13 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Ephesus Tour
Discover Türkiye’s timeless beauty across continents, civilizations, and landscapes.
This 13-day journey through Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Ephesus combines cultural discovery with enough time to relax and explore.
From Istanbul’s iconic mosques to Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys and the thermal springs of Pamukkale, this tour blends expert-guided tours, domestic flights, and comfortable stays with a perfect balance of freedom.
- Covers all iconic regions in a relaxed, extended format
- Includes domestic flights, bus travel, and hotel transfers
- Expert local guides at every major historical site
- Flexible flight time options and free exploration days
- Optional activities like hot air balloon & thermal pool swim available
- 2 domestic flights (IST–Cappadocia, Izmir–IST)
- Overnight intercity bus: Cappadocia ➝ Pamukkale
- Hotel accommodation in Istanbul (6 nights), Cappadocia (2 nights), Pamukkale (2 night), Kusadasi (2 nights)
- All airport, bus station, and hotel transfers throughout the tour
- Istanbul Old City Tour and Bosphorus Lunch Cruise
- Cappadocia Red and Yellow Tours
- Pamukkale and Ephesus full-day tours
- Entrance fees to all scheduled sites
- Daily breakfasts
- Lunches during guided tours
- Professional English-speaking tour guides
- Dinners
- Drinks at lunch
- Optional hot air balloon ride
- Swimming at Cleopatra Antique Thermal Pool
- Personal expenses
13 Days Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus Tour: A Grand Exploration of Türkiye’s Treasures
Day 1 ─ Arrival in Istanbul ➝ Hotel Transfer
Arrival: Upon your arrival, meet our team at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport with a name sign. You will be transferred to your hotel in Istanbul.
Day 2 ─ Free Day in Istanbul
All day: No planned activities. Explore the city at your own pace or relax at your hotel. Optional experiences available.
Day 3 ─ Full-Day Istanbul Old City Tour
08:30 am: Hotel pick-up and start your guided exploration of Istanbul’s most historic landmarks.
Layers of Empire in Every Stone
- Hagia Sophia: A marvel of architectural fusion reflecting over a millennium of history and transformation.
- Hippodrome: Once a political center, now a tranquil square with ancient monuments and tales.
- Blue Mosque: Admire its cascading domes and the exquisite hand-painted blue tiles inside.
- Grand Bazaar: Wander through colorful corridors filled with spices, textiles, jewelry, and souvenirs.
- Topkapi Palace: Visit the royal residence of Ottoman sultans filled with imperial treasures and sacred relics.
17:00: Transfer back to your hotel.
Day 4 ─ Bosphorus Lunch Cruise
14:00: Pick-up from your hotel and transfer to the boat pier. Enjoy a leisurely cruise and lunch while gliding past Istanbul’s iconic waterfront.
A Feast of Flavors and Views on the Bosphorus
- Dolmabahce Palace (from the water): Gaze at the European-style elegance from the Ottoman twilight era.
- Waterfront Mansions: Cruise by historic yali homes standing gracefully along the shores.
- Bosphorus Bridges: Pass under the soaring bridges that connect Europe and Asia.
16:00: Return transfer to your hotel.
Day 5 ─ Flight to Cappadocia (Flexible Time) ➝ Free Day
Flexible time: After check-out, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport. Flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival at Cappadocia Airport, transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Day 6 ─ Northern Cappadocia (Red Tour)
Hot Air Balloon Flight
The price of the hot air balloon flight is not included in this package. You can add it optionally if you want to experience the incredible sunrise view over Cappadocia.
Hot Air Balloon Watching
If you prefer to stay on the ground but still want to capture amazing photos of the balloons floating over the fairy chimneys, join our hot air balloon watching tour.
09:30 am: Pick-up from your hotel for a full-day Red Tour.
Stone Giants and Crafty Hands in Cappadocia
- Devrent Valley: Marvel at rock formations shaped by the wind into camel-like and animal forms.
- Pasabag Open Air Museum: See towering fairy chimneys once used by monks for isolation and prayer.
- Avanos: Witness local ceramic artisans in action by the banks of the Red River.
- Zelve Open Air Museum: Wander through ancient religious cave dwellings and rock-carved halls.
- Uchisar Castle: Climb for sweeping views across the lunar-like valleys of the region.
17:00: Transfer back to your hotel.
Day 7 ─ Southern Cappadocia (Yellow Tour) ➝ Overnight Bus to Pamukkale
09:30 am: Departure from your hotel for a full-day guided Yellow Tour.
Into Valleys of Silence and Subterranean Cities
- Red Valley: A kaleidoscope of red-colored rock formations perfect for scenic walks and photography.
- Gulludere Valley: Discover peaceful trails filled with small cave churches and carved tunnels.
- Cavusin Village: Explore a once-bustling Greek settlement built into the cliffs of Cappadocia.
- Pigeon Valley: Gaze upon cliffside dovecotes that tell tales of Cappadocia’s agricultural past.
- Ozkonak Underground City: Venture deep underground through tunnels used by ancient civilizations to escape attack.
17:00: Free time before your night journey.
20:00: Overnight intercity bus with stops to Pamukkale (approx. 10 hrs).
Day 8 ─ Arrival in Pamukkale ➝ Transfer to Hotel ➝ Free Day
05:30 am: Arrival at Denizli Bus Station. Our team will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Pamukkale.
Morning: After check-in, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 9 ─ Pamukkale Tour ➝ Transfer to Kusadasi
09:30 am: Hotel pick-up for your full-day guided Pamukkale Tour.
Where Nature Heals and Ancient Stones Speak
- Pamukkale Travertines: Stroll over dazzling calcium terraces shaped by thousands of years of mineral waters.
- Hierapolis Ancient City: Roam ruins of a Greco-Roman wellness city including temples, a theater, and bath complexes.
- The Necropolis: This extensive ancient cemetery features hundreds of tombs and sarcophagi lining the Roman road.
- Bath and Basilica: Witness remnants of grand public baths and early Christian basilicas.
- Frontinius Street & Gate: Walk where traders and emperors once passed under colonnades and triumphal arches.
- Latrina & Triton Fountain: Examples of Roman engineering in public sanitation and art.
- Cleopatra Antique Pool (Optional): Swim among fallen columns in thermal waters said to rejuvenate the soul.
16:00: Transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 10 ─ Free Day in Kusadasi
All day: Enjoy the Aegean breeze. You may choose to visit local beaches, book an optional boat trip, or relax in town.
Day 11 ─ Ephesus Tour ➝ Flight to Istanbul ➝ Hotel Transfer
08:30 am: Hotel pick-up and departure for a full-day Ephesus tour.
Walk Through Marble Streets and Sacred Memory
- Ephesus Ancient City: Wander through ancient roads lined with fountains, temples, and public baths.
- Library of Celsius: Admire the elegant ruins of one of antiquity’s greatest libraries.
- Great Amphitheatre: Imagine thousands gathered for performances in this towering Roman structure.
- House of Virgin Mary: Visit a serene pilgrimage site nestled in the hills above Ephesus.
16:00: Transfer to Izmir Airport.
Evening: Flight to Istanbul and hotel transfer.
Day 12 ─ Free Day in Istanbul
All day: Enjoy Istanbul’s cosmopolitan energy one more time—perfect for optional tours or last-minute shopping.
Day 13 ─ Transfer to the Airport ➝ Fly Home
Based on flight time: Hotel pick-up and transfer to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).
- Domestic flights: Istanbul–Cappadocia and Izmir–Istanbul included
- Overnight intercity bus: Cappadocia–Pamukkale included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off for all tours and transfers included
- 15kg check-in + 8kg cabin baggage included on all domestic flights. Extra baggage can be added during online check-in.
Hotel Options
If you have a preferred hotel, please let us know during the reservation process. On the checkout page, you will see an "Additional Request" section where you can specify your preference.
However, please note that we will make the reservation at one of the hotels listed below or similar quality hotels based on availability.
Thirteen days transformed vacation into life experience. Returned home with completely different perspective.
Turkish cooking class was highlight nobody mentioned in reviews. Learned to make proper baklava from grandmother who taught technique her mother showed her decades ago. Hands-on cultural exchange beat any museum visit for understanding daily life traditions.
Thirteen days allowed exploring beyond tourist trails. Hiked mountain paths locals use for centuries.
Extended stay revealed how ancient trade routes connected these regions economically and culturally. Archaeological evidence of silk road commerce visible throughout journey from Byzantine coins to Chinese pottery fragments displayed in small local museums most visitors never discover.
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