5-Day Turkey Tour from Izmir: Discover Pamukkale, Ephesus & Cappadocia

Upon your arrival at Izmir Airport, Izmir city center, or Kuşadası Port, our representative will meet you and arrange your transfer to your hotel in Kuşadası. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to relax at the hotel or explore Kuşadası at your own pace. Overnight in Kuşadası.

After breakfast, at around 7:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kuşadası and transferred to a meeting point in Selçuk, where the full group will gather. Your Pamukkale tour will begin with an 8:30 AM departure from Selçuk. The drive to Pamukkale takes approximately 3 hours, including a short 10-minute restroom break midway.

Upon arrival in Pamukkale at around 11:45 AM, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Following lunch, at approximately 1:00 PM, your guided tour will begin with a licensed professional tour guide.

During your visit, you will experience the stunning Cotton Cliffs—a surreal landscape formed by natural calcium deposits. You will also explore the remarkable ancient city of Hierapolis, including highlights such as the basilica, Roman Baths, and the ancient Theatre.

After the guided portion, you will have free time to explore on your own. If you wish, you may choose to swim in the Pamukkale Antique Pools (entrance fee not included). Your guide will inform you of the exact meeting point and time for regrouping.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 PM, you will begin your return journey to Kuşadası, arriving at your hotel at approximately 7:30 PM. Overnight in Kuşadası.

After breakfast at the hotel, at around 8:30 AM, you will be picked up to meet your tour guide and begin your full-day exploration of the ancient wonders of Ephesus. Your guide will provide a brief introduction to the day’s itinerary before you visit your first stop, the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Next, you will enter the Greco-Roman City of Ephesus, the most well-preserved ancient city in the world. You’ll walk along marble-paved streets and explore monumental structures such as the Library of Celsus, the Ephesus Ancient Greek Theatre, and other impressive remnants of Roman architecture.

After touring Ephesus, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Following the break, the tour continues to the House of the Virgin Mary, believed to be the final residence of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This sacred site is visited by both Christian and Muslim pilgrims.

Your final stop will be the 14th-century Isabey Mosque, a fine example of Seljuk architecture.

At the end of the tour, around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to Izmir Airport for your evening flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir, with a layover in Istanbul. Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative holding a sign with your name and transferred to your hotel in Cappadocia for check-in. Overnight in Cappadocia.

For an optional early morning experience, you may book a Hot Air Balloon Ride to enjoy breathtaking aerial views of Cappadocia’s valleys and rock formations. Please note that this activity is available at an additional cost and must be reserved in advance.

After breakfast, at around 9:30 AM, you will be picked up from your hotel for a full-day guided tour of North Cappadocia. The day begins with a visit to Devrent Valley, where you will see surreal rock formations and fairy chimneys resembling animals and shapes. Next, you will explore Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley), famous for its striking mushroom-shaped pinnacles.

The tour continues to the charming town of Avanos, renowned for its centuries-old pottery traditions on the banks of the Kızılırmak River. After a lunch break at a local restaurant, you will visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, where cave dwellings and ancient churches carved into the rocks provide a glimpse into monastic life in Cappadocia.

Towards the end of the tour, you will stop for panoramic photos of the dramatic rock formations around Uchisar, known for its natural rock citadel and sweeping views of the region.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel around 4:00 PM. The rest of the day is free for you to relax, continue exploring on your own, or join optional evening activities. Overnight in Cappadocia.

For extra activities, you can choose one from the following options: a traditional Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner, a 2-hour ATV tour, a 2-hour horseback riding tour through the valleys, or attend a 1-hour Whirling Dervish show. Please note that all activities are available at an additional cost, and you can join only one due to time constraints.

After breakfast at the hotel, at around 9:30 AM, you will be picked up by your tour guide to begin your full-day tour of South Cappadocia. The day begins with a visit to the stunning Red Valley, known for its rock-cut churches and striking colors. You will enjoy a scenic 5 km hike through the picturesque Rose Valley (Güllüdere Vadisi), dotted with cave chapels and fairy chimneys.

Next, explore Cavusin Village, an old Greek village famous for its rock-cut dwellings and ancient churches once inhabited by Christian clergymen. After a lunch break, you’ll continue to Pigeon Valley (Güvercinlik Vadisi), where you’ll see ancient pigeon houses carved into the cliffside and enjoy sweeping views of the valley.

In the afternoon, your final stop will be a visit to one of Cappadocia’s fascinating underground cities—either Kaymakli or Ozkonak—used by early Christians to hide from Roman persecution.

After the tour concludes around 4:00 PM, you will be transferred to either Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your return flight to Istanbul, scheduled between 7:00–10:00 PM (flight duration: approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes).

Please note: Drop-off transportation from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel in Istanbul is not included in the tour price. End of Our Services and Tours.