Troy, Ephesus & Cappadocia Tour: 3 Days with Flights

Troy, Ephesus and Cappadocia in 3 days: the key facts

This 3-day, 2-night tour links three of Turkey's best-known sites in a short loop. Day 1 is a road day to Troy, the city of Homer's Iliad, and on to Kusadasi on the Aegean coast. Day 2 is a guided tour of Ephesus followed by a flight to Cappadocia. Day 3 begins with an optional sunrise balloon, continues with a guided Cappadocia tour and ends with a flight back to Istanbul.

It suits travellers who are short on time and want ancient history and Cappadocia's landscape in one trip, and who do not mind one long day on the road. The price is from $1,110 per person.

Where does the tour start, and how long is Day 1?

The page says you are picked up from your hotel and board the bus for the drive to Troy, starting at around 09:00. It does not name the city of the pick-up, though the route ends in Istanbul and international flights to Istanbul are excluded, which points to an Istanbul start. It also gives no driving times. Ask us to confirm in writing where you are collected and roughly when you reach Kusadasi, so you can plan the evening. At Troy you walk the ruins and see the wooden horse, then continue south to your Kusadasi hotel for a free evening. Our Troy guide has background.

What do we see at Ephesus?

Day 2 is the Ephesus tour. The listed stops include the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, Hercules Gate, the Grand Theatre, the Snake Cult of Asklepios, the Herm of Hermes, the Artemision (the site of the Temple of Artemis), the Nike carving and the Fountain of Trajan. The Terrace Houses are optional at $25, and the tour can end at the House of the Virgin Mary, an optional ticket at $55. After the tour you are taken to the airport for the flight to Cappadocia. See our Ephesus ancient city page for more.

Which flights are included?

The inclusion list says all flights in the itinerary are covered. That means two flights: one from the Ephesus area to Cappadocia on the evening of Day 2, and one from Cappadocia back to Istanbul at the end of Day 3. The page does not name the departure airport or the flight times, so we confirm these in your written plan. Your flight into Istanbul and your flight home are not included. If you are flying home on Day 3, leave plenty of time after the Cappadocia flight lands, or add a night in Istanbul.

What happens on the Cappadocia day?

Day 3 can start at 05:00 with an optional sunrise balloon, with a champagne toast at about 07:00 and a return to the hotel. The guided tour then covers the Esentepe viewpoint, Zelve Open-Air Museum, Pasabag, Devrent Valley, an Avanos pottery workshop and Love Valley. The page describes this as a day of the region's less obvious sights, but the stops listed are the standard northern valleys, so go by the list. After the tour you fly to Istanbul, and our representative helps with your transfer to your hotel or onward flight. Our Cappadocia guide explains the area.

Is the balloon included?

No. The Goreme balloon is an optional extra at $310 on the morning of Day 3. Balloon flights need weather permission each morning and are sometimes cancelled for wind. Since you spend only one night in Cappadocia, there is no backup morning on this tour. If the balloon is important to you, add a night in Cappadocia when you book. Our balloon price guide compares the flight types.

How tiring is this tour?

Each day is full. Day 1 is mostly in the vehicle with a walk at Troy. Day 2 is a long walk through the ruins of Ephesus, followed by a flight. Day 3 can begin at 05:00 if you take the balloon and ends with another flight. Wear comfortable shoes with grip, bring a hat and water for Ephesus, and keep your luggage light, as you change hotel every night.

Which hotels do we stay in?

The page says accommodation with breakfast is included, one night in Kusadasi and one in Cappadocia, but does not name the hotels or give a star rating. We send the hotel names with your written plan. Lunches and dinners are not included, so budget for those on all three days. If you want to know more about the town where you spend the first night, see our page on Kusadasi hotels for Ephesus.

Can we add nights or change the route?

The page says you can add extra nights to stay longer. Common choices are a night in Istanbul before the tour or an extra night in Cappadocia for a second balloon chance. If you want a slower version with time in Istanbul, compare the 5-day Istanbul, Troy and Ephesus tour. If you would rather see Pamukkale than Cappadocia, see the 3-day Troy, Ephesus and Pamukkale tour. More combinations are in our multi-city packages.

How do we book this tour?

Use the booking form on this page to choose your date and number of guests, and enter your hotel for the Day 1 pick-up. Tell us there if you want the balloon, the Terrace Houses, the House of the Virgin Mary or extra nights. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We check flights and hotels for your dates and send the full plan, with the pick-up point and flight times, in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is operated by a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).