Take an early morning flight to Kayseri to start this fantastic trip!
Day 1
Walk through the fairy chimneys in Devrent Valley, Pasabag (Monks) Valley, and practice ancient pottery-making techniques in Avanos. Visit Göreme, an open-air museum with early churches and chapels carved into fairy chimneys. We'll also see Uçhisar Castle, the highest point in the region. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 2
Start the day with a panoramic view of the Hospital Monastery. Then, hike to the wonderland of Kizilçukur (Red Valley) and the village of Çavusin, home to rock-cut dwellings. Next, visit the underground city of Kaymakli, a rock-cut city beneath the earth where early Christians hid from Roman and Byzantine persecution. Take time to explore the rock formations at Çatalkaya before enjoying a fantastic overview of the fairy chimneys of Esentepe. Finally, we'll visit Pigeon Valley, home to the largest collection of pigeon nests in the world. Then, we'll catch an overnight bus to Pamukkale.
Day 3
We'll arrive early in the morning at Pamukkale, "the Cotton Castle," a beautiful and spectacular natural wonder near Denizli. You'll have a short break at the hotel, where you'll have some time to bathe, refresh, and rest. Next, we'll visit the thermal waters, which have been used since Roman times. These waters are known for their therapeutic powers and the fantastic stalactite formations carved by the springs. The thermal center with its motels, thermal pools, and an archaeological museum. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
Day 4
Travel to Ephesus, one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the classical Greek period. Visit this ancient Greco-Roman city and see its Marble Street, Odeon, Bouleterion, Temple of Hadrian and Serapis, Agora, Library of Celsus, Great Theater, Double Church, Arcadian Way, and Magnesian Gate. Next, we'll visit the Last Abode of the Virgin Mary on Mount Solmissos before having lunch in Selçuk. In the afternoon, we'll visit the Isabey Mosque, one of the oldest and most impressive architectural masterpieces remaining from the Anatolian Beyliks. Learn more about its history with a visit to the Ephesus Archaeological Museum and the Temple of Artemis, one of the 'Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.'
We'll end the day with an overnight flight from Izmir to Istanbul. Notes: The second night will be on the way from Cappadocia to Pamukkale.
Advance reservations are required.
Highlights
Cappadocia
Fairy chimneys
Pamukkale
Thermal Waters
Ephesus
House of the Virgin Mary
What includes and does not include
Round-trip airfare
Round-trip hotel transfers
Passagem de ônibus de Ürgüp para Pamukkale
2 Nights Half Board in 4-Star Hotels (Breakfast and Dinner)
