Cappadocia & Ephesus Tour Package by Plane: 3 Days with Flights
Overview
Cappadocia & Ephesus Tour Package by Plane: 3 Days with Flights
Turkey's two best-known regions in three days
This short package links Cappadocia and Ephesus by air, so you spend your time on the ground rather than on the road. In Cappadocia you explore valleys, fairy chimneys, cave churches and an underground city over two guided days, with a night in a cave hotel. A flight then takes you to Izmir and a night in Kusadasi, before a full tour of the ruins of Ephesus and a flight back to Istanbul.
Included are a professional licensed guide, air-conditioned transport, all airport transfers, admission fees for the sights in the itinerary and 2 nights in hotels with breakfast. All flights in the itinerary are covered too. The free baggage allowance on domestic flights is 1 x 15 kg checked bag and 1 x 8 kg cabin bag, and extra weight costs $2 per kg.
Lunch, dinner, the hot air balloon tour and any other optional tours or activities are not included.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Istanbul to Cappadocia and Red Tour
Early morning: a driver collects you from your Istanbul hotel at 04:00 AM and takes you to the airport for the 06:55 AM flight to Cappadocia.
Prefer a later flight? We chose this early flight so you can see Cappadocia properly. If you are happy to miss some of the stops, we can book a later flight instead, 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.
Morning: your guide meets you on arrival in Cappadocia and drives you to Goreme, where the tour starts. It usually runs from around 09:00 until 16:00 at the latest.
- Esentepe viewpoint, Goreme: the day opens at this panoramic spot between Uchisar and Goreme, looking out over fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum: a former monastic settlement and centre of Christian learning, with old monasteries, churches and chapels whose frescoes are still in good condition.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): also called Pasha's Vineyard, this valley is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys, some of the most striking rock shapes in the region.
- Devrent Valley: a short drive away, small pointed fairy chimneys form a moon-like scene, and many rocks look like animals or mythical creatures.
- Avanos pottery workshop: potters in Avanos have worked with clay from the Red River since 3000 BC. In a traditional workshop you watch their skill up close.
- Love Valley: the last stop. Millions of years of erosion have left cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys up to 40 metres tall, one of the strangest and most photogenic corners of Cappadocia.
You then return to your cave hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 2 – Cappadocia Green Tour and Flight to Izmir
Today you check out of the hotel, see more of Cappadocia and then fly to Izmir.
Please note: on some days there is no direct flight between Cappadocia and Izmir, so the flight connects with one stop. When a direct flight runs and has seats, you will be booked on it.
If you wish, you can start the day with a hot air balloon tour over Cappadocia's unusual scenery in the early morning.
The day tour usually runs from around 09:00 until 16:00 at the latest.
- Meskendir Valley (4.4 km trek): the day starts with a 4.4 km walk through this valley near Ortahisar. Inside Meskendir Church you see geometric red decoration and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling, and you can look around the interior before taking in the scenery.
- Rose Valley: behind Urgup, this quiet valley hides churches cut into the rock among unusual formations. Its trails link small villages through vineyards and gardens, and local people sometimes offer fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
- Red Valley: much like its neighbour, it has striking rock shapes and old cave churches. Its winding paths connect remote villages and fields like the threads of a spider's web, a good place to see Cappadocia's nature and history side by side.
- Cavusin: among the oldest settlements in the region, this village is a maze of houses carved into the rock. It is also home to the Church of John the Baptist, the biggest cave church in Cappadocia, built in the 5th century.
- Underground city: early Christians built 36 underground cities here to escape persecution. You visit the largest and best known, which has eight levels, and walk through parts of it including old wineries, kitchens and living quarters.
- Pigeon Valley: on the edge of Goreme, the valley takes its name from the pigeon houses cut into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once used the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today it is a fine spot for panoramic photos.
- Uchisar Castle viewpoint: the final stop is Uchisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its tall rock castle once served as a fortress, and the view from the top takes in the whole region, with Erciyes Mountain far in the distance.
After the tour you are driven to the airport for your flight to Izmir. On arrival a transfer takes you to Kusadasi for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 3 – Ephesus and Flight Back to Istanbul
After breakfast you are picked up from your hotel at 10:00 AM. A drive of about 20 minutes brings you to the Magnesia Gate of the ancient city of Ephesus.
From there a full tour takes you past the main sites:
- Library of Celsus: its grand front is one of the best-known sights in Ephesus.
- Temple of Hadrian: built for the Roman emperor Hadrian, with columns and carved reliefs still in good condition.
- Terrace Houses (optional): a lavish residential complex where the wealthy families of Ephesus once lived.
- Hercules Gate: a monumental gateway decorated with detailed carvings of the legendary hero.
- Grand Theatre: it once seated up to 25,000 people and is still used for performances today.
- The Snake Cult of Asklepios: hear about the ancient cult of Asklepios, god of healing, and see what remains of his temple.
- Herm (Marker) of Hermes: ancient stones that guided travellers and marked boundaries in the city.
- Artemission: the place where the Temple of Artemis, listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, once stood.
- Stone carving of the goddess Nike: a detailed relief of Nike, the winged figure of victory.
- Fountain of Trajan: the well-kept remains of a monumental fountain raised in honour of Emperor Trajan.
- House of Virgin Mary (optional): the tour can finish at the house believed to be the Virgin Mary's final resting place.
After the tour you are taken to Izmir Airport for your flight back to Istanbul. There a transfer drops you at the place of your choice, and our services end.
Important Notes
Optional extras
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (Goreme): $310
- Entry ticket for the House of the Virgin Mary: $55
- Turkish Night in Cappadocia: $85
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Professional licensed guide
- ✓Air-conditioned transportation
- ✓All flight fares in the itinerary (Free baggage limits for domestic flights are 1x15 kgs for check in and 1x8 kgs per cabin (Extra allowance +2$ per kg))
- ✓All airport transfers
- ✓Admission fees in the itinerary
- ✓2 Nights accomodations with breakfast
- ✕Lunch, dinner
- ✕Optional additional tours or activities.
- ✕Hot air balloon tour
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Cappadocia and Ephesus by plane in 3 days: the key facts
This 3-day, 2-night group tour links Cappadocia and Ephesus by air, so most of your time goes on sightseeing rather than on the road. You fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia early on Day 1 for the Red Tour of the valleys and a night in a cave hotel. Day 2 is the Green Tour, with a valley walk and an underground city, followed by a flight to Izmir and a night in Kusadasi. Day 3 is a full tour of Ephesus and a flight back to Istanbul.
It suits travellers who already have a base in Istanbul and want the two best-known regions outside the city with two full days in Cappadocia. The price is from $1,110 per person.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Route | Istanbul - Cappadocia - Izmir/Kusadasi (Ephesus) - Istanbul |
| Style | Group tour with domestic flights |
| Start / end | 04:00 pick-up at your Istanbul hotel on Day 1 / drop-off at a place of your choice in Istanbul on Day 3 |
| Included | Licensed guide, air-conditioned transport, all flights in the itinerary, all airport transfers, admission fees in the itinerary, 2 nights with breakfast |
| Extra | Lunch and dinner, balloon flight ($310), House of the Virgin Mary ticket ($55), Turkish Night ($85) |
Why does Day 1 start at 04:00, and can we fly later?
A driver collects you from your Istanbul hotel at 04:00 for the 06:55 flight to Cappadocia. That early flight lets the guide start the Red Tour in Göreme at about 09:00, and the tour runs until 16:00 at the latest. If you would rather sleep longer, the page says we can book a later flight, for example at 10:00, 11:30 or in the afternoon, but you will miss some of the stops. Tell us your choice in the booking form so the flight is booked to match.
How do the domestic flights and baggage work?
All three flights are in the price: Istanbul to Cappadocia, Cappadocia to Izmir, and Izmir back to Istanbul. The free allowance on each is one 15 kg checked bag and one 8 kg cabin bag, and extra weight costs $2 per kg. On some days there is no direct flight between Cappadocia and Izmir, so that leg connects with one stop; when a direct flight runs and has seats, you are booked on it. Pack light, because you change hotels every night.
What is the difference between the two Cappadocia days?
Day 1 is the Red Tour: the Esentepe viewpoint, the Zelve Open-Air Museum, Paşabağ, Devrent Valley, a pottery workshop in Avanos and Love Valley. Day 2 is the Green Tour: a 4.4 km walk through Meskendir Valley, then Rose and Red Valleys, Çavuşin with the Church of John the Baptist, an underground city, Pigeon Valley and the Uçhisar Castle viewpoint. Two days means you see both the rock formations and the hidden churches and tunnels.
How hard are the days?
Day 2 is the most active. The Meskendir walk is 4.4 km, and in the underground city you walk through parts of its eight levels, past old wineries, kitchens and living quarters. Day 1 is shorter on foot but follows a 04:00 start. In Ephesus you walk from the Magnesia Gate through the whole site, mostly on old stone paving, so wear shoes with good grip and carry water and a hat in warm months. Each day ends with a flight or a drive, so expect late arrivals at the hotel.
Is the hot air balloon included?
No. The balloon flight over Göreme is an optional extra at $310 per person. It can only happen early on Day 2, because that is your one morning in Cappadocia: you arrive on the Day 1 flight and leave after the Green Tour on Day 2. Balloon flights depend on the weather and can be cancelled on the morning itself, so treat it as a chance rather than a fixed part of the trip. Our balloon price guide explains what affects the cost.
Where do we stay?
Night 1 is in a cave hotel in Cappadocia and Night 2 is in Kusadasi, both with breakfast. The page does not name the hotels or give a star rating. If a particular room type or hotel class matters to you, write it in the booking form and ask us which hotels are planned for your dates. Our pages on Cappadocia cave hotels and Kusadasi hotels for Ephesus explain what to expect from each area.
What do we see in Ephesus, and what costs extra?
You are collected at 10:00 and reach the Magnesia Gate in about 20 minutes. The tour passes the Temple of Hadrian, Hercules Gate, the Grand Theatre, the Fountain of Trajan, the Nike relief and the Library of Celsus, and covers the site of the Temple of Artemis. Two stops are optional: the Terrace Houses, for which the page gives no price, and the House of the Virgin Mary, whose ticket is $55. Ask us to confirm the Terrace Houses cost in writing.
Can we add Pamukkale or extra nights?
This package does not list an extra-night price, so ask us when you book. If you want Pamukkale as well, our Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale package by plane adds it over 4 days, from $1,775 per person. If you only have two days, the Ephesus and Cappadocia tour in 2 days costs from $1,050 per person but has just one Cappadocia tour. More routes are on our multi-city packages page.
How do we book this package?
Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, and tell us if you want the early or a later Day 1 flight and whether to add the balloon. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We confirm the flights, hotels and extras, then send you the full plan in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).
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