Turkey Ancient Sites Tour: Cappadocia, Ephesus, Pamukkale, 7 Days

Pick-up from your Istanbul hotel is at 04:00 AM, followed by the transfer to the airport for the 06:55 AM flight to Cappadocia.

Prefer a later flight? We chose this early departure so you can see Cappadocia in real depth. If you are happy to skip some of the places on the itinerary, we can book you on a later flight instead, for example at 10:00 AM or 11:30 AM, or even in the afternoon. Just tell us in the booking form and we will arrange it.

On arrival you are met at the airport and driven to your hotel. There are no activities planned for today, and you will meet our guide the next day at 09:30 AM.

At about 09:00 AM your first full day begins, among the fairy chimneys and rock churches that give Cappadocia its unique look.

The guided tour usually gets going at about 09:00 and wraps up no later than 16:00.

Highlights of the day

• Goreme Esentepe panoramic viewpoint: The first stop is Esentepe, a lookout point between Uçhisar and Göreme. From here the fairy chimneys, the wider Cappadocian scenery and the little town of Esentepe spread out below you.
• Zelve Open-Air Museum: Zelve was once a place of monastic life and Christian learning. Its monasteries, churches and chapels still hold well-kept frescoes that show how the valley looked in earlier centuries.
• Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, also known as Monks Valley or "Pasha's Vineyard", is famous for fairy chimneys that split into three heads. Some of the most striking rock shapes in Cappadocia stand here.
• Devrent Valley: A short drive brings you to Devrent, where small, pointed fairy chimneys give the ground a moon-like look. Many of the rocks seem to take the form of animals or 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 can watch them at the wheel.
• Love Valley: The last stop is Love Valley. Millions of years of erosion have carved cones, pinnacles and fairy chimneys here, some as tall as 40 meters, and few corners of Cappadocia are as unusual or as good for photos.

In the evening you return to your cave hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

Today you check out of the 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 will connect with one stop. When a direct flight is available, we can book you on it.

If you wish, you can start the morning with a hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia's unusual landscape.

The guided tour usually gets going at about 09:00 and wraps up no later than 16:00.

Highlights of the day

• Meskendir Valley (4.4 km trek): The day opens with a 4.4 km walk through Meskendir Valley near Ortahisar. On the way you can go inside Meskendir Church, painted with bold red geometric patterns and with a large cross carved into the chapel ceiling, and enjoy the scenery around it.
• Rose Valley: Behind Ürgüp lies this quiet valley of unusual rock shapes and churches cut into the stone. Footpaths run through vineyards and gardens between small villages, and locals sometimes hand walkers fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
• Red Valley: Red Valley has the same mix of striking rocks and old cave churches. Its paths cross one another like a spider's web, joining remote villages and farmland, and give a real feel for the region's nature and past.
• Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin Village is one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia, a maze of homes carved into the rock. It is also where you find the Church of John the Baptist, the biggest cave church in the region, dating from the 5th century.
• Underground City: Early Christians dug 36 underground cities in Cappadocia to hide from persecution. You visit the largest and best known of them, which goes down eight levels; open sections include old wineries, kitchens and living rooms.
• Pigeon Valley: On the edge of Göreme, this valley is named after the pigeon houses cut into its cliffs over the centuries. Farmers once used the droppings to fertilise their fields. Today it offers wide views and good photo spots.
• Uchisar Castle Panorama: The final stop is Uçhisar, the highest point in Cappadocia. Its tall rock castle once served as a fortress, and from the top you look across the whole region to Erciyes Mountain on the horizon.

After the tour you are taken to the airport for your flight to Izmir. On arrival you are driven to your hotel for the night, with breakfast included.

• 9:00 AM – Departure: You are picked up from your hotel in Izmir.
• 10:00 AM – Pergamon Ancient City: Climb the Acropolis of Pergamon to see the Temple of Zeus, the Altar of Zeus and the Pergamon Theater, with wide views over the land around it.
• 12:30 PM – Lunch: Lunch is at a local restaurant serving traditional Turkish food.
• 2:00 PM – Asclepius Temple: Visit the Temple of Asclepius, a healing centre in ancient times and one of the key sites in the history of medicine.
• 3:30 PM – Izmir city centre: See Konak Square and its Clock Tower, then walk through Kemeralti Bazaar, a lively market full of local goods and crafts.
• 5:30 PM – End of tour: You are driven back to your hotel in Izmir.

• 8:00 AM – Departure from Izmir: Leave Izmir in the tour vehicle for a full day at ancient sites.
• 10:00 AM – Priene Ancient City: This ancient Greek city has well-kept ruins, among them the Temple of Athena, one of the finest examples of Ionic architecture.
• 12:00 PM – Temple of Apollo at Didyma: Stand beside the huge columns of this temple, which was once among the biggest and most important in the ancient world.
• 2:00 PM – Lunch: Lunch is at a local restaurant serving traditional Turkish food.
• 3:30 PM – Miletus Ancient City: Visit Miletus, known for its well-kept Theater of Miletus and for the Bouleuterion, its council house.
• 5:30 PM – Transfer to Kusadasi: The day ends with the drive to Kusadasi, where you stay overnight.

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 Ephesus Ancient City.

Inside the ancient city, a full guided tour takes you to its most important sites:

• Library of Celsus: Its tall, decorated facade is one of the best-known sights in Ephesus.
• Temple of Hadrian: Built in honour of the Roman emperor Hadrian, it still shows well-kept columns and fine carved reliefs.
• Terrace Houses (optional): Look inside the luxurious homes where the wealthy families of Ephesus once lived.
• Hercules Gate: A grand gateway decorated with carvings of the legendary hero.
• Grand Theatre: This huge theatre once seated up to 25,000 people, and performances are still staged here 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: These old markers once guided travellers and marked boundaries in the city.
• Artemission: Stand where the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, used to rise.
• Stone-carving of the goddess Nike: A finely detailed relief of Nike, the winged goddess of victory.
• Fountain of Trajan: The remains of a monumental fountain built to honour Emperor Trajan.
• House of Virgin Mary (optional): The tour can end at the house believed to be the Virgin Mary's final home.

After the tour you return to your hotel in Kusadasi for the night, with breakfast included.

On the last day you check out of the hotel, explore Pamukkale and then fly back to Istanbul. The tour normally begins at around 07:30.

Tour highlights

• Hierapolis: See the Necropolis, the Theatre and the Cleopatra Pool (there is an admission charge to swim in the pool).
• Pamukkale: The main event is the famous travertines, terraces of bright white pools filled with mineral-rich water. Walk on the cotton-like surface and enjoy the views.
• Pamukkale Naturel Lake: You can also visit Pamukkale Naturel Lake and Park, a pleasant spot in the same area.

After the tour you are driven to Denizli Airport for your flight back to Istanbul.

Optional extras

• Cappadocia hot air balloon (Goreme): $310
• One extra hotel night in Istanbul, before or after the tour: $65
• Upgrade to a private tour: $350