9-Day Turkey Tour Package with Cappadocia & Fethiye Gulet Cruise
Overview
9-Day Turkey Tour Package with Cappadocia & Fethiye Gulet Cruise
Nine days, four very different sides of Turkey. You start with a day among the great monuments of Istanbul, then fly to Cappadocia for two days of fairy chimneys, valleys and cave churches, staying in a cave hotel.
From Cappadocia you travel overland to Pamukkale, stopping in Konya for lunch, and spend the next morning on the white travertine terraces and among the ruins of Hierapolis. The trip ends at sea: 3 days and 2 nights on a traditional gulet from Fethiye, with swimming stops at Butterfly Valley and Aquarium Bay, an evening on St. Nicholas Island, a visit to Kas and a slow cruise over the Sunken City near Kekova before the flight back to Istanbul.
A licensed guide, hotels with breakfast, the domestic flights, the bus from Cappadocia to Pamukkale, return airport transfers and skip-the-line museum tickets are included.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul & Old City Tour
You land in Istanbul at around 10:00 AM and transfer to your hotel. After a short break to freshen up, the sightseeing begins straight away.
- 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Topkapi Palace (optional). Walk through the lavish home of the Ottoman sultans, with its fine architecture, rich collections and wide views over the Istanbul skyline.
- 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Lunch break (not included). Time for lunch at a local restaurant.
- 12:30 PM – 01:30 PM: Blue Mosque. Step into the calm of this architectural masterpiece, famous for its blue tiles.
- 01:30 PM – 02:00 PM: Hippodrome. Once the hub of Byzantine entertainment and chariot racing, it is still lined with ancient obelisks and monuments from the city's great past.
- 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM: Hagia Sophia (optional). A UNESCO World Heritage Site where huge domes and Byzantine mosaics sit alongside Islamic additions.
- 03:00 PM – 04:30 PM: Grand Bazaar. One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, a maze of lanes packed with colourful stalls selling Turkish goods of every kind.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2 – Early Flight to Cappadocia & Valley Tour
Early morning: a driver collects you from your Istanbul hotel at 04:00 AM for the airport and your 06:55 AM flight to Cappadocia (see the note below).
Morning: your guide meets you on arrival and takes you to Goreme, where the tour begins.
Around 09:00 AM: the first day of sightseeing starts among the fairy chimneys and rock churches that give Cappadocia its unique character.
Note on the early flight: we chose this flight so you can see Cappadocia in real depth. If you would rather not fly so early and do not mind missing some stops, we can book a later flight, for example at 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM or in the afternoon. Just tell us in the booking form and we will arrange it.
The tour usually starts at around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.
Highlights of the day:
- Goreme Esentepe – Panoramic View: the day opens at the Esentepe lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme, with wide views over the fairy chimneys and the town of Esentepe.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum: a former monastic settlement and centre of Christian learning, where monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-preserved frescoes from the region's past.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): known for its three-headed fairy chimneys and also called “Pasha's Vineyard”, this valley has some of the most striking rock shapes in Cappadocia.
- Devrent Valley: a short drive away, its small pointed chimneys look like a moonscape, and many visitors spot animals and mythical creatures in the rock.
- Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has made pottery since 3000 BC using clay from the Red River, and a visit to a traditional workshop lets you watch the potters at work.
- Love Valley: the last stop, where millions of years of erosion have left cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys up to 40 meters tall, one of the most photogenic corners of Cappadocia.
You then return to your cave hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 3 – Optional Balloon Flight & Cappadocia Hike
04:00 AM – Hot air balloon flight (optional): watch the sun rise over Cappadocia from the basket of a balloon as you float above the fairy chimneys and rock formations under a colourful sky. A champagne toast follows the landing, and then you are driven back to your hotel.
09:00 AM – Check-out: have breakfast, check out and get ready for a full day of exploring.
The tour usually starts at around 09:00 and finishes by 16:00 at the latest.
Highlights of the day:
- Meskendir Valley (4.4 km Trek): the day begins on foot with a 4.4 km walk through this valley near Ortahisar. On the way you step inside Meskendir Church, decorated with bold red geometric patterns and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling.
- Rose Valley: a quiet valley behind Ürgüp, full of unusual rock shapes and churches cut into the stone. Its paths run through vineyards and gardens between small villages, and local people sometimes offer walkers fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
- Red Valley: close in character to Rose Valley, with striking formations and old cave churches. Its trails twist like a spider's web, tying together remote villages and farmland.
- Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin is among the oldest settlements in Cappadocia, a warren of cave houses cut into the rock. It also has the region's biggest cave church, the Church of John the Baptist, which dates from the 5th century.
- Underground City: early Christians dug 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to hide from persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them, which descends eight levels, and walk through parts of it to see old wineries, kitchens and living rooms.
- Pigeon Valley: on the edge of Göreme, named after the dovecotes carved into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once collected the pigeon droppings to fertilise their fields. Today it is a fine place for panoramic photos.
- Uchisar Castle Panorama: the final stop is Uçhisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its castle is a tall rock outcrop that once served as a fortress, and from the top the view takes in the whole region, with Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.
After a day of walking and sightseeing, you return to the hotel at around 16:00 for the night.
Day 4 – Overland to Pamukkale via Konya
Leave your Cappadocia hotel at around 08:00 AM for the journey to Pamukkale.
On the way you stop in Konya for lunch at a local restaurant (at your own cost), then carry on towards Pamukkale, known for its terraces of thermal pools.
You reach Pamukkale and check in to your hotel at around 19:00. The evening is yours to rest at the hotel or wander around the area.
Day 5 – Pamukkale Travertines & Transfer to Fethiye
Check out of the hotel this morning. You spend the first part of the day in Pamukkale, then travel on to Fethiye.
The tour usually starts at around 07:30.
Highlights:
- Hierapolis: walk through the Necropolis and the Theatre and see the Cleopatra Pool (there is an entry fee if you want to swim).
- Pamukkale: the main event is the travertines, a natural wonder of bright white terraces filled with mineral-rich water. You can walk across these cotton-like formations and enjoy the views.
- Pamukkale Naturel Lake: there is also time to visit Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park, which adds to the scenery.
Day 6 – Gulet Cruise: Fethiye to St. Nicholas Island
Please be at Fethiye Harbor by 10:00 AM.
Once you have checked in, you board the gulet and the crew gives a short briefing. The first stop after leaving Fethiye Harbor is Butterfly Valley, with time for a swim, lunch and an optional hike up to the waterfall. More than 136 species of butterflies and moths live in the valley, though they are harder to see on hot days.
Optional activity: paragliding over the Blue Lagoon. The next stop is Oludeniz (Blue Lagoon), one of the most photographed beaches in the world. Here you can choose to paraglide: you take off from Babadag Mountain at 2000 meters and glide down over the lagoon. Book in advance for special rates, or tell the captain during the cruise if you decide to go.
In the evening the gulet anchors off St. Nicholas Island. Climb up through the island's ancient ruins and watch the sunset from the top.
Meals: lunch and dinner.
Day 7 – Gulet Cruise: Aquarium Bay & Kas
Start the morning with a swim in the clear water of Aquarium Bay near Kalkan, then have breakfast on board.
The gulet then sails to Kas, a small fishing town with lively cafes, beer gardens and independent shops. It is a good place to wander, look for handmade jewellery and see its well-preserved ancient theatre.
Optional activity: diving. Kas is one of the best diving spots in southern Turkey, with caves and wrecks to explore for beginners and certified divers alike. Book ahead for discounted rates.
You spend the night anchored in a quiet bay between Kas and Kekova.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 8 – Kekova, Demre & Antalya, Flight to Istanbul
After breakfast the gulet heads for the Sunken City, the remains of an ancient Lycian town that sank beneath the sea in an earthquake in the second century. The boat moves slowly over the ruins of this protected World Heritage site. Swimming, diving and snorkelling are not allowed here.
Next the gulet anchors near Kekova for a visit to Simena Castle. The walk up to the castle rewards you with lovely views across the bay.
In the afternoon you reach Demre Harbor, where the cruise ends. A driver picks you up and takes you to the airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
Day 9 – Departure from Istanbul
After breakfast you check out, and our representative takes care of your transfer to the airport for your departure. This is where our services end.
Want more time in Istanbul? Add extra days to your package through the booking form.
Important Notes
Optional add-ons
- Cappadocia hot air balloon flight (Göreme): $310
- One extra hotel night in Istanbul, before or after the tour: $65
- Upgrade to a private tour: $450
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
- ✓With Gulet: 3 Days 2 Nights
- ✕Meals and drinks
- ✕Personal expenses
- ✕Hot air balloon tour
- ✕Optional additional tours or activities during free time
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Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and a Fethiye gulet in 9 days: the key facts
This group package puts four very different parts of Turkey into nine days, with no separate Ephesus stop. You tour Istanbul's Old City on the day you land and fly to Cappadocia early the next morning for two days of valleys. Then you cross to Pamukkale by bus with a lunch stop in Konya. After the travertines you go down to Fethiye for a 3-day, 2-night gulet cruise to St. Nicholas Island, Kas and Kekova, and you fly back to Istanbul from the coast.
It suits travellers who want Cappadocia and time on the water more than ancient cities, and who are fine with early starts. The price is from $3,145 per person. A private upgrade is listed at $450.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 9 days / 8 nights |
| Route | Istanbul – Cappadocia – Konya – Pamukkale – Fethiye – gulet to St. Nicholas Island, Kas and Kekova – Demre – Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour (private upgrade $450) |
| Start / end | Landing in Istanbul at about 10:00 on Day 1 / departure transfer on Day 9 |
| Included | Licensed guide, hotels with breakfast, two domestic flights, bus ticket Cappadocia–Pamukkale, round-trip airport transfers, skip-the-line museum tickets, gulet cruise 3 days / 2 nights |
| Extra | Meals and drinks, personal expenses, balloon flight ($310), optional activities, extra Istanbul night ($65) |
Why does the tour start on the day we land?
There is only one night in Istanbul at the start, so the Old City tour is on Day 1. The plan expects you to land at about 10:00. You go to the hotel to freshen up, and the visits begin at 10:30 with Topkapi Palace (optional), then the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia (optional) and the Grand Bazaar until 16:30. At the Blue Mosque you take your shoes off, everyone covers shoulders and knees, and women also cover their hair. Mosques close to visitors at prayer times. If your flight lands later, you will miss part of this day. Ask us about adding a night before the tour at $65, so you arrive rested.
How early is the flight to Cappadocia?
Very early. On Day 2 a driver collects you at 04:00 for a 06:55 flight, and the Cappadocia tour starts at about 09:00 with Esentepe, Zelve, Paşabağ, Devrent, Avanos and Love Valley. The page says we chose this flight so you see more of Cappadocia. If you would rather fly at about 10:00, 11:30 or in the afternoon, you can say so in the booking form, but you may miss some stops. Write your choice in the notes when you book.
Which flights are included?
Please confirm this point in writing. The inclusions list two flight fares, "Istanbul-Cappadocia & Pamukkale-Istanbul". But the day plan never flies from Pamukkale. You leave Pamukkale by road for Fethiye on Day 5. On Day 8 the gulet cruise ends at Demre Harbor, and a driver takes you "to the airport" for the flight to Istanbul, which the day title links to Antalya. Ask us to confirm that the return flight from the coast is the one in the price, and to give its time.
Are meals on the gulet included?
The page contradicts itself here, so check it. "Meals and drinks" are in the exclusions. Yet the cruise days list "Meals: lunch and dinner" on Day 6 and "breakfast, lunch and dinner" on Day 7, and breakfast on board on Day 8. Ask for the written plan to say which meals on the boat are covered and what drinks cost. On land, only hotel breakfast is included. The Day 1 lunch in Istanbul and the Day 4 lunch in Konya are at your own cost.
How long is the bus day to Pamukkale?
Day 4 is a full travel day. You leave your Cappadocia hotel at about 08:00, stop in Konya for lunch at your own cost, and check in at Pamukkale at about 19:00. The bus ticket is included. Day 5 starts at about 07:30 at Hierapolis, the Pamukkale travertines and Pamukkale Naturel Lake, and you then travel on to Fethiye. On the white terraces you walk barefoot, so carry a bag for your shoes. Swimming in the Cleopatra Pool has its own fee.
Is the balloon included?
No. The balloon costs $310 per person and is listed in the exclusions. The page places it at 04:00 on Day 3, with a champagne toast after landing and a return to the hotel before breakfast. Day 3 then has the 4.4 km Meskendir Valley walk and the other valley stops until about 16:00. The page says you check out at 09:00 on Day 3, but it also says you return to the hotel for the night, and Day 4 starts from the Cappadocia hotel. Ask us to confirm. Our balloon price guide shows the options.
What is the gulet route?
On Day 6 you must be at Fethiye Harbor by 10:00. The boat stops at Butterfly Valley for a swim and an optional walk to the waterfall, and passes Oludeniz, where paragliding from Babadağ is optional. You anchor at St. Nicholas Island for the sunset. Day 7 brings Aquarium Bay near Kalkan and an afternoon in Kas, where diving is optional. On Day 8 you sail over the Sunken City, where swimming is not allowed, and stop for Simena Castle. Read about other boat trips on our blue cruise tours page.
Can we add Ephesus or more nights?
You can add Istanbul nights at $65 each. This plan has no Ephesus visit. If you want Ephesus and the gulet together, compare the 7-day Best of Turkey tour with a Fethiye gulet from $2,865 or the 11-day Essence of Turkey tour from $4,035. For one more day overall, see the 10-day package with a Fethiye gulet from $3,690.
How do I book this 9-day gulet package?
Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and send it, or message us on WhatsApp. Tell us whether you want the 06:55 Cappadocia flight or a later one. We check the gulet, flights and hotels for your dates. Then we send the full plan in writing, with the return flight, the gulet meals and the hotel names. You pay only after you have read the plan and confirmed it. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.
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