4 DAY CAPPADOCİA, PAMUKKALE & EPHESUS
After meeting at your hotel lobby in Istanbul take the morning flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Arrival in Cappadocia and meeting at the airport just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name then transferred to tour starting point where you will have to meet and start your Cappadocia’s Northern Region tour.
Goreme Open Air Museum, Zelve Valley, Devrent Valley, Cavusin Village, Avanos Goreme Open Air Museum: Resembles a vast monastic complex composed of scores of refectory monasteries placed side-by-side, each with its own fantastic church. It is obviously the first sight to be visited by any traveler in Cappadocia, standing as it does in the very center of the region with easy access from all directions. It contains the finest of the rock-cut churches, with beautiful frescoes (wall paintings) whose colors still retain all their original freshness.
Zelve Valley: Fairy chimneys with multiple stems and caps can be found here. A chapel dedicated to St. Simeon and a hermit’s shelter built into such fairy chimney with three heads.
Devrent Valley: Devrent is 1 km from Zelve Valley. The ruins at Devrent are spread over three valleys which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems.
Cavusin Village: One of the oldest settlements in the area. The churct of st. John Baptist offers a panoramic view of the village. This church and its paintings date back to the 5th century, making the oldest church in the region.
Avanos: A center terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. The clay which comes from the Red River passing through the town, gives life both land and local economy. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Kaymakli Underground City, Pigeon Valley, Uchisar Rock Castle, Esentepe Panorama, Rose Valley Kaymakli Underground City: Built under the hill known as the Citadel of Kaymakli and was opened to visitors in 1964. The people of Kaymakli (Enegup in Greek) village have constructed their houses around nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city. The inhabitants of the region still use the most convenient places in the tunnels as cellars, storage areas and stables, which they access through their courtyards. The Kaymakli Underground City has low, narrow and sloping passages. While the underground city consists of 8 floors below ground, only 4 of them are open to the public today, in which the spaces are organized around ventilation shafts.
Pigeon Valley: A moderate walk in a green valley with many different rock formations and hundreds of pigeon houses carved into fairy-chimneys.
Uchisar Rock Castle: Uchisar is the name of the town and the fortress in the town. This 60mt. (200ft) high fortress was not built but carved out of a natural hill dominating the area with a breathtaking view of all the surrounding Cappadocian formations.
Esentepe Panorama: this is the best panoramic viewpoint of Goreme.
Rose Valley: It has beautiful rock formations with some great hidden rock-carved churches. The most interesting part of this area is the countless tracks connecting the small villages and towns through vineyards and gardens like a spider net.
After the tour we will be transferring you to Cappadocia Airport for your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival Izmir we will meet and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Optional Balloon Tour: Flying in a hot air balloon is an amazing and unforgettable experience which you will never forget. Very early in the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to our balloon site. You will be welcomed with a light breakfast while you are registering for your flight. After meeting at the balloon site you will be watching how we prepare our balloons for your adventure. After getting on the air you will be seeing beautiful sunrise upon Cappadocia. You will be thrilled with the scale of colors and shapes. We will be ascending up to 3000 feet and then almost you will be able touch fairy chimneys. After landing we will celebrate our flight with champagne toast (or soft drink) and your pilot will be presenting your flight certificates. After deflation balloons you will be transported to your launch site and continue to your day.
Pamukkale Travertines, Hierapolis Ruins
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will journey inland to Pamukkale to enjoy the spas, pools, and terraces of this natural wonder, called the “Cotton Castle”. This name is truly fitting, the brilliant white calcified terraces do truly resemble a castle made of cotton. We will also spend time in Hieropolis, with one of the largest and most diverse necropolis in the world. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Kusadasi.
Ephesus Ruins, Temple of Artemis, Virgin Mary’s House
First we will visit Ephesus ruins starting from the upper gate and see famous Celsus Library, Hadrian Temple and Ephesus Antic Theatre which has a capacity of 25000. Next we will stop by at Temple of Artemis once was a one of the seven wonders at ancient times. Then we will head to Virgin Mary’s House where she spent her last years.
After the tour you will be transferred to Izmir Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival to Istanbul you will be transferred to your hotel.
Turkey Insiders team says so long and looks forward to be your host again until next time on your travel pleasure for other destinations. Gule Gule.
Price Includes
- 3 nights hotel accommodation.
- Services of professionally licensed guides on local tours.
- All domestic flights mentioned in the itinerary.
- We use fully air-co, non-smoking vehicles on local tours and transfers.
- English speaking guided tours mentioned in the itinerary.
- Inbound and outbound airport transfers to/from your hotel.
- All taxes, entrance & museum fees.
Price Excludes
- International airfares.
- VISA needed for Turkey.
- Tips to guide, driver, hotel staff etc.
- Travel Insurance and personal expenses.