5 Days Istanbul & Cappadocia Trip - Including Camel Safari & Balloon Ride

Day 1 Departure to Denizli/Pamukkale – Pamukkale, Hierapolis Tour - Overnight at Kusadasi

1. 1

   Istanbul

   3 hours

   Departures from Istanbul : The travel services will begin with a transfer from your hotel to the airport. Your driver will meet you at the reception of your hotel or at your Airbnb address if parking is available. You will then be transported to the airport for your flight from Istanbul to Denizli. Upon arrival Denizli Cardak airport, your tour guide and another driver will meet you at the exit gate of the arrival terminal, and then you will start the full-day tour to Pamukkale Natural Park, Hierapolis Ancient City.

2. 2

   Pamukkale

   3 hours

   The departures from Antalya, Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum of Turkey by car, and Rhodes, Kos Islands of Greece by ferry are available for this trip. You can prefer one of them while make reservation on booking form. After your departure from those cities / islands, you will start the full-day tour to Pamukkale Natural Park, Hierapolis Ancient City.

3. 3

   Hierapolis & Pamukkale

   1 hour Admission ticket not included

   The highlights of Hierapolis Ancient City are Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Oil Factory, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater and Antique Pool. During visits to these ancient ruins, you can take some photos from the nicest corners of the Pamukkale.

4. 4

   Pamukkale Thermal Pools

   1 hour

   After visited the Hierapolis Ancient City, you will have free time for about 60-75 minutes to explore the natural beauties of the Pamukkale, and swim at white travertines - thermal pools (or antique pool - Cleopatra’s pool with extra fee). Then meet again with your guide, start walking in the middle of travertines from up to down without shoes and socks.

5. 5

   Cleopatra Pools

   30 min Admission ticket not included

   Situated above the Pamukkale white travertine pools is one particularly spectacular location fed by the same hot springs. Here you can bath in the same waters in which Cleopatra once swam! A professionally run modern spa facility allows you to enjoy these historical healing waters. Unlike the white water of the lower pools the Antique Pool favored by Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, is pure clear warm water. Once it was surmounted by a Roman Temple to Apollo with ornate roof held up with Doric columns. Imagine how Cleopatra must have experienced this when you imagine it in it's glory day.

6. 6

   1 hour

   You will stop at a local restaurant for your lunch. Today’s lunch is included during guided tour.

7. 7

   Karahayit

   30 min

   After the lunch, you will have experience traditional handcraft workshop for get lecture about the special stones/metals of Pamukkale.

8. 8

   30 min Admission ticket not included

   Pamukkale Paragliding Adventure (Optional Attraction – You can add this attraction to your experiences with extra cost.) : See Pamukkale’s glistening white travertine and ancient Hierapolis, including the enormous theater, from the air on this short-but-sweet paragliding experience with a seasoned pilot. You will race off the edge of a slope about 1,300 feet (400 meters) up, then glide on the breezes over the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

9. 9

   Kusadasi

   2 hours 30 min

   After your tour to Pamukkale Natural Park - Hierapolis Ancient City, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi.

10. 10

    Kusadasi Castle

    2 hours 30 min

    This small castle is picturesque Byzantine fortress stands on the causeway-connected Guvercin Adasi (Pigeon Island) and has recently been renovated. *** There is no any visit to this place on tour. You can visit there by your own after we dropped you to your hotel in Kusadasi.

11. 11

    Okuz Mehmet Pasa KervansarayI

    2 hours 30 min

    This caravanserai was built by the Grand Vizier Okuz Mehmed Pasha to support maritime trade in the region. This historical building is opposite to Kusadasi cruise port. *** There is no any visit to this place on tour. You can visit there by your own after we dropped you to your hotel in Kusadasi.

Day 2 Guided Tour to Ephesus and Its Surroundings - Flight from Izmir to Istanbul – or Flight from Izmir to Cappadocia

1. 1

   10 min

   After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, the tour guide will pick you up around 09:00 AM for a full-day tour to Ephesus and its surroundings. *** At the end of the tour, you will be directly transferred to Izmir Airport for your flight back to Istanbul (or a flight from Izmir to Cappadocia if you prefer connect this trip to Cappadocia. The flight ticket from Izmir to Istanbul or to Cappadocia will be included for both options). Please remember to check out of your hotel and collect your luggage before heading out for the Ephesus tour.

2. 2

   Kusadasi Gazi Begendi Park

   15 min

   Before drive to Ephesus area, you will stop at the Gazi Begendi Park (Hill) for you can take photos of the amazing Kusadasi Bay.

3. 3

   Ancient City of Ephesus

   1 hour 30 min Admission ticket not included

   Your first visit will be the Ephesus Ancient City. Ephesus was one of the most important harbor cities in antique world and also it is mentioned in the book of Revelations as one of the seven churches. Also Celsus Library and theater in Ephesus are the other highlights. You will see the Celcus Library, Temple of Hadrian, Fountain of Trajan, Odeon, Agora, Fountain of Domitian, Hercule Gate, Grand Theater, Nike, Ancient Toilets and more during tour in this ancient city.

4. 4

   20 min Admission ticket not included

   The Ephesus Experience Museum provides an immersive journey into Turkey’s rich cultural and historical heritage. By leveraging cutting-edge display systems and advanced content technologies, it offers visitors a captivating time travel experience that brings the past to life in a profoundly engaging way.

5. 5

   Meryemana (The Virgin Mary's House)

   45 min Admission ticket not included

   Your next visit will be the pilgrimage point claimed to be the last home of the Virgin Mary. Once you arrive there you will be thrilled by the natural beauty that surrounds the monument.

6. 6

   Selcuk

   1 hour

   You will stop at a traditional Turkish restaurant for your lunch. Today’s lunch is included during guided tour. After the lunch, you will have experience in a traditional handcraft co-operative for get lecture about the special arts of Turkish villagers.

7. 7

   The Temple of Artemis

   15 min

   The next stop of your tour will be at the Temple of Artemis which first built during the Archaic period, and one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World.

8. 8

   1 hour

   At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your flight to back to Istanbul.

9. 9

   1 hour

   Upon your arrival Istanbul, we will meet you at the airport and then you will be transferred to your hotel in Istanbul.

10. 10

    Cappadocia

    1 hour 15 min

    If you would like to connect this trip to the Cappadocia district, that option will be available for you, and flight ticket from Izmir to Cappadocia will be included instead of the ticket for flight from Izmir to Istanbul.

11. 11

    Goreme

    1 hour

    When you arrive at Cappadocia airport, a different driver will greet you at the arrival terminal's exit and take you to the hotel you’ve booked yourself in Göreme or any other town within the Cappadocia region.