3-Day Tour of Cappadocia and Pamukkale (Tour starts from Istanbul and ends in Pamukkale)

(Tour starts from Istanbul and ends in Pamukkale/Denizli)

DAY 1: FLIGHT TO KAYSERI OR NEVSEHIR — FULL DAY TOUR OF NORTH CAPPADOCIA

You will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul around 4:30 am and will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir between 6:00 – 7:30 am. Upon arrival at Kayseri or Nevsehir airport, you will be picked up and transferred to Cappadocia. In Cappadocia, you will meet your professional tour guide to begin your full-day tour of North Cappadocia.

You will be visiting:

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.

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

DAY 2: FULL DAY TOUR OF SOUTH CAPPADOCIA

Breakfast & check out from the hotel. Around 09:30 am, you will be picked up from your hotel for a Full day tour of South Cappadocia.

You will be visiting:

KIZILCUKUR: is an isolated valley behind Urgup. It has 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 is 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 CITY: You will visit the Kaymakli Underground City or Ozkonak Underground City where early Christians lived on the tour according to availability.

PIGEON HOUSE: Visit the pigeon houses and rock formations.

After the tour, transfer to the bus station. Around 08:30 pm, you will depart from Cappadocia for Pamukkale. There will be three short stops en route to Pamukkale for personal needs.

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

DAY 3: FULL DAY TOUR OF PAMUKKALE & HIERAPOLIS

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 10:00 am.

You will be visiting:

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.

COTTON CASTLE (TRAVERTINES): Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli in southwestern Turkey. The area is famous for a carbonate mineral left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey’s Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year. 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 at around 4:00 pm, you will be transferred to Denizli main bus station or Denizli airport. End of tour and service.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch

There are two available options at the end of the Pamukkale tour.

• Option 1: You can end your tour in Pamukkale. This will be the end of our service.
• Option 2: You can choose to be transferred to Denizli Airport to take a domestic flight or be transferred to the Denizli main bus station to take a bus to another destination e.g. Antalya, Pamukkale, Selcuk, Izmir or Istanbul. This will be the end of our tour service…

Please note that the cost of a domestic flight ticket or bus ticket in Option 2 is not included in the tour price.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• Pick up from Istanbul hotel and transfer to Istanbul Airport (on the European side of Istanbul only)
• Domestic flight ticket from Istanbul to Kayseri or Nevsehir only
• Overnight intercity coach ticket (Cappadocia to Pamukkale)
• 1 night in Cappadocia at Cave hotel including breakfast
• Professional licensed 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:

• End of the Tour in Pamukkale on Day 3, bus and/or flight tickets are not included
• 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).

WHAT TO BRING:

• Hiking shoes
• Camera
• Swimwear & towel

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
• Vegetarian lunch option available upon request
• 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.

WHEN TO BOOK?

• Book as soon as possible to guarantee availability, especially during public holidays and festivities.
• You can book up to 2 days before (Istanbul local time) if there are still places available. If less than 2 days before start of your requested tour date, please contact us by email or phone as it would be a last-minute booking that will need to be checked for availability before your tour reservation is confirmed.