5 Days Turkey Tour from Kusadasi/Izmir: Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia
5 Days Turkey Tour from Kusadasi/Izmir: Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia (Tour will start in Izmir and will end in Istanbul)
Tour Style:Group Tour
Day 1: Arrive and Overnight in Kusadasi
You will begin your tour with a transfer from the Izmir airport or the Kusadasi port to your hotel in Kusadasi. Rest of the day will be free. You can explore on your own.
Overnight in Kusadasi
Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
Accommodation:
Day 2: Ephesus Tour
After breakfast at the hotel around 8:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of Ephesus. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. You will first visit the Temple of Artemis which was once one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Next, you will visit the world famous ancient Greco- Roman City of Ephesus, the most well-preserved example in the world. After visiting this impressive site, you will have a break for lunch. After lunch, you will visit the House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed she spent her last days. This is a holy place for both Christians and Muslims. Afterwards, you will visit the Isabey Mosque. Next, you will be taken to the Sirince Village; which is an old Greek village and is well-know for its quaint beauty and wine tasting and production. Here you will have one hour free to explore on your own without a guide the different foods and wines of the area and visit various small traditional village shops. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight in Kusadasi
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation:
Day 3: Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour — Overnight Bus from Pamukkale to Cappadocia (650.5 km)
After breakfast around 8:00 am you will be picked up from your Kusadasi hotel and taken to the meeting point in Selcuk to join the full group. You will then be driven by road for approximately 3 hours starting around 8:30 am to travel from Selcuk to Pamukkale. En route to Pamukkale after 1.5 hours, there will be a 10 minutes stop for a restroom break. Upon arrival around 11:45 am, the group will be taken to have lunch and after lunch at around 1:00 pm, the group will begin a guided tour of the Pamukkale and Hierapolis area with a professional licensed tour guide. In Pamukkale, you will see the Cotton Cliffs, one of the natural wonders of the world formed by deposits of calcareous salts. Also, you will visit the ancient ruins of the City of Hierapolis with its basilica, theatre, and Roman Baths. At the end of the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore the area on your own. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale antique pools (at your own expense) during this free time. The tour guide will inform you about the exact meeting point and time. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to the bus station for your overnight bus to Cappadocia. The overnight bus departs from Pamukkale to Cappadocia around 9:00 pm. You will have free time at the bus station from the time you are dropped off at the bus station till the time the bus is ready to depart. You can have your dinner around the bus station if you like during this time. You will travel overnight to Cappadocia in a non-smoking, fully air-conditioned local bus. The total duration of travel will be 10 hours. There will be three breaks on the way to Cappadocia for your personal needs.
Overnight Bus to Cappadocia
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day
Day 4: North Cappadocia Tour
Upon your arrival at the Goreme bus station in Cappadocia, you will be met at the bus station and transferred to your Cappadocia hotel. At the hotel, you can have your breakfast and be ready to meet your tour guide around 09:30. Your tour will start with a visit to the Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy chimneys. Next you will visit the Pasabag Monk’s Valley to see the mushroom-shaped pinnacles. After this visit, you will drive to the city of Avanos. After lunch, you will visit the beautiful open-air museum of Goreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Finally towards the end of the day tour before returning to your hotel, you will be able to visit the natural castles of Uchisar. At the end of the tour, you will be dropped back at your hotel in the evening.
Overnight in Cappadocia
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation
Day 5: South Cappadocia Tour — Fly back to Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel around 9:30 am you will be picked up and met by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Your tour guide will brief you on the day’s activities. Your tour will begin with a visit to the Red Valley where you will be able to explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike approximately 5 km through the Rose Valley. Next, you will visit Çavuşin Village which is famous for its houses and churches of the Christian Clergymen. We will take a break for lunch around noon. After lunch, you will drive to the Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon you will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived. This will be the end of your full-day tour. At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Kayseri or Nevsehir airport for your late evening flight around 7:00 – 10:00 pm (1 hour 20 minutes flight duration) to Istanbul. END OF OUR SERVICE and TOURS.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
No accommodation is included on this day
Important notes:
Please note that your flight from Kayseri / Nevsehir to Istanbul will arrive at either the New Airport in Istanbul or at the Sabiha Gökçen Airport depending on the availability of flights on the ticket purchase date.
If you have a preference to return to a specific airport in Istanbul i.e. Sabiha Gokcen or Istanbul New Airport, you must request your choice of the airport in Istanbul by email prior to your tour booking. Any changes requested once your booking is confirmed will incur an additional cost.
Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, you will have to arrange your own pick-up service from Istanbul airport to your hotel in Istanbul. This transfer is not included as part of your package tour services with us. Our service ends upon your flight arrival at Istanbul Airport.
What is included
Highly Recommended in Cappadocia :
• Hot-Air Balloon Flight in Cappadocia: 295 Euros per adult cash payment (no child reduction)
Hot-Air Balloon Watching Photo Tour by Taxi: 60 Euros per person (no child reduction)
• Whirling Dervishes Show: 40 Euros per person
• Turkish Night (traditional folk dances, belly dancers, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, 3-course meal, transfer to and from your hotel): 80 Euros per person
• Turkish Baths (Hamam): 80 Euros per person
• Horseriding: 60 Euros per person (1 hour)
• ATV / Quad: 55 Euros (1 hour)
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Traditional Arts and Crafts in Turkey - Gifts and Souvenirs from Turkey:
Turkey has a rich history of authentic traditional handicrafts. Most famous Turkish items come from Cappadocia and goods were handmade here and transported along the Silk Road to Istanbul and the coastal areas.
Carpets and kilims: Carpets and kilims from Central Anatolia are world-famous. In Cappadocia, carpets are still handmade on authentic looms using natural dyes for the wool. You can see a free demonstration to see these age-old techniques still in use today.
Ceramic and pottery: Cappadocia has been famous since Hittite times for the beautiful and unique pottery and ceramics. Today, the best of the traditional ceramics and tiles on sale in Istanbul and other major cities are made in Avanos, Cappadocia.
Onyx and semi-precious stones: In Turkey, Cappadocia has the onyx mines where the highest quality onyx is found. Local artisans are experts at making items of jewellery made with precious and semi-precious stones, silver, and 22 and 24 carat gold.
Leather goods: Turkey is one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of leather goods. You can find a wide range of quality leather goods in Uchisar, Cappadocia.
Spices: Istanbul Spice Market, once the largest spice trading venue of the medieval world, with its abundant stalls still featuring piles of edible exotics is a definite highlight for anyone exploring Istanbul.
INCLUDED in the Tour Price:
All transfers mentioned in the itinerary
One-way flight from Kayseri or Nevsehir to Istanbul airport
Overnight intercity coach tickets (Pamukkale to Cappadocia)
2 nights in Kusadasi at a 4-star hotel including breakfast
1 night in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast
Professional licensed English speaking guide during the tours
Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch)
Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
Local taxes and service charges
NOT INCLUDED:
Drop off transportation service from Istanbul New Airport OR Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Istanbul Hotel upon returning to Istanbul
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride.
Optional tours mentioned in the program, they will be provided at an additional cost.
Services not mentioned in the program.
Drinks with meals.
Travel insurance (recommended).
IMPORTANT INFO:
The order of the itinerary is indicative and subject to change, but all visits described will take place.
This is a regular group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
The regular group tour has shopping stops included in the tour.
You can swim in the Antique pool in Pamukkale. However, please note that there is an extra charge that you will have to pay directly at your own expense before entry to the pools. This entrance fee to the pools is not covered as part of your tour. Please note that you must bring your own towel, swimsuit, etc. if you need to use the pools.
The normal arrival time in Istanbul is between 7:00 – 10:00 pm. If you are planning on reserving your plane back home that same day, we recommend you book a plane ticket from 12:30 am onwards, to avoid missing your flight.
The hot air balloon ride operates in optimum weather conditions. The decision for the flight to take off on any given day is decided by the local government at the last minute depending on weather conditions to ensure passenger safety. If your paid and scheduled hot air balloon ride gets canceled by the tour company at the last minute for weather conditions, we will provide you with a refund of USD 290.00 for the hot air balloon ride if you have it booked with us.
Highly Recommended in Turkiye
- Istanbul Sunset Cruise on a Luxury Yacht - 100 EUR pp
An Istanbul sunset cruise on a yacht is indeed a wonderful way to experience the old city from a unique perspective. With breathtaking views of the city's iconic landmarks bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, it is an unforgettable sight to behold. Admire the stunning panoramic vistas of the famous landmarks of Istanbul including the Blue Mosque, Maiden's Tower, and Ortakoy Mosque, among others. See Tour Details - Paragliding in Pamukkale - 100 EUR pp
An amazing experience in Pamukkale for adventurers and adrenalin lovers. An exciting, safe and joyful experience of a lifetime.
You will be able to explore the vast beauty of the white Pamukkale terraces and the remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis from above. See Tour Details - Paragliding in Fethiye - 125 EUR pp
Paragliding in Fethiye is a unique gift for yourself, loved ones or friends. Get off the ground, see the world from a dizzying height, soar freely like a bird on the rising air currents over the mountains. The location and terrain of the mountains and the scenic beauty of the area have made it one of the centres of world paragliding. See Tour