6 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia and Pamukkale Budget Tour by Bus

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL

Upon your arrival at Istanbul New Airport(IST) or Sabiha Gökcen Airport(SAW), our team will be waiting for you at the exit of the international line of the Airport, holding a sign with your name written on it. After which, you will be transferred to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to spend at leisure. Alternatively, you can join the Night Cruise on the Bosphorus with Dinner & Show.

• Overnight in Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Accommodation: Muyan Suites OR Antea Hotel OR Ayasultan Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 2: ISTANBUL DISCOVER TOUR — OVERNIGHT BUS TO CAPPADOCIA

After breakfast, you will need to check out from the hotel. At around 8:00 am you will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul to join the full-day Istanbul Discovery Tour. Today you will visit the following highlights of Istanbul on the full-day tour:

HIPPODROME: The old Hippodrome (Hipodrom) of Constantinople is now a landscaped city park that is locally known as “At Meydani” (Horse Grounds). The square is well worth a visit if you want to enjoy the Mediterranean climate of Istanbul and see a glimpse of the old Constantinople at the same time.

BLUE MOSQUE: One of the biggest mosques of Istanbul from 17th-century architecture is one of the principal adornments on the skyline of Istanbul. Also famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets.

TOPKAPI PALACE: The former imperial residence from where the Great Ottoman Empire was ruled. Today a spectacular museum that has one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the very famous treasury of the Royal Family.

HAGIA SOPHIA: The magnificent Byzantine Church of all times; one of the finest and largest architectural works of art in the world.

GRAND BAZAAR: In addition to its historical importance, it’s a bazaar that will tempt even the nonshoppers with its rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather, and souvenirs.

At the end of the tour, you will be taken back to your Istanbul hotel to collect your luggage and proceed to Istanbul’s main bus station to board the overnight bus to Cappadocia. The overnight bus will depart from Istanbul at around 8:30 pm and will make three brief stops for your personal needs on this 11-hour journey by road to Cappadocia.

• Overnight Bus to Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 3: 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 am. Today you will be visiting the following highlights of Cappadocia on the full-day North Cappadocia Tour:

DEVRENT VALLEY: Devrent is situated on the northern slopes of Aktepe, 1km from Pasabaglari (Monks’ Valley) and 5 km from Avanos. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys, which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems.

MONKS VALLEY: The best place to see three-headed fairy chimneys. Pasabag, the Pasha’s Vineyard, is surrounded by incredible natural rock formations; a spectacular scene.

AVANOS: A center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC, it is a town where you will be invited to visit a traditional pottery workshop, which is possibly set deep into the hillsides. The clay, which comes from the Red River passing through the town, gives life both to the land and to the local economy.

ZELVE OPEN AIR MUSEUM: Zelve Open Air Museum in Cappadocia, Turkey, is an impressive complex of ancient cave dwellings and churches. Visitors can explore its tunnels and caves, admire Byzantine-era frescoes, and learn about the region’s history and culture amidst striking geological formations.

UCHISAR: Uchisar is a troglodyte town situated right in the middle of Cappadocia. It is named after the enormous piece of rock in the center of the town, which was once used as a castle. This extraordinary rock is the highest peak in the area with a view of the whole of Cappadocia and Erciyes (Argeus) Mountain. After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia.

• Overnight in Cappadocia
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Heaven Cave House OR The Cave House OR Dedeli Konak Cave Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 4: SOUTH CAPPADOCIA TOUR — OVERNIGHT BUS TO PAMUKKALE

After breakfast, you will need to check out from your hotel in Cappadocia. At around 09:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel to join the full-day tour of South Cappadocia. Today you will be visiting the following highlights on the full-day South Cappadocia Tour:

KIZILCUKUR: is an isolated valley behind Urgup. It has a beautiful rock formation with some great hidden rock-carved churches. The most interesting part of this area is the countless tracks connecting the small villages and towns through vineyards and gardens like a spider net. It is always possible to see villagers working in the area and offering grapes, apples or apricots to you. CAVUSIN: One of the oldest settlements in the area, Cavusin has situated 2km from Goreme, on the Göreme-Avanos road. The Church of St.John the Baptist offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintings date back to the 5th century, making the oldest church in the region. It also has a large courtyard which is unusual for Cappadocia, however, much of it has eroded away.

HOSPITAL MONASTRY: One of the oldest monasteries in Cappadocia.

UNDERGROUND CITIES: During your trip to Cappadocia, you will visit only one of the two underground cities, Kaymakli or Özkonak. These are the largest and deepest among the 40 underground cities in the area. Each of them extends up to eight floors deep, though please note that not all levels are accessible to the public.

PIGEON HOUSE: Visit the pigeon houses and rock formations.

After the tour, you will be transferred to the Cappadocia bus station to board your overnight bus to Pamukkale. Your bus will depart around 08:30 pm from Cappadocia for Istanbul. There will be three short stops en route to Istanbul for personal needs on this 11-hour journey to Istanbul.

• Overnight Bus to Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 5: PAMUKKALE & HIERAPOLIS TOUR — OVERNIGHT BUS TO ISTANBUL

Upon arrival at the Denizli bus station around 05:30 – 06:30 am, you will be picked up and transferred to a two-star hotel to freshen up and have breakfast. After breakfast, you can stay in the hotel lobby to be picked up to join the tour around 09:30 am. Today you will be visiting the following highlights on the full-day Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour:

KARAHAYIT HOT SPRING: Karahayit hot springs is located in Karahayit Town, Denizli, Turkey. It’s about 5 km north of the famous Pamukkale Travertine and has similar characteristics like that of Pamukkale. Due to the minerals existing in its structure, the hot spring water spreads reddish color to the environment and it is believed that they provide healing to the visitors for 5000 years. The ‘Kirmizi Su‘ which translates to red water – natural hot thermal springs bubbling from beneath the calcite rocks – are very rich in calcium, magnesium and sulphurs, at about 56 degrees.

HIERAPOLIS: Hierapolis was an ancient city located on hot springs in classical Phrygia in southwestern Anatolia. Its ruins are adjacent to modern Pamukkale in Turkey and currently comprise an archaeological museum designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

PAMUKKALE TRAVERTINES “COTTON CASTLE”: Pamukkale is a spectacular place, located in Denizli Province, in southwestern Turkey known for the mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down white travertine terraces. The Pamukkale Travertines mean “Cotton Castle” in Turkish. The place is classified by UNESCO. You will also be able to take some photos of Pamukkale.

Around 12:30 pm you will be given free time for around 60 minutes to explore the natural beauties of Pamukkale on your own. As an option, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale antique pools (at your own expense) during this free time.

At the end of the tour around approximately 4:00 pm, you will travel overnight to Istanbul in a non-smoking, fully air-conditioned local bus departing the bus station at approximately 9:00 pm. The total duration of travel will be 10 hours. There will be three short stops en route to Istanbul for personal needs on this 10-hour journey to Istanbul.

• Overnight Bus to Istanbul
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

DAY 6: ARRIVAL IN ISTANBUL — END OF THE TOUR

The local bus will arrive at the main Istanbul bus station between 7:30 – 9:30 am depending on traffic conditions. Upon your arrival at the main bus station in Istanbul, it will be the end of our service. You will need to arrange your own transportation from the bus station. End of our service.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers mentioned in the itinerary
• Intercity Local Bus Tickets
• 1 night in Istanbul at Special Class or 3-Star Hotels including breakfast
• 1 night in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast
• English-speaking guide during the tours
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: (B) breakfast, (L) lunch
• Entrance fees mentioned by the itinerary
• Local taxes and service charges

NOT INCLUDED:

• International Flight Tickets.
• Visa to enter Turkey.
• Transfer from Bus Station to Hotel in Istanbul at the End of the Tour.
• 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.
• Please note that the Blue Mosque is not open for visitation on Fridays as it is closed for religious prayer services. You will only be able to visit the outside of the Blue Mosque area on tours operated on Fridays. No visitation will be allowed inside the Blue Mosque for tourists on Fridays.
• Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesday, it will be replaced with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici).
• Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday.
• During religious holidays, the spice market and Grand Bazaar are closed.
• Travellers using intercity ground or air transportation will not be accompanied by a tour guide. Upon reaching the touring destination, a tour guide from the local area will meet you to start the touring service. Domestic flight and/or bus tickets, as well as transportation to and from the airport and/or bus station, will be arranged by us.