Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya & Cappadocia Tour: 4 Days from Istanbul

Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya and Cappadocia in 4 days: the key facts

This 4-day, 3-night group tour uses one flight out and one flight back, with the road in between. You fly from Istanbul to Denizli on the morning of Day 1 for Pamukkale and Hierapolis, then drive about 4 hours to Antalya. Day 2 covers Antalya's old town and Düden Waterfalls before a drive of about 4 hours to Konya. Day 3 is Konya, followed by about 3 hours on the road to Cappadocia, and Day 4 is a Cappadocia tour before the flight back to Istanbul.

It suits travellers on a budget who want to see four very different places and do not mind long drives. Expect around 11 hours on the road over three days. The price is from $845 per person.

How much of the trip is spent driving?

Three of the four days end with a long drive: about 4 hours from Pamukkale to Antalya, about 4 hours from Antalya to Konya and about 3 hours from Konya to Cappadocia. That is how the tour keeps the price down, with only two flights. Bring a book or downloaded films, a water bottle and a light layer for the air-conditioned vehicle. If you get car-sick, ask for a front seat when we confirm the booking. Each night is in a different town, so you pack every morning.

What happens at Pamukkale on Day 1?

The tour starts as soon as you land in Denizli. You see the Necropolis and the Theatre of Hierapolis, the white travertine terraces and, if time allows, Pamukkale Naturel Lake and its park. Visitors walk barefoot on the travertines to protect the surface, so carry a bag for your shoes and expect wet, uneven stone. Swimming in the Cleopatra Pool needs a separate ticket that is not included. Our page on Pamukkale and Hierapolis has more detail.

Which sights do we see in Antalya?

This route gives Antalya a short morning: Kaleiçi old town, Hadrian's Gate and Düden Waterfalls, before the drive to Konya. It does not include Perge or Aspendos, which some of our other routes visit. If Roman ruins matter to you, add a day for $115 and join our Perge, Aspendos, Side and Manavgat tour, from $90 per person. See our Antalya guide for other ideas.

What do we see in Konya, and is lunch included?

Day 3 starts at the Mevlana Museum, the resting place of Rumi, then continues to the Alaeddin Mosque and hill and the Karatay Madrasa with its Seljuk tilework. The plan lists lunch at a local restaurant with dishes such as etli ekmek or fırın kebabı, yet lunch is listed under exclusions. Assume you pay for it, and ask us to confirm in writing. For the mosque, cover shoulders and knees, women cover their hair, and shoes come off at the door. Our Konya guide covers the city.

Is the hot air balloon included?

No. The balloon is offered as an option at 05:00 on Day 4, your only morning in Cappadocia, and this page does not give a price, so ask for it in writing. Wind can ground every balloon for several days at a time, and on this tour there is no second morning to try again. You can also watch the balloons from the ground on our sunrise balloon-watching tour. Our balloon price guide explains the options.

What does the last day in Cappadocia include?

After the optional balloon and a 07:00 return to the hotel, the guided tour usually runs from about 09:00 to 16:00. It visits the Esentepe viewpoint, the Zelve Open-Air Museum, Paşabağ (Monks Valley), Devrent Valley, a pottery workshop in Avanos and Love Valley. You then transfer to the airport for the flight to Istanbul, where a representative helps with your transfer to your hotel or to your flight home. Read more in our Cappadocia guide.

Where does the tour start and end, and which hotels are used?

The page says you are collected from your hotel very early for the 9:15 flight, or you can meet the guide at the airport. It names no Istanbul airport, and no Istanbul night is included at either end, so book your own nights before Day 1 and after Day 4. Breakfast is included, but no hotel names or star ratings are given, so ask which hotels are planned. Don't book an international flight home on Day 4 until the return flight time is confirmed in writing.

Can we add days or extra tours?

You can extend the tour by one day for $115. The page also says extra nights can be added, but gives no price per night, so ask for a quote. An optional Istanbul tour is listed for $30 without a description; ask what it includes. For a route that visits Ephesus instead of Cappadocia, see our 4-day ancient civilizations tour, from $1,110 per person, or browse our multi-city packages.

How do we book this tour?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page, and tell us where you are staying in Istanbul. You can also message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 307 67 88. We check the flights and hotels, then send you the full plan in writing before you make any payment. Get Turkey Tours is a TÜRSAB-licensed agency (A-15751).