Istanbul, Cappadocia & Pamukkale Tour: 6 Days with Flights
Overview
Istanbul, Cappadocia & Pamukkale Tour: 6 Days with Flights
This six-day tour from Istanbul shows you three very different sides of Turkey. Istanbul offers Byzantine and Ottoman history, Cappadocia its strange rock formations and old cave dwellings, and Pamukkale its white terraces shaped by mineral-rich springs.
You arrive in Istanbul and go straight into a tour of the Old City. The next morning an early flight takes you to Cappadocia for two days of guided sightseeing, with the option of a hot air balloon ride. A journey via Konya then brings you to Pamukkale, where you visit Hierapolis and the travertines before flying back to Istanbul from Denizli.
A licensed professional guide, hotels with breakfast, the flights Istanbul–Cappadocia and Pamukkale–Istanbul, the bus ticket from Cappadocia to Pamukkale, round-trip airport transfers and skip-the-line express tickets for museums are included. Meals, drinks, personal expenses, the balloon flight and optional activities are not.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul & Old City Tour
- 10:00 AM – arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. After a short rest and something to drink, you set out to explore the city.
- 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Topkapi Palace (optional). Once the residence of the Ottoman sultans, the palace is known for its detailed architecture, fine artifacts and sweeping views of the Istanbul skyline.
- 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – lunch break at a local restaurant (not included).
- 12:30 PM – 01:30 PM – Blue Mosque. Go inside the mosque named for its famous blue tiles and enjoy the calm of this architectural masterpiece.
- 01:30 PM – 02:00 PM – Hippodrome. This was the hub of Byzantine entertainment, where crowds watched the chariot races, and its ancient obelisks and monuments recall the city at its height.
- 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM – Hagia Sophia (optional). A UNESCO World Heritage Site with soaring domes, fine mosaics and a striking mix of Byzantine and Islamic influences.
- 03:00 PM – 04:30 PM – Grand Bazaar. Among the oldest and largest covered markets anywhere, its maze of lanes is packed with colourful stalls selling every kind of Turkish product.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 – Early Flight to Cappadocia & Valleys Tour
Early morning: we collect you from your Istanbul hotel at 04:00 AM and take you to the airport for the 06:55 AM flight to Cappadocia.*
Morning: our guide meets you in Cappadocia and drives you to Goreme, where the sightseeing starts.
From about 09:00 AM: your first day of touring takes you among the fairy chimneys and rock churches that give Cappadocia its unique look.
*Not keen on such an early flight? We chose it so you can see Cappadocia properly. If you are happy to miss a few places on the itinerary, we can book a later flight at around 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM or in the afternoon instead. We are flexible, so just tell us in the booking form and we will arrange it.
The guided tour usually begins at about 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.
Today you will see:
- Goreme Esentepe panoramic viewpoint – the day opens at Esentepe, a lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme with wide views over the fairy chimneys, the Cappadocian landscape and the town of Esentepe.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum – once a centre of monastic life and Christian learning, Zelve is full of old monasteries, churches and chapels whose frescoes have survived in good condition.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley) – Paşabağ is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys. It is also called "Pasha's Vineyard", and its rock shapes are among the most striking in the region.
- Devrent Valley – a short drive away, this valley looks almost like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed chimneys invite you to spot shapes of animals and mythical creatures.
- Avanos Pottery Workshop – Avanos has made pottery since 3000 BC, and local craftsmen still turn clay from the Red River into ceramics. You watch them at work in a traditional workshop.
- Love Valley – the last stop. Millions of years of erosion have carved rock towers here up to 40 metres tall, along with cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys. It is a favourite with photographers and one of the strangest landscapes in Cappadocia.
You return to your cave hotel for the night. Breakfast is included.
Day 3 – Hot Air Balloon (Optional) & Cappadocia Hiking Tour
If you take the optional balloon flight, the day begins with sunrise over Cappadocia, seen from the air.
As the sky changes colour you float above the rock formations and fairy chimneys. After landing there is a champagne toast, and then you are driven back to your hotel.
The guided tour usually begins at about 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.
Today you will see:
- Meskendir Valley (4.4 km Trek) – the day starts with a 4.4 km walk through this valley near Ortahisar. On the way you reach the old Meskendir Church, decorated with bold red geometric patterns and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling. You can go inside, then enjoy the views across the valley.
- Rose Valley – tucked away behind Ürgüp, this quiet valley is famous for its rock formations and for rock-cut churches that are easy to miss. Paths lead through vineyards and gardens from one small village to the next, and friendly locals sometimes offer fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
- Red Valley – much like its neighbour, it has striking rock shapes and old cave churches. Its trails spread out like a spider's web, joining remote villages and farmland, and it shows Cappadocia's nature and history at their best.
- Cavusin Valley – Çavuşin Village is one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia, a maze of cave houses cut into the rock. It also holds the Church of John the Baptist, the largest cave church in the region, dating from the 5th century.
- Underground City – early Christians dug 36 underground cities across Cappadocia to hide from persecution, and we visit the largest and best known of them. It has eight levels, and you walk through parts of it to see old wineries, kitchens and living quarters.
- Pigeon Valley – on the edge of Göreme, this valley takes its name from the dovecotes carved into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once collected the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today it is a wide viewpoint and a great place for photos.
- Uchisar Castle Panorama – the tour ends in Uçhisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its rock castle once served as a fortress, and from the top you look out over the whole region, with Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.
After a day of hiking and sightseeing we bring you back to your hotel for the night at around 16:00.
Day 4 – Cappadocia to Pamukkale via Konya
Leave your hotel in Cappadocia at around 08:00 AM for the journey to Pamukkale.
On the way you stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Konya (at your own cost).
The road then continues to Pamukkale, a natural wonder known for its terraces of thermal pools.
You reach Pamukkale and check in at your hotel at around 19:00 for the night.
Spend the evening resting at the hotel or exploring the area at your own pace.
Day 5 – Pamukkale & Hierapolis, Flight to Istanbul
Today you check out of the hotel, explore Pamukkale and then fly back to Istanbul.
- 08:00 AM – check out of your hotel after breakfast, ready for a full day in Pamukkale.
- 09:00 AM – 10:00 AM – a scenic one-hour drive to Pamukkale.
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – explore the ancient city of Hierapolis, with the Necropolis, the large Theatre and the Cleopatra Pool. A swim in the pool costs an extra entrance fee.
- 12:00 PM – 01:00 PM – lunch break at a local restaurant, a chance to try the regional food (not included).
- 01:00 PM – 02:30 PM – walk on the travertines of Pamukkale, a natural wonder of bright white mineral terraces. Enjoy the views and the feel of the soft, cotton-like rock.
- 02:30 PM – 03:30 PM – visit Pamukkale Naturel Lake and its park, a calm and pretty spot.
- 03:30 PM – 04:30 PM – a one-hour transfer to Denizli Airport for your flight to Istanbul.
- 05:30 PM – your flight leaves Denizli Airport, ending the day in Pamukkale.
Day 6 – Departure from Istanbul
After breakfast you check out of your hotel. Our representative will help with your transfer to the airport, which is where our services end.
Would you like more time in Istanbul? You can add extra days to your package through the booking form.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (Goreme): $310
- One extra hotel night in Istanbul, before or after the tour: $65
- Upgrade to a private tour: $300
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Professional licensed guide
- ✓Accommodations with breakfast
- ✓Flight fares Istanbul-Cappadocia & Pamukkale-Istanbul
- ✓Bus ticket Cappadocia-Pamukkale
- ✓Roundtrip airport transfers
- ✓Skip-the-line express entry tickets for museums
- ✕Meals and drinks
- ✕Personal expenses
- ✕Hot air balloon tour
- ✕Optional additional tours or activities during free time
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Istanbul, Cappadocia and Pamukkale in 6 days: the key facts
This 6-day, 5-night group tour gives Cappadocia more room than most short packages. You tour Istanbul's old city on the day you arrive, take an early flight to Cappadocia on Day 2 for a valleys tour, spend Day 3 on a valley hike with an underground city, and travel overland via Konya to Pamukkale on Day 4. Day 5 covers Hierapolis and the travertines before an evening flight from Denizli to Istanbul, and Day 6 is your departure.
It suits travellers who want two full days in Cappadocia and do not mind one long road day in return. Two flights and one intercity bus ticket are part of the price. The price is from $2,035 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 6 days / 5 nights |
| Route | Istanbul - Cappadocia - Konya - Pamukkale - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour (private upgrade $300) |
| Start / end | Arrival in Istanbul around 10:00 on Day 1 / airport transfer after breakfast on Day 6 |
| Included | Licensed guide, hotels with breakfast, Istanbul-Cappadocia and Pamukkale-Istanbul flights, Cappadocia-Pamukkale bus ticket, airport transfers, skip-the-line museum tickets |
| Extra | Meals and drinks, hot air balloon ($310), Cleopatra Pool swim, personal expenses |
Do we really tour Istanbul on arrival day?
Yes. The plan assumes you land at about 10:00 on Day 1. After a short rest at the hotel you start at 10:30 with Topkapi Palace (optional), then lunch at your own cost, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia (optional) and the Grand Bazaar until about 16:30. If your flight lands later, or you arrive after a night flight, ask us how the day will be adjusted, or add a night before the tour. There is no Bosphorus cruise on this package. See our Istanbul guide and things to do in Sultanahmet.
Why is the Cappadocia flight so early?
On Day 2 you are picked up at 04:00 for a 06:55 flight, so that the guided tour can start in Goreme at about 09:00 and you get a full first day. The page says a later flight at around 10:00, 11:30 or in the afternoon can be booked instead if you are happy to miss some stops. Tell us in the booking form which you prefer. Day 2 covers Esentepe, Zelve, Pasabag, Devrent Valley, an Avanos pottery workshop and Love Valley. Our Cappadocia guide explains the area.
How hard is the Day 3 hike?
The day opens with a 4.4 km walk through Meskendir Valley near Ortahisar, then continues through Rose Valley and Red Valley, Cavusin village with its 5th-century cave church, an underground city on eight levels, Pigeon Valley and Uchisar Castle. You are back at the hotel at around 16:00. The walk is on dirt paths, so wear trainers or light hiking shoes. The underground city goes down several levels, so expect stairs. Read more about Red Valley and Rose Valley and Uchisar Castle.
Is the hot air balloon included?
No. The balloon is not in the price; a sunrise flight from Goreme costs $310 and is planned for the morning of Day 3, with a champagne toast after landing and a drive back to the hotel before the hike. Because you sleep two nights in Cappadocia, ask whether Day 4 morning could serve as a backup if Day 3 is cancelled for weather, keeping in mind the 08:00 departure that day. Our balloon price guide compares flight types.
What is the road day via Konya like?
You leave the Cappadocia hotel at around 08:00 on Day 4 and reach your Pamukkale hotel at around 19:00, with a lunch stop in Konya at your own cost. The inclusion list says this leg is a bus ticket from Cappadocia to Pamukkale, so ask us whether it is a public intercity coach or a tour vehicle, and whether a guide travels with you. Bring snacks, water and something to read. Our Konya guide covers the city if you would like to add a night there.
Where exactly is the Pamukkale hotel?
There is a point to clear up here. Day 4 says you reach Pamukkale and check in, but Day 5 starts with a one-hour drive to Pamukkale at 09:00. That suggests the hotel may be in a nearby town rather than beside the travertines. Ask us to confirm the hotel and its location in writing. On Day 5 you see Hierapolis from 10:00, walk the travertines from 13:00, visit Pamukkale Natural Lake, and leave Denizli on a 17:30 flight. Shoes are not allowed on the travertines, so plan to carry them. More on Pamukkale.
What should we wear in the mosques?
Men and women cover shoulders and knees, women cover their hair, and shoes come off at the entrance. Scarves are usually lent at the door. Because Day 1 is your arrival day, keep a scarf and long trousers or a long skirt in your hand luggage so you do not need to unpack before the tour. Our what to wear in Istanbul page has more tips.
Can we change the order or add nights?
Extra Istanbul hotel nights before or after the tour cost $65 each, and the booking form lets you add extra days. The page lists an upgrade to a private tour for $300. The order of the route follows the flights and the bus, so swapping cities is not offered on the page; ask if you need it. For other combinations, see our multi-city packages.
How do we book this package?
Use the booking form on this page to choose your date and number of guests, and note your arrival time and whether you want a later Cappadocia flight. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We check flights, the bus 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).
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