Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale Tour by Plane: 4-Day Budget Trip

Early morning: we pick you up at your Istanbul hotel at 04:00 and take you to the airport for your 06:55 flight to Cappadocia.

Morning: when you land in Cappadocia, our guide welcomes you and takes you to Goreme, where the sightseeing begins.

The guided tour normally gets going at about 09:00 and wraps up by 16:00 at the latest.

Today's highlights:

• Goreme Esentepe – Panoramic View: the first stop is this lookout between Uçhisar and Göreme. From the top you look out over the Cappadocian valleys, the fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum: Zelve was once a centre of monastic life and Christian learning. Its monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-preserved frescoes that show how people lived and worshipped here.
• Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, sometimes called "Pasha's Vineyard", is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys. The rock shapes here rank among the most striking in the region and give the valley an otherworldly look.
• Devrent Valley: a short drive brings you to a valley that looks like the surface of the moon. Its small, pointed chimneys invite you to spot shapes, and some rocks resemble animals and mythical creatures.
• Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has been a pottery town since 3000 BC, and its craftsmen still shape clay taken from the Red River. In a traditional workshop you see how the ceramics are made, up close.
• Love Valley: the final stop. Millions of years of erosion have carved this valley into cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys, some of them up to 40 meters high. Few places in Cappadocia look stranger or make better photos.

Afternoon: the tour ends at around 16:00 and you are dropped at your hotel in Cappadocia. The rest of the day is yours to rest, explore the area nearby and enjoy the special atmosphere of the region.

Tomorrow brings a second full day of sightseeing in Cappadocia.

Today you check out of your hotel, see more of Cappadocia and then fly to Izmir.

Important note: on some days there is no direct flight between Cappadocia and Izmir, so the flight may connect with one stopover. When a direct flight is available, we book it.

5:00 AM – 7:30 AM: hot air balloon tour (optional). If you wish, begin the day with a balloon flight over the remarkable Cappadocian landscape and float above fairy chimneys and valleys.

8:00 AM: breakfast and check-out. After landing, have breakfast at your hotel and check out before the day's tour.

The guided tour normally gets going at about 09:00 and wraps up by 16:00 at the latest.

Today's highlights:

• Meskendir Valley (4.4 km Trek): the day starts on foot with a 4.4 km walk through this valley near Ortahisar. On the way you reach Meskendir Church, decorated with bold red geometric patterns and a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling. You can step inside the church and enjoy the scenery around it.
• Rose Valley: tucked away behind Ürgüp, this quiet valley is famous for its rock formations and for churches cut into the rock, out of sight. Footpaths run through vineyards and gardens between small villages and towns, and local people along the way sometimes offer fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
• Red Valley: like its neighbour Rose Valley, it has striking rock formations and old cave churches. Its winding paths link remote villages and fields like the threads of a spider's web, a good place to see both the nature and the history of Cappadocia.
• Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin Village ranks among the oldest settlements of Cappadocia. Its houses are carved straight into the rock, forming a maze of ancient dwellings, and the village is home to the Church of John the Baptist. Dating from the 5th century, it is the biggest cave church in the region.
• Underground City: early Christians dug 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to hide from persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them. It goes down eight levels, and you walk through parts of it, including old wineries, kitchens and living quarters.
• Pigeon Valley: on the edge of Göreme, this valley takes its name from the pigeon houses cut into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once collected the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today the valley is known for its wide views and is a favourite spot for photos.
• Uchisar Castle Panorama: the day ends in Uçhisar, which sits on the highest ground in Cappadocia. Its landmark is Uçhisar Castle, a tall rock that once served as a fortress. From the top the whole region opens up, with Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.

Airport transfer: after the tour you are taken to the airport for your flight to Izmir.

Evening: on arrival in Izmir you are driven to Kusadasi for the night, with breakfast included.

Note: some days the flight between Cappadocia and Izmir includes a stop, but we always choose a direct flight when one is available.

After breakfast you are collected from your hotel at 10:00. A drive of about 20 minutes brings you to the Magnesia Gate of Ephesus Ancient City.

From there a full guided walk takes you through the ancient city and its key sites:

• Library of Celsus: its grand facade makes this ancient library one of the best-known buildings in Ephesus.
• Temple of Hadrian: built in honour of the Roman emperor Hadrian, the temple still shows well-preserved columns and finely carved reliefs.
• Terrace Houses (optional): enter the richly decorated residential complex where the wealthy citizens of Ephesus once had their homes.
• Hercules Gate: walk through this monumental gateway, decorated with carvings of the legendary hero.
• Grand Theatre: this vast theatre once seated up to 25,000 people, and performances are still staged here today.
• The Snake Cult of Asklepios: hear the story of the ancient cult of Asklepios, god of healing, and see what is left of the temple built for him.
• Herm (Marker) of Hermes: these old stone markers once guided travellers and marked boundaries within the city.
• Artemission: stand at the spot where the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of antiquity, used to rise.
• Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: a finely detailed relief of Nike, the winged goddess of victory.
• Fountain of Trajan: the well-kept remains of a monumental fountain built in honour of Emperor Trajan.
• House of Virgin Mary (optional): the tour can end at the House of Virgin Mary, which many believe is where the Virgin Mary was finally laid to rest.

16:00 – At the end of the tour you are taken back to your hotel in Kusadasi for the night, with breakfast included.

Today you check out of your hotel, visit Pamukkale and then fly back to Istanbul.

8:00 AM: departure from Kusadasi. After checking out, you leave Kusadasi by tour bus at 8:00 AM. The drive to Pamukkale takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Tour highlights:

• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM: Hierapolis: the day starts in the ancient city of Hierapolis. You see the Necropolis, the old Theatre and the beautiful Cleopatra Pool (optional; swimming costs extra).
• 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: lunch break (not included): stop for lunch at a local restaurant, relax and try some regional Turkish dishes.
• 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Pamukkale Travertines: next come the famous travertine terraces of Pamukkale, pools rich in minerals that form a natural wonder. Walk on the terraces and enjoy the scenery.
• 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Pamukkale Natural Lake: the tour ends at Pamukkale Natural Lake and Park, a calm area with more views to enjoy.
• 5:00 PM: transfer to Denizli Airport: after the tour you are taken to Denizli Airport for your flight back to Istanbul.

Optional extras

• Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (GOREME): $310
• Entrance ticket for Mary's House: $55
• Camel ride tour in Cappadocia: $85