5 Days Cappadocia and Pamukkale Budget Tour from Istanbul by Bus

DAY 1: ISTANBUL – CAPPADOCIA

Late evening you will be transferred to the bus station to take your overnight bus departing at 08:30 pm to Cappadocia. The total duration of travel will be 11 hours. There will be three breaks on the way to Cappadocia for your personal needs. You will arrive in Cappadocia at the Goreme bus station in the morning the next day.

Note: During your transfer on the local bus, you will be unaccompanied and touring services will start once you have met your local tour guide upon arrival at the destination.

DAY 2: FULL DAY TOUR OF NORTH CAPPADOCIA

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.

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 of the area with a view of the whole of Cappadocia and Erciyes (Argeus) Mountain. Please note that the interior of the Uchisar castles is not accessible for visits.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 pm.

• 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 3: 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 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 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 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, 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 in Pamukkale
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Adempira Thermal & Spa Hotel OR Colossae Thermal Hotel OR Hierapark Thermal & Spa Hotel Deluxe or similar (Standard quality)

DAY 4: 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 09:30 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 around 3:30 pm, you will be transferred to your hotel in Pamukkale for check-in. Overnight in Pamukkale.

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

DAY 5: BUS TO ISTANBUL

Breakfast & check out of the hotel. Transfer to the bus station. Around 09:00 am, you will depart from Pamukkale for Istanbul. The duration of travel is approximately 9 – 10 hours. 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 Meal(s): Breakfast

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All transfers mentioned in the itinerary
• Intercity Local Bus Tickets
• 1 night in Cappadocia at a cave hotel including breakfast
• 1 night in Pamukkale at a 4-star 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:

• 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.