Ephesus, Pamukkale, Bodrum & Fethiye Tour: 4 Days with Flights
Overview
Ephesus, Pamukkale, Bodrum & Fethiye Tour: 4 Days with Flights
History, nature and the coast come together on this 4-day tour of southwest Turkey.
Walk through the ancient city of Ephesus, see the unusual white terraces of Pamukkale, enjoy the lively seaside atmosphere of Bodrum and finish among the clear blue bays of Fethiye. It is a good balance of sightseeing and relaxing.
Accommodation with breakfast, a professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles and admission fees to the sights (except optional ones) are included. International flights to Istanbul, lunch and dinner, and optional activities during free time are not.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Flight to Izmir, Ephesus & Transfer to Pamukkale
We pick you up from your hotel very early in the morning to catch the 9:30 AM flight to Izmir. If you prefer, you can meet our guide at the airport instead. A short drive from Izmir brings us to Ephesus, where the tour begins straight away.
Ephesus is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, and its ruins are a remarkable sight.
Highlights of the day:
- Library of Celsus: its grand facade is one of the best-known sights of Ephesus.
- Temple of Hadrian: built for the Roman emperor Hadrian, with well-preserved columns and finely carved reliefs.
- Terrace Houses (optional): the luxurious homes where the wealthy families of Ephesus lived.
- Hercules Gate: a monumental gateway decorated with carvings of the legendary hero.
- Grand Theatre: it once held up to 25,000 spectators and still stages performances today.
- The Snake Cult of Asklepios: hear about the ancient cult of Asklepios, god of healing, and see what is left of his temple.
- Herm (Marker) of Hermes: ancient markers that guided travellers and showed boundaries within the city.
- Artemission: the site where the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, used to stand.
- Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: a detailed relief of Nike, the winged goddess of victory.
- Fountain of Trajan: well-kept remains of a monumental fountain raised in honour of Emperor Trajan.
- House of Virgin Mary (optional): the tour ends at the house that tradition holds to be the Virgin Mary's final resting place.
After the tour you drive to Pamukkale, a journey of about 3 hours.
Overnight: Pamukkale
Day 2 – Pamukkale & Hierapolis, Transfer to Bodrum
Today is for Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis, known for its well-kept ruins and its long history.
You see the Necropolis, the Theatre and the Cleopatra Pool (optional).
The main sights are:
Hierapolis: Walk through the Necropolis and the Theatre, and see the Cleopatra Pool (swimming in the pool costs an extra admission fee).
Pamukkale travertines: The main event of the day. Bright white terraces of mineral-rich water step down the hillside, and you can walk across their soft, cotton-like surface while taking in the wide views.
Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park: There is also time for the lake and its park, a pleasant extra in this beautiful area.
After Pamukkale, a short drive of about 2 hours takes you on to Bodrum.
Day 3 – Bodrum Castle & Mausoleum, Transfer to Fethiye
Today you check out of your hotel and explore the town of Bodrum.
Highlights of the day:
- Bodrum Castle: a medieval castle with wide views over the harbor.
- Mausoleum of Halicarnassus: the ruins of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
- Bodrum Marina: free time at the busy marina to shop or have a coffee by the water.
After the tour a private vehicle takes you on a scenic drive to Fethiye (about 3 hours).
Day 4 – Fethiye, Oludeniz & Kayakoy, Flight to Istanbul
After breakfast you check out of your hotel and explore Fethiye.
Highlights of the day:
- Fethiye Museum: learn about the history of the region and see its ancient finds.
- Oludeniz: enjoy the blue lagoon and its beach, often named one of the most beautiful in Turkey.
- Kayakoy: a ghost town abandoned in the 1920s. Walk among its stone houses and hear its story.
After the tour you are taken to Dalaman Airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
Our representative then helps with your transfer, either to your flight home or to your hotel, and this is where our services end.
If you would like to stay longer, extra nights in Fethiye can be added.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Extend Tour +1 Day: $115
- Ephesus Terrace Houses: $25
- Transfer to Antalya: $195
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Accommodations with breakfast
- ✓Professional guide
- ✓All flights in the itinerary
- ✓Air-conditioned vehicles
- ✓Admission Fees to enter sights (Except optionals)
- ✕International flights to Istanbul
- ✕Dinner and lunch
- ✕Optional additional tours or activities during free time
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Travel guides
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- Nicaea and Ephesus Pilgrimage 2027: A Route for French-Speaking Groups
- Ephesus Day Trip for French Visitors: Kuşadası, İzmir, Bodrum, Samos
- Ephesus from Marmaris, Bodrum or Kuşadası: Drive Times and Prices
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- Ephesus on Your Own or with a Guide: Kuşadası, İzmir and Bodrum
Ephesus, Pamukkale, Bodrum and Fethiye in 4 days: the key facts
This 4-day, 3-night group tour flies you from Istanbul to Izmir for Ephesus, then drives to Pamukkale for the night. Day 2 is the white terraces and Hierapolis before the road to Bodrum. Day 3 is Bodrum Castle, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and the marina, then a drive to Fethiye. Day 4 covers the Fethiye Museum, Oludeniz and Kayakoy, and you fly back to Istanbul from Dalaman Airport. Unlike most of our coastal packages, it does not go to Antalya.
It suits travellers who want the southwest Aegean coast in a short trip and plan to return to Istanbul afterwards. Every day ends with a drive or a flight, so it is a touring trip, not a beach stay. The price is from $1,455 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 days / 3 nights |
| Route | Istanbul - Izmir - Ephesus - Pamukkale - Bodrum - Fethiye - Dalaman - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour with a flight out and a flight back |
| Start / end | Very early hotel pick-up in Istanbul for a 09:30 flight on Day 1 (or meet the guide at the airport) / flight from Dalaman to Istanbul on Day 4, then a transfer to the airport or your hotel |
| Included | 3 hotel nights with breakfast, professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles, entrance fees except optional sights |
| Extra | International flights, lunches and dinners, Terrace Houses ($25), House of the Virgin Mary, Cleopatra Pool swim, free-time activities |
Which airports do we use?
You fly from Istanbul to Izmir on Day 1 at 09:30, and on Day 4 you are driven to Dalaman Airport, the airport that serves Fethiye, for the flight back to Istanbul. The page does not say which Istanbul airport either flight uses, or the Day 4 departure time, so ask us to confirm both in writing. Because the Day 1 pick-up is very early, you need your own Istanbul hotel the night before; we can add one.
How long are the drives?
The page gives about 3 hours from Ephesus to Pamukkale, about 2 hours from Pamukkale to Bodrum and about 3 hours from Bodrum to Fethiye. Some of our other packages on the same roads give about 3 hours for Pamukkale to Bodrum and about 2 hours for Bodrum to Fethiye, so the figures on this page may be swapped. Plan for around three hours on each leg and ask us to confirm the timings for your dates. Each drive follows the day's visits.
Is the House of the Virgin Mary included?
The page is not clear. The Day 1 plan says "House of Virgin Mary (optional): the tour ends at the house", which reads as if the visit is part of the day, but it is marked optional and the extras list shows no ticket price for it. Ask us in writing whether it is included and what it costs. The Terrace Houses cost $25 extra. The rest of Ephesus, including the Library of Celsus and the Grand Theatre, is in the entrance fees.
What should we wear at Pamukkale?
Shoes are not allowed on the white travertine terraces, so you walk barefoot and carry them in a bag; the surface can be slippery where it is wet. Hierapolis is an open hillside with the Necropolis and theatre, so a hat and sunscreen help in warm months. Swimming in the Cleopatra Pool is optional and costs an admission fee. Read more on our Pamukkale and Hierapolis page.
What do we do in Bodrum?
Day 3 starts with checking out, then Bodrum Castle with its views over the harbour, the remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and free time at Bodrum Marina for a coffee or shopping. After that a private vehicle takes you to Fethiye. The page names Pamukkale as the first night but does not say in words that Night 2 is in Bodrum and Night 3 in Fethiye; that is what the day plan implies, so confirm it. See our Bodrum guide.
How much time is there in Fethiye?
Day 4 has three stops: the Fethiye Museum, the lagoon and beach at Oludeniz, and Kayakoy, a stone village left empty in the 1920s. Then you go to Dalaman for your flight. The page does not say how long you spend at Oludeniz, so plan for a visit rather than a beach afternoon. If you want a free day on the coast, the extras list "extend tour +1 day" at $115, and the page says extra nights in Fethiye can be added. Our Fethiye guide has more.
Can we end in Antalya instead?
The extras list a transfer to Antalya for $195. Ask us in writing whether that replaces the Dalaman flight or is added after it, and whether a hotel night in Antalya is included. If you want Antalya as part of the tour, compare the 5-day Ephesus to Antalya tour via Pamukkale, Bodrum and Fethiye from $1,795 per person, or the shorter 3-day Pamukkale, Bodrum and Fethiye tour from $1,110 per person. 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, a preferred time and the number of guests, and tell us your Istanbul hotel and your flight home. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We confirm the Izmir and Dalaman flights, the drive times, the hotels in Bodrum and Fethiye and the House of the Virgin Mary question, 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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