9 Days Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus
Step into the pages of history on this immersive 9 Days Turkey Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus. Begin your adventure in the vibrant city of Istanbul, exploring its imperial treasures and cruising between continents. Discover the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia, filled with fairy chimneys and ancient cave churches. Journey through the sacred heart of Anatolia to Pamukkale’s white terraces and Hierapolis’ healing ruins. Conclude with the unforgettable grandeur of Ephesus, one of the most important Roman cities in the world.
This all-inclusive itinerary features flights, transfers, expert guides, and curated accommodations, making it the perfect way to experience Turkey’s timeless wonders.
- Combines four of Turkey’s most iconic regions in one seamless itinerary
- Includes two domestic flights and all hotel-airport-bus station transfers
- Features UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia, and Historic Istanbul
- Perfect balance of ancient history, natural beauty, and modern culture
- Professional local guides provide cultural and spiritual insights
- Ideal for first-time Turkey visitors and history lovers alike
What's Included
- 8 nights' accommodation (Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale)
- All domestic flights: Istanbul → Cappadocia & Izmir → Istanbul
- All airport-hotel and intercity station-hotel transfers
- Intercity transfer from Cappadocia to Pamukkale via Konya
- Professional English-speaking licensed tour guides
- Lunches during full-day tours
- Daily open buffet breakfasts at hotels
- All entrance fees to sights mentioned in the itinerary
- Fully guided tours in Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Ephesus
- Comfortable air-conditioned vehicles for all land transportation
What's Not Included
- Dinners
- Drinks during luches
- International flight tickets
- Entrance fee for Cleopatra Pool (optional)
- Optional hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia
- Personal expenses
9 Days Turkey Tour Package: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus
Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul
Airport Pick-up: Upon your arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), our representative will greet you at the exit gate with a name sign. Transfer to your centrally located hotel in Istanbul. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore at leisure.
Day 2 – Full-Day Istanbul Old City Tour
Hotel Pick-up (08:30): Meet your licensed guide for a deep dive into Istanbul’s historic center.
Tour Highlights: Istanbul’s Imperial and Spiritual Heritage
- Hippodrome of Constantinople: The former center of Byzantine sports and politics, featuring the Obelisk of Theodosius and Serpent Column.
- Blue Mosque: Marvel at the grandeur of this 17th-century mosque known for its six minarets and thousands of blue İznik tiles.
- Hagia Sophia: A symbol of Istanbul for centuries, combining Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy under one majestic dome.
- Topkapi Palace: Explore the home of the Ottoman sultans, including the harem section, royal treasury, and sacred relics.
- Grand Bazaar: Wander through 4,000 shops of carpets, jewelry, leather goods, and local crafts in one of the world’s oldest markets.
Around 17:00, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Day 3 – Free Day & Flight to Cappadocia
This is your free day in Istanbul.
Based on the best flight option, we will pick you up from your hotel in Istanbul and transferred to the airport.
Fly to Cappadocia.
Upon your arrival at Cappadocia Airport, our team will welcome you and transfer to your hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 4 – North 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.
Hotel Pick-up (09:30): Begin your exploration of the enchanting landscape of northern Cappadocia.
Tour Highlights: Fairy Chimneys, Caves & Ancient Villages
- Devrent Valley: Also known as Imagination Valley for its animal-shaped rock formations.
- Pasabag Open Air Museum: Home to mushroom-like fairy chimneys where monks once lived in solitude.
- Avanos Pottery Workshop: A town famed for its pottery tradition dating back to the Hittites.
- Zelve Open Air Museum: A deserted cave village offering insight into Cappadocia’s early Christian life.
- Goreme Panorama: Panoramic views of the surreal valleys and fairy chimneys.
- Uchisar Castle (exterior visiting): The highest natural point in Cappadocia, carved into volcanic rock.
Return to your hotel around 17:00.
Day 5 – South Cappadocia (Yellow) Tour
Tour Highlights: Underground Cities & Peaceful Valleys
Hotel Pick-up (09:30): Discover the deep history and serene beauty of southern Cappadocia.
- Rose Valley: A soft-pink landscape famous for its ancient churches carved into the rock.
- Ozkonak Underground City: Descend into a multi-level ancient refuge built by early Christians.
- Pigeon Valley: Named after the thousands of pigeon houses carved into cliff faces.
- Gulludere Valley: A peaceful trail filled with volcanic rock formations and hidden chapels.
- Cavusin Village: One of the region’s oldest villages with a history of early Christian settlement.
Return to your hotel around 17:00.
Day 6 – Drive to Pamukkale via Konya / Overnight in Pamukkale
Hotel Pick-up: After breakfast, depart Cappadocia for Pamukkale with a scenic break in Konya.
- Konya Stop (free time): Explore the spiritual city of Rumi. While lunch and guiding are not included, we can arrange a local guide and meal on request at an extra cost.
Arrival in Pamukkale in the evening. Check-in to your hotel.
Day 7 – Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour & Transfer to Kusadasi
Hotel Pick-up (09:30): Explore the stunning natural and archaeological wonders of Pamukkale.
Tour Highlights: Thermal Marvels and Roman Legacy
- Hierapolis Ancient City: A Roman spa city with ruins of the theatre, necropolis, baths, Frontinus Street, and the Martyrium of St. Philip.
- Pamukkale Travertines: Walk barefoot along the terraces formed by calcium-rich hot springs.
- Cleopatra Antique Pool (optional): Swim over submerged ancient columns in warm thermal waters.
When the tour ends around 15:30, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi.
Day 8 – Ephesus Tour & Flight to Istanbul
Hotel Pick-up (07:30): Transfer to Selçuk/Kusadasi area for your final full-day tour.
Tour Highlights: Biblical Heritage and Roman Splendor
- House of Virgin Mary: Visit the peaceful site believed to be the last home of Mary, mother of Jesus.
- Ancient City of Ephesus: Walk through one of the most spectacular Roman cities in the world, featuring:
- Library of Celsus
- Great Theatre
- Temple of Hadrian
- Curetes Street
- Fountain of Trajan
- Odeon
After the tour, transfer to Izmir Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, meet our team and transfer to your hotel.
Day 9 – Transfer to the Airport for Flight Home
Hotel Pick-up: Depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW).
- Domestic flight times are subject to availability and seasonal changes
- All domestic flights include 15 kg checked baggage + 8 kg cabin luggage. Extra baggage can be added during online check-in
- Konya visit includes free time only; a guided tour and lunch can be added upon request at an extra fee
- Cleopatra Antique Pool entrance fee is not included and can be paid on-site
- Balloon tour in Cappadocia is optional and should be booked in advance due to limited capacity
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.
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Best part of the tour? Hard to pick. I think the surreal landscapes in Cappadocia and the rich history of Ephesus were just unforgettable. Plus, everything was super organized!
Couldn't believe how much we managed to fit into 9 days! Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus all felt so different yet connected.
One of the best-organized tours I've joined. Transfers were on time, guides were kind and informative. You see so much in just 9 days, without feeling rushed.
We booked the '9 days triangle tour' with Mr. Mehmet Fidan about a fortnight before we landed in Istanbul. Right from the booking process (via emailing), our experience was quite satisfactory. Mehmet's repllies were prompt and precise. He efficiently included a couple of things in the itinerary on our special demand at reasonable rates. And even on short notice, he sent all the necessary booking confirmations in time for us to apply for and receive the visa. We visited Istanbul, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale/Hierapolis and Kusadasi/Ephesus. Each place, more intriguing than the other! During our visit, the whole of turkey was celebrating Eid and the hotels were full; but Mehmet managed to find us good hotels.All our tour guides spoke good English and were keen on answering all our queries. Murat in Cappadocia and Shakir in Konya in particular. The pick ups were on time, sometimes early ;) In each destination, we were given enough time to explore the place. It was never a rushy experience as we might expect a conducted group-tour to offer...mainly because everything happened right on time.As we are vegetarians, we face lot of problems finding food wherever we go and we tend to carry ready to eat food packets with us, which we did here in turkey as well. But we hardly used them as we were provided with good, tasty veg food almost everywhere as promised by travelbazaar. I long for the turkish pilav now :)Mehmet was a saviour in every situation. He was always available on phone to attend slightest of our queries/confusions and acted promptly in response. So much so that he spoke to us at 3.00 in the night and arranged a pick up that was late due to a misunderstanding. I'm saying this not to point out the late pick up but to highlight the level of professionalism and commitment from travelbazaar's side. Even during our tour, some of our fellow tourists who had booked through travelbazaaer spoke quite highly of their services as did we!We wanted to extend our stay in Istanbul by a couple of days, which was again taken care of by Mehmet. When we went to the travelbazaar office in sulttanahmet, everyone including Mr, Kaplan was very friendly and nice. They even suggested some places and activities we could go/do in free time.To sum up, our turkey tour was an amazing experience.. For me, the highlights were hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, the small town of Sille near Konya, the breath-taking ancient theater of Hierapolis, the travertine terraces at Pamukkale and the ephesus tour including the site of the temple of artemis. We were extremely pleased with travelbazaar and we would recommend these guys for their outstanding services!
Everything was better than expected. The views, the culture, and the itinerary just flowed perfectly. Highly recommend this for a first-time Turkey trip.
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