Visit the ruins of Ephesus and the pools of Pamukkale on this 2-day tour from Istanbul. Fly from Istanbul and stay overnight in Kusadasi as you travel to Turkey's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Day 1 Begin your travels with a pickup from your hotel in Istanbul. Your driver will take you to the airport so you can board your 1.5-hour flight to Izmir. At your arrival, you wıll be greeted by your driver and safely taken to Selcuk to meet with your group participants and start your full-day tour. During the course of your day break for lunch. Head to the House of Virgin Mary, a church built on the top of the foundations of a structure thought to be the house where the Assumption happened and Mary spent her last days. Continue on to Ephesus, an archeological treasure and well-preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean. See one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Artemis, and walk along ancient streets before you concluding your day with a drive to your hotel for a 1-night stay. Day 2 Enjoy your hotel breakfast and check out in the morning to start your full-day tour. Go to Pamukkale, also know as the Pools of Heaven on Earth. See why Pamukkale was a popular settlement and be mesmerized by its hot springs. Head to the ancient city of Hierapolis, home to the biggest necropolis in Anatolia, and see the Sacred Pool, a stunning site of thermal waters rippling over scattered ancient ruins. After your day tour, you will be driven to Cardak Airport for your return flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival ın Istanbul you will be greeted by your driver and transferred safely back to your hotel.

Enjoy a relaxing splash in the hot springs of Hierapolis, one of the sacred sites of Turkey, dating back thousands of years. They were used in Roman times because of their therapeutic powers. Also admire the white limestone terraces, known as travertines of Pamukkale.  Pamukkale has always been a very popular settlement, because of its hot springs, which are believed to have healing powers. Through this, the city became the center of a pagan cult in antiquity. Now it has transformed into an outstanding spa resort. The city was on the borders of the ancient states of Caria, Lycia and Phrygia and had a mixed population. Citizens were usually involved in the wool and textile industry. Its beautiful terraces were formed by running warm spring water. The temperature is around 35 C, containing calcium bicarbonate. When the water loses its carbon dioxide it leaves limestone deposits. These reveal themselves with different colours and shapes in the form of terraces with pools, overhanging surfaces and fascinating stalactite formations. Pamukkale takes its name from these formations.

Turkey, in antiquity known as Asia, was home to seven wondrous churches. It didn’t refer to an actual building, but rather seven Christian cities in Western Anatolia, which now lie in ruins. Visit these ancient places and walk the same steps that the world’s earliest Christians did. Before that, you’ll see all of Istanbul’s major sites, including the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia. Then you’ll travel to Izmir and start your tour of ancient Christianity, seeing many Roman ruins along the way. Soak in the thermal baths at Pamukkale, just as tourists have done for centuries – it was founded, after all, as a resort town by the Ancient Romans. Each step along the way, your expert guide will be there to provide you with context and information regarding each of these wonderful cities. Detailed Itinerary: Day 1: Arrival Arrive in Istanbul and enjoy a comfortable transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. Day 2: Istanbul Tour Explore Istanbul and visit the historic old town. Then visit the Hippodrome, Istanbul’s first sports stadium, and the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque). Then visit the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace and a traditional bazaar. Day 3: Istanbul - Izmir Visit the Grand Bazaar before touring the port of Istanbul and seeing the Cistern of Istanbul. Flight to Izmir. Day 4: Pergamon – Thyatira – Izmir Explore the Pergamum Acropolis, and visit the Ancient Roman health center of Asklepieion. See the Red Basilica and continue on to Thyatira and back to Izmir. Day 5: Izmir – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea – Hierapolis Visit the Sardis Church and ruins of the Temple of Artemis, then travel to Philadelphia Church. Then to the Roman resort of Pamukkale with its therapeutic thermal baths and the Cotton Castle. Finally, head to the Gate of Domitian, and the Nymphaion. Day 6: Ephesus – Kusadasi See the Basilica of St. John the Apostle. Then head to the ancient city of Ephesus and its Archeological Museum. Day 7: Izmir to Istanbul Relax in Kusadasi and flight back to Istanbul. Day 8: Departure Airport transfer in time for your flight.

DAY 1 : Arrival to Istanbul Welcome to Turkey. Arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST) or at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). Meet your driver with your name sign and private transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay in Istanbul. DAY 2 : Full Day Istanbul Tour ( Breakfast ) We visit the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Hippodrome, where chariot races and the Byzantine riots took place. Visit the Grand Bazaar for shopping. Overnight in Istanbul. DAY 3 : Full Day Istanbul Tour ( Breakfast ) Visit Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), Boat trip on the Bosphorus. Afternoon visit to the underground cistern. Overnight in Istanbul. Day 4 : Istanbul – Izmir – Ephesus Tour – Kusadasi ( Breakfast – Dinner ) Pick up from hotel and transfer to Istanbul airport for your flight to Izmir. Arrive at Izmir Airport and be met by your tour guide and drive to Ephesus ( 45 minutes drive ) First visit the Artemis Temple, which is one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Continue to Ephesus. After Ephesus, lunch will be served in the garden of a local handicrafts center. Here you can see some of the traditional carpet weaving techniques used and enjoy viewing some splendid displays of beautiful carpets. After Lunch visit House of Virgin Mary. Drive to the hotel for overnight in Kusadasi. DAY 5 : Kusadasi – Pamukkale Tour ( 3,5 hours drive ) ( Breakfast – Dinner ) Drive to Pamukkale, on the way, visit to Laodicea. Discovery of Travertine terraces and Hierapolis. Overnight Pamukkale. DAY 6 : Pamukkale – Konya ( 4,5 hours drive ) ( Breakfast ) Drive to Konya, visit to Mevlana Sufi temple. Overnight in Konya. DAY 7 : Konya – Cappadocia Tour ( 5 hours drive ) ( Breakfast ) Drive to Cappadocia. Visit to Sultanhani Caravanseria, a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day’s journey. Overnight in Cappadocia in a cave hotel. DAY 8 : Cappadocia Tour ( Breakfast ) Optional: Hot air ballooning with sunrise, once in a lifetime experience in Cappadocia Tour to Kaymaklı Underground City, Soğanlı Valley, an Open Air Museum. Continue with Keslik Monastery near Cemil. Our tour finishes with a visit to Mustafapaşa (Sinasos). Overnight Cappadocia in a cave hotel. DAY 9 : Cappadocia Tour ( Breakfast ) Visit Devrent valley, Pasabag “fairy chimneys” where the voice of wind mixes with the “songs of fairies” near Zelve. Lunch in Avanos, centre of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. Afternoon, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar Rock-Castle. Overnight Cappadocia in a cave hotel. DAY 10 : Cappadocia – Istanbul ( Breakfast ) Transfer to airport for your domestic flight from Cappadocia to Istanbul. Arrival and transfer to Hotel. Overnight Istanbul. DAY 11 : Home ( Breakfast ) After breakfast check out from the hotel and private transfer to Istanbul Airport or to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen airport for your flight back home.

1. DAY You will join the tour at Izmir airport or Izmir Bus station and travel to Kusadasi Hotel in the city of Ephesus.  2. DAY You will be picked up from your hotel in Ephesus at 9:30 AM. You will wonder at the Pergamon Acropolis and Asclepion, Ancient hospital, health center and propylaeumof the Temple of Athena. You will then return to your hotel for the evening.  3. DAY You begin your second day in Ephesus at 9:30 AM where you are picked up from your hotel Kusadasi and proceed to the House of the Virgin Mary. Then you will see Ancient Ephesus and Temple of Artemis (Diana). Your tour will finish at 5:30 PM and drive to Pamukkale. Upon your arrival to Pamukkale you will be transferred to your hotel for the night. 4. DAY Your Pamukkale day tour begins, by pick-up at 9:30 AM. First, you will visit the red springs in the nearby village of Karahayit. You then enter Hierapolis from the North Gate, visiting the Necropolis, Bath and Basilica, Frontinius Gate, Frontinius Street, Latrina, Northern Byzantine Gate, Fountain of the Tritons and the Temple of Apollon.You will be given free time to swim in the Cleopatra Antique Thermal Pool (admission fee extra) and will finish the Hierapolis portion of the tour with a visit to the large and well-preserved Theatre and then you will travel to Konya. 5. DAY You begin this day at 9:00 AM and visit the Tomb of Rumi in the Museum of Mevlana, an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims. Then, you explore the Ottoman-era Sultan Selim mosque before having lunch in a traditional Turkish restaurant. After your lunch you will travel to the Alaaddin Hill and then on to Cappadocia. You will arrive at 8:00 PM at your Cappadocia hotel for the evening. 6. DAY Hot Air Balloon Tour per person 120 Euro (Extra) The first Day in Cappadocia you will be picked up from your hotel at 9:15 AM. The first stop is Goreme Panoramic view. After, you will see underground city, Ihlara Valley and Selime monostry. Your tour will finish at 5:30 PM and you will return to your hotel. 7.DAY The Second Day in Cappadocia, you will be picked up from your hotel at 9:15 AM and you will discover Uchisar, Goreme open air museum, Cavusin, Avanos, Pasabagı Fairychimneys, Devrent Valley, Urgup. Your tour will finish at 5:30 PM and you will be dropped to airport (Nevsehir or Kayseri) or bus station.