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4-Day Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale Group Tourfrom Istanbul by Plane

Istanbul ✈ Cappadocia (1 night) ✈ Izmir → Denizli ✈ Istanbul · flights included

From €909 pp

€1,818 for 2 travellers

Flights, hotels & guided days included

Reserve with a 40% deposit by card: €727.20 for 2

Cancellation charges from 25% · Free date change up to 21 days before · Full schedule

  • 4 days · 3 nights

  • 3 flights includedIstanbul → Cappadocia → Izmir → Istanbul

  • Hotels & breakfast3 nights · cappadocia & kusadasi

  • Shared groupEnglish-speaking guide

Next available: Thu 5 Nov · WhatsApp reply in ~1 h

Overview

This 4-day group tour from Istanbul by plane visits Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale. Explore the Red and Green routes, Ephesus and Hierapolis; domestic flights, three hotel nights, guides and lunches are included.

Highlights

  • Visit Devrent, Paşabağ, Avanos and Zelve
  • Walk Ihlara Valley and explore Kaymaklı
  • See Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary
  • Explore Hierapolis and Pamukkale terraces
  • Fly from Istanbul through Cappadocia and İzmir

Itinerary

4 days · Istanbul ✈ Cappadocia (1 night) ✈ Izmir → Denizli ✈ Istanbul

  1. Day 1Istanbul to Cappadocia: Red Tour on arrivalDevrent Valley · Paşabağ (Monks Valley) · Avanos pottery workshop
    The four-day circuit starts at 05:00 in your Istanbul hotel lobby with a transfer to the airport. Once you land in Kayseri or Nevşehir, the shared Red Tour picks up the morning flight passengers and goes directly to the valleys around Avanos. Fairy chimneys at Devrent and Paşabağ, a potter at his wheel, a buffet lunch and the three-valley cave village of Zelve fill the day, along with a carpet workshop. About 8 hours of touring and 2.5 km of walking. Your cave hotel is the last stop.

    1. Hotel lobby pickup, Istanbul

      05:00

      Transfer to the airport for the domestic flight.

    2. Flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir

      Economy flight arriving around 08:00; the group guide meets you outside arrivals.

    3. Devrent Valley

      Time here: about 20 min

      A field of eroded pink rocks named for the imagination they invite. A level, short stop.

    4. Paşabağ (Monks Valley)

      Time here: about 45 min

      Tall multi-capped chimneys that were once hermit retreats. The ticket also opens Zelve.

    5. Avanos pottery workshop

      Time here: 30–45 min

      A pottery demonstration in a river town where clay work goes back to the Hittites. No obligation to buy.

    6. Lunch in Avanos

      Open buffet with Turkish home-style dishes; drinks extra.

    7. Carpet Weaving Education Center (about 30–45 min)

      See how knot density and natural dyes shape a carpet, with a cup of tea. No obligation to buy.

    8. Zelve Open-Air Museum

      Time here: about 1 hr

      Families lived in these caves until the 1950s, when rockfalls made the village unsafe; today paths lead past houses, chapels and a mosque.

    Group minibus with air conditioning and a licensed guide

    Meals: LunchOvernight: Cappadocia — Celestial Cave Hotel or similar

  2. Day 2Green Tour of Ihlara, then a flight to İzmirEsentepe viewpoint · Kaymaklı Underground City · Ihlara Valley
    Breakfast and check-out come first; the shared Green Tour collects you between 09:30 and 10:20. This is the most varied Cappadocia day: an underground city, a canyon walk, a village lunch and a cliff monastery, about 9 hours in total including roughly 2¾ hours in the vehicle. Kaymaklı comes before the walk in the Ihlara Valley, lunch is at Belisırma and Selime Monastery closes the sightseeing, followed by onyx and leather workshops. Then you head to the airport for the evening flight to İzmir and a transfer to Kuşadası, your base for the next two nights.

    1. Esentepe viewpoint

      Time here: about 15 min

      Short panoramic stop over Göreme.

    2. Kaymaklı Underground City

      Time here: about 45 min

      Descend through levels of kitchens, stables and a chapel where earlier generations hid from raids.

      Tip: Low ceilings; watch your head.

    3. Ihlara Valley

      Time here: about 2 hr

      About 3.5–4 km on a riverside trail in a canyon also known by its old Greek name, Peristrema, with churches in the walls.

    4. Lunch at Belisırma

      Riverside restaurant in the village; drinks extra.

    5. Selime Monastery

      Time here: about 45 min

      Climb into cave halls and a lofty church carved from the cliff at Selime; no extra fee on this tour.

    6. Onyx workshop (about 30–45 min)

      How the local stone is shaped and polished, then a display room. No obligation to buy.

    7. Leather workshop (about 30–45 min)

      A look at locally made leather wear. No obligation to buy.

    8. Evening flight to İzmir

      Group transfer to Cappadocia airport and an economy flight to İzmir.

    9. İzmir Airport to Kuşadası

      Driver transfer of about an hour to your hotel.

    Shared minibus, airport transfers and domestic flight

    Meals: Breakfast, lunchOvernight: Kuşadası — Ephesus Centrum Hotel or similar

  3. Day 3Ephesus Group Day from KuşadasıEphesus · Carpet Weaving Education Center (about 30–45 min) · House of the Virgin Mary
    Having flown in from Cappadocia last night, you have a full day in the Ephesus area without an airport at the end of it. The shared group picks you up at your Kuşadası hotel, and a licensed guide leads you through Ephesus, with entrance tickets for Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary included. Lunch is in Selçuk, followed by a carpet weaving center, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis. You return to your hotel in Kuşadası for a second night; tomorrow is Pamukkale.

    1. Hotel pickup in Kuşadası

      The group minibus collects you in the morning for the short drive to Ephesus.

    2. Ephesus

      Time here: about 2 hours

      Near the upper gate, look for the Odeon, a small roofed hall of about 1,400 seats where the city council met. Then descend Curetes Street to the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre.

    3. Lunch in Selçuk

      Lunch together at a local restaurant.

    4. Carpet Weaving Education Center (about 30–45 min)

      Hear how carpet knots are counted and why knot density matters. No obligation to buy.

    5. House of the Virgin Mary

      In the chapel, keep your voice low and your phone away; photography is not allowed inside.

    6. Temple of Artemis

      Stand by the rebuilt column and picture a temple with more than a hundred marble columns.

    7. Back to your Kuşadası hotel

      The group drops you at your hotel in the late afternoon.

    Shared air-conditioned minibus

    Meals: Breakfast, lunchOvernight: Kuşadası — Ephesus Centrum Hotel or similar

  4. Day 4Pamukkale and Hierapolis, Evening Flight to IstanbulFrontinus Street and the Domitian Gate · Hierapolis theatre · Pamukkale travertines, barefoot
    The last day takes you inland from Kuşadası to the white terraces of Pamukkale, so pack up and check out after breakfast. The shared group covers about 190 km, roughly three hours with a break, before your guide introduces Hierapolis, a spa city of the Roman province of Asia. You spend the middle of the day between the ancient streets and the travertines, with lunch in Pamukkale. Late in the day a transfer drops you at Denizli Çardak Airport for the flight back to Istanbul, where a driver meets you for the ride to your hotel.

    1. Kuşadası hotel pickup and drive inland

      Time here: about 3 hours

      Keep a small day bag with water, a hat and a towel; the rest of your luggage rides with you to the airport.

    2. Frontinus Street and the Domitian Gate

      The main street of Hierapolis ran about 1.5 km between two monumental gates. Walk through the three-arched gate raised by the proconsul Julius Frontinus in the 80s AD.

    3. Hierapolis theatre

      A stop at the hillside theatre, where tiers for well over 10,000 spectators face the Lycus valley below.

    4. Lunch in Pamukkale

      Included; water, soft drinks and other beverages are extra.

    5. Pamukkale travertines, barefoot

      Time here: about 1 hour

      Carry your shoes in a bag: footwear of any kind is banned on the terraces. Grip changes as you go, from rough dry ridges to smooth pool floors, so take small steps.

      Tip: Polarized sunglasses cut the glare off the white rock.

    6. Transfer to Denizli Çardak Airport

      Time here: about 1 hour

      Guests who removed the flights option leave the tour at the terminal.

    7. Evening flight from Denizli to Istanbul

      Economy class with a checked bag as per the fare. After landing, the included transfer takes you to your Istanbul hotel.

    Air-conditioned vehicle shared with the group, domestic flight, Istanbul airport transfer

    Optional activities

    • Cleopatra's (Antique) Pool, own ticket · Not included

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Download the day-by-day PDF

Flights and hotel

Flights

  • Istanbul → Cappadocia · day 1
  • Cappadocia → Izmir · day 2
  • Denizli → Istanbul · day 4

Economy class, checked bag as per the ticket fare. Have your own flights? Remove them when you book — the price updates.

Hotel

  • 1 night in Cappadocia: Celestial Cave Hotel or similar, double room with breakfast
  • 2 nights in Kusadasi: Ephesus Centrum Hotel or similar, double room with breakfast

Pickup and route

Pickup
Istanbul hotel pickup included. Your driver will meet you at the lobby at 05:00 AM.
Route of 4-Day Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale Group Tour — from Istanbul by Plane1Istanbul Old City2Ihlara Valley3Ephesus4Pamukkale / Hierapolis
Route map is schematic — exact pickup and meeting points are in your confirmation.

What's included

Included

  • Licensed English-speaking guide
  • Air-conditioned sightseeing transport, return Istanbul airport–hotel transfers, return Cappadocia airport–hotel transfers, İzmir Airport-to-Kuşadası transfer, and Pamukkale-to-Denizli Airport transfer
  • Entrance tickets: Paşabağ and Zelve (one ticket), Ihlara Valley and Selime, Kaymaklı Underground City, Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary, Hierapolis and Pamukkale
  • Lunch on days 1 and 2 in Cappadocia, day 3 in Selçuk and day 4 in Pamukkale
  • 1 night in Cappadocia: Celestial Cave Hotel or similar, double room with breakfast
  • 2 nights in Kusadasi: Ephesus Centrum Hotel or similar, double room with breakfast
  • Flight Istanbul → Cappadocia on day 1 (economy class; checked bag as per the ticket fare)
  • Flight Cappadocia → Izmir on day 2 (economy class; checked bag as per the ticket fare)
  • Flight Denizli → Istanbul on day 4 (economy class; checked bag as per the ticket fare)

Not included

  • Tips (optional)
  • Personal purchases
  • Drinks with meals
  • Dinner
  • Cleopatra’s Pool admission

Optional extras

  • Hotel nights (3 nights)
  • Domestic flights

Good to know

Workshop stops: a carpet weaving centre, a leather workshop, an onyx workshop and a pottery workshop. Part of the programme, no obligation to buy.

Where you'll stay

Cappadocia

Celestial Cave hotel or similar

Before you go

  • Domestic flights are economy class. Your baggage allowance follows the ticket fare, and we confirm it with your tickets.
  • Travel with the passport you booked with: airlines check the name on the ticket against it.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes: the valleys and rock-cut sites have uneven ground and steps, and the underground city has low, narrow passages.
  • Bring a hat and sunscreen in summer and a warm layer in spring, autumn and winter: mornings in Cappadocia are cool, and the underground city stays cool all year.
  • Vegetarian, vegan or other dietary needs at lunch: tell us when you book and we let the restaurant know.
  • Mobility needs or travelling with small children? Tell us before you book, and we tell you honestly which parts of the day suit you.
  • We send your final programme, hotel names and pickup times before departure, and you can reach us on WhatsApp during the trip.

Payment and cancellation

Today
€727.20 deposit by card (3-D Secure), for 2 travellers.
On arrival
€999.90 in cash, in euros, with the 5% cash saving on the total already taken off.
  • 91 days or more: The 25% administrative fee is charged. 61–90 days: 55% of the total is charged (30% + the 25% administrative fee). 31–60 days: 65% of the total is charged (40% + the 25% administrative fee). 16–30 days: 95% of the total is charged (70% + the 25% administrative fee). 15 days or less or no-show: 100% of the total is charged. Charges are percentages of the total booking value and include the 25% administrative fee retained on every cancellation; non-refundable flight, hotel or entrance tickets already bought are added, up to 100% of the total. Your deposit is applied to the charge: if the charge is higher than your deposit, you pay us the difference; anything we hold above the charge is refunded within 14 days.
  • If a hotel in your package is booked on a non-refundable rate, we tell you before you pay and that night's cost is retained on cancellation.
  • Request cancellation in writing, by email or WhatsApp; the cancellation date is the day we receive your message. Refunds go back the way you paid, within 14 days: card payments to the same card. Shore excursions are paid on the day, so nothing is collected in advance.
  • If unavoidable extraordinary circumstances at the destination make the trip impossible, you receive a full refund, less any mandatory taxes and genuinely non-refundable third-party payments, itemised for you.
  • Date changes are free when requested at least 72 hours before a day tour, 24 hours before a shore excursion, or 21 days before a package or a day trip by plane, subject to availability. For these, a date change 14–20 days before departure costs €50 per booking; under 14 days it depends on availability, and any airline or hotel change fees are charged at cost. Name changes (passing your booking to someone else at least 7 days before departure) are free except for any airline name-change fee, charged at cost.
  • If TurkeyVia cancels, including because the minimum group size is not met, you can choose a full refund or an alternative.

If we can’t book your flights or hotel for your dates, that counts as our cancellation: a full refund to your card within 14 days, or another date if you prefer.

Full cancellation policy

Your contract is with İlke Seyahat Turizm Ticaret Gıda Orman Ürünleri Gemi Acenteliği İthalat İhracat Sanayi Limited Şirketi, Turgut Ozal Bulvari 67/1, Kusadasi, Aydin 09400, Turkey — the company behind TurkeyVia. Terms

Frequently asked questions

How does day 1 of the 4-Day Turkey Highlights group tour work?

A driver picks you up from your Istanbul hotel at 05:00 for the early flight to Cappadocia. After landing you are taken to join the shared Red Tour the same morning; group services are timed for arrivals around 08:00.

Can I join the 4-day highlights tour if I book my own flights?

Yes. Remove the flights option; we meet you at the Cappadocia airport on day 1 and at İzmir airport on the evening of day 2. Day 4 ends at Denizli Çardak Airport, so choose a flight after about 21:30. Extra rides are available at /airport-transfers.

Which workshop stops are included over the four days?

Day 1 has an Avanos pottery demonstration and a carpet workshop, day 2 onyx and leather workshops, day 3 a carpet workshop near Ephesus. Each lasts about 30–45 minutes and there is no obligation to buy.

Is the Green Tour day suitable if I dislike tight spaces?

Kaymaklı Underground City has low, narrow tunnels, so it is not ideal for claustrophobic guests. The same day includes a walk of about 3.5–4 km through Ihlara Valley on mostly easy ground.

What happens with my luggage when we change cities on this tour?

You check out on day 2 in Cappadocia and on day 4 in Kuşadası, and your bags travel with you to the next airport or hotel. The flight tickets include a checked bag as per the fare.

Do I need special shoes for the Pamukkale terraces on day 4?

Wear comfortable shoes for Hierapolis, but you take them off at the travertines: footwear is not allowed on the terraces. A plastic bag for your shoes makes the barefoot walk easier.

  • Your guided days are run by our own local team
  • On WhatsApp within about 1 hour, 09:00–18:00 Turkey time
  • Download the day-by-day PDF
  • Sold by İlke Seyahat Turizm Ticaret Gıda Orman Ürünleri Gemi Acenteliği İthalat İhracat Sanayi Limited Şirketi

Next available: Thu 5 Nov · WhatsApp reply in ~1 h

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