3-Day Turkey Tour: Pamukkale, Ephesus & Cappadocia from Istanbul
3 daysPamukkale, Ephesus, CappadociaGroup tourDaily departures

Package prices
Per person, two sharing a room.
- Direct operator priceBooked directly with us. We run the tour, so there is no commission on top.
- Guaranteed daily departuresYour dates run even if nobody else books.
Your route
2 stops · 2 nights
- Starts and ends in IstanbulDay 1 of the itinerary says how you are met
- Full daysSightseeing from morning to late afternoon on most days; an early alarm is normal.
- Moderate walkingTwo to three hours on foot on sightseeing days, with steps and uneven ground at ancient sites.
- One guided day in each regionPamukkale, Ephesus and Cappadocia's Red Tour
- Two hotel nightsKusadasi, then a Cappadocia stay
- Domestic flights includedAll three flight journeys and transfers
- Hotel options3 hotel classes on the same route, priced side by side
- Guided in English, SpanishAlso in Italian on private tours.
Overview
Visit three regions in three days, starting with Pamukkale and ending with Cappadocia's Red Tour. Flights, guided visits and two hotel nights are included. Show more overviewShow less
Fly to Denizli for Pamukkale's white terraces and the ancient city of Hierapolis. After the tour, drive to Kusadasi and stay overnight. Day 2 visits Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis.
That evening, fly from Izmir to Cappadocia. The journey may need a connection, so hotel arrival can be late. An optional sunrise balloon flight on day 3 means a short night. After breakfast, join the Red Tour for Pasabag, Zelve and Avanos.
All three flight journeys, airport transfers, guides, listed entry tickets and three lunches are included. Both hotel mornings include breakfast. Your final flight and transfer take you back to your Istanbul hotel.
To add Cappadocia's Yellow Tour, see the 4-day package with both Cappadocia routes. It visits the same three regions in a different order.
A different side of Turkey each day
- Walk the white terracesPamukkale and Hierapolis open the trip.
- Explore ancient EphesusThe route also includes Mary’s House and Artemis.
- Finish among Cappadocia’s rocksA cave or stone hotel and Red Tour round out the stay.
Itinerary
3 days · 2 nights in 2 places
View the route map2 stops · 2 nights
Swipe sideways to explore the route map.
Day 1: Pamukkale & Hierapolis, Then a Kusadasi Stay
Begin with thermal landscapes and an ancient spa city.Overnight: Kusadasi · 1 nightMeals: LunchIncluded today
- Overnight: Kusadasi · 1 night
- Meals: Lunch
- Flights: Flight to Denizli
- Transport: Airport, tour and Kusadasi transfers
- Guide: Licensed guide
- Sightseeing: Entrance tickets
Schedule
- Early morningLeave your Istanbul hotel
Your driver takes you to the airport for the morning flight. Breakfast is at your own expense today.
Pickup time follows your booked flight.
- MorningFly to Denizli
The included domestic flight takes about one hour.
Flight times vary by season and availability.
- After landingMeet your driver and continue to Pamukkale
The transfer from Denizli arrivals takes about an hour.
Meeting time follows your flight’s actual arrival.
- 10:30–15:00Discover Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Walk beside the terraces and explore Hierapolis with your guide, with a lunch stop and time to view Cleopatra Antique Pool.
Approximate guided sightseeing hours.
Places you’ll visit
- Pamukkale’s white terraces
- Hierapolis Ancient City
- Cleopatra Antique Pool
About these 3 places
- Pamukkale’s white terraces
- Mineral deposits from spring water have built these bright terraces. Follow the barefoot visitor section to see the surface close up.
- Hierapolis Ancient City
- See the remains of a city built around thermal springs, with its theatre and ancient public spaces above Pamukkale.
- Cleopatra Antique Pool
- Swimming in the thermal pool is optional and paid separately at the site. Ask your guide about access and the time available during your visit.
- 15:00–15:30Drive to Kusadasi
Continue west for about 2.5 hours to your overnight base.
After the guided visits.
- 18:00Check in for one night
Settle into your selected Kusadasi hotel.
Approximate hotel arrival, depending on road conditions.
Day 2: Ephesus & Mary’s House Before Flying to Cappadocia
Ancient streets in the morning; Cappadocia by night.Overnight: Cappadocia · 1 nightMeals: Breakfast and lunchIncluded today
- Overnight: Cappadocia · 1 night
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
- Flights: Flight to Cappadocia
- Transport: Tour and airport transfers
- Guide: Licensed guide
- Sightseeing: Entrance tickets
Schedule
- 08:30Checkout and hotel pickup
Bring your bags after breakfast for the Ephesus touring day.
Pickup follows breakfast and checkout.
- 09:30Tour Ephesus and nearby landmarks
Explore Ephesus, the House of Virgin Mary and the Temple of Artemis with your guide, stopping for lunch between visits.
Approximate start of the guided visits.
Places you’ll visit
- Ephesus Ancient City
- House of Virgin Mary
- Temple of Artemis
About these 3 places
- Ephesus Ancient City
- Follow the old streets past monuments such as the Library of Celsus and Great Theatre, reminders of a major Roman port city.
- House of Virgin Mary
- Visit the hillside shrine associated with Mary, a separate stop near Ephesus.
- Temple of Artemis
- See the surviving remains of a sanctuary that once ranked among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
- 15:00–15:30Transfer to Izmir airport
Travel to the airport after sightseeing; the drive takes about one hour.
Approximate sightseeing finish; airport transfer follows your flight.
- EveningFly to Cappadocia
This included flight journey may be direct or involve a connection.
Direct or connected; departure time varies by season and availability.
- Arrival meeting and hotel transfer
Meet your driver for the journey of about one hour to your cave or stone hotel.
Hotel arrival follows your booked flight and may be late.
Day 3: Cappadocia Red Tour & Return to Istanbul
Pasabag’s fairy chimneys, Zelve’s cave village and Avanos pottery.Meals: Breakfast and lunchIncluded today
- Meals: Breakfast and lunch
- Flights: Flight to Istanbul
- Transport: Tour and airport transfers
- Guide: Licensed guide
- Sightseeing: Entrance tickets
Schedule
- 09:30Breakfast, checkout and pickup
Leave the hotel with your luggage for the day’s visits and onward flight.
Pickup follows breakfast and checkout.
- 10:00–10:30Follow the Red Tour route
Visit Pasabag’s fairy chimneys, Zelve’s cave settlement and the Avanos pottery workshop with your guide, with a lunch stop along the route.
Approximate start of the guided visits.
Places you’ll visit
- Devrent Valley
- Pasabag fairy chimneys
- Goreme viewpoint
- Avanos pottery demonstration
- Zelve Open Air Museum
- Uchisar Castle exterior
About these 6 places
- Devrent Valley
- Look for the camel-shaped formation and other outlines in the naturally sculpted rocks.
- Pasabag fairy chimneys
- Walk among tall pillars with broad stone caps and carved spaces in the rock.
- Goreme viewpoint
- Take in the town’s setting among the valley slopes and clusters of rock formations.
- Avanos pottery demonstration
- See clay shaped at a working pottery workshop in Avanos.
- Zelve Open Air Museum
- Explore a former rock-cut village, where homes and places of worship occupy the valley walls.
- Uchisar Castle exterior
- View the large rock citadel from outside, with houses gathered around its base.
- 17:00Airport transfer after sightseeing
The included drive from the touring area takes about one hour.
After sightseeing finishes around 16:00–17:00; transfer follows your flight.
- EveningFly from Cappadocia to Istanbul
Your return flight takes approximately 80 minutes.
Flight times vary by season and availability.
- Arrival meeting and Istanbul hotel transfer
Your driver takes you from arrivals to your Istanbul hotel after the flight.
Meeting follows your flight; the airport in Istanbul may differ from departure.
Optional at sunrise
Not included · add it while you book
Take this itinerary with you.The full day-by-day plan as a PDF, by email or straight to your device.
What's included
Included in your package4
Three guided sightseeing days
- Pamukkale and Hierapolis, followed by transport to Kusadasi
- Ephesus, the House of Virgin Mary and Temple of Artemis
- Cappadocia Red Tour
- Professional guides, touring vehicles, entrance fees and three lunches
Flights and transfers
- Istanbul–Denizli, Izmir–Cappadocia and Cappadocia–Istanbul flight journeys
- Airport meetings and transfers throughout the route
- 15 kg checked and 8 kg cabin baggage per person on the included flights
Two overnight stays
- One Kusadasi hotel night, then one cave or stone hotel night in Cappadocia
- Hotel breakfasts on days 2 and 3
- Local taxes and service fees
Not included5
- International flights and Istanbul hotel stays
- Day-1 breakfast, dinners and drinks
- Optional sunrise balloon flight or balloon watching tour
- Cleopatra Pool swimming fee
- Personal purchases and extra baggage
Hotel classes
Compare the hotel options for this route. Each price is for the whole package, per person.
Compare packages
Spend one day in each region, give Cappadocia a second day instead of Pamukkale, or take four days to include both Cappadocia routes.
Swipe across to compare packages.
| Comparison | This tour3-Day Turkey Tour: Pamukkale, Ephesus & Cappadocia from IstanbulThree regions with one guided day in each. | 3-Day Cappadocia & Ephesus Tour from Istanbul with FlightsUse two days for Cappadocia and keep the Ephesus visit. | 4-Day Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale Tour from Istanbul by AirAdd the Yellow Tour while keeping Pamukkale and Ephesus. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total time | 3 days | 3 days | 4 days |
| Cappadocia sightseeing | Red Tour | Red + Yellow | Red + Yellow |
| Pamukkale and Hierapolis | Included | Not on this itinerary | Included |
| Ephesus and Mary’s House (the same in every package) | Included | Included | Included |
| Route order | Pamukkale → Ephesus → Cappadocia | Cappadocia → Ephesus | Cappadocia → Ephesus → Pamukkale |
| Hotel nights | 2: Kusadasi 1, Cappadocia 1 | 2: Cappadocia 1, Kusadasi 1 | 3: Cappadocia 1, Kusadasi 2 |
| From price | €810per person | €659 | €806 |
| View tour: 3-Day Cappadocia & Ephesus Tour from Istanbul with Flights | View tour: 4-Day Cappadocia, Ephesus & Pamukkale Tour from Istanbul by Air |
Rows set in grey are the same in every package; the rows in black are what separates them.
Want a free day in Kusadasi?
5-Day Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus Tour with a Kusadasi Free DayAllow five days for Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus, with a full free day between the regional visits.
Good to know
Planning your time across the three regions.
Please note
- The evening Izmir–Cappadocia flight can be direct or connected, so the Cappadocia hotel arrival may be late.
- Check out after breakfast on days 2 and 3 and bring your luggage for the onward flight after sightseeing.
- Balloon flight and balloon watching are optional on day 3; either means an early wake-up after your Cappadocia arrival. Balloon passengers must be at least 6, and weather-cancelled flights are refunded.
- This short Cappadocia stay offers no ATV, horse or camel rides or Turkish Night Show.
Show 2 more notesShow fewer notes
- Use walking shoes at the ancient sites and walk barefoot on the permitted Pamukkale terrace section.
- Times are approximate. Flight tickets and tour vouchers are sent once reservations are completed; extra baggage can be added during online check-in.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun protection
- Swimwear and a towel if swimming at Cleopatra Pool
- A light layer for an optional sunrise activity
- Your passport (hotels and domestic flights ask for it)
Cancellation
How much comes back depends on how early you let us know: we count the days from your written cancellation to your first booked service.
- More than 90 days75% back
- 61 to 90 days70% back
- 31 to 60 days60% back
- 16 to 30 days30% back
- 0 to 15 days, or no showNo refund
Non-refundable flights, hotels or activity tickets in your booking are charged on top of these amounts.
Read the full cancellation policyQuestions travellers ask
How much time do we spend in each region?
There is one guided sightseeing day in Pamukkale, one in Ephesus and one in Cappadocia. The Cappadocia day follows the Red Tour; there is no free day in this three-day package.
Can I fit in a Cappadocia balloon flight?
Yes, as an optional extra at sunrise on day 3 before the Red Tour. The previous evening’s flight can mean a late hotel arrival, so allow for a short night; balloon watching is also available.
How do we get from Ephesus to Cappadocia?
After the Ephesus visits, transfer to Izmir airport for an evening flight journey to Cappadocia. It may be direct or connected, and the arrival hotel transfer is included.
Which languages and tour types is this tour available in?
| Guide language | Group tour | Private tour |
|---|---|---|
| English | Available | Available |
| Spanish | Available | Available |
| Italian | Not offered | Available |
Pick the combination that suits you when you check availability.
Similar tours
Other Turkey packages to consider.


























