TOUR INFO AND ITINARY

DAY 1

İSTANBUL TO CAPPADOCIA – RED TOUR

We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and transfer you to the airport. You will take a short flight to Kayseri/ Nevşehir. Upon your arrival, we will meet you with your names at the airport and drive you to our branch office in Cappadocia. You will meet with the local licenced tour guide and off you go to visit the top highlights in the North Cappadocia which is also known as Red Tour. Having done the Red Tour, you will be transferred to your cave hotel which will give you a unique experience with its fairy-tale ambiance. Below, you can find a short summary of the places you will be visiting during the Red Tour:

The Göreme Open Air Museum, is one of Turkey's Unesco World Heritage sites. It was an important Byzantine monastic settlement that housed some 20 monks, then a pilgrimage site from the 17th century, this splendid cluster of monastic Byzantine artistry with its rock-cut churches, chapels and monasteries is 1km uphill from Göreme's centre.

The Uçhisar Castle, this tall volcanic-rock outcrop is one of Cappadocia's most prominent landmarks and visible for miles around. Riddled with tunnels, it was used for centuries by villagers as a place of refuge when enemy armies overtook the surrounding plains.

Paşabağ Three-headed Fairy Chimneys, Paşabağ contains some of the most striking fairy chimneys in Cappadocia with twin and even triple rock caps - formations that are unique even for Cappadocia! Locals refer to them as the mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys.

Avanos Pottery Town, it is well known throughout the country and abroad for the red clay products made by locals. Hundreds of the village men are skilled in making pots, plates, wine holders, and even ashtrays and chess sets. They are pottery masters and their skills have mostly been handed down from generation to generation.

Ürgüp town, with conical shaped body and a boulder on top of it. Three Graces (Üç Güzeller) are the brilliant three fairy chimneys.

Devrent Imagination Valley, the small fairy chimneys in the valley form a lunar landscape, or moonscape, by their strange look. The valley has many animal shaped rocks. It looks like a sculpture zoo made by nature.

DAY 2

CAPPADOCIA BALLOON FLIGHT AND GREEN TOUR

We will pick you up from your hotel quite early in the morning to do one hour hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia. This once in a lifetime experience will be an unforgettable memory. End of the flight, there will be a small celebration and then we will drive you back to the hotel. Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Again, we will pick you up from the hotel at about 10.00am to visit South Cappadocia which is also known as Green Tour. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to the Kayseri/Nevşehir Airport and take a short flight to Ephesus. Upon your arrival, we will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Below, you can find a short summary of the places you will be visiting during the Green Tour:

Kızılçukur, it is a must visit in Cappadocia as the orchards, vineyards, rock churches and fairy chimneys all blend together to create an unforgettable landscape.

Kaymaklı Underground City, the widest, enchanting, one of the most famous and wonderful underground city in Cappadocia. You will see ventilation shafts and a winery, the massive stone doors, a food storage room, and various other large rooms and small tunnels.

Çavuşin, the old village, which was abandoned several decades ago due to rock falls, was all carved into the hillside. The inhabitants of Çavuşin lived in houses which were cut into a massive rock wall.

Pigeon Valley, the name comes from the thousands of pigeon houses that have been carved into the soft tuff since ancient times. Although they can be found throughout Cappadocia, they are especially numerous in this valley. They were carved wherever space allowed, including abandoned cave houses and churches.

Esentepe Viewpoint, overlooking the small, quaint town of Göreme and Pigeon Valley, Esentepe Viewpoint is one of the favorite places in Cappadocia.

Çatalkaya, explore the rock formations in Çatalkaya.

DAY 3

EPHESUS TOUR

After breakfast, we will pick you up from the hotel and the fully guided Ephesus Tour will start. The guide will tell you all the history and importance of the monements. Some of the most important highlights will be visited. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to the hotel at İzmir. Below, you can find a short summary of the places you will be visiting during the Ephesus Tour:

Ephesus Ancient City, an outstanding example of a Roman port city, with sea channel and harbour basin. It was Hellenic Greece capital city and was the capital of the Roman Empire’s province of Asia. Ephesus was economically, geographically, politically and culturally significant. Many famous classical philosophers who are still admired today such as Heraclitus, lived in the scientific, cultural and artistic city of Ephesus.

En route, you will see some of the finest monuments such as: Magnesia Gate, Odeon (Concert Hall), The Baths of Varius (used as a Gymnasium), Prytaneion (administrative offices also where religious ceremonies, official receptions and banquets were held). Plus, Agora (commercial market of Ephesus), The Temple of Hadrian (dedicated to Emperor Hadrian, Artemis and the people of Ephesus), The Fountain of Trajan (constructed for the honor of Emperor Trajan) and the Great Theatre will also be visited. The theatre had seating for 24.000 people which was the site where it is believed St. Paul preached to the Ephesians and is used today for a local spring festival.

Celsus Library, the most distinctive building and one of the most photographed structure that is commonly associated with Ephesus. It was erected by Gaius Julius Aquila (son of Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus). Assumed that the construction was completed in 117 A.D. It is made of very good marble and decorated with figures of Eros, Nike, rosettes and garlands in relief.

House of Virgin Mary, is close to the peak of Bülbül Mountain, one of the hills overlooking Selçuk. After the death of Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary had gone to Ephesus with Saint John and lived here until her death at the age of 101. Thus, this church is an important pilgrimage center for Christians. There is also a spring believed to be curative. The Popes Paul VI and Jean Paul II visited this house. The House of Virgin Mary is declared to be sacred and an important pilgrimage spot visited by Christians from all over the world.

The Temple of Artemis, was in its day the largest in the world, eclipsing even the Parthenon at Athens, and thus earning a spot on the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only one of its original 127 columns remains, often as not topped by a stork’s nest; a poignant testament to the transitory nature of human achievement. Still it is a lovely tranquil place, the enormous pillar giving you some indication of the vast size of the temple.

İsa Bey Mosque, with the order of Aydinoğullari Emirate İsa Bey, was built in 1375. It is a nice sample of Seljuk Turkish architecture. It is on the western side of Ayasuluk Hill on which stand the fortress and the church of Saint John.

DAY 4

PAMUKKALE TOUR

We will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel and transfer you to Pamukkale sightseeing region and the fully guided Pamukkale Tour will start. The guide will tell you all the history and importance of the monements. Some of the most important highlights will be visited. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred to airport and return back to İstanbul. On the way back, you will have great collection of pictures and videos. Below, you can find a short summary of the places you will be visiting during the Pamukkale Tour:

Pamukkale, is a unique, magical wonder of the nature with its dazzling white and stoned castles. The thermal waters with limestone and salt, pouring by the bank of the plateau form up these marvelous stalacites, waterfalls and pools. These healing warm waters have been used for therapy since the Roman time. Visitors are allowed to walk in the cascading pools, that leads to squashing and dispersing the soft jelly of calcium carbonate.

Hierapolis, is on the same plateau with the thermal pools providing visitors with a glimpse of the natural gifts of the region and cultural riches that man added to nature. The ancient city, situated 20 kilometres north of Denizli, is justly famous for the buildings and artefacts unearthed during extensive excavations. Hierapolis is known as the ‘Sacred City’ on account of its many temples and religious buildings. The geographers of antiquity, Strabo and Ptolemy, claimed that Hierapolis was a Phrygian city, because of its proximity to Laodicea on the Lycus and Tripolis, cities situated on the border with the Caria region.

Red Water Springs, at the north of Pamukkale in Karahayit Village. Due to having much higher content, the water appear red. The water also much hotter than Pamukkale water. You can enjoy seeing the water comes from the travertines in red color. You will be astounded by the magic of nature.

What is Included: All transfers, round trip flight tickets, hotel accomodations, tour lunches, all entrance fees, professional licenced tour guide in English.

Tips for Package Tours: Take some heavy jacket to protect yourself from cold. Bring camera to shoot some awesome photos and videos.

Cost: The price is changeable based on season, flight tickets, demands and requests, and number of people. Please contact us for the best available prices.