Tour to Pamukkale Ephesus Cappadocia with Balloon & Camel Rides

Day 1: Flight to Denizli – Semi-Private Tour to Salda Lake - Accommodation at Pamukkale

1. Istanbul
   1h
   Your Western Turkey experiences starts with a transfer to the airport. The driver will pick you up from the reception of your hotel or your Airbnb, as long as parking is available. From there, you'll be taken to the airport for your flight to Denizli.
2. 1h
   Upon arrival Denizli/Cardak airport, your tour guide and another driver will meet you at the exit gate of arrival terminal and then start your Salda Lake tour.
3. 1h 30m
   The overall attraction is the scenery with the white sand and the different shades of blue in the water, which is rich in magnesium sulphate. It’s a must to take your camera gear for some memories. We recommend to take sandals to because of the harsh gravelly sand. The lake is surrounded by mountains and there is just one village around, that’s why the lake is very clean.
4. Pamukkale
   1h
   After visit to amazing Salda Lake, you will be transferred to your Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale. The thermal hotel where will you stay invites you to rejuvenate both physically and emotionally. Enjoy your time today.
5. 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Pamukkale Paragliding Adventure (Optional Attraction – You can add this attraction to your experiences with extra cost.) : See Pamukkale’s glistening white travertine and ancient Hierapolis, including the enormous theater, from the air on this short-but-sweet paragliding experience with a seasoned pilot. You will race off the edge of a slope about 1,300 feet (400 meters) up, then glide on the breezes over the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 2: Semi-Private Tour to Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Laodicea – Accommodation at Kusadasi

1. Pass by
   Pamukkale Turkey, a must-visit destination for Nature and History lovers. For centuries, people have been coming here and going home restful. Today’s guided tour provide you experiences at the white travertenies of Pamukkale and ancient city of Hierapolis which are located in Pamukkale Natural Park.
2. Hierapolis & Pamukkale
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   The highlights of Hierapolis Ancient City are Necropolis, Roman Baths, Domitian Gate, Latrina, Oil Factory, Frontinus Street, Agora, Byzantium Gate, Triton Fountain, Cathedral, Apollon Temple, Plutonium, Theater and Antique Pool. During visits to these ancient ruins, you can take some photos from the nicest corners of the Pamukkale.
3. Pamukkale Thermal Pools
   1h
   After visited the Hierapolis Ancient City, you will have free time for about 60-75 minutes to explore the natural beauties of the Pamukkale, and swim at white travertines - thermal pools (or antique pool - Cleopatra’s pool with extra fee). Then meet again with your guide, start walking in the middle of travertines from up to down without shoes and socks.
4. Cleopatra Pools
   30m · Admission ticket not included
   Situated above the Pamukkale white travertine pools is one particularly spectacular location fed by the same hot springs. Here you can bath in the same waters in which Cleopatra once swam! A professionally run modern spa facility allows you to enjoy these historical healing waters. Unlike the white water of the lower pools the Antique Pool favored by Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, is pure clear warm water. Once it was surmounted by a Roman Temple to Apollo with ornate roof held up with Doric columns. Imagine how Cleopatra must have experienced this when you imagine it in it's glory day.
5. 1h
   You will stop at a local restaurant for your lunch. Today’s lunch is included during guided tour.
6. Karahayit
   30m
   After the lunch, you will have experience traditional handcraft workshop for get lecture about the special stones/metals of Pamukkale.
7. Laodicea
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Excavations here have revealed artifacts dating from 3500 BC (Late Chalcolithic) to 3000 BC (Early Bronze Age). The city’s name comes from the Seleucid king Antiochus ii, who named it for his wife Laodike in the 3rd century BC when it was thriving. Later controlled by the kings of Pergamum, it was willed to the Roman Empire, and thrived again from the 4th to 6th centuries. Its importance then numbered it among the Seven Churches of Revelation.
8. Kusadasi
   2h 30m
   After your tour to Pamukkale Natural Park - Hierapolis Ancient City - Laodicea Ancient City, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi.
9. Kusadasi Castle
   Pass by
   This small castle is picturesque Byzantine fortress stands on the causeway-connected Guvercin Adasi (Pigeon Island) and has recently been renovated. *** There is no any visit to this place on tour. You can visit there by your own after we dropped you to your hotel in Kusadasi.
10. Okuz Mehmet Pasa KervansarayI
    Pass by
    This caravanserai was built by the Grand Vizier Okuz Mehmed Pasha to support maritime trade in the region. This historical building is opposite to Kusadasi cruise port. *** There is no any visit to this place on tour. You can visit there by your own after we dropped you to your hotel in Kusadasi.

Day 3: Semi-Private Tour to Ephesus and Its Surroundings - Flight from Izmir to Cappadocia - Accommodation at Cappadocia

1. 10m
   After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, the tour guide will pick you up around 09:00 AM for a full-day tour to Ephesus and its surroundings. *** At the end of the tour, you will be directly transferred to Izmir Airport for your flight to Cappadocia. Please remember to check out of your hotel and collect your luggage before heading out for the Ephesus tour.
2. Kusadasi Gazi Begendi Park
   10m
   Before drive to Ephesus area, you will stop at the Gazi Begendi Park (Hill) for you can take photos of the amazing Kusadasi Bay.
3. Ephesus Ancient City
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   Your first visit will be the Ephesus Ancient City. Ephesus was one of the most important harbor cities in antique world and also it is mentioned in the book of Revelations as one of the seven churches. Also Celsus Library and theater in Ephesus are the other highlights. You will see the Celcus Library, Temple of Hadrian, Fountain of Trajan, Odeon, Agora, Fountain of Domitian, Hercule Gate, Grand Theater, Nike, Ancient Toilets and more during tour in this ancient city.
4. 15m
   The Ephesus Experience Museum provides an immersive journey into Turkey’s rich cultural and historical heritage. By leveraging cutting-edge display systems and advanced content technologies, it offers visitors a captivating time travel experience that brings the past to life in a profoundly engaging way.
5. Ephesus Terrace Houses
   Pass by
   The terrace houses are located on the hill, opposite the Hadrian Temple. Also called as "the houses of rich", important for the reason give us information about family life during the Roman period. They were built according to the Hippodamian plan of the city in which roads transected each other at right angels. *** There is no any visit to this place on tour. The tour guide will provide you information about the history of it and more while passing from in front of this place.
6. The House of the Virgin Mary
   45m · Admission ticket not included
   Your next visit will be the pilgrimage point claimed to be the last home of the Virgin Mary. Once you arrive there you will be thrilled by the natural beauty that surrounds the monument.
7. Selcuk
   1h
   You will stop at a traditional Turkish restaurant for your lunch. Today’s lunch is included during guided tour. After the lunch, you will have experience in a traditional handcraft co-operative for get lecture about the special arts of Turkish villagers.
8. The Temple of Artemis
   20m
   The next stop of your tour will be at the Temple of Artemis which first built during the Archaic period, and one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World.
9. 1h
   At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your flight to Cappadocia district.
10. Cappadocia
    1h
    Once you arrive at Cappadocia Airport, another driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals terminal exit, holding a sign with your name. From there, you'll be transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia, located about an hour’s drive away.

Day 4: Cappadocia Semi-Private Tour – Accommodation at Cappadocia

1. Urgup
   15m
   Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel to begin this carefully crafted day trip to Cappadocia’s top attractions. While most tours only offer panoramic views of some of the valleys and fairy chimneys, they often don't give you a full understanding of Cappadocia’s rich history and geography. After receiving hundreds of valuable guest feedback, we designed this itinerary for those who are eager to explore the historical, cultural, and architectural heritage of the region.
2. Goreme National Park
   Pass by
   Set in a stunning landscape shaped by erosion, Göreme National Park is home to rock-hewn sanctuaries that feature exceptional examples of Byzantine art from the post-Iconoclastic era. This tour will guide you through the Göreme Open-Air Museum and Tokalı Church, two of the park's most renowned landmarks.
3. Goreme Open Air Museum
   1h 15m · Admission ticket not included
   The Göreme Open Air Museum is recognized as one of the earliest monasteries in Christian history. This rock-hewn settlement, where education was provided to spread Christianity, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985, renowned for its fresco-covered churches and rock-hewn living spaces.
4. TokalI Church
   30m
   The Tokalı Church (Buckle Church) in the Göreme Open Air Museum is considered one of the most beautiful of the Cappadocian cave churches. Its interior boasts some of the most outstanding frescoes, notable for their theological and artistic significance. The church is part of a larger complex that includes four churches and a hermitage, all dating back to the 9th century. Once the most famous church in the region, it remains one of the most impressive churches in the area today.
5. 40m
   Ortahisar Castle, also known as the most spectacular fairy chimney of Cappadocia, is located in Ortahisar town of Nevşehir. Said to be one of the first multi-storey settlements in the world, this castle is surrounded by steep valleys on three sides. Its geography enabled the castle to be used for protection and shelter in ancient times. (Visits to the rock castle are not included due to walking difficulties and safety concerns.) After a panoramic visit to this amazing rock castle, you will continue for Weaving is a significant aspect of Turkish culture, with roots that trace back to Central Asia. This ancient tradition is still alive in Cappadocia today. During our tour, we’ll take a brief visit to a cooperative where world-renowned Turkish carpets are crafted, offering you the chance to learn about the intricate details of this age-old art form.
6. Avanos Oren Yeri
   1h
   Today's lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Avanos, where you'll have the opportunity to try "Testi Kebab," a traditional kebab unique to the Cappadocia region. (Vegetarian options are also available at the same restaurant.) Avanos is well-known for its charming old town with cobblestone streets and scenic river views. Formerly known as Venessa, the ancient city of Avanos overlooks the Kızılırmak (Red River), the longest river in Turkey, which separates Avanos from the rest of Cappadocia. A notable historical feature of Avanos, still prominent today, is its earthenware pottery production, which remains a key economic activity in the town. The ceramic industry in this area, with its numerous pottery workshops, dates back to the Hittites, and the clay sourced from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has been used for centuries. You will have a short stop for get this experience during your tour.
7. Uchisar Castle
   20m
   Uchisar rock castle is one of the biggest landmarks of Cappadocia. It is the highest tuff hill in the area with beautiful views of the surrounding valley full of bizarre rock formations. (Visits to the rock castle are not included due to walking difficulties and safety concerns. Instead, you will have a stop for a panoramic view of the rock castle.)
8. Devrent Valley
   20m
   This valley, also known as Imagination Valley, is home to numerous rock formations shaped like animals, predominantly in shades of red. One of the most common shapes found here is that of a camel.
9. Fairy Chimneys
   Pass by
   Cappadocia is famous for its unique landforms. The Fairy Chimneys are the most obvious places to visit where these landforms are best seen and the common life of humankind and nature. On this tour, you will have seen many examples of the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia.
10. Cappadocia
    30m
    At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 5: Hot Air Balloon Ride (Optional) - Cappadocia Semi-Private Tour – Flight Back to Istanbul

1. 3h · Admission ticket included
   Hot Air Balloon Ride (INCLUDED FOR ALL OPTIONS EXCEPT THE OPTION OF “BRONZE PACKAGE”) : Get ready for a wonderful experience unique to Cappadocia! We will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the balloon site where you will have the opportunity to watch the balloon being prepared for your flight. The flight will be at sunrise time, where your pilot will climb to a comfortable altitude of about 700 to 1000 meters above ground level. It is from this elevation that you will marvel at the beauty of Cappadocia below you. During certain segments of the flight our pilots are also capable of flying as low as 1 meter above the rock formations which will allow you perfect photo taking opportunities. Duration of total activity is approx 3 hours, and total duration of flight is approx 60 minutes. There will be a champagne celebration at end of the ride. Afterwards, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cappadocia.
2. Keslik Monastery
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel to start this thoughtfully organized day trip to the must-see attractions of Cappadocia. Keslik Monastery is a vast cave monastery complex featuring two churches, a large refectory hall, a sacred spring, and several cave rooms. Surrounded by a peaceful garden setting, it stands as the largest monastery in Cappadocia. With a history spanning over 2,000 years, the site has experienced numerous changes: it began as a burial site during pre-Christian Roman times, evolved into a flourishing communal monastery during the Byzantine period, and today is a significant tourist attraction in modern Turkey.
3. Sobesos Ancient City
   45m
   Sobesos Ancient City was accidentally discovered in 2002 and offers a glimpse into Cappadocia's rich history. Unearthed during a three-year archaeological excavation, the site revealed numerous intricate motifs intricately crafted on colored stones. Notably, the floor mosaics stand out with their captivating geometric patterns.
4. Uchisar
   1h
   Uchisar is a town known for hosting some of the finest restaurants in Cappadocia. These establishments are quiet and offer an authentic, non-touristic dining experience. Today, you’ll enjoy lunch at one of these exceptional restaurants.
5. Pigeon Valley
   20m
   Located in the town of Uchisar, this spot offers one of the best panoramic views of the region. It is also home to numerous pigeon houses built by the area's ancient inhabitants. If you wish, you can also visit a renowned onyx stone factory in the region.
6. Kaymakli Underground City
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   Kaymakli, one of the largest underground cities in Cappadocia, spans 8 levels. However, like many other underground cities, not all of its floors are accessible to tourists. The first level was specifically designed for animals, allowing them to move freely. Corridors connect the churches and other living areas, separated from the stables. Kaymakli Underground City is home to remarkable sections such as storage rooms, kitchens, cemeteries, a communal area, and a copper workshop. It is believed that hidden underground tunnels remain within the city, still waiting to be fully explored.
7. 1h
   At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Cappadocia airport for your flight back to Istanbul.
8. 1h
   Upon your arrival at the airport in Istanbul, your driver will be waiting to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. *** The departure time for your return flight is between 8:00pm and 9:30pm, which means your flight will land in Istanbul approximately between 9:30pm and 10:45pm. This timing is ideal, allowing you to comfortably catch your return flight to Istanbul after your full-day guided tour of Cappadocia today. We do not recommend scheduling any other flight immediately after this return flight, as any potential delays on by the airline could put it at risk.

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness