Multi-day tour
Turkey in 8 days: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus with domestic flights
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus in eight days and seven nights, with two domestic flights to save road days and a licensed English-speaking guide throughout.
Key facts
- Duration 8 days / 7 nights
- Route Istanbul → İzmir 6 destinations
- Quotation Quotation within 24 business hours (72 business hours for groups and MICE)
- Recommended months April–June, September, October
- Type Private
The façade of the Library of Celsus at Ephesus, the last stage of the circuit
Overview
An 8-day, 7-night circuit that brings together the four stages an agency asks for first when quoting Turkey: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus. Three nights in Istanbul for the historic peninsula and the Bosphorus; a domestic flight to Cappadocia, where two nights go to the valleys, the Göreme Open-Air Museum and an underground city; a road stage with a stop in Konya down to Pamukkale, with a night at the foot of the travertines; and a final day at Hierapolis, Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary before flying from İzmir back to Istanbul.
The programme is operated privately, with a vehicle and a licensed English-speaking guide for the party, and entrance tickets to the monuments on the itinerary are included. Both domestic flights are part of the base. Compared with the 10-day overland circuit, this version fits the four regions into eight days thanks to the flights; compared with Istanbul and Cappadocia in 7 days, it adds Pamukkale and Ephesus.
The programme is operated privately, with a vehicle and a licensed English-speaking guide for the party, and entrance tickets to the monuments on the itinerary are included. Both domestic flights are part of the base. Compared with the 10-day overland circuit, this version fits the four regions into eight days thanks to the flights; compared with Istanbul and Cappadocia in 7 days, it adds Pamukkale and Ephesus.
Route: IstanbulCappadociaKonyaPamukkaleEphesusİzmir
- Physical level: Moderate
- Languages of the guided visits: Spanish, English
Highlights
- Three nights in Istanbul: the historic peninsula, Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace and a boat trip on the Bosphorus.
- Two nights in Cappadocia with the valleys, the Göreme Open-Air Museum and an underground city; optional sunrise balloon.
- A stop in Konya, at the Mevlana Museum and the Sultanhan caravanserai, on the road stage to Pamukkale.
- A night in Pamukkale to enter Hierapolis and the travertines first thing, before the midday crowds.
- Ephesus with the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre, and the House of the Virgin Mary, on the last day of the circuit.
- Two domestic flights in the base, entrance tickets included and a licensed English-speaking guide throughout.
What is included and what is not
Included
- 7 nights’ accommodation in total: 3 nights in Istanbul, 2 nights in Cappadocia, 1 night in Pamukkale and 1 night in İzmir or Kuşadası (or similar distribution, subject to availability).
- Daily breakfast at the hotels.
- Airport–hotel–airport transfers in Istanbul.
- Required hotel–airport–hotel/next-city transfers in Cappadocia and İzmir.
- Domestic flights according to the itinerary, in economy class (e.g. Istanbul–Kayseri or Nevşehir and İzmir–Istanbul; exact combination to be specified in the offer).
- Transportation by air-conditioned tourist vehicle for all mentioned transfers and sightseeing.
- Services of a licensed English-speaking guide throughout the circuit (other languages on request and subject to availability).
- Regular Bosphorus cruise (shared boat, subject to operation).
- Entrance fees to the monuments, museums and sites listed in the itinerary.
Not included
- International flights (home country – Istanbul – home country).
- Lunches and dinners (unless specifically stated as included).
- Optional activities: hot-air balloon flight in Cappadocia, Turkish night, quad ride, whirling dervish ceremony, Bosphorus dinner cruise, a bath in the Cleopatra pool at Hierapolis and the Terrace Houses of Ephesus.
- Personal expenses (shopping, minibar, drinks not mentioned, laundry, room service, etc.).
- Tips for guide, driver, porters, restaurants and hotel staff.
- Visa fees and visa handling services, if required.
- Travel insurance (recommended).
- Any services not explicitly mentioned as included.
Day by day itinerary
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Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul
Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST or SAW), meet-and-greet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest or take a first walk around the hotel, depending on the arrival time of the flight. The guide confirms the next day’s starting time at the hotel.Notes for the day: Transfers are operated from both Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW); the arrival airport should be stated when requesting the quotation.
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Day 2
Istanbul: the historic peninsula
A full day in the old city. It starts at the Hippodrome, with the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpent Column, and continues to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, whose tourist route now runs through the upper galleries. After a stop for lunch, at the traveller’s expense, Topkapı Palace: the courtyards, the kitchens and the terraces over the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. The afternoon ends at the Grand Bazaar, with free time among its covered streets. Return to the hotel.Notes for the day: A walking day on cobbled streets with slopes. Working mosques close to visitors during prayer times; the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and religious holidays, and on those days the day is reordered.
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Day 3
Bosphorus, bazaars and the Basilica Cistern
In the morning, the Spice Bazaar and the Rüstem Paşa Mosque, with its İznik tiles, in the Eminönü district. From the pier, a Bosphorus boat trip (shared boat) between the two shores: palaces, fortresses and wooden mansions up to the second bridge. In the afternoon, the Basilica Cistern, with its columns and the Medusa heads, and free time in Karaköy or at the foot of the Galata Tower. Return to the hotel.Optional activities
- Bosphorus dinner cruise
Notes for the day: The Bosphorus cruise is a regular, shared sailing; in bad weather the operator may cancel it, in which case it is replaced by a drive along the European shore to Dolmabahçe Palace.
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Day 4
Flight to Cappadocia and the northern valleys
Transfer to the airport and domestic flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir, just over an hour. On arrival, a tour of northern Cappadocia: Uçhisar castle, the Göreme viewpoint over the valley, the Monks’ Valley at Paşabağ with its multi-headed fairy chimneys, Devrent Valley and Avanos, the potters’ town on the Kızılırmak, with a workshop demonstration. Transfer to the hotel and overnight in Cappadocia.Optional activities
- Turkish night in a cave restaurant
Notes for the day: Domestic flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. The order of the afternoon visits depends on the arrival time of the confirmed flight. Kayseri (ASR) is about an hour and a quarter from Göreme and Nevşehir (NAV) about forty minutes.
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Day 5
Cappadocia: Göreme and an underground city
Those who wish can start the day with the sunrise balloon flight (optional, weather permitting). After breakfast, the Göreme Open-Air Museum, with its rock-cut churches and Byzantine frescoes; the underground city of Kaymaklı or Derinkuyu, dug on several levels below ground; the Three Beauties viewpoint at Ürgüp and a walk through Pigeon Valley, depending on the group’s pace. Return to the hotel and free afternoon.Optional activities
- Sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the valleys of Cappadocia
- Sunset quad (ATV) ride through the valleys
- Whirling dervishes sema ceremony
Notes for the day: The underground cities have low, narrow passages and are not advisable for people with claustrophobia; it is possible to wait outside with the driver. The balloon flight depends on clearance from the aviation authority each morning.
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Day 6
Cappadocia – Konya – Pamukkale
A long road stage across the central plateau, about 630 kilometres. First stop at the Seljuk caravanserai of Sultanhan, on the old caravan route, then Konya to visit the Mevlana Museum, the mausoleum of the founder of the whirling dervish order, with free time for lunch in the city. In the afternoon the drive continues through the Aegean hinterland to Denizli and Pamukkale. Arrival at the hotel in the late afternoon and overnight at the foot of the travertines.Notes for the day: This is the longest road day of the circuit: about eight hours of driving with stops. An early departure allows arrival in Pamukkale in daylight.
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Day 7
Hierapolis, Pamukkale and Ephesus
Entry to Hierapolis first thing: the necropolis, the Frontinus Gate, the theatre and the Pamukkale travertines, walked barefoot along the permitted stretch. Optionally, a bath in the ancient pool. The drive continues to Selçuk, about three hours, for the visit to Ephesus: the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Odeon and, between them, Curetes Street with the Temple of Hadrian. The day ends at the House of the Virgin Mary on Mount Bülbül. Transfer to the hotel in İzmir or Kuşadası.Optional activities
- Bath in the Cleopatra pool at Hierapolis
- Terrace Houses of Ephesus (separate ticket)
Notes for the day: The travertines are walked barefoot on wet rock; a bag for shoes is advisable. Ephesus involves about two hours of walking on polished marble, with no shade in summer.
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Day 8
İzmir – Istanbul: end of the circuit
Breakfast at the hotel and, depending on the flight schedule, free time. Transfer to İzmir airport (ADB) and domestic flight to Istanbul to connect with the international flight home. If the outbound flight leaves the next day, a night in Istanbul can be added in the quotation.Notes for the day: Domestic flight from İzmir to Istanbul. A generous margin between the arrival of the domestic flight and the departure of the international flight is advisable.
How the rate is calculated
Rate tailored to the season, the hotel category and the number of travellers. Request a quotation.
Departures
Tailor-made departures: any date
The programme is operated privately for your group: you choose the starting day and the itinerary is built around that date. There is no fixed departure calendar and no outside group to join.
Route map
Istanbul → Cappadocia → Konya → Pamukkale → Ephesus → İzmir
Operational notes
- The order of the visits may change according to opening hours, traffic and the day’s operation. The content of the programme stays the same.
- Domestic flights are issued in economy class and the checked and cabin baggage allowance depends on the airline and the fare issued; the exact allowance is shown on the ticket. Schedules may be rearranged and the day’s programme follows the confirmed flight.
- On the last day, the domestic flight back to Istanbul connects with the international flight. A generous margin between the two is advisable; if the outbound flight leaves the next day, a night in Istanbul can be added in the quotation.
- The Cappadocia–Pamukkale stage on day 6 is by road, about 630 kilometres with stops at Sultanhan and Konya; it is the longest day of the circuit and starts early.
- The balloon flight in Cappadocia is an optional activity quoted with the programme and subject each morning to clearance from the civil aviation authority. When the flight window is closed by wind or fog, the activity is cancelled and the amount paid is refunded or moved, according to the balloon operator’s terms.
- The underground cities of Cappadocia have low, narrow passages with uneven steps; they are not advisable for people with claustrophobia or reduced mobility, who can wait outside with the driver.
- The Pamukkale travertines are walked barefoot along the permitted stretch, on wet limestone that is slippery in places; a bag for shoes is advisable. The area that may be walked on changes with conservation work.
- Ephesus involves about two hours of walking on polished marble with a gentle slope and no shade in the summer months; shoes with a good grip, a hat and water are advisable. The Terrace Houses have a separate ticket and are offered as an option.
- Mosques require shoes to be removed and shoulders and knees covered; women are required to cover their hair. Bringing your own scarf is advisable, although the busiest mosques usually lend one at the entrance.
- Working mosques close to visitors during the five daily prayers and, in particular, around the Friday midday prayer. When a visit coincides, the commentary is given outside or the day is reordered.
- Hagia Sophia is a working mosque. Foreign visitors follow a separate tourist route through the upper galleries, while the ground floor is reserved for prayer. That route closes during the five daily prayers and, at Friday midday, for a longer period. The visiting arrangement and opening hours depend on current regulations and may change without notice; if access is restricted on the date of the visit, the monument is explained from outside.
- The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays and during religious holidays; when the visit coincides, it is replaced by the Spice Bazaar or another market and the day is reordered.
- Museums and archaeological sites may have a weekly closing day and different summer and winter opening hours. The final itinerary is adjusted to the opening calendar in force on the travel dates.
- During the religious holidays (Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı, whose dates move with the lunar calendar) museum and shop hours change, monuments are busier, and domestic flights and roads fill up.
- Between June and September the midday heat is intense at open-air sites. Visits are concentrated early and late in the day, and water, a hat and sun protection are advisable.
- A valid passport, the visa or electronic authorisation and compliance with entry requirements are the traveller’s responsibility. They depend on nationality and should be checked well in advance.
Best time to travel
Recommended months: April, May, June, September, October
All four regions of the circuit are at their best between April and June and between September and October: long days, moderate temperatures in Pamukkale and Ephesus and more stable conditions for the balloon flight in Cappadocia. In July and August the heat on the Aegean and the plateau is intense and open-air visits are concentrated early in the day. From November to March the circuit runs as normal with fewer visitors at the monuments; Cappadocia may have snow and the balloon is cancelled more often.
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
How is the tour operated?
It is designed to be run privately, with a vehicle and a licensed English-speaking guide for your party, on the date you request. The hotel category, the included services and the exact conditions are set out in the quotation.
Are the domestic flights included?
Yes. The two domestic flights on the itinerary are part of the base: Istanbul–Cappadocia (Kayseri or Nevşehir) on day 4 and İzmir–Istanbul on day 8. The exact combination and the schedules are detailed in the offer.
Why is the Cappadocia–Pamukkale leg done by road?
Because there is no direct flight between the two regions and connecting through Istanbul would take longer than the road. The stage takes in the Sultanhan caravanserai and the Mevlana Museum in Konya, and reaches Pamukkale in daylight.
Is the balloon flight included?
No. It is an optional activity, with no published price, quoted together with the programme. It depends each morning on clearance from the aviation authority and, with two nights in Cappadocia, there is a single possible morning; if you want a second chance, adding a night is advisable.
How demanding is the circuit?
Moderate. Sightseeing in Istanbul and Ephesus is on foot over stone and marble, with slopes; in Cappadocia there are stretches of path and stairs at the Open-Air Museum, and the underground cities have low passages that can be avoided. The travertines are walked barefoot.
When is the best time for this circuit?
From April to June and from September to October: moderate temperatures in all four regions and more flying days in Cappadocia. In July and August the heat in Pamukkale and Ephesus means early visits; in winter Cappadocia may have snow and the balloon is cancelled more often.
Can the programme be extended?
Yes. The most common extensions are an extra night in Istanbul at the start or the end, a third night in Cappadocia for the balloon, or continuing from Ephesus along the coast. They are adjusted in the quotation.
Is a visa needed to enter Turkey?
It depends on your nationality. The visa or electronic authorisation and passport validity are the traveller’s responsibility; current requirements should be checked before travelling.
Booking conditions
- Deposit
- 30% of the total when the booking is confirmed. For bookings made 30 days or less before departure, the full amount at confirmation.
- Balance
- The remaining 70%, no later than 31 days before departure.
- Payment methods
- Bank transfer or credit card. Card payments carry a 3% surcharge; charges applied by the issuing bank are borne by the client.
- Cancellations
- More than 90 days before departure: handling fee only, plus penalties on services already issued · 89–61 days: 25% · 60–31 days: 50% · 30 days or less and no-show: 100%. Reductions in places follow the same scale. Refunds within 10–14 business days of written cancellation.
Credentials
- Legal name
- Colorido Tours Turkey Turizm Ticaret Ltd. Şti.
- TÜRSAB licence
- A-12116
- Office
- Istanbul
- Operating scope
- Turkey only. Egypt, Jordan and the Greek islands only as extensions of a Turkey itinerary.
- Guides
- Licensed guides in Spanish and English
- 24/7 emergency line during the trip
- +90 544 533 53 55
- Who handles your request
- Your request is handled by our reservations team, and the same person follows the file from quotation through to operation on the ground.
