start / end | Airport pick-up at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen on Day 1 / transfer to your departure airport on Day 10 |
| Included | 9 nights (4 Istanbul, 2 Cappadocia, 3 Kusadasi), 8 breakfasts and 4 lunches, domestic flights (15 kg + 8 kg), transfers on scheduled days, guided touring in all four regions, listed entrance fees |
| Extra | Dinners, drinks at lunch, swimming at the Cleopatra Antique Pool, balloon, optional activities, personal expenses |
How do the domestic flights work?
There are three. On Day 4 you are picked up at 04:30 for a 07:00 flight from Istanbul, landing in Cappadocia at about 08:25 and going straight to the north tour. On Day 6 you fly from Cappadocia to Izmir; if there is no direct flight, we book a connection through Istanbul. On Day 9 you fly from Izmir back to Istanbul, landing at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen. Each flight includes 15 kg of checked luggage and 8 kg of cabin luggage. The page notes that pick-up times, flight times and airports can change.
What do we see in Istanbul?
Day 2 is a half-day tour from 08:30 to 12:45: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and free time in the Grand Bazaar. Day 3 has a free morning and a Bosphorus cruise from 13:30 to 16:00, past Ottoman palaces, fortresses and the bridges between Europe and Asia. Day 9 evening is free after your flight from Izmir. Ask us whether the Hagia Sophia ticket is part of the listed entrance fees. See our Bosphorus Strait page and the Hagia Sophia ticket guide.
What should we wear in the mosques and at Pamukkale?
At Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, cover shoulders and knees; women should also cover their hair, and shoes come off at the door. Scarves are usually available at the entrance, but your own is easier. At Pamukkale on Day 7, footwear is not allowed on the white travertine terraces, so carry a small bag for your shoes. Entering the Cleopatra Antique Pool area is free, but a swim is optional and paid on site, so pack a swimsuit if you want one. More on what to wear in Istanbul.
How hard are the Cappadocia days?
Day 4 starts with the early flight and runs until 17:00: Devrent Valley, Pasabag, an Avanos pottery workshop, the Goreme viewpoint, Zelve and Uchisar Castle from outside. The page itself warns that Zelve has uneven floors and narrow passages, so wear good shoes. Day 5 starts at 10:00 and covers Red Valley, Rose Valley, Cavusin, Pigeon Valley and an underground city until 17:00. Lunch is included on both days. See our Cappadocia guide.
Is the hot air balloon included?
No. On the morning of Day 5 you can add a hot air balloon flight or a balloon watching tour at sunrise, booked at the best available price when you reserve. The south tour pick-up is at 10:00, so there is time to fly first. You have two nights in Cappadocia, but Day 6 is a travel day, so ask whether a backup morning is possible with your flight time. Flights only go ahead when the civil aviation office allows them, and wind can cancel a morning. Our balloon price guide compares the options.
Why is Pamukkale before Ephesus?
You stay three nights in Kusadasi/Selcuk and use it as a base. Day 7 is the Pamukkale day trip: pick-up at 08:00, the travertine terraces, Hierapolis and the Cleopatra pool, and back at your hotel after the tour ends at 16:00, so expect several hours in the vehicle. Day 8 is the Ephesus day from 08:30 to 17:00 with the ancient city, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis. Both days include lunch. Read about Pamukkale and Hierapolis, Ephesus and hotels in Kusadasi.
Which hotels are used?
The page gives the number of nights in each place but does not name the hotels or their star rating. It also does not say whether the Kusadasi/Selcuk hotel is in Kusadasi itself or in Selcuk, which changes how far you are from the beach or from Ephesus. Ask us to list the hotels for your dates in the written plan. If you have a preference, tell us in the booking form and we will check availability and any price difference.
Can we add nights or change the route?
Extra nights before or after the tour can be requested, and the free afternoons and evenings leave room for your own plans. For a longer version with more free time, see the 12-day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus tour with free days from $1,642 per person, or the shorter 8-day version from $1,464 per person. To add the coast, compare the 10-day tour with Antalya. More routes are on our multi-city packages page.
How do we book this package?
Use the booking form on this page to choose your start date and number of guests, and send your international arrival and departure flight details. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We check the three domestic flights and the hotels for your dates and send the full plan in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).
Frequently Asked Questions
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