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Private 5-Day Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale TourRed & South Tours

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

From €1,569 pp

€3,138 for 2 travellers

Flights, hotels & guided days included

Reserve with a 40% deposit by card: €1,255.20 for 2

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

  • 5 days · 4 nightsRed & South Tours

  • 3 flights includedIstanbul → Cappadocia → Izmir → Istanbul

  • Hotels & breakfast4 nights · cappadocia & kusadasi & pamukkale

  • Private tripOnly your party

Next available: Wed 4 Nov · WhatsApp reply in ~1 h

Overview

Fly from Istanbul for 5 days of private touring in Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale, with domestic flights and four hotel nights. The Cappadocia route covers the Red and South tours.

Highlights

  • Visit Devrent, Paşabağ, Avanos and Zelve
  • Explore Çavuşin and Özkonak Underground City
  • See Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary
  • Walk the Pamukkale terraces and visit Hierapolis
  • Travel with your private guide and vehicle

Itinerary

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

  1. Day 1First Cappadocia day: Red Tour with a personal guideDevrent Valley · Paşabağ (Monks Valley) · Avanos pottery workshop
    The 05:00 lobby pickup in Istanbul gets you to the airport for the flight east, and in Cappadocia your private guide and driver are waiting at arrivals. Five days is a comfortable pace, and today sets the tone: the Red Tour of Devrent Valley, Paşabağ, Avanos and Zelve, planned around your interests rather than a group timetable. Keen on history? Spend longer at Zelve. More into craft? Try the potter’s wheel in Avanos, and there is a carpet workshop too. Expect about 2.5 km of walking and check-in at your cave hotel by late afternoon.

    1. Lobby pickup by your private driver

      05:00

      Drive to the airport with your driver.

    2. Flight to Cappadocia

      Economy flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir; your guide meets you at the exit.

    3. Devrent Valley

      Time here: about 20 min

      An open-air gallery of natural rock shapes, easier to read with a guide who knows where to stand.

    4. Paşabağ (Monks Valley)

      Time here: about 45 min

      Hermit chimneys with basalt caps; the chapel of St Simeon is carved inside one of them.

    5. Avanos pottery workshop

      Time here: 30–45 min

      Have a go at the kick wheel with Kızılırmak clay after the demonstration. No obligation to buy.

    6. Lunch in Avanos

      Buffet lunch whenever suits your party; drinks extra.

    7. Zelve Open-Air Museum

      Time here: about 1 hr

      A cave settlement across three valleys with churches, homes and a small mosque, empty since the 1950s.

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

      See natural wool and silk dyed and knotted by hand. No obligation to buy.

    9. Check-in at your hotel

      Private drop-off; the evening is free.

    Vehicle, driver and licensed guide reserved for your party

    Meals: LunchOvernight: Cappadocia — Celestial Cave Hotel or similar

  2. Day 2South Tour with your own guide, then fly to İzmirÇavuşin old village and Red Valley view · Özkonak Underground City · Onyx workshop (about 30–45 min)
    After breakfast and check-out, your guide picks you up between 09:30 and 10:20 for the South Tour, a day of about 8 hours and 3 km of walking. It starts with the climb through old Çavuşin to a view over Red Valley, then goes underground at Özkonak, a quieter site than the famous southern cities. After lunch come onyx and leather workshops and the viewpoint over Ortahisar castle. With a private vehicle your bags ride with you, and in the evening the driver takes you to the airport for the flight to İzmir, followed by a private transfer to Kuşadası.

    1. Çavuşin old village and Red Valley view

      Time here: 30–45 min

      An uphill walk into the abandoned cliff village, with the early Church of St John the Baptist and a lookout over Red Valley.

      Tip: Take it slowly on the loose steps.

    2. Özkonak Underground City

      Time here: about 45 min

      Uncovered in 1972 north of Avanos; its four open levels have communication holes between floors.

    3. Lunch

      Buffet at a local restaurant, when you are ready; drinks extra.

    4. Onyx workshop (about 30–45 min)

      Onyx cut, turned and polished in front of you. No obligation to buy.

    5. Ortahisar castle viewpoint

      Time here: about 30 min

      The tall rock castle of Ortahisar and, nearby, the carved dovecotes of Pigeon Valley.

    6. Leather workshop (about 30–45 min)

      Leather jackets and bags shown by local makers. No obligation to buy.

    7. Evening flight to İzmir

      Private airport transfer, then an economy flight west.

    8. Private transfer to Kuşadası

      From İzmir Adnan Menderes to your hotel, about an hour.

    Own guide and vehicle by day, flight and private transfers by night

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

  3. Day 3Ephesus and Selçuk from Your Kuşadası HotelEphesus · House of the Virgin Mary · Temple of Artemis
    With your own guide and vehicle, today's Ephesus visit can be as detailed or as brief as you like. After pickup at your Kuşadası hotel you spend the morning in the ancient city, then have lunch in Selçuk; entrance tickets for Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary are included. In the afternoon you see the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and a carpet weaving center. Your driver brings you back to Kuşadası for the evening, and tomorrow you drive to Pamukkale.

    1. Hotel pickup in Kuşadası

      Your private guide and driver meet you at the hotel.

    2. Ephesus

      Time here: about 2–2.5 hours

      Mosaic floors survive in front of the shops on Curetes Street, and nearby stands the Octagon, a tomb some scholars link to Cleopatra's sister Arsinoe IV.

      Tip: Summer heat builds fast; a hat and sunscreen help.

    3. Lunch in Selçuk

      Lunch in Selçuk, with time to linger if you wish.

    4. House of the Virgin Mary

      Christian and Muslim visitors share this chapel, where Muslims honor Mary as Meryem Ana.

    5. Temple of Artemis

      The temple was destroyed and rebuilt more than once; today storks often nest on its one column.

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

      A demonstration of hand-knotting and natural dyes. No obligation to buy.

    7. Back to Kuşadası

      Return to your hotel for the second night on the coast.

    Private air-conditioned vehicle

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

  4. Day 4Your Own Guide at Hierapolis and a Night in PamukkaleFrontinus Street · Ploutonion · Hierapolis theatre
    Your private driver loads your luggage at the Kuşadası hotel and heads inland for about three hours. At Hierapolis your guide shapes the visit around your interests, whether that is early Christian history, Roman engineering or photographs from the theatre. You decide how long to stay on the barefoot terraces and when to break for lunch. Instead of racing to an airport, you finish at your Pamukkale hotel with the evening free.

    1. Kuşadası to Pamukkale by private vehicle

      Time here: about 3 hours

      The road crosses Aydın province, the heart of Turkey's dried-fig country, before rising toward Denizli.

    2. Frontinus Street

      Follow the paved main street between the Frontinus Gate and the later Byzantine gate, where the grid of the Roman city is easiest to read.

    3. Ploutonion

      Italian archaeologists identified this gas-filled cave sanctuary in 2013. The carbon dioxide rising from it explains the ancient stories about the gate to the underworld.

    4. Hierapolis theatre

      With no group waiting, take a seat in the tiers for a while and look out over the plain toward the mountains.

    5. Lunch in Pamukkale

      Included, whenever you want to stop.

    6. Pamukkale travertine terraces

      The marked barefoot route leads down through milky-blue pools. Walk part of it or all of it; your guide adapts.

      Tip: A small towel helps before you put your shoes back on.

    7. Night in Pamukkale

      Lycus River Thermal Hotel or similar, double room with breakfast; your driver drops you at the door.

    Private air-conditioned vehicle

    Optional activities

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

    Meals: Breakfast, LunchOvernight: Pamukkale — Lycus River Thermal Hotel or similar

  5. Day 5Slow Morning by the Springs, Private Ride to DenizliMorning at leisure
    Your last morning has no guided program. Sleep in, have breakfast and enjoy the hotel's thermal water if the property offers it, or explore Karahayıt and Pamukkale village on foot or by local minibus. Lunch is not included, and any return to the terraces needs a fresh entry ticket. At the agreed time your private driver collects you and your bags for the hour-long drive to Denizli Çardak Airport and the flight to Istanbul.

    1. Breakfast at the hotel

      Included with your room.

    2. Morning at leisure

      Karahayıt, where many of the thermal hotels stand, has its own rust-colored iron springs a short walk or ride away.

      Tip: Ask the front desk about late checkout or bag storage.

    3. Lunch on your own

      Not included; cafés in Pamukkale village serve simple Turkish dishes.

    4. Private transfer to Denizli Çardak Airport

      Time here: about 1 hour

      Your driver's pickup time is set from your flight time and confirmed in advance.

    5. Flight from Denizli to Istanbul

      The ticket is economy class and includes the checked bag its fare allows. No transfer is included on arrival in Istanbul; you can book a private one at /airport-transfers.

    Private airport transfer and domestic flight

    Meals: Breakfast

Download the day-by-day PDF

Flights and hotel

Flights

  • Istanbul → Cappadocia · day 1
  • Cappadocia → Izmir · day 2
  • Denizli → Istanbul · day 5

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
  • 1 night in Pamukkale: Lycus River Thermal Hotel or similar, double room with breakfast

Pickup and route

Pickup
Istanbul hotel pickup included. Your private driver will meet you at the lobby at 05:00 AM.
Route of Private 5-Day Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale Tour — Red & South Tours1Cappadocia2Ephesus3Pamukkale / Hierapolis
Route map is schematic — exact pickup and meeting points are in your confirmation.

What's included

Included

  • Private licensed English-speaking guide
  • Private air-conditioned sightseeing transport, Istanbul hotel-to-airport transfer, return Cappadocia airport–hotel transfers, İzmir Airport-to-Kuşadası transfer, and Pamukkale-to-Denizli Airport transfer
  • Entrance tickets: Paşabağ and Zelve (one ticket), Özkonak 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
  • 1 night in Pamukkale: Lycus River Thermal 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 5 (economy class; checked bag as per the ticket fare)

Not included

  • Tips (optional)
  • Personal purchases
  • Drinks with meals
  • Dinner
  • Lunch on days 5
  • Cleopatra’s Pool admission

Optional extras

  • Hotel nights (4 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
€1,255.20 deposit by card (3-D Secure), for 2 travellers.
On arrival
€1,725.90 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

Which Cappadocia routes does the private 5-day tour cover?

Day 1 is the Red Tour (Devrent Valley, Paşabağ, Avanos and Zelve) and day 2 the South Tour (Çavuşin, Özkonak Underground City and the Ortahisar viewpoint), followed by the evening flight to İzmir.

Can we keep our own flights and still take the private 5-day tour?

Yes. Remove the flights option; your guide meets you at the Cappadocia airport and your driver at İzmir airport, and on day 5 we drop you at Denizli Çardak Airport. Private rides in Istanbul are at /airport-transfers.

How far do we walk on the private Red and South tours?

Allow about 2.5 km on the Red Tour and 3 km on the South Tour, including an uphill stretch of 30–45 minutes to old Çavuşin. Your private guide sets the pace to suit you.

Where are the workshop stops on the private 5-day itinerary?

Day 1 includes Avanos pottery and a carpet workshop, day 2 onyx and leather workshops, and day 3 a carpet workshop near Ephesus. Plan on 30–45 minutes per stop, and there is no obligation to buy.

Can we swim at Pamukkale during the private tour?

Not on the travertines, where you only wade barefoot. Cleopatra's Pool allows swimming with its own ticket, which is not included, and your Pamukkale hotel may have thermal pools.

What does the last day in Pamukkale look like on the private tour?

It is free until your private driver takes you to Denizli Çardak Airport for the Istanbul flight. Breakfast is included; lunch and the transfer from the Istanbul airport to your hotel are not.

  • 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: Wed 4 Nov · WhatsApp reply in ~1 h

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