Aegean Wonders: Tour to Laodicea, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Kusadasi

Day 1: Departure from Your Hotel to Pamukkale / Semi-Private Tour to Pamukkale, Hierapolis, Laodicea / Overnight at Kusadasi

1. Istanbul
   Pass by
   ✈️ Departures from Istanbul : The services of this travel package will begin with a transfer from your hotel (or at your Airbnb address if parking is available) to the airport. Your driver will meet you at your pick up place and then transfer to the airport for your flight from Istanbul to Denizli. Upon arrival Denizli Cardak Airport, your tour guide and another driver will meet you at the exit gate of the arrival terminal, and then you will start today’s semi-private guided tour.
2. Pamukkale
   Pass by
   Departures from Antalya, Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum : The services of this travel package will begin with a private transfer from your hotel (or at your Airbnb address if parking is available) to the Pamukkale Natural Park. Upon arrival Pamukkale, your tour guide and another driver will meet you, and then you will start today’s semi-private guided tour.
3. Pass by
   Pamukkale Natural Park, a must-visit destination for Nature and History lovers. For centuries, people have been coming here and going home restful. This natural park provide you experiences at the white travertenies of Pamukkale, Cleopatra Pools and ancient city of Hierapolis which are located in Pamukkale Natural Park.
4. Hierapolis & Pamukkale
   1h · Admission ticket not included
   The highlights of the Hierapolis Ancient City are 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.
5. Pamukkale Thermal Pools
   1h 15m · Admission ticket not included
   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).
6. 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.
7. 1h
   You will stop at a local restaurant for your lunch. Today’s lunch is included during guided tour. After the lunch, you will have experience traditional handcraft workshop for get lecture about the special stones/metals of Pamukkale.
8. 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.
9. Kusadasi
   2h 30m
   After today’s semi-private guided tour in Pamukkale district, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kusadasi.
10. Kusadasi Castle
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    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.
11. Okuz Mehmet Pasa KervansarayI
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    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 2: Semi-Private Tour to Ephesus Ancient City and Its Surroundings / Flight Back to Istanbul or Connection to Cappadocia

1. 30m
   After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, the tour guide will pick you up around 09:00am for a full-day tour to Ephesus and its surroundings.
2. The House of the Virgin Mary
   45m · Admission ticket not included
   Today’s first visit will be the last home of the Virgin Mary. Once you arrive there you will be thrilled by the natural beauty that surrounds the monument. The House of Virgin Mary is located on the Aladag Mountains 5 miles away from Ephesus. At the third Ecumenical Council on 431 AD in Ephesus, it was claimed that Mary came to Ephesus with St. John in 37 A.D. and lived there until her death in 48 A.D. After the discovery of the house, the Archbishop of Izmir declared there as a place of pilgrimage in 1892. On July 26, 1967, Pope Paul VI visited this place and prayed there.
3. Ephesus Ancient City
   1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
   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 and visit the Celsus Library, Temple of Hadrian, the fountain of Trajan, Grand Theater, Hercules Gate, Odeon, Ancient Toilets and many important historical buildings in this UNESCO-listed ancient city.
4. 20m · Admission ticket not included
   Ephesus Experience Museum, where you will travel back in time and immerse yourself in the mystical atmosphere of the ancient world. With innovative approach of this amazing museum, we offer an entirely mesmerizing experience where time breaks free from its static confines and dances in perpetual motion, bringing historical artifacts to life and presenting interactive visual spectacles that will leave an indelible imprint on your memory.
5. Ephesus Terrace Houses
   Pass by
   You will be walking from front of Terrace Houses during your tour, and your guide will provide information about the Terrace Houses of Ephesus Ancient City. (There will not be any visit to this place during guided tour.)
6. 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.
7. The Temple of Artemis
   20m
   Another visit of this tour is Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, standing today next to Ephesus ancient city.
8. 1h
   At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to Izmir airport for your flight to Istanbul or Cappadocia.
9. 1h
   Upon your arrival at the airport in Istanbul, your driver will be waiting to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. (If you preferred flight to Istanbul.)
10. Cappadocia
    1h 15m
    Upon your arrival at the airport in Cappadocia, your driver will be waiting to meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Goreme or Urgup, Uchisar, Cavusin, Avanos, Ortahisar. (If you preferred flight to Cappadocia.)

Pickup details

This trip package offer you several pick-up (departure) and drop-off locations for you may create more advantageous travel plans. You may start this trip from Istanbul by a domestic flight or with a transfer from Antalya, Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum by private car. Also you may connect this trip package to Cappadocia instead of return back to Istanbul at the end of trip. Please check the descriptions for use these beneficial options.

• 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
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required.
• Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking.
• The package prices apply to accommodations in double or triple rooms. (with your family / friends) If you wish to add a single room to your booking, there may be an additional fee. However, solo travelers will not incur any extra charges, as they will automatically be assigned to single rooms.
• The hotel options are "Carina Boutique Hotel" - "Charisma De Luxe Hotel" in Kusadasi for your accommodation during this trip. When booking, you can select your hotel from these options. If these hotels do not have availability for standard or superior rooms on your travel dates, the local tour operator may substitute them with equivalent hotels.
• ⭐️ ADVANTAGE OF CONNECTION YOUR TRIP TO CAPPADOCIA : If you would like to connect this trip to Cappadocia instead of return to Istanbul, this option is available for all booking options. Also, the arrival airport transfer will be provided by the local tour operator in Cappadocia. If you prefer connect this trip to Cappadocia, you will not have any right for flight back to Istanbul.
• ⭐️ DISCOUNTED PRICES : This tour is offering discounted prices on some days of the year. These days are each Saturday all year and each Wednesday from mid of March to end of October. You may organise your trip to those days for catch the advantage of discounted prices.
• ⭐️ SEMI-PRIVATE GUIDED TOURS: This tour operator offers daily guided tours during this travel package with groups capped at 10 guests instead of larger groups, allowing for an intimate and detailed exploration of historic sites and stunning sceneries.
• The local tour operator will email your e-tickets for domestic flights three days prior to your departure. You won’t need to print the tickets for domestic flights. Your passport and the reservation number on the tickets will be sufficient for check-in.
• The local tour operator may request some passport details to book your flight tickets. If you do not provide the requested information, your domestic flight tickets may not be booked and you can not join to this tour. If you do not provide the requested information until 4 days prior to your trip or if you refuse to provide the requested information, you should cancel your reservation. Otherwise, the local tour operator may apply the cancellation and refund policies for this tour because of the necessary missed details on booking.
• You are allowed 15kg luggage + 8kg cabin bag per person for each domestic flights. If you need more luggage capacity, please let the local tour operator know. Additional charges may apply for exceeding the 15 kg luggage limit.
• Airport transfers in Istanbul are valid between hotels or Airbnb addresses and Istanbul airports. If you request an additional stop during the transfer service (such as picking up something from any location en route), the local tour operator reserves the right to charge an extra fee.
• Pick-up and drop-off times indicated in the tour descriptions are approximate and subject to change by about +/- 45 minutes due to seasonal and flight timing variations on your travel dates. The exact pick up time details will be informing you separately by the local tour operator.
• If you choose to cancel or skip any part of this travel package, please note that the local tour operator will apply the standard cancellation and refund policy. As a result, no refunds will be issued for any service which cancelled or skipped by you.
• Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults. If you will be 1 adult + 1 child, the local tour operator can request & charge the amount of 2 adults.
• All the information provided above forms part of the terms and conditions for this travel package. You have been confirmed your acceptance of these when you book the travel package. The local tour operator clearly specifies the details in the program, explanations, and reservation options, and is responsible only for the services indicated. That's why, please read those details while booking this travel package.